x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching

Sharon Cawley and Sarah Dunwood

Sharon Cawley and Sarah Dunwood talk to former teachers about exiting from the classroom and thriving.Follow us on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/ThePitPonyPodcastDon"t forget to leave us a VOICEMAIL, quickly and easily at https://www.speakpipe.com/pitponypodcastSupport the podcast by buying us a coffee here:https://buymeacoffee.com/thepitponyclub

education personal journals

All Episodes

9:52

047 - Sliding Doors Stories - Part 6

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/05/02

In this sixth edition of our beloved Sliding Doors Stories, we bring you three powerful moments from guests who, after leaving the classroom, found clarity, connection and joy in unexpected places. ✨ Katie Stone shares how her relationship with her daughter transformed – and how a trip to New Zealand gave her children a once-in-a-lifetime experience (and a new dream for Archie!). 💖 Sarah Cowan reflects on how one spontaneous weekend with her niece became a treasured memory – something s...

en-gb

33:44

046 - Sliding Doors - Sharon’s Story

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/04/29

In this special episode of The Pit Pony Podcast, we’re turning the spotlight inward. For the first time, co-host Sharon Cawley shares her own powerful and deeply personal sliding doors story. More than just about leaving teaching, it’s about the moment Sharon reclaimed control of her life and showed what’s possible when we choose presence over pressure. Sharon reflects on how life outside of the classroom gave her the time, space and freedom to show up when it mattered most. Today, Sharon and...

en-gb

69:40

045 - Pit Pony Ilana King - Classroom to Educational...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/04/22

In this episode, we’re joined by the unstoppable Ilana King - educational consultant, entrance exam specialist, home educator, and all-round powerhouse. Ilana’s journey is far from typical. After just two years in the classroom, she knew it wasn’t the right fit - and rather than settle, she built something new. Literally. She created her own nursery from the ground up (on land she negotiated with a secondary school), ran it successfully, then sold it and pivoted again. She home educated her t...

en-gb

43:57

044 - Pit Pony Pete Scholes - Classroom to Driving...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/04/15

This week, we’re joined by the brilliant and unassuming Peter Scholes – a man who gave 21 years to the classroom before stepping away when shifting leadership turned a once-thriving school culture into something unrecognisable. In this heartfelt episode, Pete shares how the sudden departure of a beloved headteacher triggered a school-wide unraveling, leading to mass staff turnover, a loss of trust, and ultimately, his own departure. Now a successful driving instructor and published author, Pe...

en-gb

51:54

042 - Pit Pony Rob Newlands - Classroom to Financial...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/04/08

In the first of this two-part special, we meet Rob Newlands, a former headteacher who climbed the leadership ladder quickly - only to face a stark and painful reality at the top. At just 30 years old, Rob stepped into a headship in Cornwall, full of energy, purpose, and a belief that he could make a difference. But what awaited him was far from the job he signed up for. From day one, Rob was met with missing policies, no induction, and the expectation to lead full-time while also teaching ful...

en-gb

89:35

043 - Pit Pony Rob Newlands - Classroom to Financial...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/04/08

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Rob Newlands takes us through the devastating fallout of his time in headship - and the turning point that changed everything. After months of isolation, impossible expectations, and systemic failure, Rob faced a brutal mocksted that delivered the final blow. What followed was a silent breakdown behind closed doors, a desperate call to his GP, and the realisation that he had to leave the profession to survive. Rob shares the raw truth about what it fee...

en-gb

55:49

041 - Pit Pony Kitty White - Classroom to Holiday...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/04/01

Loving the Pit Pony Podcast? Buy Us a Coffee ☕️ Kitty White never imagined she’d leave teaching - she was in it for life. But after years of battling anxiety, disillusionment, and a crushing sense of being lost, she made a brave leap out of the classroom and into something completely different. In this powerful episode, Kitty reflects on the emotional toll teaching took on her, how she slowly rebuilt herself, and how she found new purpose (and peace) as the Business Development Ma...

en-gb

70:51

040 - Pit Pony Rachael Daniel - Classroom to...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/03/25

What happens when a dedicated teacher realises that the career she once loved is no longer the right fit? In this episode, we sit down with Rachael Daniel, who made the bold decision to step away from teaching and carve out a new path. Rachael takes us through the highs and lows of her transition - from the moment she knew she had to leave, to the doubts that nearly held her back, and the surprising opportunities that opened up once she took the leap. She shares how she navigated financial fe...

en-gb

70:40

039 - Pit Pony Grant Decker - Classroom to Record...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/03/18

This week on The Pit Pony Podcast, we sit down with the incredible Grant Decker – a former teacher whose love for music led him to open his own record shop. After years in the classroom, supporting students with complex needs, Grant realised it was time for a change. In this episode, he shares his inspiring journey from education to entrepreneurship, the challenges of balancing work and family, and how he built a thriving business from his passion for vinyl. Thinking about your own exit strat...

en-gb

85:29

038 - Pit Pony Paul Lennon - Classroom to NHS Health...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/03/11

In this episode of the Pit Pony Podcast, we sit down with Paul Lennon, a former teacher with 28 years of experience in secondary schools across the UK and around the world. Paul started his career as a PE teacher, eventually working his way up to head of department, assistant principal, and IB Diploma Coordinator. But his journey took an unexpected and deeply challenging turn when he found himself in a toxic school environment that left him battling anxiety, self-doubt, and ultimately a panic...

en-gb

63:33

036 - Pit Pony Hollie Jones - Classroom to...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/03/04

In this powerful two-part episode, we sit down with Hollie Jones, a former teacher turned neurodiversity practitioner, whose journey out of the classroom is one of resilience, advocacy, and hard-won justice. Hollie always believed teaching was her lifelong career - until she faced systemic barriers, discrimination, and a lack of understanding about neurodivergent needs in the workplace. What started as a request for simple, reasonable adjustments quickly spiralled into a legal battle for her ...

en-gb

94:22

037 - Pit Pony Hollie Jones - Classroom to...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/03/04

In this second part to Hollie Jones’ story, we dive deeper into her legal battle for workplace justice, the emotional toll of discrimination, and the life-changing shift that followed. After an appalling "well-being" call that questioned her ADHD diagnosis, Hollie knew she was facing more than ignorance - she was up against systemic failure. With unwavering determination, she documented every step, stood her ground, and ultimately forced those in power to reckon with their treatment of ...

en-gb

62:46

035 - Pit Pony Ruth O'Neill - Classroom to SEND...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/02/25

In today's episode of The Pit Pony Podcast, we sit down with Ruth O’Neill, an educator who spent over 20 years in the classroom before stepping into a new role as a SEND consultant and English tutor. Ruth’s journey took her from teaching in the UK to classrooms in Cairo and Costa Rica, before returning home to take on a challenging SENCO role. Over time, the pressures of the role, increasing workload, and systemic challenges pushed her to breaking point. Ruth opens up about the realities of w...

en-gb

71:03

034 - Pit Pony Sarah Cowen - Classroom to Head of...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/02/18

This week’s episode is a powerful one. We sit down with Sarah Cowen, a former drama teacher who never planned to teach—until she fell in love with the profession. But after 18 years, she faced the realisation that her boundaries, well-being, and identity had been eroded over time. Sarah’s story is one of deep reflection, empowerment, and transition. Now working as Head of Domestic Abuse Services, she shares: ✨ How she went from ‘accidental teacher’ to Mary Poppins of education, parachut...

en-gb

8:18

033 - Sliding Doors Stories - Part 5

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/02/14

Welcome to another Sliding Doors Stories bonus episode, where we celebrate the incredible transformations our guests have experienced since leaving the classroom. In this episode, we hear from: ✨ Leanne Herring – from teacher to voice artist & content creator. ✨ Mark Thompson – from teacher to TV & film chaperone. ✨ Amy MacDonald – from teacher to forest school leader & content creator. Each of these stories is a powerful reminder that life after teaching can be filled with jo...

en-gb

66:20

032 - Pit Pony Katie Stone - Classroom to Virtual...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/02/11

Today, we sit down with Katie Stone, a former primary school teacher who left the classroom after facing work-related stress and the pressures of an informal support plan. Katie opens up about the emotional toll of teaching, the challenges of leaving, and how she found a new path that gave her both freedom and fulfilment. Now the owner of a successful virtual assistant agency, Katie shares how she turned her organisational skills, multitasking abilities, and work ethic - honed in teaching - i...

en-gb

7:02

031 - Sliding Doors Stories - Part 4

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/02/07

We’re back with another special bonus episode of The Pit Pony Podcast - Sliding Doors Stories, Part 4! In this episode, we revisit those powerful moments when our guests reflect on the incredible experiences they’ve had since leaving the classroom. This week, we hear from: 🎨 Jane Lloyd – From classroom teacher to artist, embracing a life filled with creativity, fresh air, and even a pet sheep! 🧘 Gareth Isaacs – Now a mindfulness teacher, discovering the joy of truly living in the moment.

en-gb

68:05

030 - Pit Pony Amy MacDonald - From Classroom to...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/02/04

This week, we welcome Amy MacDonald, a former primary school teacher who transformed her love for teaching outdoors into a fulfilling new career. Amy’s journey is one of resilience, self-discovery, and inspiration, showing us that life after teaching can be rich with opportunities. In this episode, Amy shares: 🌿 Her journey through challenging school environments, including part-time battles and chronic unkindness. 🌟 How she found her passion for forest schools and outdoor learning. 💪 The

en-gb

19:37

029 - Sliding Doors Stories - Part 3

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/01/31

We’re thrilled to bring you another Sliding Doors Stories bonus episode! This special collection features incredible moments from our guests that truly capture the magic of life after teaching.In this episode, we revisit the inspiring reflections of:✨ Rae Dillon – From classroom teacher to copywriter.Celebrating her dream wedding in Bora Bora - something teaching would never have allowed.✨ Hannah Jones – Former teacher turned Head of Prison Education.Sharing an emotional and deeply personal s...

en-gb

39:43

028 - Pit Pony Mark Thompson - Classroom to TV & Film...

The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching ·

2025/01/28

Mark Thompson is a former computing and business studies teacher with over 18 years of experience in education. After leaving the classroom in 2011, Mark transitioned into a unique and fulfilling career as a tutor and chaperone for children working on TV and film sets, including his work on CBBC. His role combines education with safeguarding, ensuring young actors meet their academic goals and thrive in a professional environment. Mark’s inspiring story highlights the power of ...

en-gb

87 results

Similar Podcasts

Science Talk

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

五分钟心理学

柠檬心理

Daily Facts

Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.

Les dents et dodo

BFMTV

Veterinary Clinical Podcasts

The Royal Veterinary College