The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching
Sharon Cawley and Sarah Dunwood talk to former teachers about exiting from the classroom and thriving.
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Episodes
72 episodes
072 - Pit Pony Revisited: The Summer Series - Amy Meade
In our FINAL Summer Re-Issue episode, we revisit the story of Amy Meade, who spent 14 years in education, moving from secondary English to primary leadership and eventually deputy and acting headship.Amy loved teaching and wasn’t ...
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Season 1
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Episode 72
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1:12:14
071 - Pit Pony Revisited: The Summer Series - Gareth Isaac
In this deeply reflective reissue, we revisit the story of Gareth Isaac, who entered teaching through the Teach First route in 2014. Within just a few years he was experiencing disassociation, exhaustion and a sense of living outside his...
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Season 1
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Episode 71
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1:05:44
070 - Pit Pony Revisited: The Summer Series - Katie Stone
In this powerful reissue from our archive, we revisit the story of Katie Stone, a teacher who resisted the profession for years before finally entering via the TA route and discovering a love for the classroom.From her PGCE at Man...
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Season 1
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Episode 70
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1:07:30
069 - Pit Pony Revisited: The Summer Series - Paul Lennon
In this powerful Summer Re-Issue, we revisit the story of Paul Lennon, a teacher whose career spanned 28 years and took him across the globe. From Japan, Italy, Malawi, Moscow and Senegal to his final role in Warsaw, Paul built a life ar...
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Season 1
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Episode 69
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1:27:08
068 - Pit Pony Revisited: The Summer Series - Sarah Cowen
In this powerful reissue from our archive, we revisit the story of Sarah Cowen, a teacher whose journey through education reveals the toll of relentless pressure, systemic failures and the struggle to protect her own wellbeing.Sar...
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Season 1
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Episode 68
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1:11:45
067 - Pit Pony Revisited: The Summer Series - Grant Decker
In this powerful reissue from our archive, we revisit the story of Grant Decker, an educator whose career took him from the classroom to unexpected new horizons.Grant speaks candidly about his early years in teaching, the highs of...
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Season 1
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Episode 67
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1:11:06
066 - Pit Pony Revisited: The Summer Series - Hannah Jones
In this powerful reissue from our archive, we revisit the story of Hannah Jones, a history teacher who walked away from education after enduring one of the most dehumanising experiences we have ever heard.From her early passion for teach...
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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1:19:56
065 - Pit Pony Revisited: The Summer Series - James Terry
As part of our Summer 2025 Rewind Series, we are revisiting one of the most heartfelt and compelling conversations we have ever shared.In this reissue, we are joined by James Terry, a former RE teacher who knew from a young...
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Season 1
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Episode 65
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1:06:09
064 - Pit Pony Kat Philippou-Curtis Part 2 - With Special Guest Cathy Tyson
Kat’s Story, Part 2: Swallow - A Film That Could Change EverythingIn this gripping second half of our conversation with Kat Philippou-Curtis, we’re joined by the legendary Cathy Tyson...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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58:39
063 - Pit Pony Kat Philippou-Curtis - Classroom To Film Maker Part 1
In this gripping and harrowing episode, we sit down with Kat Philippou-Curtis, a drama specialist, film writer and filmmaker, as she shares the shocking truth behind her exit from further education.Kat was a passionate and dedicated lect...
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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40:31
062 - Pit Pony Jay Dehaan - Classroom to Curriculum Innovation Manager - Part 2
In Part 2 of Jay Dehaan’s story, we hear what happened after he made it into the classroom.Jay shares the emotional toll of leadership, the grief of losing a loved one, and the quiet realisation that the system he fought to be part of no...
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Season 1
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Episode 62
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53:13
061 - Pit Pony Jay Dehaan - Classroom to Curriculum Innovation Manager - Part 1
Jay Dehaan didn’t grow up wanting to be a teacher. In fact, he hated school. He left education with no qualifications, spent five years in a wheelchair as a child due to Perthes disease, and was told by Citizens Advice that his family would be ...
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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54:16
060 - Gareth Dale - Classroom to Childrens Author / Private Tutor Part 2
In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Gareth Dale continues his story - from barely holding it together in the classroom to discovering his voice as a children’s author and private tutor.We talk about what happens after the f...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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49:48
059 - Gareth Dale - Classroom to Childrens Author / Private Tutor Part 1
In this deeply personal episode, we sit down with Gareth Dale - a teacher from 2005 to 2023 - to explore a story of love, loss, and the emotional toll of showing up in school when life is falling apart behind the scenes.Gareth takes us t...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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58:58
058 - Pit Pony Giselle Wild - Classroom to Safeguarding Young Lives
After 17 years in the classroom, Giselle Wild left teaching at Christmas 2024. In this episode, she reflects on a career built on creativity, care and connection - and the unraveling that began after the traumatic birth of her son.From a...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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1:13:45
057 - Pit Pony Emma Harper - Classroom to CEO / Marketing Mentor - Part 2
Emma Harper Part 2: Finding Freedom After the FallIn the second half of Emma Harper’s story, we follow her journey out of the classroom for good. After a final crisis point left her broken and exhausted, Emma made the decision to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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46:16
056 - Pit Pony Emma Harper - Classroom to CEO / Marketing Mentor - Part 1
Emma Harper Part 1: From Promise to Breaking PointEmma Harper was a dedicated secondary maths teacher from 2011 to 2023. In this episode, she shares the first half of her powerful story, covering three very different schools, earl...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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42:40
055 - Pit Pony Jeanette Thompson-Wessen - Classroom to ADHD Nutritionist - Part 2
In Part 2 of our conversation with Jeannette Thompson-Wessen, the story turns even darker. After being shouted at while pregnant, ignored during risk assessments, and breaking down in front of students, Jeannette was left utterly br...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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59:17
054 - Pit Pony Jeanette Thompson-Wessen - Classroom to ADHD Nutritionist - Part 1
In this powerful first part of our conversation with Jeannette Thompson-Wessen, we hear how a passionate, dedicated food technology teacher went from being earmarked for leadership to being bullied, ignored and broken. After returning from mate...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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45:44
053 - Pit Pony David Myers - Classroom to Student Support Officer at Durham University - Part 2
In Part 2 of our conversation with David Myers, we pick up at the point he finally walks away from teaching - and follow what happens next.From exploring tutoring, supply w...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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56:01
052 - Pit Pony David Myers - Classroom to Student Support Officer at Durham University - Part 1
Former maths teacher David Myers joins us for a gripping two-part conversation about his journey in and out of the classroom - and everything in between.In this first episo...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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1:08:10
051 - Sliding Doors Stories - Part 8
In todays bonus episode of The Pit Pony Podcast, we bring you another trio of powerful Sliding Doors moments – those life-defining experiences shared by our guests since leaving the classroom.🎙️ Rachael Daniel reflects on...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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7:54
050 - What do I do if I think I'm being bullied
In this vital episode of The Pit Pony Podcast, Sharon and Sarah discuss one of the most common - and distressing - questions that surfaces in the Life After Teaching community: What do I do if I think I’m being bullied?Drawing o...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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50:40
049 - Sliding Doors Stories - Part 7
In this special Sliding Doors bonus episode, we bring you three more powerful and deeply personal reflections from teachers who’ve exited the classroom and discovered unexpected joy, freedom, and purpose on the other side.🎙 Hollie Jon...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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9:52