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
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, Gretchen shares how she walked away from one of the most prestigious jobs in tech, taught herself painting online, and pioneered “Search Engine Art” by manipulating digital...
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.
What happens when you realize the system you’re succeeding in no longer reflects your values? For Steven, that moment came when he saw firsthand how success could be disconn...
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 impact.
Now an executive coach and founder of Pro Tip Partners, Karlyn helps leaders communicate with clarity, think on their feet, and lead with intention. But getting there ...
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 innovation from within. But over time, he realized the system couldn’t move at the pace he believed healthcare needed.
In this episode, Adam shares what led to that decision...
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, Aundrea shares what led to that realization, the internal conflict of leaving something she worked so hard for, and how she approached building a new path through entrepren...
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, Farah shares the moment that changed everything. A quiet realization during a coaching session that made the burnout disappear and revealed the work she truly wanted to do.
We talk abo...
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-hour weeks and running on empty. Kevin shares what it cost to build a national movement and what happened after he left. Depression. Identity loss. A search for purpose bey...
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 forced a decision: shrink or build.
Nicaila is the founder of Side Hustle Pro, a top-ranked entrepreneurship podcast with over 10 million downloads. But before the Hall of Fame ...
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 burnout, high blood pressure, and a cardiologist’s warning forced him to confront what his career was really costing him. He opens up about turning down a six-figure safet...
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. Leaders feel stretched thin. Teams feel unseen.
Tracy is a sociologist and Vice President of Workplace Insights at Steelcase. She has spent years studying happiness, belong...
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 Klotz coined The Great Resignation. But the real story was never about quitting. It was about clarity.
In the Season 5 premiere of Why I Left, Anthony returns to unpack what actuall...
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 career transitions and identity shifts. What changes when success no longer fits. What it costs to stay too long. And why discipline, not momentum, builds something that l...
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 finance to becoming an award-winning barber and founder of Burke Avenue, a premium mens grooming line. Discover how a passion for barbering, ignited by a simple gif...
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 passion for igniting leadership and transformation. Discover how her trailblazing path, from breaking barriers in her hometown to leading learning and development i...
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 to leadership development expert, revealing how grief, transition, and trust shape meaningful career change. Discover practical, neuroscience-backed str...
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-powered attorney to transformational coach for lawyers. Discover how Scott leverages timeless Greek mythology to help professionals unshackle themselves from limiting...
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 journey from overcoming adversity in her youth to thriving as a workplace wellbeing expert. Discover how Chases own experiences with chronic pain and career pivots f...
In this powerful episode of Why I Left, Brian Aquart sits down with Zhou Fang, Founder of Intersectional Group and host of the Intersection Podcast. Zhou shares her journey from immigrant tech professional to social justice entrepreneur, highlighting the role of intersectionality in equity and inclusion work. Discover how...
Brian sits down with Danielle Perlin-Good, the Soul-Aligned Ghostwriter. Danielle shares her powerful journey from being laid off at the Chicago Tribune to launching a thriving business helping leaders, executives, and visionaries craft authentic, lasting legacies through ghostwritten books. Discover how intuition, spirit...
Brian Aquart welcomes Walt Morgan, a retired Navy helicopter pilot turned leadership coach. Walt shares his inspiring journey from the cockpit to the classroom and the corporate world, diving into the emotional realities of military separation and the profound identity shift vets often face. Discover Walts unique insights...
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