Episode 46 - There Were Signs: How We Learned to Break the Status Quo and Lessons in Courage, Authenticity, and Going Your Own Way

In this reflective and deeply personal episode, Katrina and James explore the moments in their lives when the signs were there all along—the nudges, red flags, and inner whispers that pointed them away from the status quo and toward a more aligned, authentic life. These are the stories that shaped who they became, long before a career break was even on the horizon.

Katrina opens up about her early career choices and the unmistakable moments when she knew she didn’t quite fit into the mold around her. From turning down a “safe” corporate job despite external pressure, to boldly choosing time over money at just twenty-four, she shares the decisions that signaled she was a square peg refusing to squeeze into a round hole. She also recounts a pivotal, vulnerable moment in business school—standing in front of a room of high-achieving MBA students and choosing authenticity over conformity—that ultimately reinforced her belief in staying true to herself.

James mirrors these stories with his own path, including the unconventional decisions that pulled him away from expectation and toward possibility. He reflects on turning away from the typical academic route, choosing music over traditional subjects, discovering the world of long-term travel, and how those early experiences shaped the life he eventually built. His story of working relentlessly to fund a two-year adventure—and the shift years later toward building a sustainable, purpose-driven career—reveals just how powerful it can be to raise the bar for your own life.

Together, they explore how these moments add up: the subtle knowing, the brave choices, the course corrections, and the willingness to disappoint others in order not to disappoint yourself. This conversation is for anyone standing at a crossroads, sensing that something in their life no longer fits, and wondering whether they dare to choose something different.

If you’re feeling the pull toward a career break, a lifestyle shift, or a version of life that aligns more deeply with who you are, this episode will remind you that honouring those signs can open the door to possibilities you haven't even imagined yet. You’re not meant to fit into every space—sometimes the life you want starts with simply admitting the shape of who you are.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Status Quo Breakers

01:53 Courage to Follow Your Own Path

03:48 Personal Stories of Career Decisions

09:50 Defining Success on Your Own Terms

16:33 The Importance of Vulnerability

22:34 Navigating Life's Seasons

25:22 Final Thoughts on Time and Alignment

Listen now and reclaim control of your career break journey.

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into career growth, work-life balance, and mental resilience.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and every podcast app!

📩 Got a story about your own career break journey? DM us or leave a review—we’d love to hear from you!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us today to begin your journey.

BreakSpace - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.gobreakspace.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Schedule a call with Katrina - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/schedule.php⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Order Katrina's book - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email - takingacareerbreakwithkatrina@gmail.com

Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/takingacareerbreak/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠

Produced by Winging It Productions - ⁠https://www.wingingitproductions.com⁠

Episode 45 - How to Build Your Break Blueprint: 5 Elements of a Successful Career Break

In this episode of Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee, we’re laying the foundation for your most successful break yet. Katrina walks through her signature framework — the Break Blueprint — revealing the five essential elements that help you plan, live, and return from your career break with purpose and clarity.

From defining your “why” and setting themes that guide your time off, to creating a wish list that actually fuels your growth, Katrina and James unpack what it really takes to design a fulfilling and financially sound break. You’ll also learn how to plan for reentry, avoid burnout at the finish line, and carry the lessons of your time off into your next chapter.

Whether you’re just considering a break, actively planning one, or getting ready to return to work, this episode will give you a roadmap to do it with confidence and intention. Katrina also shares how you can access extra support — from her Break Blueprint Course inside Break Space, to her book Taking a Career Break for Dummies and private coaching for one-on-one guidance.

Tune in, take notes, and start building your blueprint today. Subscribe, leave us a five-star review, and share this episode with someone who’s dreaming of taking a career break — it might be the nudge they need to make it happen.

Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome and episode intro
01:00 – Reflecting on 45 episodes and planning for 2026
02:20 – Listener feedback, upcoming mini-series, and why your input matters
03:25 – Introducing the Break Blueprint: the foundation of a successful career break
04:45 – Element 1: Defining your purpose — your big “why”
05:30 – Element 2: Creating themes to anchor your break
06:20 – Element 3: Building your wish list (and why it’s not a to-do list)
07:45 – Element 4: Planning for reentry — time, money, and mindset
09:50 – Element 5: Key details — start date, budget, and break length
11:50 – How to use the blueprint at different stages of your journey
13:45 – Applying the blueprint if you’re already on a break or nearing reentry
15:30 – Framing your break story for future opportunities
16:30 – Katrina’s resources: the book, Break Space, and coaching options
17:40 – Final thoughts: following the plan with confidence
18:10 – James and Katrina wrap up and share where to learn more

Listen now and reclaim control of your career break journey.

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into career growth, work-life balance, and mental resilience.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and every podcast app!

📩 Got a story about your own career break journey? DM us or leave a review—we’d love to hear from you!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us today to begin your journey.

BreakSpace - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.gobreakspace.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Schedule a call with Katrina - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/schedule.php⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Order Katrina's book - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email - takingacareerbreakwithkatrina@gmail.com

Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/takingacareerbreak/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠

Produced by Winging It Productions - https://www.wingingitproductions.com

Episode 44 - I Might Get Bored… or Love It Too Much: Two Unexpected Career Break Fears

Are you secretly worried you’ll be bored on a career break — or even worse, that you’ll love it too much to ever go back?

In this week’s episode of Taking A Career Break with Katrina McGhee, Katrina and James unpack two surprising fears that stop people from taking the break they’ve been dreaming about. These aren’t your typical money or career worries — they’re emotional, subtle, and surprisingly common.

Katrina shares real stories from her coaching clients, her own experience taking a 20-month break, and what happens when you finally give yourself permission to slow down. Together, she and James explore why boredom can actually fuel creativity, how overstimulation makes rest feel uncomfortable, and what it really means if you’re scared to “like your break too much.”

Then, the conversation turns to that second, almost funny but very real fear — what if you love your break so much you never want to go back? Katrina shares her own experience of not wanting her 20-month break to end, while James reflects on his cycles of working, travelling, and finding meaning beyond the 9–5 grind. Together, they explore what this fear really reveals about our relationship to freedom, fulfilment, and work.

You’ll hear honest reflections on what happens when the fear of freedom meets the reality of modern work, plus practical advice for navigating your return — or redefining what work looks like next.

Expect laughter, honesty, and plenty of aha moments — including why “tasting the good life” can raise your standards and inspire lasting change.

⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
01:20 – Common vs. surprising fears
02:00 – Fear #1: Being bored on a break
04:00 – Client insights on stillness
06:00 – Boredom, creativity, and overstimulation
09:50 – James on boredom and creativity
10:50 – Wrapping up fear #1
11:00 – Fear #2: Loving the break too much
13:30 – What this fear really means
15:00 – James on work, travel, and purpose
16:30 – Katrina on returning to work and debt freedom
17:40 – The “pool” analogy
20:00 – Raising your standards after a break
21:10 – Dating analogy for raising the bar
22:18 – Taking action and final reflections

Listen now and reclaim control of your career break journey.

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into career growth, work-life balance, and mental resilience.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and every podcast app!

📩 Got a story about your own career break journey? DM us or leave a review—we’d love to hear from you!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us today to begin your journey.

BreakSpace - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.gobreakspace.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Schedule a call with Katrina - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/schedule.php⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Order Katrina's book - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email - takingacareerbreakwithkatrina@gmail.com

Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/takingacareerbreak/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠

Produced by Winging It Productions - ⁠https://www.wingingitproductions.com⁠