Exceptional Decisions

Andrew McDougall & Russell Gorton-McDougall
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  • Places & Travel

Jobs? Quit! Bed? Sold! One Way Ticket? Bought! On the eve of their 30th birthdays, Russell & Andrew made an exceptional decision. They quit their jobs, sold everything they owned and booked a one way flight across the world. Guided by ‘Divina’ (the universe), Russell & Andrew explore the planet country by country. Join their adventure as they share the exceptional places they visit and the exceptional people they meet. Join their quest and discover what life becomes when you make Exceptional Decisions.

  1. Australia - The Kimberely - Let us introduce you to the Daddy Donga

    2d ago

    Australia - The Kimberely - Let us introduce you to the Daddy Donga

    We went from luxury hotels to a donga in the dust, and honestly? We wouldn’t trade our walk in fridge for the world. In this episode, we are throwing open the flyscreens and taking you inside our brand-new home to paint a full picture of outback living. What’s a donga, you ask? Trust us, we had absolutely no clue either until we rolled up to the red dirt of the Kimberley! Affectionately dubbed "The Daddy Donga," this trusty structure has officially become our castle in the middle of the wilderness. He stands tall as our ultimate shield, protecting us from the local neighbourhood watch—which currently consists of slithering snakes and prehistoric crocodiles. He was admittedly a bit rough around the edges to start with (think industrial chic meets basic survival), but after a little love, a lot of cleaning, and a few strategic soft furnishings, the Daddy Donga is finally feeling like home. We’re talking about the hilarious, rewarding process of nesting in the middle of the frontier and finding absolute comfort in the most unexpected spaces. Trusting Divina to lead the way—even if she occasionally leads us straight into a corrugated metal box and tells us to make it cozy. Follow the journey on Instagram @ExceptionalDecisions.

    31 min
  2. Australia - The Kimberley - Settling in to the Outback

    Jun 8

    Australia - The Kimberley - Settling in to the Outback

    We used to think a remote jungle treehouse was off the grid, but the Australian outback has redefined what it truly means to be alone. We are officially settling into our new life in the Kimberley, and it is easily the most remote existence either of us has ever experienced. In this episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes of what happens to your mind when your nearest neighbor is hundreds of kilometers away and the horizon stretches out into forever. There is an ancient, undeniable beauty and peace in this part of the world. It’s a place that demands you slow down and actually listen. We talk about the daily rhythm of outback life, the stillness of the landscape, and the deep comfort of being entirely detached from the frantic pace of modern society. Out here, the heavy headlines of the outside world simply melt off, feeling as irrelevant and distant as if they were happening on another planet entirely. We’re trading the digital static for red dirt and starry skies, discovering that when you strip away the noise of the crowd, you finally find the space to hear your own thoughts. Trusting Divina to lead the way—even if she occasionally leads us straight into an empty outpost where the news doesn't reach and the peace never ends. Follow the journey on Instagram @ExceptionalDecisions.

    33 min
  3. Australia - The Kimberley - How did we end up living in one of the most remote areas of the world?

    May 31

    Australia - The Kimberley - How did we end up living in one of the most remote areas of the world?

    We went looking for our next chapter, and the universe pointed us toward a wilderness so vast and empty that if it were its own country, it would be the most sparsely populated place on Earth. Welcome to Season 2! After a whirlwind few months of reuniting with loved ones, crossing oceans, and embracing the unknown, we have officially touched down in the Kimberley, Western Australia. In this premiere episode, we are answering the absolute burning question that has been lighting up our inbox: How on Earth did we end up here?! The short answer? It took an exceptional decision or two to trade the familiar tracks for a red-dirt frontier. The long answer is a story of intuition, timing, and a massive leap of faith. Perhaps you could say we took an Exceptional Decision! This new season is all about pushing our boundaries further than ever before. If there is one thing our journey has taught us so far, it’s that you truly never know what kind of exceptional adventure Divina is going to lay out for you next. The first page of Chapter 2 is officially written, and the horizon has never looked bigger. Trusting Divina to lead the way—even if she occasionally leads us straight into a vast, red-dirt wilderness where the crocodiles outnumber the locals. Follow the journey on Instagram @ExceptionalDecisions.

    38 min
  4. British Overseas Territory - Gibraltar - Is it Brits Abroad?

    May 24

    British Overseas Territory - Gibraltar - Is it Brits Abroad?

    We flew three hours south just to sit under a Union Jack on the Mediterranean. It is a very strange feeling to board a plane in the UK and step off into a sun-baked landscape that is—technically—still the UK. Welcome to Gibraltar, a place that feels like a glitch in the geographical matrix. The moment we arrived, we were hit with the question that is on everyone’s lips: just how British is this place? We spent our days wandering around the Rock, trying to pin down its true identity. Is it just a warm-weather haven for those craving a proper high-street experience and a chat about the forecast, or is there a genuine undercurrent of Spanish chic woven into the streets? The answer, we found, is a beautiful collision of the two. It’s a culture where the orderliness of home meets the vibrant pacing of the Med, and where Mediterranean views meet very British sensibilities. Beyond the novelty of seeing a bright red phone box against a backdrop of piercing blue skies, we found ourselves piecing together the layered, complex history that makes Gibraltar entirely its own entity. It’s a fascinating puzzle of resilience and adaptation. It turns out, finding a little slice of home on the edge of the Iberian Peninsula offers a completely unexpected kind of adventure that puts our own perspectives to the test. Trusting Divina to lead the way—even if she occasionally leads us on a three-hour flight just to find a Union Jack fluttering in the Mediterranean breeze. Follow the journey on Instagram @ExceptionalDecisions.

    37 min
  5. United Kingdom - Barrhead - Andrew's Hometown

    May 17

    United Kingdom - Barrhead - Andrew's Hometown

    Every explorer starts as a local, and this week, we’re tracing the map back to the very beginning of Andrew’s story. Following the same path we took through the regency streets of Cheltenham, we’re turning our attention to the place that shaped Andrew. Every hometown has a specific frequency, especially Wee Bonnie Borrheed! We discuss the moments that eventually turned "comfort" into a "calling." This isn't just a trip down memory lane; it’s an honest look at the tug-of-war between the love for where you’re from and the undeniable realisation that you’ve outgrown the space. It’s a celebration of roots and the beautiful necessity of stretching far beyond them. Trusting Divina to lead the way—even if she occasionally leads us back to the front door just to remind us why we stepped outside in the first place. Follow the journey on Instagram @ExceptionalDecisions.

    38 min
  6. United Kingdom - The Isle of Arran - How we fell in love

    May 10

    United Kingdom - The Isle of Arran - How we fell in love

    Before the Indian ashrams and the Asian jungles, there was a Scottish island that quietly started it all. No matter how far we travel, how many borders we cross, or how wild the adventures get, the journey never truly feels complete until our boots are back on the Isle of Arran. This isn't just another stop on the map. It’s the place where we met an it's the place we fell in love. In this episode, we are wandering down memory lane and sharing our origin story. We talk about how our paths originally crossed, what our daily lives looked like on Arran, and the sheer, rugged beauty of the island that anchored us. Returning here after everything we’ve experienced over the last year has put our entire evolution into sharp perspective. We’re looking back at the versions of ourselves who first met on this coastline, reflecting on how much we’ve grown, shifted, and expanded since those early days. It’s a moment of deep gratitude for the roots that eventually gave us the courage to fly. Trusting Divina to lead the way—even if she occasionally leads us right back to the exact piece of Scottish coastline where the whole beautiful story started. Follow the journey on Instagram @ExceptionalDecisions.

    42 min
  7. United Kingdom - Inverness & The Highlands - The Wild Scottish North

    May 3

    United Kingdom - Inverness & The Highlands - The Wild Scottish North

    We traded sweating through South East Asia for shivering on a train to the North of Scotland, proving that the adventure doesn't stop just because your phone connects to the home Wi-Fi. We’re officially back on home soil for a quick one-month visit, but if anyone thought we were settling into a quiet routine, the Highlands had other plans. In this episode, we journey from the south all the way to Inverness by rail before picking up a campervan to tackle the legendary Isle of Skye. There is a specific kind of spiritual grounding that happens when you swap tropical humidity for the raw, biting wind of the North. We spent our nights tucked under the shadows of ancient mountains, listening to the gales try their absolute best to turn our van into a kite. It was a beautiful, shivering reminder that nature's power is just as vibrant in the cold as it is in the heat. This trip was a test of resilience and a lesson in finding the "exceptional" in the familiar. We’re only here for a month, but we’re making every second count—proving that even a "pitstop" can be a pilgrimage if you have the right mindset. Divina is still very much in the driver’s seat, guiding us through the mist and the mountains as we prepare for whatever the next chapter holds. Trusting Divina to lead the way—even if she occasionally leads us straight into a Force 8 gale in a very small van on a very large cliff. Follow the journey on Instagram @ExceptionalDecisions.

    43 min
  8. United Kingdom - Cheltenham - Russell's Hometown

    Apr 26

    United Kingdom - Cheltenham - Russell's Hometown

    Before the jungle canopies and Himalayan peaks, there were the manicured gardens and regency streets of the Cotswolds. Every journey has a "Before" story, and for Russell, that story is written in the stone of Cheltenham. In this episode, we’re putting the travel maps aside to navigate the memory of home. We dive into what it’s actually like to grow up in a town known for its festivals and finery, exploring the specific culture of a place that is as beautiful as it is predictable. This isn't just a tour of a hometown; it’s a look at the spiritual architecture of a life. We explore how the safety and structure of Cheltenham shaped the man who would eventually find himself managing a remote island retreat. We talk about the subtle, persistent pull of the "elsewhere"—the moment the soul realizes that while its roots are deep, its branches are meant to stretch far beyond the town lines. Why do we leave the places that raised us? We’re breaking down the shift from comfort to curiosity, and the realization that sometimes, the greatest act of self-love is leaving the familiar behind to see who you are without it. Trusting Divina to lead the way—even if she occasionally leads us back through the memories of where it all began just to show us how far we’ve traveled. Follow the journey on Instagram @ExceptionalDecisions.

    49 min
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About

Jobs? Quit! Bed? Sold! One Way Ticket? Bought! On the eve of their 30th birthdays, Russell & Andrew made an exceptional decision. They quit their jobs, sold everything they owned and booked a one way flight across the world. Guided by ‘Divina’ (the universe), Russell & Andrew explore the planet country by country. Join their adventure as they share the exceptional places they visit and the exceptional people they meet. Join their quest and discover what life becomes when you make Exceptional Decisions.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrew McDougall & Russell Gorton-McDougall
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Andrew McDougall & Russell Gorton-McDougall 2025
  • Show Website
    Exceptional Decisions