Island Life Stories

Darren
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Places & Travel

Real stories. Real people. No filters. Just honest conversations about life, experiences and the moments that shape us, like moving abroad.

Episodes

  1. 1 day ago

    The Itch: Why We Left Wales, Moved to Saint Helena, and Came Home

    Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode, host Darren steps away from the interview chair to tell a story he's never fully told on the podcast: his own. For years, Darren felt a restless "itch" — a nagging sense that there had to be something more, even as he built a settled life in the Welsh Valleys. That itch eventually led him and his family to make a leap most people only talk about: leaving Wales behind for Saint Helena, a tiny, remote British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, hundreds of miles from anywhere. Darren shares what island life on Saint Helena was really like, the extraordinary warmth of the local community (the Saints), and how a family illness back home eventually forced a decision to return to Wales sooner than planned. But this isn't a story about a dream that failed — it's about what happens in the messy middle between deciding and doing, why coming home isn't the same as giving up, and how the "itch" that drove him for years finally went quiet. It's also the origin story of Island Life Stories itself — why Darren started interviewing people who've made big, life-changing decisions, and what he's learned from all of them along the way. Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome & why this episode is different01:00 – The itch: years of feeling like something was missing03:00 – How COVID made the itch impossible to ignore04:00 – One last family holiday, then the decision was made05:00 – Moving to Saint Helena: what it's really like on this remote island07:00 – The gap between "I'd love to" and "I've done it" — and how Island Life Stories was born09:00 – Reflections on the guests and stories the podcast has featured so far10:30 – When the plan changed: family illness and the decision to return to Wales12:00 – Coming home — and realizing the itch was finally gone15:00 – The Saints: the people who made Saint Helena feel like home16:30 – So, what now? Settling back into life in Wales18:00 – What the experience taught him about agency, change, and starting again19:00 – A message for anyone sitting with their own "itch"21:00 – What's next for Island Life Stories, and how to get involvedFollow the show and find everything Island Life Stories: linktr.ee/islandlifestories If this episode resonates, share it with someone standing at their own crossroads. And if you've got a story of a big decision that changed your life's direction, Darren would love to hear it — details at the link above.

  2. 28 Jul

    When the Dream Move Isn't Quite Right: Kate Kurdziej on Starting Over

    Send us Fan Mail Description: Kate Kurdziej was a practice manager in wealth management in Yorkshire when COVID hit, her waters broke early, and life suddenly felt very fragile. Five months later, with maternity pay running out and no desire to put her newborn into full-time childcare, she launched her own business strategy consultancy from home — a decision that would eventually take her family to two different countries. In this episode, Kate talks us through the lifelong dream of moving to rural France, what happened when that dream turned out to be lonelier and less practical than expected, and the tough but ultimately right decision to start again in Jávea, Spain. We cover the reality of juggling visas across three countries (including a late-stage pivot to Polish EU citizenship via her husband), the impact the move had on her young son's development, and how Kate has since pivoted her business into hosting and coaching business retreats. If you've ever dreamed of moving abroad — with or without kids — this episode is full of honest, practical, lived-experience advice. About Kate: Kate Kurdziej is a business retreat host and retreat launch strategist based in Jávea, Spain. She helps entrepreneurs plan and launch their own sold-out retreats, having built and rebuilt her own consultancy business across the UK, France, and Spain. Connect with Kate: Instagram: @kate_kurdziejWebsite: olivier-consultancy.co.ukEmail: kate@olivier-consultancy.co.ukWANT TO LAUNCH YOUR FIRST RETREAT? Watch the my free training- The 5 Must-have Steps to Your First Sold-Out RetreatJOIN A BUSINESS RETREAT Work ON your strategy in Spain without distractions; Join the waitlist hereFeatured in: The Times | Daily Mail | i Newspaper | Stylist Magazine | We are Tech Women | The Successful Founder | Process Excellence Network | Tech Round | She Can Code Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Kate01:00 – Life before the move: Yorkshire, wealth management, and burnout02:00 – Introducing Jávea and life on the Costa Blanca03:00 – COVID, an early birth, and the pivotal moment04:00 – Launching a business from home with a newborn06:00 – The leap to France: entrepreneur visas and selling everything07:00 – Rural French life: cold winters and isolation08:00 – Their son's speech delays and the search for support10:00 – Discovering Jávea and the digital nomad visa11:00 – Settling in Spain and no regrets14:00 – Worrying about what other people would think17:00 – The visa maze: digital nomad visas vs. Polish EU citizenship19:00 – Their son thriving, trilingual, and settled in Spanish school23:00 – Why the Spanish climate matters for wellbeing24:00 – Future plans: finding the "forever house"25:00 – Pivoting the business into hosting retreats27:00 – Would she do it all again?30:00 – Reflecting on France with no regrets31:00 – Kate's advice for anyone considering a big move33:00 – Closing thoughts and thanksHashtags: #ExpatLife #MoveAbroad #DigitalNomad #LifeInSpain #BusinessRetreat #FemaleFounder #IslandLifeStories

  3. 14 Jul

    From Ultramarathons to the Altar - Father Ernest Fritz

    Send us Fan Mail From Ultramarathons to the Altar: Father Ernest Fritz What happens when a life that looks successful on the outside is quietly falling apart on the inside? In this episode of Island Life Stories, I sit down with Father Ernest Fritz — a man who grew up on the Cape Flats of Cape Town, built a career in business and manufacturing, and ran four ultramarathons chasing a breakthrough he couldn't quite name. Then, mid-training-run one Saturday morning, a stroke stopped him in his tracks — and changed the direction of his life for good. Not long after, Father Ernest and his wife Maureen left everything behind in South Africa to start again on St Helena Island, following the trail of her family roots, where he now serves as a priest. We recorded this conversation inside St Peter's Church in Sandy Bay, St Helena — a beautiful, atmospheric setting that comes with a little extra echo on the audio. Stick with it; what Father Ernest shares is more than worth it. A conversation about faith, loss, running, and learning to trust that you're exactly where you're meant to be.

  4. 30 Jun

    Confessions of a Sea Gypsy - How I Built a Business on a Boat - Louise Lambert

    Send us Fan Mail Confessions of a Sea Gypsy: How Louise Lambert Built a Business on a Boat She calls herself a "sea gypsy" — and once you hear her story, you'll know why. In this episode of Island Life Stories, Darren sits down with Louise Lambert, who sold up during the pandemic, bought a boat with her husband, and built an entirely new life — and business — on the water. Louise opens up about the real story behind the dream: three years of planning, a leap of faith taken mid-lockdown, the challenges of living and working in a space smaller than most living rooms, and how she went from virtual assistant to running her own thriving remote business, all from the deck of a boat. In this episode: How a sailing holiday turned into five years (and counting) of life on the waterLosing her job during COVID — and turning it into an opportunityUpgrading boats (and finally getting a bed big enough to share!)Building a remote tech and automation business while sailingThe realities — and joys — of living in close quartersLouise is currently writing a book about their adventures. Sign up on her website for updates and behind-the-scenes stories. Connect with Louise: 🌐 Website & newsletter: louiselambert.co.uk 📺 YouTube: @LouiseLambert-FreedomArchitect 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/louise.lambert.9883 ✉️ Email: hello@pstt.co.uk 💬 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who needs a little inspiration today. Available on all major podcast platforms.

  5. 16 Jun

    From NHS GP to Wellness Pioneer - Dr Anne Alison

    Send us Fan Mail Dr Anne Alison | From NHS GP to Wellness Pioneer In this episode we're joined by Dr Anne Alison — GP, founder, and the inspiring force behind Vale Wellness in Cowbridge, Wales. Anne's story is one of courage, vision, and an unshakeable belief that healthcare can — and should — be so much more. After nearly two decades serving patients within the NHS, Dr Anne took a leap of faith and founded Vale Wellness: a pioneering, multidisciplinary private healthcare clinic offering GP services, physiotherapy, psychology, nutrition, NESA therapy, and more — all under one roof, with a genuinely personal touch. We explore her journey, her passion for running, and why she believes that treating the whole person — not just the condition — is the key to a healthier, happier life. A truly inspiring listen.   📚 Book Referenced ⚠️ Title note: Referenced in the episode as "Ultra-Processed Humans" — the correct title is: Ultra-Processed People by Dr Chris van Tulleken (2023) — available from all major booksellers.   🔗 Links & Resources Vale Wellness, Cowbridge 🌐 www.valegp.co.uk 📧 enquiries@valewellness.co.uk 📍 London House, 89 Eastgate, Cowbridge, CF71 7AA 📱 @valewellnessgp on Instagram 🏃 @vwdr_ontherun on Instagram   💬 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who needs a little inspiration today. Available on all major podcast platforms.

  6. 6 Jun

    From Electrician to Empowerment Mentor - Anastasia Salichou

    Send us Fan Mail Anastasia Salichou is an Akashic Records Healer and Coach, public speaker and trainer who helps people reclaim their unique personal power, heal past and present life trauma, and step into their authentic selves and potentiality. With her work in the Records alongside several healing modalities, she channels healing energy and messages in a way that’s practical, empowering, and transformative. She supports her clients and audience into deep healing, understanding their Soul Gifts and Potential, and creating a life that truly speaks to them. Links Website: www.anastasia.coachYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnastasiaSalichouFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnastasiaSalichou/ https://www.facebook.com/AnastasiaTransformationCoachHealer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasia_transformation_coach/

  7. 6 Jun

    A Tale of Yacht-Driven Family Freedom - Hannah Herne

    Send us Fan Mail Hannah Hern was born in New Zealand, educated in the UK, and working as a nurse when her husband James came home from a Southampton boat show with a poster and a question: Should we buy a yacht? Hannah's answer — "Only rich people have boats" — didn't quite stick. In this episode, Hannah tells her side of the story: six years living aboard Carpe Diem on the Itchen River in all weathers (including snow on the deck and ice in the river), raising three young children in a 38-foot Bavaria while saving, learning to sail on Sundays, and quietly preparing for a life most people thought would never happen. Then in 2012, they sailed out of the UK and never looked back. What followed was five and a half years circumnavigating the globe — crossing the Bay of Biscay, sailing down to St. Helena, across to Brazil, through the Pacific, and spending two and a half years in and out of New Zealand. Along the way, the family volunteered in Fiji after Cyclone Winston, spending three and a half months helping rebuild a primary school alongside a fleet of fellow cruisers. The kids were homeschooled throughout, and their youngest two can barely remember life before the ocean. Hannah reflects honestly on the whole journey — the 24/7 togetherness, the lack of family support, the moments of "what on earth are we doing?" — and why, despite all of that, she'd do it again in a heartbeat. Now farming eight acres on St. Helena and supplying fresh produce to passing yachties, she's clear that the adventure isn't over yet. Follow Hannah on https://facebook.com/james.herne.2025 If you are visiting St Helena by yacht and would like to reach out to Hannah for services or guidance please contact them here too. On Island, Hannah is at Gift Cottage Farm.

  8. 6 Jun

    From Island to Off-Grid Freedom - James Herne

    Send us Fan Mail Born on the remote island of St. Helena in 1972, James Hern spent much of his childhood in a children's home — but rather than letting that define him, he channelled his energy into books, self-reliance, and the sea. He taught himself to windsurf, built his own powerboat (becoming the first St. Helenian to do so), and went on to rack up over 100,000 registered nautical miles as a skipper. In this episode, James shares the remarkable story of how he and his wife Hannah made a six-year plan to leave the UK, sail away through the Solent with three young children aboard their 40-foot Bavaria, and spend over six years circumnavigating the globe — homeschooling their kids along the way. Their eldest son, educated entirely on the boat until the age of 14, went on to achieve three times the government expectation in maths in his very first year at school. Now back on St. Helena, James and Hannah have traded life at sea for eight acres of tropical farmland in Sandy Bay — growing papayas, avocados, flowers, and coffee, entirely off the grid. For the past 20 years they haven't paid a single domestic bill, powering their home with solar panels and a 70-year-old spring. And just like on the boat, they built it all from scratch with no farming background, learning as they go. James's message is simple: every goal is reachable, the boat is only as strong as the skipper, and the one thing he'd do differently? Start ten years earlier. Follow James: https://facebook.com/james.herne.2025 Contact James here too if you are visiting St Helena by yacht and would like to reach out for his services. On island find him at Gift Cottage Farm.

  9. Trailer

    Trailer

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Island Life Stories - a podcast sharing honest, inspiring conversations with people who've taken a leap, made a change, or chosen a different path in life.

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Real stories. Real people. No filters. Just honest conversations about life, experiences and the moments that shape us, like moving abroad.

Information

  • Creator
    Darren
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Island Life Stories
  • Show Website
    Island Life Stories