Destination Unknown

Lorna Greville

Does anyone know what they want to be when they grow up? Does anyone know what the options really are? I didn't but through trial and a lot of error I've carved a pretty good path. Destination Unknown sheds a light on all the possible career destinations out there to help map the way. What is it really like to be a medical doctor? a teaching assistant? a graphic designer? a data scientist? Let's find out together. The destination is always unknown until you get there.

Episodes

  1. 12/22/2021

    5. Being a GP, with Dr Swain

    Episode 5 here and this week we talk to a doctor in the NHS.  Our guest is Dr Matthew Swain who also happens to be my husband. It’s really difficult to interview your husband! I know so much about him and his journey and in many ways we’ve been along a lot of it together. As we enter another Christmas in which we’re all scared of another snap lockdown and not spending the time with our loved ones, this conversation really doesn’t focus on the pandemic at all. While it will continue to change our lives, and certainly the lives of doctors, ultimately the role of a doctor will not waiver from the need to diagnose and treat. So, instead of covid we spend a lot of time talking about the process of actually applying; it is long, arduous and all consuming. And we also talk about what it takes to be a good doctor, what drives Matt, and what could make the profession better.  Matt is a man of few words normally; we don’t talk about work because - as you’ll hear - he strongly compartmentalises. I think you can hear that speaking at length about himself isn’t his comfort zone, he takes his time to find the right words and to be considered. With that, I’m enormously grateful that he shared this experience and I hope for those of you planning your future in medicine that you take this in the spirit it is intended; to help you go into it with two eyes open.  Something I find particularly impressive is that Matt was the first in his family to go to university, his parents had no experience, knowledge or real understanding about what was needed and yet Matt worked it out, constantly went the extra mile and used the support around himself to make it happen.  More and more people are going to university, 38% of 18 year olds this year are going straight into university, so of course there are a lot of people who, like Matt, don't have that kind of support. If that's you, I hope this is helpful, and if you have more questions reach out on Instagram, @destinationunknownpod

    1h 5m
  2. 12/07/2021

    3. Taking fate into your own hands, with Rhiannon Carter

    This conversation is with Rhiannon Carter, an English language teacher, business owner, Theology graduate, and an endlessly curious and intellectually lively person who is also - on top of all of that - a wonderful friend. Once again this conversation took place in UK lockdown. During the pandemic Rhiannon lost her job; the school she had been working for essentially lost all its students, rendering its teachers redundant. Another example of the devastation the pandemic has wrought. But Rhiannon took this opportunity and pivoted it to become her own boss, and to teach the way she wanted to teach. The way she saw her students get the most value from her. She has found in her career what she most loved through her own education; big ideas and a safe space to talk about them in depth. Being her own boss also means taking time for herself. I find the internet is full of alls-or-nothings. Either a true hustle culture that admires a 24hr work day, or a stream of ‘relax relax relax’. Both of which are valid and I think Rhiannon has found a way to hustle and relax; a most essential balance. Her business has truly gone from strength to strength and you can follow her on instagram @rhiannonelt or check out her website at www.rhiannonelt.com I do hope that you enjoyed it. Please do like and subscribe. Check us out on instagram @destinationunknownpod If you’d like to be a guest I would LOVE To hear from you. If you have career paths you’d like to hear about please let me know. We’ll be back next week with another quietly amazing person. For now, fellow travellers, thank you for listening and see you down the road. Lastly, I would like to send a huge thank you to Gordon C. Wake who created the music in this episode.

    1h 5m
  3. 12/01/2021

    2. Finding work-life balance with Sam Ryder

    Music and Barnsley football club were Sam’s first loves. So perhaps it’s unsurprising that he’s now Head of Operations at a large music and event venue in the north of England. Sam is a music and philosophy graduate, and he actually credits the skills he learnt in the philosophy half of his degree as being part of the essential skills to his role now. But, it was the opportunities afforded him on a university campus that opened the first door to the industry. This raises a point about the value of university; not limited to hard skills, university is a space to jump in two feet first, connect with people who are like you and develop all the soft skills that every career will benefit from. This conversation took place mid-lockdown in the UK, during a time that Sam was on a long-term furlough, unable to work while all live events were cancelled. As you’ll hear in this conversation, not working is something that Sam is not used to. Regularly pulling 18 hour days and working weeks on end - just as I remember him while we were at university - to not work at all is alien for him and for the entire sector. It’s unsurprising then that this conversation does focus a lot on work-life balance; how to get into the industry and how to protect yourself through it too. I have to say, I had rather a little more anxiety editing the episode for someone who is such an audiophile but he has been very generous in not asking me to tinker further. I loved speaking with Sam about his journey and I hope you enjoy it too. Subscribe to the podcast for weekly instalments of Destination Unknown, follow us on Instagram @destinationunknownpod and let us know who you’d like to hear from in the future. Lastly, I would like to send a huge thank you to Gordon C. Wake who created the music in this episode.

    1h 2m

About

Does anyone know what they want to be when they grow up? Does anyone know what the options really are? I didn't but through trial and a lot of error I've carved a pretty good path. Destination Unknown sheds a light on all the possible career destinations out there to help map the way. What is it really like to be a medical doctor? a teaching assistant? a graphic designer? a data scientist? Let's find out together. The destination is always unknown until you get there.