The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching

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 inspiring students, and the increasing pressures that began to chip away at his health and sense of purpose. He shares the moments that forced him to pause, reassess, and ultimately step away from the pro...

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 teaching to a brutal relocation that left her physically unwell, mentally exhausted and teaching in a condemned classroom, Hannah’s story is one of survival, clarity and courage.

She shares what it was li...

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 age that teaching was his calling. After six joyful years in the classroom, James took a promotion and relocated to a new school. Within four terms, everything changed.

He describes the slow unravelling that foll...

Kat’s Story, Part 2: Swallow - A Film That Could Change Everything

In this gripping second half of our conversation with Kat Philippou-Curtis, we’re joined by the legendary Cathy Tyson, who brings Kat’s story to life in the upcoming film Swallow.

Together, we explore how a teacher who refused to be gagged transformed personal trauma into a powerful work of art. We talk about non-disclosure agreements, toxic leadership, cultural discr...

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 lecturer, loved by many of her students and deeply committed to unlocking creativity through the arts. But what started as a dream job quickly unravelled into a nightmare of bullying, systemic malpracti...

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 longer fit the life he wanted. From pushing for curriculum change to missing out on time with his own children, Jay found himself questioning everything.

We talk about the rigid structures of educat...

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 better off if he signed on.

But somehow, against the odds, Jay found his way into the classroom.

In this episode, Jay shares his early life with brutal honesty. We talk about growing up in chao...

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 funeral, the long shadow of trauma, and how Mr Dale - the teacher persona - became both a mask and a means of survival. Gareth shares how he began to write feverishly at night, eventually turning his grief in...

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 through his early teaching journey, the formative years in tough inner-city schools, and the moment his life changed forever with the birth - and tragic loss - of his newborn daughter, Clara.

He opens...

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 art rooms to leadership roles, Giselle gave everything to her students. But delayed PTSD, sleepless years, and a system that demanded more than she could give eventually led to a complete breakdown.

N...

Emma Harper Part 1: From Promise to Breaking Point

Emma 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, early career promise, and a series of personal and professional challenges that pushed her to the edge.

We talk about international teaching experiences, burnout, student behaviour, toxic leadership, and the si...

Emma Harper Part 2: Finding Freedom After the Fall

In 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 leave teaching in December 2023. What followed was not just survival, but transformation.

Emma shares how tutoring became a vital part of her healing, how she built Core Plus Tuition, and why creating a saf...

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 maternity leave, the praise disappeared, the support vanished, and the treatment became so toxic it pushed her to the brink.

Jeannette shares her early love of teaching, her impact on students in ...

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 broken. She describes a period of severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and the moment a school chose to send a parental complaint - on the very day she’d shared her mental health crisis.

But this episode i...

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 episode, we follow David from the early days of creative teaching and academic passion, through a toxic shift in school culture, the loss of professional autonomy, and the impact of long COVID on his well-being. From being told that “90% of teaching is marking” to exp...

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 work and student support roles, to landing a new job at Durham University (in the castle, no less), David reflects on rebuilding his confidence, recovering from burnout, and rediscovering joy in his work. He shares what true leadership and professionalism really l...

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 an event, that reminded her not all schools are toxic, and some can still feel like home.

🎙️ Kitty White shares how the simple act of walking through the woods in the morning – free from a timetable – helped her ...

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 on hundreds of real teacher experiences, they unpack the early warning signs, the subtle shifts in communication and behaviour, and the emotional toll that workplace bullying can take. You’ll learn:

• How to...

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 Jones shares the life-saving impact of leaving teaching - how being able to drop everything for her son’s emergency surgery reminded her what true flexibility looks like.

 🎙 Paul Lennon reflects on ...