Lessons Beyond The Classroom - With Mr Hodge

Épisodes

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  Why I Quit Teaching To Travel The World #11 29.07.2026 19min

  This is the story of why Lessons Beyond The Classroom exists.Why did nobody teach us the stuff that actually matters? Not algebra or Pythagoras — how to handle failure, deal with loss, manage money, buy a house, back yourself when everyone's telling you to take the safe option, and know that being on your own can be a powerful thing.In this solo episode I go right back to the beginning: how a PE teacher dating the art teacher quit to travel the world, where the name "Where's Hodgie" actually came from, and why I felt called to build a platform to share the lessons school never taught.I get honest about the hard parts too — the imposter syndrome, the perfectionism, spending 8 hours on a video that gets 9 views, and the homesickness nobody puts in their travel highlight reel. And I share the moments that make it all worth it: the messages from former students saying it helped them, the free Ha Giang Loop tours, and the magic of building something real with your own face and name on it.Plus what's next — the end of our Southeast Asia backpacking era, and the move to Australia to graft, earn, and keep building.If you've ever thought about starting something of your own and been held back by the fear of what people think — this one's for you.TODAY'S LESSON: The world is pouring knowledge — but only if you're looking for it. Go and find it.If this episode helps you, or you know someone who needs to hear it, send it their way. That's how it reaches the people it's meant to.Class dismissed. 🎓
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  She Sold Everything And Left The UK With Two Kids #12 ft. @kayleigh.living.free 24.07.2026 21min

  Leaving the UK for a better life with two kids — this is how Kayleigh actually did it.At 25, Kayleigh sold everything, pulled her family out of the rat race and left the UK in April to travel the world with her two young children. No safety net, no house to go back to, everything they own in a suitcase. In this episode she shares exactly why they left the UK, how homeschooling works (and how little it actually costs), what nobody tells you about travelling full-time with kids, and the lesson that changed everything: slow down.If you've ever sat at home thinking there has to be more to life than this — this one's for you.We talk homeschooling and home education in the UK, how to start, what support is out there, the real challenges of family travel, building income online, and why she believes anyone can rewrite their own life.Give Kayleigh a follow and come along on their journey 👉 @kayleigh.living.free📌 In this video: leaving the UK for a better life, homeschooling while travelling, family travel with kids, worldschooling, escaping the rat race, travelling full-time with children, how to start home education UK.(0:00) You can rewrite your own life(0:32) Meet Kayleigh(0:55) Why we left the UK(1:29) Living for two weeks a year(3:18) Why we chose homeschooling(5:12) What home education costs(5:43) Where to start with home ed(6:53) Taking kids out of school(7:52) The hardest parts of travelling(9:38) Food, health and stress(11:02) The best moment of the trip(11:43) Going all in, no plan B(13:48) Building income online(15:38) Using AI to teach yourself(16:15) How affiliate marketing works(16:50) The biggest lesson: slow down(18:45) A message if you feel stuck(19:20) What manifesting really means(20:17) Wrap up
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  Don't Listen to Your Mum, Your Dad, or Your Teachers | Lessons Beyond The Classroom #10 15.07.2026 5min

  I'm a teacher — and I'm about to give you the most controversial options advice you'll hear this year: don't listen to your mum, your dad, or even your teachers.When options time comes around, everyone's got a plan for your life. But you're the one who has to do the work, sit the exams, and live with the choice. So the only opinion that matters is yours.In this episode I break down intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, why "do what makes you happy" is more than a cliché, and the one practical thing every student should check before they pick.Class dismissed.0:00 The most controversial advice0:15 Everyone's got a plan for you0:39 The only opinion that matters1:12 Do what makes you happy1:36 Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation2:14 Why good money isn't enough2:43 The interview where you'll lie3:06 What would you do for free?3:49 Research the grades you need4:29 When grinding is worth it4:49 Do what makes you happy5:11 Class dismissed
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  10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Traveling Solo | Lessons Beyond The Classroom #11 07.07.2026 11min

  You're 19, 20, 21 and you've just stepped off the plane completely alone for the first time. No mum, no dad — just you against the world. It's the best feeling there is, and it's also exactly when people get caught out.I've backpacked Europe, lived in America and New Zealand, and put myself in some silly situations along the way. In this episode I share the 10 safety steps I'd give anyone before they travel solo — plus the flesh-eating infection that nearly ended my trip in Thailand.The insurance I use is SafetyWing — covers long-term travellers across Southeast Asia for about £2 a day. Discount code in the show notes.Class dismissed.0:00 You against the world0:30 Travel is the greatest classroom0:44 The 10 steps1:58 1. Tell people where you're going2:23 2. Keep your passport safe2:50 3. Don't keep money in one place3:14 4. Research before you go3:56 5. Trust your gut4:20 6. Alcohol & partying5:35 7. Use official transport6:12 8. Keep your phone alive6:52 9. Don't advertise what you've got7:59 10. Lock up your stuff8:30 The thing that matters most8:45 The infection that nearly got me9:50 Why you need insurance10:09 The insurance I use11:02 Class dismissed
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  Your Brain Was Never Built for 2026 | Lessons Beyond The Classroom #9 01.07.2026 10min

  You're probably stressed right now — and you don't even realise it.A few hundred years ago we worried about food, fire and family. Now it's notifications every two minutes and the world's tragedies in our pocket. Your brain was never built for 2026, and the low-level stress it creates runs quietly in the background of your whole day.This isn't "delete social media." It's about noticing the stress you didn't know you were carrying — and the small, practical changes that actually help: phone-free mornings, killing notifications, journaling, and switching off before bed.Recorded outside in Ubud, Bali, with a coffee and my journal.Class dismissed.0:00 You're stressed and don't know it 0:07 Village life vs 2026 0:48 Feeling stress through a screen 1:33 Why your phone is the culprit 2:08 How low-level stress builds up 2:33 Scrolling before bed 3:12 Practical tips 3:55 Swap the phone for something mindful 4:50 My morning routine in Ubud 5:08 The simplest gratitude practice 6:42 Turn off your notifications7:23 Why I journal 7:54 Being intentional with the news 8:23 Tonight's challenge 10:01 Class dismissed
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  Breaking My Leg Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me #8 26.06.2026 12min

  At 17, I snapped my leg in half on a football pitch and thought my life was over. I was completely wrong — that was the night everything actually began.This episode is all about the butterfly effect: how one moment ripples out and shapes everything after it. I walk through my own story — the injury that ended my football dream, Camp America, two years in New Zealand, six months alone in a camper van, and retraining as a teacher — and why every experience is either a win or a lesson.If you're at a low point right now, this one's for you.If you're struggling, Samaritans are free, 24/7, on 116 123.Class dismissed.
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  From Prison TWICE to Self-Made Millionaire #7 ft. Brodie Nitro 24.06.2026 13min

  He's been to prison, lived on park benches, and stolen food just to survive — and today Brodie Nitro is a self-made millionaire. This might be the most powerful conversation I've had on the podcast yet, and could be the exact spark that someone listening in their lowest point needs to hear right now..I'm Mr Hodge, a former UK teacher who swapped the classroom for the road. On Lessons Beyond The Classroom I sit down with people who've lived extraordinary lives — and Brody's is one you won't forget.He grew up in a broken home on the Gold Coast, was taken from his mum at 10, ran away at 16, and ended up in prison — before rebuilding his life from absolute rock bottom into a successful online business. He opens up about his lowest point, the best friend he lost, what prison is really like, the coach who became his role model, and the mindset shift that changed everything: you can't outgrow a circle you're standing in the middle of.If you're at a low point or stuck in the wrong circle, this one's for you.This episode touches on suicide and mental health. If you're struggling, you're not alone — please talk to someone you trust, or a support line in your country (in the UK: Samaritans, free on 116 123, any time).Today's homework: who in your circle is pulling you up — and who's holding you back?Find Brodie: @brodie.nitro on Instagram.(0:00) Rock bottom to where he is now (0:49) A rags to riches story (1:39) Wrong role models & prison (2:20) What we all have in common (3:14) Losing his best friend (3:46) Back to prison (4:26) Hitting rock bottom to turn around (5:17) "I'm going to do something about it" (6:04) What prison is really like (7:05) The turning point: martial arts (8:16) Change your circle, change your life (9:41) His perfect day: then vs now (11:18) The vision for the next 10 years (12:04) His message to the world (12:48) Where to find Brody & outroClass dismissed.
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  Quit Your Job & Back Yourself! #6 ft. Patrick Keating 17.06.2026 25min

  "Quit your job and back yourself." That's the first thing Patrick Keating says in this episode — and after the life he's lived, he means every word.I'm Mr Hodge, a former UK teacher who swapped the classroom for the road. On Lessons Beyond The Classroom I sit down with people living life on their own terms — and today's guest is one of my best friends in the world.Patrick has spent 15 years travelling the world studying martial arts — Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu across Thailand and Brazil, living with shamans in the Peruvian jungle, yoga in India. He then built a career as a carpenter in New Zealand, hated every second of it, and last year sold every tool he owned to reinvent himself into online sales and back himself completely. We go deep on freedom, health, reinventing yourself at any age, honouring your lowest moments, and why quitting the life everyone told you to want might be the best thing you ever do.If you're stuck in a job you hate or scared to step into the unknown, this one's for you.Today's homework: what's one thing you'd do if you backed yourself completely?Find Patrick: @patrickkeating33 on Instagram.(0:00) Quit your job and back yourself (0:48) 15 years travelling the world (3:34) How martial arts changed him (4:16) First Muay Thai fight in 2 weeks (5:05) Finding himself in the mountains (7:16) Quitting carpentry & selling tools (8:41) Burning the boat to back himself (9:47) Reinvent yourself every 7 years (10:49) Pillar one: freedom (11:33) Why health is everything (12:11) Generosity & giving it all back (14:07) If you're stuck in a rut (14:46) Honouring your darkest moments (15:34) Kill the version holding you back (16:47) Don't listen to your teachers (17:59) The "blinkers off" analogy (19:10) The coolest place he's been (20:00) His most powerful moment (22:31) Mr Hodge's flying fish moment (23:49) Where to find Patrick & outroClass dismissed.
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  A 5-Minute Guided Meditation for Calm & Presence | ft. Amir Khamseh 07.06.2026 7min

  Press play, get comfortable, and let yourself arrive. A short 5 minute guided meditation to help you slow down, find calm, and come back to the present moment.This is a bonus from Episode #5, where I spoke with Amir Khamseh — a former Tesla engineer who turned the grief of losing his mum into a new life as a meditation teacher. We did this short meditation together before recording, and it felt too good not to share on its own.New to meditation or a daily practitioner, this is a simple reset you can return to any time. (Please don't listen while driving.)Listen to the full conversation with Amir in Episode #5.Hosted by Matt & Beth — two UK teachers exploring life beyond the classroom.
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  Turning Grief Into Power: Why a Tesla Engineer Walked Away From It All #5 Ft. Amir Khamseh 06.06.2026 58min

  He had it all at Tesla — then his mum passed away, and it changed everything. This is the story of Amir Khamseh on turning grief into power.In this episode we talk with Amir Khamseh, a former Tesla engineer who walked away from his career after losing his mother — and rebuilt his life around meditation, healing and helping other people. We get into grief, the courage to start over, what mindfulness really taught him, and how he's turning his hardest chapter into purpose as a life coach.CHAPTERS:(00:00) Intro: Iran to Canada to Tesla(02:27) The 4am call: "your mum is sick"(04:20) A stage four diagnosis(05:36) Losing his mum, back at Tesla(07:08) "Using only 20% of my potential"(08:22) His first meditation, at 5am(09:56) Meditation as medicine for grief(11:49) Talking to the voices in your head(14:01) The dark night of the soul(15:51) Life before: money & emptiness(19:34) Matt's story: a broken leg(22:05) When trauma becomes a gateway(26:26) The unworthy six-year-old(30:21) "Just being is enough"(33:04) Why bad habits protect you(35:30) Meditation: a workout for the mind(39:50) Respond, don't react(40:56) Relax and release (Michael Singer)(44:09) Why he became a life coach(45:31) The courage to quit Tesla(49:23) The science of following your heart(54:11) His message at rock bottom(56:50) Where to find Amir & outroA conversation about loss, reinvention, and the lessons that only pain can teach.Find Amir on IG - @AmirkhmsFollow the show for new episodes on grief, growth, mindset, meditation and reinvention. Hosted by Matt & Beth — two UK teachers exploring life beyond the classroom.
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  The Hard Truth Nobody Teaches You In School #4 02.06.2026 16min

  Nobody is coming to save you — and that's the best news you'll hear all year.Too many young people leave school thinking life owes them an easy ride: a good job will fall in their lap, money comes quick, or someone else will sort it all out. This is the wake-up call I wish I'd had at 16.I get real about why life is hard, why no one is coming to rescue you, and what actually sets people apart — learning new skills, volunteering, and doing uncomfortable things long before you're forced to. It's not talent and it's not luck. It's being willing to do hard things while everyone else waits for easy.If you're young, a bit lost, or a parent who wants your kid to hear the truth — this one's for you.CHAPTERSFollow me on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook: @WheresHodgielinktr.ee/whereshodgie
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  Thailand or Vietnam? UK Teacher's Honest Comparisons #3 31.05.2026 30min

  Thailand or Vietnam — which one actually wins?After living, teaching and travelling across both countries, Beth and I sat down to compare them properly. No tourist-board fluff, no "everywhere is amazing" cop-outs. Just two UK teachers talking honestly about what life is really like in each place.We get into the food, the cost of living, what teaching is actually like day-to-day, the people, the weekend escapes, the culture shocks nobody warns you about, and which country we'd genuinely go back to.Whether you're thinking about teaching abroad, planning a trip, or just curious how these two Southeast Asian giants really compare — this one's for you.CHAPTERS(0:00) Intro: Vietnam vs Thailand(0:42) Best food & best dish(2:41) Best beaches(3:38) Cheapest & best value(6:51) Best experience: the Ha Giang Loop(8:15) Most authentic travel(9:06) Most things to do(10:33) Kindest people(12:11) Best weather(13:17) Funniest people(14:55) Best fashion & style icons(15:43) Best sales technique(18:14) Best holiday & celebrations(19:40) Best beauty treatments(21:54) Craziest roads(22:37) Best city(24:15) Best for an adventure(25:41) Best for a relaxing break(26:21) Most livable & cost of living(28:38) Final scores & the winner(29:47) Outro & socialsFeaturing Beth (@bethanypayetartist on Instagram).Part of Lessons Beyond the Classroom — the series where we talk about everything teaching abroad has taught us outside the four walls of a school.Follow along:Instagram: @whereshodgieYouTube: @whereshodgie - full video version with travel clips available there!If you enjoyed this episode, a follow and a rating on Spotify genuinely helps more teachers and travellers find the show. Cheers for listening.
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  Why I Quit Teaching & He Left The UK #2 ft. @Family.Of.5.In.Thailand 30.05.2026 51min

  Two big leaps. One conversation.In Episode #2 of Lessons Beyond The Classroom, I'm joined by Reece Haslam — a British dad who packed up his entire family of 5 and built a new life in Thailand. You'll know him from @family.of.5.in.thailand on Instagram, where he documents the realities of raising kids abroad and the truth about leaving Britain behind.CHAPTERS(00:00) Intro & meet Reece(02:07) Why leave the UK?(03:34) Cost of living, tax & red tape(05:49) Food, health & feeling better(08:52) A day in the life(10:04) Growing a social media following(17:47) Authentic content vs the algorithm(20:38) From UK teacher to world traveller(21:29) UK vs Thailand: education(24:46) What international school costs(25:44) Homeschooling & teaching abroad(28:38) Culture, safety & raising kids(30:30) Best things about Thailand(31:55) Healthcare vs the NHS(35:32) Doing business the right way(42:02) Advice for making the leap(44:01) How they ended up in Thailand(45:17) Visas & work permits explained(49:42) Where to find Reece & Mr HodgeThis conversation came from a question I've been sitting with for a long time: what makes someone actually leave? Not dream about it, not talk about it on a Sunday night — but pack up their entire life and go.I left teaching. He left the country. We sat down and compared notes.What we covered:→ The moment Reece knew the UK wasn't working for his family anymore→ Why the British school system is failing kids (from both a parent and an ex-teacher's perspective)→ The real cost — financial and emotional — of uprooting a family of 5→ What "freedom" actually looks like when you have children depending on you→ Why so many young British families are choosing to leave right now→ The hardest part of starting over in a country where you don't speak the language→ What we've both learned about ourselves by choosing the path nobody around us understood→ The advice we'd give to anyone sitting on the edge of a similar leapThis is the kind of conversation I wish someone had recorded for me before I made my own leap. Honest, practical, and free of the "follow your dreams" platitudes you've heard a thousand times.If you've ever sat at your desk and wondered whether there's another way to live this life — this episode is for you.────────────────────About the show:Lessons Beyond The Classroom is hosted by Mr Hodge, a former UK teacher who walked away from the classroom to chase a more meaningful life. Each week features either a solo lesson (the kind that school never taught) or an honest conversation with someone living life on their own terms.About the guest:Reece Haslam documents life as a British expat dad raising 5 kids in Thailand. Find him on Instagram at @family.of.5.in.thailand.────────────────────Follow Mr Hodge:Instagram: @whereshodgieTikTok: @whereshodgieYouTube: youtube.com/@MrHodgeFor brand partnerships: whereshodgie@hotmail.com────────────────────If you enjoyed this episode, the best thing you can do is leave a rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts — it genuinely helps new listeners find the show. And if you know someone sitting on the edge of their own leap, send this episode their way.New lesson every week. Class is in session.
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  Authenticity Over Algorithms #1 24.05.2026 21min

  Authenticity over algorithms. Welcome to Episode #1 of Lessons Beyond The Classroom — a brand new series from Mr Hodge, the UK teacher who quit the classroom to share the lessons school never taught.📍 CHAPTERS(0:00) Welcome to the new series(1:04) My career-ending football injury(2:15) Why I started this series(3:19) Authenticity over algorithms(5:28) Real friends & being yourself(6:32) Chasing the footballer dream(8:18) Breaking my leg & a fresh start(8:50) Camp America: the blinkers come off(10:14) Two years in New Zealand(11:54) The hangover that changed everything(12:49) Becoming a teacher(13:36) The brutal reality of teaching(16:02) Why I quit & left the UK(17:20) Where I am now & what's next(19:48) How you can help & outro🎥 ABOUT MR HODGEI'm Mathew — a UK teacher turned travel and wellness creator, sharing the lessons that school could never teach through self-diagnosed cinematic masterpieces!!All my links: https://linktr.ee/whereshodgie🤝 FOLLOW ALONGInstagram: @whereshodgieTikTok: @whereshodgieFacebook: Mr HodgeThreads: @whereshodgieBeth's work:Instagram: @bethanypayetartistTikTok: @bethanypayetartistWebsite: bethanypayetartist.co.uk────────────────────📩 BRAND PARTNERSHIPS & INQUIRIESwhereshodgie@hotmail.com────────────────────☕ SUPPORT THE CHANNELIf my content brings you value and you'd like to support what I am doing, you can buy me a coffee here:https://buymeacoffee.com/whereshodgieThank you and have an amazing day!
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  #21 The Realities Of Travelling The World: The Highs & Lows, With Special Guests Liam Ennis & Savannah Ellis 07.02.2026 53min

  We hope you enjoy this episode with our amazing guest Liam and Sav, some of our closest friends whom we are very grateful to have spent the last 3 weeks travelling Asia with, and having them with us for the start of our journey has been special! this conversation was only a snippet of the amazing chats we have had in recent times, and we wanted to catch at least a snippet of them on camera to share with you all. enjoy!While we conquer the world, push our limits and demolish comfort zones, we aim to share with you what’s possible when ordinary people, choose an extraordinary path. We want you to be INSPIRED and awaken the unlimited potential inside you. YOU are capable of achieving ANYTHING if you believe in yourself, are willing to take risks, and step outside your comfort zone - this is where the true MAGIC happens. Have a boss day, sending peace and love to you and your loved ones - thank you for watching. CURRENTLY IN: VIETNAM 🇻🇳 🌍🙏❤️Please support by subscribing and telling a friend 😎🌏 Leaving a thumbs up/comment on any videos supports us❤️ Checkout our Tiktok & Instagram below and follow along for the adventure of a lifetime - become part of our community Brothers and Sisters worldwide😁❤️@WheresHodgie@bethanypayetartist
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  #20 Nine Habits That Have Shaped My Life... For The Better! 04.01.2026 24min

  Welcome back to another episode of The Mindset Curriculum - on todays episode we are delving into 9 Habits That Have Shaped My Life... For The Better!Habits are the outcome of the behaviours we display day to day, which eventually become second nature and we do them without thinking. So lets make our habits good ones, healthy ones, that are going to make us happier and healthier versions of ourselves! Watch your life change...Thank you for listening - please do not forget to click subscribe, leave a review, this really helps us grow quicker and help INSPIRE more people! If you could also leave a comment/like if you found this episode useful and let us know if there is any other topics you would like to see covered!Socials@themindsetcurriculum@whereshodgie@bethanypayetartistHave an amazing day - wishing you health wealth and happiness on your own journey!
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  #19 The Darker Side Of Travelling That You Won't See On Social Media 22.12.2025 22min

  Welcome back to another episode of The Mindset Curriculum - on todays episode I wanted to discuss some of the feelings I am currently experiencing in the build up to our travels, the darker side of travelling that people don't tend to talk about as much, like home sickness (I have travelled a lot and been through this all before), being away from family and on the other side of the world, the build up and the mental side of things knowing your going to be saying goodbye to all home comforts and your normality soon, and more...Thank you for listening - please do not forget to click subscribe, leave a review, this really helps us grow quicker and help INSPIRE more people! If you could also leave a comment/like if you found this episode useful and let us know if there is any other topics you would like to see covered!Socials@themindsetcurriculum@whereshodgie@bethanypayetartistHave an amazing day - wishing you health wealth and happiness on your own journey!
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  #18 The 5 Harshest Lessons Adults Learn, That Your Not Taught In School... 14.12.2025 19min

  Welcome back to another episode of The Mindset Curriculum - on todays episode we are discussing 'The 5 Harshest Lessons Adults Learn, That Your Not Taught In School...' Some of the hardest lessons in life are the ones that only experience and circumstances can teach us, so we wanted to share this with you from our own experiences in the hope that they may help you avoid some mistakes in your own journey and prepare better for things to come...Thank you for listening - please do not forget to click subscribe, leave a review, this really helps us grow quicker and help INSPIRE more people! If you could also leave a comment/like if you found this episode useful and let us know if there is any other topics you would like to see covered!Socials@themindsetcurriculum@whereshodgie@bethanypayetartistHave an amazing day - wishing you health wealth and happiness on your own journey!
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  #17 Winter Blues: Why You Feel Off (and Why It’s Normal To Feel This Way) 07.12.2025 15min

  Welcome back to another episode of The Mindset Curriculum - Todays episode is about how we can navigate our feelings and energy levels in winter, and highlights that it is completely normal for us to feel a little low on energy, motivation and mood in winter, compared to how we may have felt a few months back in the lighter days. This is something I have been fighting through myself, motivation to train as hard, getting up early is a struggle, but we cannot be too harsh on ourselves - it is natural to slow down, rest more and relax in winter - so do what you can and don't beat yourself up.Thank you for listening - please do not forget to click subscribe, leave a review, this really helps us grow quicker and help INSPIRE more people! If you could also leave a comment/like if you found this episode useful and let us know if there is any other topics you would like to see covered!Socials@themindsetcurriculum@whereshodgie@bethanypayetartistHave an amazing day - wishing you health wealth and happiness on your own journey!
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  5 Reasons Why You NEED TO Quit Your Job & Travel At Least Once In Your Life! 29.11.2025 25min

  Welcome back to another episode of The Mindset Curriculum - on today's episode I delved in to my TOP FIVE REASONS why you should quit your job and travel the world at some point in your life.I appreciate this road may not be for everyone, but if you, like me, have a calling inside you to something bigger, you know there is more but your not sure what's missing... this could be for you.Thank you for listening - please do not forget to click subscribe, leave a review, this really helps us grow quicker and help INSPIRE more people! If you could also leave a comment/like if you found this episode useful and let us know if there is any other topics you would like to see covered!Socials@themindsetcurriculum@whereshodgie@bethanypayetartistHave an amazing day - wishing you health wealth and happiness on your own journey!