Get A Shift On: Healthcare Career Change and Business Stories

David Birchmore
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Real stories of career change, life after redundancy, and starting a business. No hype. No jargon. Just real talk and practical steps you can use now. I'm David Birchmore. I spent over 25 years in healthcare before I left to build my own businesses. Now I help other healthcare professionals do the same. If you're a clinical healthcare professional who's burned out or thinking about leaving, this show is for you. Each week you'll hear from people who made the jump: how they decided, what they did next, and what it takes to leave and start over. New episodes every week.

  1. 4D AGO

    S1:E49 | Intimacy, Mental Health and Why Communication Is the Foundation of Everything | Gemma Nice, Sex and Relationship Coach

    It's Mental Health Awareness Week. And one of the most under talked tools for managing stress, anxiety and mental well-being isn't medication, therapy or a morning routine. According to sex and relationship coach Gemma Nice, it starts a lot closer to home. Gemma Nice is back for part two. Multi-award-winning founder of The Relationship Coach, former veterinary nurse of 19 years, and someone who rebuilt her own 26-year relationship from the ground up using breath work, yoga and some very honest conversations. This episode goes deeper. If part one was about communication breaking down, this one is about what it actually takes to rebuild it — and what your body is doing while you ignore it. For healthcare professionals who've spent years being the strong one, the capable one, the one who holds everyone else together, this conversation will land differently than most. Topics covered: Why orgasms are a legitimate mental health tool — the science of cortisol, dopamine and stress releaseThe real reason intimacy disappears in high-achieving relationships — and why it's rarely about attractionWhat perimenopause actually does to a relationship when communication isn't already thereWhy men are still left out of miscarriage, menopause and emotional health conversationsThe traffic light system for exploring new things together without pressure or blameHow to use I statements at work — not just at home — to feel seen and heardWhat erectile dysfunction and loss of arousal actually signal about the nervous systemWhy the taboo around self-pleasure is a Victorian hangover that's still costing people their mental healthMonogamy, open relationships and how communication is the only way through any of itWhy body shame starts young, why parents carry it forward, and how to break the cycle Follow Gemma Nice:Website: https://www.gemmanice.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmanicerelationshipcoachYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gemmanicerelationshipcoachPinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/GemmaHayleyNice/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GemmaHayleyNiceInsight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/yogigemmaBook a call: https://calendly.com/gemmahayleynice Follow David :David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbirchmore/ Are you ready to leave healthcare? Still in a role you've mentally already left? Answer 15 questions and find out exactly where you stand, and what to do first. Take the free 2 min quiz here: https://david-a0a3cnqe.scoreapp.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Gemma's Journey 01:02 From Veterinary Nurse to Intimacy Coach 04:03 The Impact of Travel on Relationships 10:11 Navigating Arguments and Disagreements 13:33 The Power of 'I' Statements in Communication 18:07 Authenticity in Conversations 21:51 Breaking Taboos Around Sex and Relationships 26:06 Men's Emotional Health and Communication 33:52 Sexuality and Pleasure at Any Age 35:53 Navigating Relationships Through Menopause 39:05 The Importance of Communication in Intimacy 42:54 Understanding Orgasms and Mental Health 45:58 Breaking Taboos: Masturbation and Self-Exploration 48:54 Exploring Kinks and Fetishes in Relationships 52:58 Monogamy vs. Open Relationships: A Modern Perspective 58:03 Cultural Perspectives on Sexuality and Nudity

    1h 6m

  2. APR 30

    S1:E48 | From Radiation Therapy to Running a Global Health Tech Startup | Matt Vigar, AyniHealth

    Most healthcare professionals assume the skills they built in clinical practice are only useful in clinical practice. Matt Vigar spent 18 years at Elekta, went from therapy radiographer to Vice President, and is now building his own health tech startup from Seoul. His story is proof that what you learn at the bedside, in the planning room, and on the treatment machine travels a very long way. Matt Vigar is a radiation therapist turned global business leader. He started his career in Sydney, came to the UK on what was supposed to be a two-year working holiday, and never went back. He worked his way through applications training, sales, business development and senior leadership across the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea, before being made redundant during an Elekta global restructure. He's now co-founder of AyniHealth, a health tech platform focused on clinical education, credentialing and community of practice. This conversation is honest about what it actually feels like to reach the role you set out to get and realise it isn't what you expected. Matt talks about redundancy, rebuilding, and why having a purpose before the call comes makes all the difference. For any healthcare professional wondering whether their skills travel, this is worth your time. Topics covered: How a chance conversation in a hospital corridor led to an entirely different careerThe clinical skills Matt took directly into his first applications role at Elekta18 years across the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea — and what each move taught himGetting promoted to VP and feeling flat when he got thereWhy setting systems rather than goals changes how you workHow a mentorship programme helped him find his purpose before redundancy landedThe financial reality of going from VP salary to startup founderHow AyniHealth was built around the same problem Matt watched healthcare teams struggle with for two decadesWhy healthcare professionals make unusually good business foundersWhat to do when redundancy hits and the "why me" feeling takes overThe value of finding stillness — and why Matt meditates for 30 minutes before he touches his phoneListen to the full episode now. Follow Matt Vigar:Website: https://www.ayni.health/enLinkedIn: Follow David / Via Nova here: ⁠⁠David's LinkedIn⁠⁠ If you’re done pretending you’re fine… start here. Your Final Shift is a straight-talking exit guide for healthcare professionals who can’t do another 20 years of this. Get your copy here Are you ready to leave healthcare? Still in a role you've mentally already left? Answer 15 questions and find out exactly where you stand, and what to do first Take the free 2 min quiz here Chapters00:00 - Introducing Matt Vigar and his journey from radiation therapy to healthcare leadership 02:05 - Early career in Sydney and decision to explore global opportunities 04:34 - Moving into industry at Elekta and international travel experiences 08:00 - Lessons from working abroad in Europe and Russia 12:15 - Applying clinical skills to industry roles and teaching experiences 15:43 - Notable cultural moments and social traditions in healthcare settings 21:04 - Experiences in Asia: South Korea, Hong Kong, and the region's healthcare landscape 27:35 - Transitioning from regional management to founding AyniHealth 32:00 - Building a healthcare community platform and solving education challenges 36:50 - Navigating corporate restructuring and making career shifts 42:56 - The significance of community, support, and mental well-being during change 48:46 - The role of teamwork and collaboration in healthcare and startups 55:35 - Prioritizing purpose, reflection, and mental clarity during career decisions 60:10 - Practical tips for embracing change and pursuing passions 64:18 - Personal achievements and re-evaluating success beyond titles 65:00 - Final thoughts and future plans for AyniHealth and community impact

    59 min

  3. APR 22

    S1:E47 | How to Fix Communication, Intimacy and Trust in Your Relationship | Gemma Nice, Sex and Relationship Coach

    Relationship breakdown rarely starts with a single event. It starts with communication that just stops, busy schedules, late nights, devices, and two people living alongside each other without actually connecting. Gemma Nice is a multi-award-winning sex and relationship coach, founder of The Relationship Coach, and someone who rebuilt her own 25-year relationship from near-breakdown. She left a 19-year veterinary nursing career, found yoga in Thailand on a backpacking trip that saved her relationship, and eventually built a business around the three things she sees break every relationship: communication, intimacy, and trust. This conversation goes places most podcasts won't. Gemma talks about why high-achieving professionals are particularly vulnerable to relationship breakdown, why scheduling intimacy is smarter than waiting for spontaneity, and what your body is already trying to tell you — if you'd just stop and listen. For healthcare professionals who've spent years being the capable one, the one who holds it together, this episode will make you think about what that's actually cost you. Topics covered: How to fix communication, intimacy and trust when the relationship has stalledLeaving a 19-year veterinary nursing career and why corporate takeover was the final pushHow the stress of clinical work showed up physically — and what happened when she leftThe backpacking trip to South Africa, Thailand and New Zealand that rebuilt a relationship from the inside outWhy the three pillars of communication, intimacy and trust collapse in a specific order — and what to do about itWhat high-achieving professionals get wrong about connection, and why devices are the silent relationship killerThe back-to-back conversation technique she gives clients who can't talk without it turning into an argumentWhy scheduling intimacy is not unromantic — and why you'd do it for a work meeting without blinkingThe hormonal reality of orgasm as a stress response, and what that means for anyone stuck in fight or flightThe generational roots of sexual shame, why the Victorians are still running the show, and what it takes to change thatWhy foreplay starts the moment penetrative sex ends — and what that means day to dayNew episode out now. Link in the comments. Follow Gemma Nice:WebsiteLinkedIn YouTubeInsight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/yogigemmaBook a call: https://calendly.com/gemmahayleynice Follow David / Via Nova here: ⁠⁠David's LinkedIn⁠⁠ If you’re done pretending you’re fine… start here. Your Final Shift is a straight-talking exit guide for healthcare professionals who can’t do another 20 years of this. Get your copy here Are you ready to leave healthcare? Still in a role you've mentally already left? Answer 15 questions and find out exactly where you stand, and what to do first Take the free 2 min quiz here

    1h 7m

  4. APR 15

    S1:E46 | Qualified Doctor Who Never Worked Clinically — Building a Healthcare Marketing Agency From Medical School | Tiarnan McKeever, Founder, KE Socials

    Most healthcare professionals who leave do so after years in clinical practice. Tiarnan McKeever decided during medical school that he wasn't going. He finished the degree, got the letters, and used them to build something else entirely. Tiarnan is a qualified doctor and founder of KE Socials, a digital marketing agency that works exclusively with healthcare businesses — private clinics, doctor-led services, and medical education companies. He built the foundations while still studying, graduated without ever working clinically, and now runs a team in a London office serving clients across the private healthcare sector. This conversation covers what it looks like to use medical training as a commercial asset rather than a clinical one — and what healthcare professionals who are thinking about leaving can take from a doctor who made that call early and made it deliberately. Specific topics covered: Why Tiarnan finished medical school knowing he'd never work clinically, and why having the letters still matteredHow a conversation with a consultant about an app with no users sparked the idea for the agencySending 600 cold emails to get the first client, and what being a medical student actually got him in the doorWhy 50% of his clients have come through his personal LinkedIn, not the company pageThe three-stage patient acquisition model most private clinic owners get wrongWhy he lets go of clients who undermine his freedom, even if they're paying wellHow he defined his core values around freedom before designing the business, not afterWhat doctors bring to business that they completely underestimate — and why he'd still go to medical school knowing what he knows nowHis Q1 this year — what a bad patch looked like and how outside perspective pulled him through itWhy personal brand beats business brand, and what Daniel Priestley got rightListen to the episode here. Follow Tiarnan McKeever:Website: https://growth.kesocials.com/us/xLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiarnánmckeever/ Follow David / Via Nova here: ⁠⁠David's LinkedIn⁠⁠ If you’re done pretending you’re fine… start here. Your Final Shift is a straight-talking exit guide for healthcare professionals who can’t do another 20 years of this. Get your copy here Are you ready to leave healthcare? Still in a role you've mentally already left? Answer 15 questions and find out exactly where you stand, and what to do first Take the free 2 min quiz here  Want to try billboard advertising from £80? Get started with CAASie at https://caasie.co/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=get-a-shift-on&utm_content=referral - 1.5M screens worldwide, pay-per-play. 00:00 - Introduction and guest background02:29 - Why Tiarnan stayed in medical school despite starting a side hustle04:19 - The importance of perseverance and taking on challenges07:33 - Origins of Tiarnan’s business idea and initial side projects09:27 - What services his healthcare marketing agency offers12:17 - Why more doctors seek multiple income streams14:06 - The effect of systemic issues on medical professionals’ career satisfaction16:24 - How Tiarnan designs his ideal workday based on core values18:25 - Boundaries with clients and maintaining work-life freedom20:56 - Building and managing his team with clear core values23:16 - Challenging client arrogance and focusing on ideal collaborations27:19 - The stages of patient acquisition and common clinic mistakes33:21 - Views on private healthcare and system limitations44:04 - Advice for healthcare professionals considering leaving medicine47:43 - The value of medical skills beyond clinical practice49:50 - Future plans for business expansion and growth

    48 min

  5. APR 1

    S1:E45 | How Healthcare Professionals Can Build a Personal Brand on LinkedIn (Without Quitting Their Job) | Souad Menif, Medica Ink

    Most doctors and healthcare professionals are brilliant at their job. They're invisible online. That gap is costing them opportunities they don't even know exist. In this episode of Get A Shift On, David Birchmore speaks with Souad Menif — 4th year dental student, founder of Medica Ink, and LinkedIn ghostwriter and strategist for healthcare professionals and doctor-founders — about why clinicians struggle to build a visible presence online, and what actually changes when they do. Souad shares how she built a LinkedIn ghostwriting agency while still studying full-time, what made her realise her writing skills were a real asset, and why the biggest problem isn't that doctors can't write — it's that they're trying to say too much. The conversation covers: Why healthcare professionals undervalue their own skills and experienceWhy doctors over-complicate LinkedIn and how to fix it fastThe difference between a strong personal brand and a large followingWhy engagement and commenting can outperform your own postsHow to optimise your LinkedIn profile before you write a single postBuilding a business alongside a clinical career — what's realisticWhy waiting until everything is in place is the biggest mistakeFamily pressure, career identity, and the weight of the path you were "supposed" to takeWhy Souad still does dentistry — and what that tells us about portfolio careersThe role of LinkedIn for clinicians facing NHS redundancy or career changeFor healthcare professionals wondering whether they can build something of their own without leaving the system — this episode is a direct answer. Follow Souad / Medica Ink:Website: medicaink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/souad-menifInstagram: @linkedin_dentist Follow David / Via Nova here: ⁠⁠David's LinkedIn⁠⁠ If you’re done pretending you’re fine… start here. Your Final Shift is a straight-talking exit guide for healthcare professionals who can’t do another 20 years of this. Get your copy here Are you ready to leave healthcare? Still in a role you've mentally already left? Answer 15 questions and find out exactly where you stand, and what to do first Take the free 2 min quiz here  Want to try billboard advertising from £80? Get started with CAASie at https://caasie.co/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=get-a-shift-on&utm_content=referral - 1.5M screens worldwide, pay-per-play.

    43 min

  6. MAR 12

    S1:E44 | Why Most Workplace Problems Are Communication Problems | Healthcare Careers, Leadership & Listening – Graham Coath

    Most workplace problems aren’t motivation problems.They’re communication problems. In this episode of Get A Shift On, David Birchmore speaks with communication strategist, LinkedIn trainer and podcast host Graham Coath about why organisations repeatedly misdiagnose the real issue inside teams. From NHS-style hierarchy and structured communication to the messy reality of business, leadership and entrepreneurship, this conversation explores what actually happens when people stop assuming and start listening. Graham explains why hearing and listening are completely different skills, why most CPD training fails, and how assumptions quietly destroy communication inside organisations. The conversation also dives into: Why communication should start with listening, not speaking The biggest communication mistakes leaders make Why assumptions break teams and businesses How communication styles differ across industries The rise of portfolio careers and career changes Why imposter syndrome is often misunderstood Emotional intelligence and leadership The real risk of AI replacing thinking in communication For healthcare professionals considering a move outside the system, this episode also explores how the communication skills developed in clinical environments translate into business, leadership and entrepreneurship. If you’ve ever wondered why organisations struggle with engagement, leadership or change, this episode explains why the answer is often much simpler than people think. Learn more about Graham Coath and his work: A Better Way Of Life The London Leadership Series 2026 - The Thinking MachineThe London Leadership Series brings together business leaders to discuss the big questions shaping the future of work. These are not conferences. There are no keynote speakers, no slide presentations and no sales pitches. Instead, each event centres around one carefully chosen question designed to spark thoughtful discussion between people leading organisations, shaping culture and navigating change. ⁠Join the A Better Way Of Life community event My Music Podcast Follow David / Via Nova here: ⁠⁠⁠David's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Via Nova Website⁠⁠ If you’re done pretending you’re fine… start here. Your Final Shift is a straight-talking exit guide for healthcare professionals who can’t do another 20 years of this. ⁠Get it here⁠ Feeling stuck in your healthcare role? Take our quiz to discover how close you are to making your final shift and what your next steps could be - ⁠How Close Is Your Final Shift⁠  Chapters 00:00 The Essence of Communication 02:53 The Evolution of Marketing and Sales 05:40 Career Paths and Job Mobility 08:10 The Changing Landscape of Recruitment 10:54 The Future of Work and Self-Employment 13:18 Communication in the Digital Age 16:21 Understanding Neurodiversity in Communication 18:51 The Impact of COVID-19 on Communication 21:31 Disruption and Innovation in Business 24:13 Navigating Imposter Syndrome 32:56 Understanding Imposter Syndrome and Personal Growth 36:45 The Importance of Continuous Learning 41:51 Communication in Professional Development 47:11 Emotional Intelligence and Generational Differences 50:57 Transitioning Communication Skills Across Sectors 56:39 The Dangers of Assumptions in Communication 01:01:02 AI's Impact on Communication and Human Connection

    1h 5m

  7. FEB 26

    S1 | E43 – From Doctor to Financial Planner, Values, Skills and the Financial Reality of Leaving Healthcare | Dr Luke Mitchell

    What actually happens when a doctor realises the career they trained for no longer fits the life they want? In Episode 43 of Get A Shift On, David Birchmore sits down with Dr Luke Mitchell, a former clinician who stepped away from medicine and rebuilt his career as a financial planner. This is one of the podcast’s most direct conversations about healthcare career change, identity, and the financial reality behind leaving a clinical role. Rather than quick fixes or motivational noise, this episode explores the real sequence many professionals go through: Understanding the value and skills you bring beyond your job titleRecognising what you want your days to look like, not just your job titleFacing the affordability question honestly before making a move Luke shares how values work helped him recognise an “unreasonable appetite for freedom,” why rotas felt misaligned with who he was, and how networking, self-employment and long-term financial thinking shaped his transition away from clinical practice. You’ll hear real discussion around: transferable skills from healthcare that most professionals overlook why many clinicians feel capable yet stuck networking and building genuine connections outside medicine minimum viable income and the financial myths that keep people in roles they have outgrown the loneliness, uncertainty and opportunity that comes with self-employment This episode marks a stronger healthcare focus for Get A Shift On and reflects the reality facing many clinical professionals today, experienced, capable people questioning whether the traditional path is still right for them. Hosted by David Birchmore, Business Consultant and creator of the Personal Exit Plan framework, supporting healthcare professionals to build viable career transitions beyond clinical roles. If you’re a doctor, nurse, radiographer or allied health professional thinking about what comes next, this conversation offers clarity without hype. Follow Dr Luke On LinkedIn here Follow David / Via Nova here: ⁠⁠David's LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Via Nova Website⁠ If you’re done pretending you’re fine… start here. Your Final Shift is a straight-talking exit guide for healthcare professionals who can’t do another 20 years of this. Get it here Feeling stuck in your healthcare role? Take our quiz to discover how close you are to making your final shift and what your next steps could be - How Close Is Your Final Shift  #HealthcareCareers #DoctorCareerChange #LeavingHealthcare #FinancialPlanningUK #GetAShiftOnPodcast

    1h 5m

  8. FEB 12

    S1 | E42 – Starting Again Without Starting Over | Portfolio Careers, Side Projects & Rebuilding After Business Failure with Ben Walton

    What does it really look like to rebuild your confidence, career, and identity after a business collapses? In this episode of Get A Shift On, David Birchmore welcomes back entrepreneur and marketing consultant Ben Walton for a brutally honest conversation about portfolio careers, freelancing after failure, side projects, and finding purpose beyond traditional job titles. After nine years running restaurants, Ben faced the reality many founders quietly experience, loss of direction, rebuilding income, and learning to start again without the safety net. Instead of chasing another “perfect” career path, he began experimenting with freelance marketing, email strategy, community building, and creative side projects that eventually grew into a portfolio business model. This episode goes beyond hospitality or business. It explores the mindset behind career change, authenticity in an AI-driven world, and why the future of work may look less like a ladder and more like a collection of evolving projects. From launching Substack communities and networking events to running a Bloody Mary brand born from the ashes of failure, Ben shares how small creative moves can unlock unexpected opportunities. You’ll hear real talk about: How to transition into freelancing or consulting after burnout or business loss Why a portfolio career is becoming the new normal across industries The role of side hustles in rebuilding confidence and momentum Authentic marketing, social media pressure, and staying human in an AI world Creativity, parenting, and preparing for a future where traditional careers are changing fast Although this conversation sits outside healthcare, the themes will resonate with clinical professionals and anyone questioning the traditional career path. If you’ve ever wondered how to pivot without burning everything down first, this episode offers a grounded, honest perspective on what comes next. 🎧 Expect humour, hard-won lessons, and a refreshing look at building a meaningful working life without pretending you’ve got it all figured out. Follow Ben: ⁠⁠Ben's Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Ben's LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Ben's Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Bloody Bens Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠On A Plate Growth Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Ben's Canteen Instagram⁠⁠ Follow David / Via Nova here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠David's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Feeling stuck in your healthcare role? Take our quiz to discover how close you are to making your final shift and what your next steps could be - How Close Is Your Final Shift - Want to try billboard advertising from £80? Get started with ⁠⁠CAASie⁠⁠ - 1.5M screens worldwide, pay-per-play. #PortfolioCareer#FreelancingUK#CareerChangePodcast#SideProjects#FutureOfWork

    1 hr
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Real stories of career change, life after redundancy, and starting a business. No hype. No jargon. Just real talk and practical steps you can use now. I'm David Birchmore. I spent over 25 years in healthcare before I left to build my own businesses. Now I help other healthcare professionals do the same. If you're a clinical healthcare professional who's burned out or thinking about leaving, this show is for you. Each week you'll hear from people who made the jump: how they decided, what they did next, and what it takes to leave and start over. New episodes every week.

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