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PODCAST

Exceptional Decisions

Andrew McDougall & Russell Gorton-McDougall

Jobs? Quit! Bed? Sold! One Way Ticket? Bought!On the eve of their 30th birthdays, Russell & Andrew made an exceptional decision. They quit their jobs, sold everything they owned and booked a one way flight across the world.Guided by ‘Divina’ (the universe), Russell & Andrew explore the planet country by country. Join their adventure as they share the exceptional places they visit and the exceptional people they meet.Join their quest and discover what life becomes when you make Exceptional

society & culture places & travel

All Episodes

55:28

Cambodia - Koh Ta Kiev Pt. 5 - We're Leaving!

Exceptional Decisions ·

2026/03/08

This is a massive pivot! It perfectly captures the essence of your journey—the ability to listen to the universe and change course, even when it means leaving a "dream" setup early.Podcast Episode DescriptionPodcast Name: [Insert your Podcast Name here] Episode Title: The Signs We Couldn't Ignore: Why We’re Leaving the JungleWhen the universe starts shouting, you have to listen.We have some massive news this week: we’re packing up our treehouse and leaving the island two months earlier than planned

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40:58

Cambodia - Koh Ta Kiev Pt. 4 - When Friends Become...

Exceptional Decisions ·

2026/03/01

We found the most beautiful place on the island—we’re just glad we didn’t ask what lived in the water until we left.The jungle is raising the stakes this week. We’re diving into the more "electrifying" dangers of our new home—from dodgy wiring that keeps us on our toes to the itchy reality of spider bites. It turns out, living in a treehouse means the wildlife doesn't just visit; it moves in and leaves a mark.We also recount our journey deep into the heart of the island to find the swamp. It is

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44:32

Cambodia - Koh Ta Kiev Diaries Pt. 3 - Visiting...

Exceptional Decisions ·

2026/02/22

We left the silence of the trees and realized we might smell a bit... different.Living in the jungle isn't all sunset yoga and bird calls. This week, we’re getting into the gritty—and sometimes painful—dangers of island life. From the inevitable accidents that happen when you live life barefoot to the constant, losing battle of trying to keep a wound dry in a tropical humidity trap, we’re sharing the physical toll of our new home.But the real shock came when we finally stepped off the island and

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49:36

Cambodia - Koh Ta Kiev Diaries Pt 2 - Realities of...

Exceptional Decisions ·

2026/02/15

Living in a treehouse is a dream... until the rain falls in.We’re settling into our new roles as island managers, but the honeymoon period officially ended with the first monsoon. In this episode, we talk about the soggy reality of living in a home that isn't exactly "weather-tight." When the storms roll over the island, we aren't just watching the rain—we’re basically part of it.Then there are the neighbors. Our new jungle housemates don’t exactly knock; from the many-legged to the furry, we’ve had

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42:57

Cambodia - Koh Ta Kiev Diaries Pt 1. - Moving to the...

Exceptional Decisions ·

2026/02/08

Our early retirement was fun, but the jungle called and we actually picked up the phone.The backpacks are down, and the "work" has begun—but don't worry, we haven't bought suits. In this episode, we reveal the massive life change we've been teasing: we’ve swapped the nomadic life for a permanent spot on a rugged, undeveloped Cambodian island.Divina has outdone herself this time. We are officially living in a treehouse in Cambodian the jungle and taking on the roles of managers at a remote hippy

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51:31

Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur

Exceptional Decisions ·

2026/02/01

We’re shopping for a secret, and we’re doing it in style.Hello from country number five! We have officially touched down in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for our final week of freedom before we start a brand-new job in a very remote setting. We aren't revealing the location just yet, but let’s just say the preparations required a serious "shop till we drop" mission.Now, busy mega-cities are not usually Russell & Andrew coded, but Kuala Lumpur managed to do the impossible: it won us over. We found a

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51:46

Indonesia - Java - Mt. Bromo & Yogyakarta

Exceptional Decisions ·

2026/01/25

We survived the flight. We’re not so sure about the volcano.This week, we took a leap of faith and flew to Java in what can only be described as a "rusty tin can." But once our feet were back on solid ground, the real adventure began.We headed straight for the legendary Mt. Bromo to witness the sunrise. While the scene at the summit was absolutely breathtaking—a landscape that looks more like the moon than Earth—the journey to get there was... well, let’s just say it was anything but comfortable

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52:18

Indonesia - Lombok - Senaru, Sapit & Tetebatu

Exceptional Decisions ·

2026/01/18

Is this heaven, or just the base of a volcano?This week, we continue our journey around the massive base of Mt. Rinjani. Starting in the north, we were absolutely gobsmacked by the sheer abundance of life. Thanks to the volcano's nutrient-rich soil, there are rice paddies stretching as far as the eye can see. It genuinely felt like we’d stepped into a tropical heaven.But the real adventure began when we handed the reins to Divina. Following an "accommodation-led" hunch, we headed to Sapit with no

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68:27

Indonesia - Lombok - The Gili Islands

Exceptional Decisions ·

2026/01/11

One island is a hidden rural paradise; the other has absolutely "popped off."This week, we’re putting the Gili Islands to the test. We compare the rural, minimal-tourist vibe of the Secret Gilis with the high-energy, world-famous Gili Islands. It’s a fascinating look at how travel changes a landscape, and we’re diving deep into which one won our hearts.Speaking of diving, we experienced some of the best snorkeling of our entire lives—even if the ocean had other plans for Russell. We share the story

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47:36

Indonesia - Lombok - Kuta

Exceptional Decisions ·

2026/01/04

Paradise found... and then it bit us.We’ve officially touched down in country number four: the stunning Indonesian island of Lombok. After the sensory overload of Bangkok, this island is exactly what Divina ordered.This week, we explore why Lombok has stolen our hearts. We talk about the locals—the friendliest we’ve encountered yet—and the persistent, charming children who are the island's most determined salespeople. We spent our days on a "greatest hits" tour of the coastline, hitting a different,

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51:37

Thailand - Bangkok & Krabi

Exceptional Decisions ·

2025/12/28

The comfort zone is gone! We’ve landed in the craziest city on Earth.Our time in Krabi is officially over! We say a tearful farewell to our feline friends and our beautiful pool villa, trading the lazy rhythm of the beach for the unrelenting intensity of Bangkok.This week, we share the shock of landing in a city that is utterly overstimulated and overwhelming. The scale, the noise, the sheer human volume—it hit us hard. How do two former flashpackers who avoid cities handle the global epicenter of

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48:41

Thailand - Krabi Pt.2

Exceptional Decisions ·

2025/12/21

We thought Krabi was too touristy. We were wrong... Sort of.After the initial shock of Ao Nang, have we managed to find our rhythm in this tourist mecca? We reveal how we've adapted and carved out our own space within the busy landscape. Turns out, the torrential weather helped: we’ve been enjoying days filled with thunderous, pouring rain, which has given us the perfect excuse to curl up on the sofa with hot tea, just like being back in the UK.But comfort breeds complacency, so we decided to test

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48:06

Thailand - Krabi Pt. 1

Exceptional Decisions ·

2025/12/14

New country, new food, and a major reality check.After the ancient wonders of Cambodia, Divina has moved us on to country number three: Thailand!The good news? The food has been instantly life-changing. Having authentic Thai food in Thailand is a revelation—it's too delicious to describe. The challenge? Our initial arrival in Ao Nang, Krabi, was a shock to the system.We were completely taken aback by the tourist density. Are we standing in Southeast Asia, or have we accidentally stumbled into

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46:14

Cambodia - Angkor Wat

Exceptional Decisions ·

2025/12/07

Ancient wonder versus Southeast Asian humidity. We couldn't come to Siem Reap without visiting the ultimate travel destination: Angkor Wat. This week, we venture into the massive, sprawling temple complex for an experience that was unimaginably sacred.We dive deep into the majesty of the site, exploring the sheer scale and antiquity of the temples and marveling at the intricate, detailed carvings and bas-reliefs that tell stories thousands of years old.However, standing still in the jungle heat

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46:06

The Siem Reap Massage Special

Exceptional Decisions ·

2025/12/04

This was never on the itinerary. And it changed everything.Surprise Bonus Episode! While settling into the laid-back life of Siem Reap, Divina ( led us far off the main road and into a thick jungle for an encounter we won't soon forget.This is the story of a completely unexpected and utterly life-changing massage, administered by a woman locals refer to as a "The Witch," who operates out of a tiny, ancient wooden hut.We won't give away the details of the ceremony or the journey, but let's just say

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41:09

Cambodia - Siem Reap

Exceptional Decisions ·

2025/11/30

We’re moving on! And this time, Divina delivered a luxury apartment (with some unique feline terms and conditions).After our emotional farewell to Phnom Penh, it was time to hit the road. Russell booked a luxury bus to Siem Reap—so obviously, the travel was actually comfortable for once! We instantly felt the change: Goodbye chaotic concrete jungle, hello actual pavements and refreshing green streets. This is the relaxed vibe we needed.Siem Reap is beautiful, but our new housesit came with terms and

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47:23

Cambodia - Phnom Penh Pt.4

Exceptional Decisions ·

2025/11/23

Six weeks felt like six days. Now, the backpacks are calling again.Can you believe it? This is our final episode from Phnom Penh! What started as a temporary housesit in a city we usually avoid turned into an unforgettable chapter defined by deep connection. The real magic of the Cambodian capital hasn't been the sights; it's been the lifelong friends we’ve made.Before we leave behind the comfort of our Sacred Triangle we had one last weekend to enjoy and we went out with a bang! How did two

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48:57

Cambodia - Phnom Penh Pt.3

Exceptional Decisions ·

2025/11/16

We know our coconut guy by name. That means we’re basically locals now.Six weeks deep into our housesitting life, we've settled in so thoroughly we no longer feel like tourists—partially because Phnom Penh feels relatively tourist-free anyway. This week, we dive into the true rhythm of the Cambodian capital and share the unexpected keys that unlocked the city for us.We explore the fascinating contrasts everywhere: the massive, relentless construction reshaping the skyline, and the hilariously

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43:48

Cambodia - Phnom Penh Pt.2

Exceptional Decisions ·

2025/11/09

We came to Cambodia to stop moving. Now, we might never leave.Six weeks into our house-sitting experiment in Phnom Penh, the concrete jungle has transformed from a challenge into a comfort zone—specifically, our "Sacred Triangle." We detail our improbable routine, floating between our house, the local yoga studio, and the ultra-exclusive wellness club on the 51st floor of the Shangri-La. Yes, that Shangri-La.But the real development is the emotional one: we’ve already made friends for life, and it’s

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49:26

8. Cambodia - Phnom Penh Pt.1

Exceptional Decisions ·

2025/11/02

The backpack is down. The welcome mat is out. We're officially living in a city.After months of chasing beautiful landscapes across Vietnam, Divina has delivered the biggest, most unexpected twist yet: a complete change in travel style. We’ve gone from "flashpackers" constantly on the move to long-term house sitters with a fixed address.Our new mission? Six weeks in the frenetic, fascinating capital of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. For two boys who usually do everything they can to avoid cities, this is a

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28 results

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