Lessons Beyond The Classroom - With Mr Hodge

Mr Hodge
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Lessons Beyond The Classroom is a Podcast built for your daily doses of positivity, wisdom and good vibes, with authentic stories from REAL people and knowledge shared that has been gained through the greatest teacher of all - life experience... Mr Hodge is an ex-UK High School Teacher, ex-semi-professional footballer, BJJ Purple belt from Liverpool, England, who left his teaching role to pursue travel dreams . He is now creating self-development content whilst travelling the world, currently based in South East Asia! Support our content by subscribing and checking out all other socials below! @WheresHodgie @BethanyPayetArtist

  1. 1d ago

    Quit Your Job & Back Yourself! #6 ft. Patrick Keating

    "Quit your job and back yourself." That's the first thing Patrick Keating says in this episode — and after the life he's lived, he means every word. I'm Mr Hodge, a former UK teacher who swapped the classroom for the road. On Lessons Beyond The Classroom I sit down with people living life on their own terms — and today's guest is one of my best friends in the world. Patrick has spent 15 years travelling the world studying martial arts — Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu across Thailand and Brazil, living with shamans in the Peruvian jungle, yoga in India. He then built a career as a carpenter in New Zealand, hated every second of it, and last year sold every tool he owned to reinvent himself into online sales and back himself completely. We go deep on freedom, health, reinventing yourself at any age, honouring your lowest moments, and why quitting the life everyone told you to want might be the best thing you ever do. If you're stuck in a job you hate or scared to step into the unknown, this one's for you. Today's homework: what's one thing you'd do if you backed yourself completely? Find Patrick: @patrickkeating33 on Instagram. (0:00) Quit your job and back yourself (0:48) 15 years travelling the world (3:34) How martial arts changed him (4:16) First Muay Thai fight in 2 weeks (5:05) Finding himself in the mountains (7:16) Quitting carpentry & selling tools (8:41) Burning the boat to back himself (9:47) Reinvent yourself every 7 years (10:49) Pillar one: freedom (11:33) Why health is everything (12:11) Generosity & giving it all back (14:07) If you're stuck in a rut (14:46) Honouring your darkest moments (15:34) Kill the version holding you back (16:47) Don't listen to your teachers (17:59) The "blinkers off" analogy (19:10) The coolest place he's been (20:00) His most powerful moment (22:31) Mr Hodge's flying fish moment (23:49) Where to find Patrick & outro Class dismissed.

    26 min

  2. Jun 7

    A 5-Minute Guided Meditation for Calm & Presence | ft. Amir Khamseh

    Press play, get comfortable, and let yourself arrive. A short 5 minute guided meditation to help you slow down, find calm, and come back to the present moment. This is a bonus from Episode #5, where I spoke with Amir Khamseh — a former Tesla engineer who turned the grief of losing his mum into a new life as a meditation teacher. We did this short meditation together before recording, and it felt too good not to share on its own. New to meditation or a daily practitioner, this is a simple reset you can return to any time. (Please don't listen while driving.) Listen to the full conversation with Amir in Episode #5. Hosted by Matt & Beth — two UK teachers exploring life beyond the classroom.

    8 min

  3. Jun 6

    Turning Grief Into Power: Why a Tesla Engineer Walked Away From It All #5 Ft. Amir Khamseh

    He had it all at Tesla — then his mum passed away, and it changed everything. This is the story of Amir Khamseh on turning grief into power. In this episode we talk with Amir Khamseh, a former Tesla engineer who walked away from his career after losing his mother — and rebuilt his life around meditation, healing and helping other people. We get into grief, the courage to start over, what mindfulness really taught him, and how he's turning his hardest chapter into purpose as a life coach. CHAPTERS: (00:00) Intro: Iran to Canada to Tesla (02:27) The 4am call: "your mum is sick" (04:20) A stage four diagnosis (05:36) Losing his mum, back at Tesla (07:08) "Using only 20% of my potential" (08:22) His first meditation, at 5am (09:56) Meditation as medicine for grief (11:49) Talking to the voices in your head (14:01) The dark night of the soul (15:51) Life before: money & emptiness (19:34) Matt's story: a broken leg (22:05) When trauma becomes a gateway (26:26) The unworthy six-year-old (30:21) "Just being is enough" (33:04) Why bad habits protect you (35:30) Meditation: a workout for the mind (39:50) Respond, don't react (40:56) Relax and release (Michael Singer) (44:09) Why he became a life coach (45:31) The courage to quit Tesla (49:23) The science of following your heart (54:11) His message at rock bottom (56:50) Where to find Amir & outro A conversation about loss, reinvention, and the lessons that only pain can teach. Find Amir on IG - @Amirkhms Follow the show for new episodes on grief, growth, mindset, meditation and reinvention. Hosted by Matt & Beth — two UK teachers exploring life beyond the classroom.

    59 min

  4. Jun 2

    The Hard Truth Nobody Teaches You In School #4

    Nobody is coming to save you — and that's the best news you'll hear all year. Too many young people leave school thinking life owes them an easy ride: a good job will fall in their lap, money comes quick, or someone else will sort it all out. This is the wake-up call I wish I'd had at 16. I get real about why life is hard, why no one is coming to rescue you, and what actually sets people apart — learning new skills, volunteering, and doing uncomfortable things long before you're forced to. It's not talent and it's not luck. It's being willing to do hard things while everyone else waits for easy. If you're young, a bit lost, or a parent who wants your kid to hear the truth — this one's for you. CHAPTERS Follow me on Instagram, TikTok & Facebook: @WheresHodgie linktr.ee/whereshodgie

    17 min

  5. May 31

    Thailand or Vietnam? UK Teacher's Honest Comparisons #3

    Thailand or Vietnam — which one actually wins? After living, teaching and travelling across both countries, Beth and I sat down to compare them properly. No tourist-board fluff, no "everywhere is amazing" cop-outs. Just two UK teachers talking honestly about what life is really like in each place. We get into the food, the cost of living, what teaching is actually like day-to-day, the people, the weekend escapes, the culture shocks nobody warns you about, and which country we'd genuinely go back to. Whether you're thinking about teaching abroad, planning a trip, or just curious how these two Southeast Asian giants really compare — this one's for you. CHAPTERS (0:00) Intro: Vietnam vs Thailand (0:42) Best food & best dish (2:41) Best beaches (3:38) Cheapest & best value (6:51) Best experience: the Ha Giang Loop (8:15) Most authentic travel (9:06) Most things to do (10:33) Kindest people (12:11) Best weather (13:17) Funniest people (14:55) Best fashion & style icons (15:43) Best sales technique (18:14) Best holiday & celebrations (19:40) Best beauty treatments (21:54) Craziest roads (22:37) Best city (24:15) Best for an adventure (25:41) Best for a relaxing break (26:21) Most livable & cost of living (28:38) Final scores & the winner (29:47) Outro & socials Featuring Beth (@bethanypayetartist on Instagram). Part of Lessons Beyond the Classroom — the series where we talk about everything teaching abroad has taught us outside the four walls of a school. Follow along: Instagram: @whereshodgie YouTube: @whereshodgie - full video version with travel clips available there! If you enjoyed this episode, a follow and a rating on Spotify genuinely helps more teachers and travellers find the show. Cheers for listening.

    31 min

  6. May 30

    Why I Quit Teaching & He Left The UK #2 ft. @Family.Of.5.In.Thailand

    Two big leaps. One conversation. In Episode #2 of Lessons Beyond The Classroom, I'm joined by Reece Haslam — a British dad who packed up his entire family of 5 and built a new life in Thailand. You'll know him from @family.of.5.in.thailand on Instagram, where he documents the realities of raising kids abroad and the truth about leaving Britain behind. CHAPTERS (00:00) Intro & meet Reece (02:07) Why leave the UK? (03:34) Cost of living, tax & red tape (05:49) Food, health & feeling better (08:52) A day in the life (10:04) Growing a social media following (17:47) Authentic content vs the algorithm (20:38) From UK teacher to world traveller (21:29) UK vs Thailand: education (24:46) What international school costs (25:44) Homeschooling & teaching abroad (28:38) Culture, safety & raising kids (30:30) Best things about Thailand (31:55) Healthcare vs the NHS (35:32) Doing business the right way (42:02) Advice for making the leap (44:01) How they ended up in Thailand (45:17) Visas & work permits explained (49:42) Where to find Reece & Mr Hodge This conversation came from a question I've been sitting with for a long time: what makes someone actually leave? Not dream about it, not talk about it on a Sunday night — but pack up their entire life and go. I left teaching. He left the country. We sat down and compared notes. What we covered: → The moment Reece knew the UK wasn't working for his family anymore → Why the British school system is failing kids (from both a parent and an ex-teacher's perspective) → The real cost — financial and emotional — of uprooting a family of 5 → What "freedom" actually looks like when you have children depending on you → Why so many young British families are choosing to leave right now → The hardest part of starting over in a country where you don't speak the language → What we've both learned about ourselves by choosing the path nobody around us understood → The advice we'd give to anyone sitting on the edge of a similar leap This is the kind of conversation I wish someone had recorded for me before I made my own leap. Honest, practical, and free of the "follow your dreams" platitudes you've heard a thousand times. If you've ever sat at your desk and wondered whether there's another way to live this life — this episode is for you. ──────────────────── About the show: Lessons Beyond The Classroom is hosted by Mr Hodge, a former UK teacher who walked away from the classroom to chase a more meaningful life. Each week features either a solo lesson (the kind that school never taught) or an honest conversation with someone living life on their own terms. About the guest: Reece Haslam documents life as a British expat dad raising 5 kids in Thailand. Find him on Instagram at @family.of.5.in.thailand. ──────────────────── Follow Mr Hodge: Instagram: @whereshodgie TikTok: @whereshodgie YouTube: youtube.com/@MrHodge For brand partnerships: whereshodgie@hotmail.com ──────────────────── If you enjoyed this episode, the best thing you can do is leave a rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts — it genuinely helps new listeners find the show. And if you know someone sitting on the edge of their own leap, send this episode their way. New lesson every week. Class is in session.

    52 min

  7. May 24

    Authenticity Over Algorithms #1

    Authenticity over algorithms. Welcome to Episode #1 of Lessons Beyond The Classroom — a brand new series from Mr Hodge, the UK teacher who quit the classroom to share the lessons school never taught. 📍 CHAPTERS (0:00) Welcome to the new series (1:04) My career-ending football injury (2:15) Why I started this series (3:19) Authenticity over algorithms (5:28) Real friends & being yourself (6:32) Chasing the footballer dream (8:18) Breaking my leg & a fresh start (8:50) Camp America: the blinkers come off (10:14) Two years in New Zealand (11:54) The hangover that changed everything (12:49) Becoming a teacher (13:36) The brutal reality of teaching (16:02) Why I quit & left the UK (17:20) Where I am now & what's next (19:48) How you can help & outro 🎥 ABOUT MR HODGEI'm Mathew — a UK teacher turned travel and wellness creator, sharing the lessons that school could never teach through self-diagnosed cinematic masterpieces!!All my links: https://linktr.ee/whereshodgie🤝 FOLLOW ALONGInstagram: @whereshodgieTikTok: @whereshodgieFacebook: Mr HodgeThreads: @whereshodgieBeth's work:Instagram: @bethanypayetartistTikTok: @bethanypayetartistWebsite: bethanypayetartist.co.uk────────────────────📩 BRAND PARTNERSHIPS & INQUIRIESwhereshodgie@hotmail.com────────────────────☕ SUPPORT THE CHANNELIf my content brings you value and you'd like to support what I am doing, you can buy me a coffee here:https://buymeacoffee.com/whereshodgieThank you and have an amazing day!

    21 min

  8. Feb 7

    #21 The Realities Of Travelling The World: The Highs & Lows, With Special Guests Liam Ennis & Savannah Ellis

    We hope you enjoy this episode with our amazing guest Liam and Sav, some of our closest friends whom we are very grateful to have spent the last 3 weeks travelling Asia with, and having them with us for the start of our journey has been special! this conversation was only a snippet of the amazing chats we have had in recent times, and we wanted to catch at least a snippet of them on camera to share with you all. enjoy! While we conquer the world, push our limits and demolish comfort zones, we aim to share with you what’s possible when ordinary people, choose an extraordinary path. We want you to be INSPIRED and awaken the unlimited potential inside you. YOU are capable of achieving ANYTHING if you believe in yourself, are willing to take risks, and step outside your comfort zone - this is where the true MAGIC happens. Have a boss day, sending peace and love to you and your loved ones - thank you for watching. CURRENTLY IN: VIETNAM 🇻🇳 🌍🙏❤️Please support by subscribing and telling a friend 😎🌏 Leaving a thumbs up/comment on any videos supports us❤️ Checkout our Tiktok & Instagram below and follow along for the adventure of a lifetime - become part of our community Brothers and Sisters worldwide😁❤️@WheresHodgie@bethanypayetartist

    54 min
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Lessons Beyond The Classroom is a Podcast built for your daily doses of positivity, wisdom and good vibes, with authentic stories from REAL people and knowledge shared that has been gained through the greatest teacher of all - life experience... Mr Hodge is an ex-UK High School Teacher, ex-semi-professional footballer, BJJ Purple belt from Liverpool, England, who left his teaching role to pursue travel dreams . He is now creating self-development content whilst travelling the world, currently based in South East Asia! Support our content by subscribing and checking out all other socials below! @WheresHodgie @BethanyPayetArtist

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