Lessons Beyond The Classroom - With Mr Hodge

Episoder

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• 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!
• #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
• #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!
• #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!
• #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!
• #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!
• 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!
• Why Learning Shouldn't End When You Leave School... It Begins! 23.11.2025 26min

  Ask yourself... Do you have a growth mindset, or a fixed mindset?Do you seek new knowledge, do you try to learn new skills, do you read? Do you look at articles, podcasts, journals to try and learn new things? Do you open yourself up to new opportunities and push yourself to be better? These are all signs of somebody who has a growth mindset, and understands the value and importance of learning - forever! There will never be a day where I sit and think- I do not need to learn anymore, I have mastered life. this is simply impossible! There is ALWAYS something new to be learned, skills, knowledge, experience, we can always learn. if you adopt this mindset - you will go far.Please do not forget to subscribe to the podcast, leave a like and a comment! :) @whereshodgie@themindsetcurriculum@bethanypayetartistHave a great day!
• 10 Simple Ways To Quickly Improve The Quality Of Your Life & BE HAPPIER! 20.11.2025 26min

  10 Simple ways to improve your life quality in a short space of time - none of these are super difficult or expensive - this is accessible for anyone wanting to live a happier life - so give it a listen and let me know how you get on!Have a beautiful day.Checkout the socials below & don't forget to subscribe@Whereshodgie@themindsetcurriculum@bethanypayetartist
• FIVE Reasons Why You NEED To Do A Summer Camp In America - A Life Changing Travel Experience 13.11.2025 21min

  CALLING ALL PEOPLE WITH A CRAVING FOR ADVENTURE, BUT NOT SURE WHERE TO START. GO AND WATCH SOME VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE TYPE IN CAMP AMERICA CLIPS AND YOU WILL SEE WHY ITS A MUST. THIS PODCAST WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO GET CRACKING.CHECKOUT CAMP LEADERS LIVERPOOL, OR IF OUTSIDE OF LIVERPOOL, TRY CAMP AMERICA UK. GET YOUR JOURNEY STARTED NOW!
• The Truth About Alcohol That Nobody Teaches You In School & Why I Gave Up Drinking For Good At 23 10.11.2025 28min

  This podcast episode entails of honest opinions, some truthful stories and anecdotes from my life and my own experiences, which will hopefully open your eyes a little more as it is so easy to fall into this trap, especially as a youngster thinking that alcohol and partying is the be all and end all - it really isn't, and there is so much more to life than this. You just need to find the things you love to do that bring you joy and are sustainable for you - for me, this is things like hiking, camping, walking, dog walks, family time, training, exploring, holidays, eating good food, seeing friends and more. None of these include alcohol and I am so happy! I hope this episode can get you to think a little differently than what you may have done previously when with mates influencing you, and I hope this is useful for you.Please do not forget to follow the podcast and leave a positive review if you enjoyed it, this helps our podcast grow and these take me a long time to make - I enjoy doing this and even if these episodes reach just one person and help them make a happier and healthier life for themselves, then I have done my job. Have a great day! :) ⁨@WheresHodgie⁩  THE MINDSET CURRICULUM EPISODE 12
• Buying Property In The UK In 2025 (FOR NOOBS) - Mistakes, Lessons & Key Advice To Help You BUY! 02.11.2025 34min

  WE JUST GOT THE KEYS TO OUR FIRST HOME IN LIVERPOOL - YAY!But it was NOT straight forward. This episode goes through the good, the bad & the ugly, in a step by step format of everything you need to know about buying your first property in the UK, highlighting our mistakes, our findings, our biggest tips, and also some excellent recommendations for people to use in your buying process if you are in the Liverpool area too!Shoutout to CRC Mortgages ltd. (Chris)Freetec Surveyors Ltd (Graham)MAGS Property Management (Casey)
• How To Get Men THRIVING Again - With THRIVE Mens Mental Health Founder Brian Crane 25.10.2025 1t 13min

  I am so excited to share this one with you all, and I am certain this deep chat will help inspire, motivate, and open up MANY men and women alike, thanks to Brians incredible openness, honesty, and ability to inspire. We met only a few weeks back when I decided to go on my first thrive walk through a friends recommendation, and I went here for a reason - me and Brian have clicked instantly and we are very alike. I hope that this episode helps even just one man or woman who is struggling and can feel inspired to open up and be open to receiving support and the love that they need to thrive again.Don't forget to subscribe, check out our socials and leave a like/comment. If you found this episode useful then be a superstar and share it with a friend, family member, or to your social media pages to help my channel reach more people and make a bigger impact. @whereshodgie@goprobri78@thrive_mentalhealthandwellness@BethanypayetartistHave an amazing day, look after yourselves, and keep thriving!
• Understanding The 4 Types Of Human Behaviour & Using This Knowledge To Improve Your Relationships 21.10.2025 41min

  Have you ever been around somebody and wondered how could you possibly think that or how could you possibly behave like that? Are there people in your family or in your friendship circle that you look at and just wonder how are you like this?! It might be that Uncle at the parties who always has energy regardless of what time it is. Or it may be that crazy auntie who is always bothering people about. Or maybe you have that friend who never ever ever stop talking and find listening really hard. We all have people like this in our lives and the reason for this is because they are for typical human behaviour characteristics/traits which are discussed in great detail in this incredible book that I have recently read called surrounded by idiots. Having this knowledge can be extremely helpful and understanding why people think the way they do and how your own brain works too this can help us understand our own behaviour and improve the relationships around us by being more empathetic and more understanding to other peoples needs and behaviours if this sounds of interest to you then give this podcast to save and I would love to hear any feedback. I have tried to put the books times into clear and concise key concepts whilst giving examples from my own life on my own understanding of the key concept mentioned. Thank you for listening and please do not forget to leave a review and follow/subscribe. Have a great day people