Why I Left
Why I Left tells real stories from real people about the bold career moves that changed their lives.
Hosted by Brian Aquart, the show goes beyond resignations to uncover courage, clarity, and growth in the face of change. Each episode offers honest reflections, lessons learned, and practical insights for anyone considering a pivot, navigating uncertainty, or seeking inspiration for their next chapter.
We don’t talk about resignations enough, this podcast makes sure we do.
Episodes
119 episodes
Leaving Law Enforcement Twice - Dr. Jessica Herbert
What happens when the system you helped build no longer reflects the person you have become? Dr. Jessica Herbert knows that question from the inside. She left the same career twice, first to step away from law enforcement, then later to move be...
Alignment, Identity, and the Cost of Hiding at Work - Kjell van Zoen
What happens when the life you built still works, but no longer fits? For Kjell van Zoen, that question became impossible to ignore during a conversation about scaling a business in a direction that looked successful on paper but felt wrong int...
Leaving Law to Reclaim Rest, Voice, and Agency with Dana T. Weekes
Dana T. Weekes had built the kind of career many people work years to reach. As a lawyer and policy advocate, she worked on complex legislative and regulatory issues, represented major clients, and became known for high-stakes problem solving. ...
Who Are You Without the Uniform? - Oakland McCulloch
Some careers do more than give you a job. They give you structure, identity, mission, and a sense of belonging. For retired Lieutenant Colonel Oak McCulloch, leaving the Army meant more than stepping away from a role. It meant learning who he w...
Leaving Education to Rebuild a Life Around Financial Healing - Kara Stevens
Money is rarely just about numbers. For Kara Stevens, founder of The Frugal Feminista, money was tied to avoidance, shame, family stories, ambition, risk, and the question of what it really means to have enough.In this conversation, Kara...
Leaving Corporate Healthcare and Choosing Authenticity – Geoffrey Roche
Geoffrey Roche left corporate healthcare after realizing that professional success could not come at the expense of personal authenticity. His decision to step away from Siemens Healthineers came during a profound period of identity, courage, a...
How Leaving Google and Hacking the Art World Led to The Whitney - Gretchen Andrew
Gretchen Andrew left Google with just $5,000, no art degree, and no clear roadmap. Years later, her work, Facetune Portraits, now lives inside the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art.In this episode of Why I Left, ...
Why He Left Hollywood to Reclaim His Attention - Steven Puri
At the height of a successful career in Hollywood, Steven Puri was working on some of the biggest film franchises in the world. The path forward was clear. Bigger titles. Bigger budgets. More recognition. But something didn’t sit right.W...
She Left TV News to Help Leaders Communicate Better - Karlyn Kieffer
She had the career people chase. And still chose to leave.Karlyn Kieffer spent years in television news before realizing the work no longer aligned with how she wanted to live. What followed was a shift away from visibility and toward im...
Leaving Stability to Build the Future of Healthcare – Dr. Adam Carewe
He had stability, leadership, and influence inside one of the largest healthcare systems in the country. And he still chose to leave.Dr. Adam Carewe is a practicing physician and clinical informaticist who built a reputation for driving ...
Leaving the Newsroom to Reclaim Alignment & Identity - Aundrea Cline-Thomas
Aundrea Cline-Thomas spent 15 years as an Emmy-winning journalist in top markets like New York and Philadelphia before making the decision to walk away. Because she realized she was operating far below her full capacity.In this episode, ...
Why a PayPal Executive Walked Away to Lead Differently – Farah Hussain
Farah Hussain spent more than a decade building a successful career at PayPal. From the outside, her trajectory looked like momentum. Promotions. Influence. Global impact.But internally, something had shifted.In this episode, Fara...
When Service Becomes Identity and You Have to Walk Away – Kevin Schmiegel
Kevin Schmiegel founded Hiring Our Heroes and helped reshape veteran employment in America. At the height of its success, he walked away.Behind the hiring fairs, White House partnerships, and corporate coalitions was a leader working 80-...
When Corporate Questions Your Passion - Nicaila Matthews Okome
When your boss finds your side hustle, what do you do?Nicaila Matthews Okome received the “We need to talk” email while working at NPR. HR got involved. Screenshots were printed. Her ambition was suddenly under scrutiny. That moment forc...
Faith Over Fear - Stephen A. Hart
Stephen A. Hart left a six-figure corporate leadership role after doctors warned him about the physical toll of chronic stress. What looked like success on paper was quietly becoming unsustainable.In this conversation, Stephen shares how...
Leadership, Presence, and the Cost of Disconnection - Tracy Brower
Loneliness at work is rising. And it is a structural issue.In this episode, Tracy Brower, PhD, returns to Why I Left to unpack the growing disconnection inside modern organizations. Fifty percent of people globally report feeling lonely....
The Jolts That Reshape Work and Identity - Anthony Klotz
Most people think quitting is the story. It isn’t.Before people leave their jobs, something usually happens first. A pause. A realization. A moment that makes it impossible to keep going the same way. Five years ago, Dr. Anthony K...
Season 5 Begins: The Courage to Choose What Matters - Brian Aquart
After 100 episodes, one truth stands out. Leaving is rarely about quitting. It is about alignment.In this season five launch, Brian Aquart reflects on what a hundred conversations with leaders, founders, and operators have revealed about...
I Did It My Way - Craig the Barber
On the Season 4 finale of Why I Left, Brian sits down with Craig Whitely, better known as Craig the Barber, who shares his inspiring journey from the world of fi...
Igniting Leaders - Jordana Cole
Brian sits down with Jordana Cole, founder of Ignited LLC. Jordana shares her courageous decision to leave behind a successful corporate career and follow her pa...
Trust, Trauma & Leadership - Lori Swartz Eberly
Brian sits down with Lori Eberly, founder of Radius Executive Coaching and co-author of "Fuckery." Lori shares her compelling journey from hospice social worker ...
Breaking Free From Myths - Scott Mason
Ready to break free from a traditional career path and reignite your purpose? Brian welcomes Scott Mason, the Myth Slayer, who reveals his journey from high-powe...
Leading With Wellbeing First - Chase Sterling
Brian sits down with Chase Sterling, U.S. Army veteran, founder of Wellbeing Think Tank, and Principal Consultant at HHP Cultures. Chase shares her inspiring jou...
