Why I Left

Brian Aquart
  • 5,0 (20)
  • Карьера
  • Еженедельно

Why I Left tells real stories from real people about the bold career moves that changed their lives.  Hosted by Brian Aquart, the show goes beyond resignations to uncover courage, clarity, and growth in the face of change. Each episode offers honest reflections, lessons learned, and practical insights for anyone considering a pivot, navigating uncertainty, or seeking inspiration for their next chapter. We don’t talk about resignations enough, this podcast makes sure we do.

  1. Leaving Law Enforcement Twice - Dr. Jessica Herbert

    -6 дн.

    Leaving Law Enforcement Twice - Dr. Jessica Herbert

    Send a message to the show What happens when the system you helped build no longer reflects the person you have become? Dr. Jessica Herbert knows that question from the inside. She left the same career twice, first to step away from law enforcement, then later to move beyond public safety analytics toward leadership transformation. Jessica’s path spans law enforcement, federal task force work, data science, entrepreneurship, and executive coaching. She founded Idea Analytics, led analytics work for public agencies, and now serves as a practice leader at Asbatra Coaching, where she helps leaders think differently about trust, transformation, and human-centered change. In this conversation, Jessica and Brian explore what it feels like to hit the same wall twice, why awareness is the first real step toward leaving, and how data can reveal the early warning signs leaders often ignore. This episode is for anyone who once believed in a system, built something meaningful inside it, and now feels the quiet pull toward something more aligned. Enjoy! Stay connected with Dr. Jessica Herbert Website: https://drjessicaherbert.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjessicaherbert/ Substack: https://asbatracoaching.substack.com/  Work with Brian Aquart Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work. Learn more: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IT1-NDl51cZbhNUzUO4lCyjVJiVcmvxS/view?usp=drive_link Stay connected with Why I Left Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co  Subscribe: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgQI4X0kEp8-o7Z9D3tRmg Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwhyileft/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/ Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100  Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: GMOUNFIQHH9AQI79, SBBHRSGIJNZ80ZK5, G2KR6SSYJIY8IBBT Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswood, an executive branding and narrative strategy service for high-impact professionals who are stepping into a new chapter. Elevate your leadership. Command your story. Support the show Interested in sponsoring Why I Left? Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

    43 мин.
  2. Alignment, Identity, and the Cost of Hiding at Work - Kjell van Zoen

    23 июн.

    Alignment, Identity, and the Cost of Hiding at Work - Kjell van Zoen

    Send a message to the show What happens when the life you built still works, but no longer fits? For Kjell van Zoen, that question became impossible to ignore during a conversation about scaling a business in a direction that looked successful on paper but felt wrong internally. Kjell is a leadership coach, organizational development practitioner, and guide for people navigating personal and professional inflection points. In this conversation, they reflect on building and exiting Plywerk, moving between entrepreneurship and corporate life, coming out as non-binary, and learning how identity reshapes the way we experience work, leadership, and belonging. This episode is for anyone quietly questioning whether their career still reflects who they are becoming. Brian and Kjell talk about alignment versus comfort, ambition versus agency, code shifting, inclusive leadership, and why the first honest step is not always leaving. Sometimes it is telling yourself the truth about what no longer fits. Enjoy! Stay connected with Kjell van Zoen Website: vanzoen.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kvanzoen/  Work with Brian Aquart Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work. Learn more: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IT1-NDl51cZbhNUzUO4lCyjVJiVcmvxS/view?usp=drive_link Stay connected with Why I Left Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co  Subscribe: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgQI4X0kEp8-o7Z9D3tRmg Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwhyileft/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/ Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100  Thanks to our partners & sponsors:  BetterHelp: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/whyileft and get 10% off your first month   ApodcastGeek: Use Code BA10 to 10% off your first order at https://apodcastgeek.com/   Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswood, an executive branding and narrative strategy service for high-impact professionals who are stepping into a new chapter. Elevate your leadership. Command your story. Support the show Interested in sponsoring Why I Left? Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

    41 мин.
  3. Leaving Law to Reclaim Rest, Voice, and Agency with Dana T. Weekes

    16 июн.

    Leaving Law to Reclaim Rest, Voice, and Agency with Dana T. Weekes

    Send a message to the show Dana T. Weekes had built the kind of career many people work years to reach. As a lawyer and policy advocate, she worked on complex legislative and regulatory issues, represented major clients, and became known for high-stakes problem solving. But behind the success, she was exhausted, disconnected, and losing touch with her own voice. In this conversation, Dana shares why 2020 became the culmination point after years of 12 to 14 hour days, pandemic-era crisis work, and the emotional weight of showing up for everyone but herself. She talks about trying to resign, being offered a sabbatical, taking a full year to focus on rest, and eventually founding Thrive Architects. She also shares the deeper meaning behind The Rest of Us podcast, where she explores rest as self-liberation for advocates and professionals who give so much of themselves. This episode is for anyone questioning whether the path they worked so hard to build is still the right one. Dana offers a grounded look at courage, identity, rest, and what it means to stop succeeding on someone else’s mountain. Content note: This conversation includes a brief mention of suicidal ideation and mental health. Stay connected with Dana T. Weekes Website: https://thethrivearch.com/ Podcast: https://therestofuspodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-tenille-weekes/ Substack: https://therestofuspodcast.substack.com/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=6p1t9m  Work with Brian Aquart Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work. Learn more: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IT1-NDl51cZbhNUzUO4lCyjVJiVcmvxS/view?usp=drive_link Stay connected with Why I Left Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co  Subscribe: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgQI4X0kEp8-o7Z9D3tRmg Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwhyileft/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/ Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100  Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswood, an executive branding and narrative strategy service for high-impact professionals who are stepping into a new chapter. Elevate your leadership. Command your story. Support the show Interested in sponsoring Why I Left? Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

    52 мин.
  4. Who Are You Without the Uniform? - Oakland McCulloch

    9 июн.

    Who Are You Without the Uniform? - Oakland McCulloch

    Send a message to the show Some careers do more than give you a job. They give you structure, identity, mission, and a sense of belonging. For retired Lieutenant Colonel Oak McCulloch, leaving the Army meant more than stepping away from a role. It meant learning who he was without the uniform. In this conversation, Brian talks with Oak about his transition out of military service, the grief of leaving behind a deeply rooted identity, and the surprise of entering civilian leadership spaces where mission, urgency, and communication were understood very differently. Oak shares how he moved from the Army into service-oriented work at a food bank, then into leadership development, keynote speaking, and helping organizations build stronger leaders. This episode is for anyone who has felt loyal to a system that no longer fits, anyone rebuilding purpose after a major career shift, and anyone asking, “Who am I without this title?” Oak’s story is a reminder that service does not have to end when one chapter closes. Sometimes it becomes more personal, more deliberate, and more human. Enjoy! Stay connected with Oak McCulloch Website: www.ltcoakmcculloch.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/oakland-mcculloch/ Work with Brian Aquart Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work. Learn more: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IT1-NDl51cZbhNUzUO4lCyjVJiVcmvxS/view?usp=drive_link Stay connected with Why I Left Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co  Subscribe: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgQI4X0kEp8-o7Z9D3tRmg Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwhyileft/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/ Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100  Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswood, an executive branding and narrative strategy service for high-impact professionals who are stepping into a new chapter. Elevate your leadership. Command your story. Support the show Interested in sponsoring Why I Left? Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

    45 мин.
  5. Leaving Education to Rebuild a Life Around Financial Healing - Kara Stevens

    2 июн.

    Leaving Education to Rebuild a Life Around Financial Healing - Kara Stevens

    Send a message to the show Money is rarely just about numbers. For Kara Stevens, founder of The Frugal Feminista, money was tied to avoidance, shame, family stories, ambition, risk, and the question of what it really means to have enough. In this conversation, Kara shares how she moved from debt and financial avoidance to helping women heal their relationship with money. Before building The Frugal Feminista, she worked in education, eventually becoming an assistant principal. But after years of building systems, serving students, and growing her platform on the side, she realized she had reached the end of that chapter. Kara talks with Brian about leaving education, preparing financially for a major life transition, moving to Ghana with her family, and learning to build community in a new country. She also explains why money stories matter, how shame shows up for professional women, and why a powerful exit requires more than a leap of faith. This episode is for anyone who is considering a career move, questioning their relationship with money, or trying to make a values-based decision without ignoring the numbers. Enjoy! Stay connected with Kara Stevens Website: The Frugal Feminista https://www.thefrugalfeminista.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-stevens-edm-37882b12/ Book: Heal Your Relationship with Money https://thefrugalfeministastore.thrivecart.com/heal-your-relationship-with-money-book/ Free resource: First three days of Heal Your Relationship with Money at https://www.thefrugalfeminista.com/community/ Work with Brian Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work. Learn more:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IT1-NDl51cZbhNUzUO4lCyjVJiVcmvxS/view?usp=drive_link Stay connected with Why I Left Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co  Subscribe:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgQI4X0kEp8-o7Z9D3tRmg Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwhyileft/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/  Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100  Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswood, an executive branding and narrative strategy service for high-impact professionals who are stepping into a new chapter. Elevate your leadership. Command your story. Support the show Interested in sponsoring Why I Left? Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

    45 мин.
  6. Leaving Corporate Healthcare and Choosing Authenticity – Geoffrey Roche

    26 мая

    Leaving Corporate Healthcare and Choosing Authenticity – Geoffrey Roche

    Send a message to the show Geoffrey Roche left corporate healthcare after realizing that professional success could not come at the expense of personal authenticity. His decision to step away from Siemens Healthineers came during a profound period of identity, courage, and recalibration. Geoffrey is a nationally recognized voice in healthcare leadership, education, workforce strategy, and the future of work. In this conversation, he reflects on the influence of his mother, his early career in healthcare administration, the leaders who shaped him, and the corporate environment that eventually no longer felt aligned with who he was becoming. This episode is for mid-career professionals, healthcare leaders, educators, and anyone questioning whether the role they are in still fits the person they are becoming. Brian and Geoffrey explore holistic leadership, personal branding, career pivots, workplace belonging, and the importance of trusting your gut when something no longer feels healthy. Press play for a conversation about courage, clarity, identity, and choosing work that allows you to live whole. Enjoy! Stay Connected with Geoffrey Roche LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreymroche/ Work with Brian Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work. Learn more:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IT1-NDl51cZbhNUzUO4lCyjVJiVcmvxS/view?usp=drive_link Stay connected with Why I Left Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co  Subscribe:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgQI4X0kEp8-o7Z9D3tRmg Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwhyileft/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/  Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100  Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswood, an executive branding and narrative strategy service for high-impact professionals who are stepping into a new chapter. Elevate your leadership. Command your story. Support the show Interested in sponsoring Why I Left? Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

    47 мин.
  7. How Leaving Google and Hacking the Art World Led to The Whitney - Gretchen Andrew

    19 мая

    How Leaving Google and Hacking the Art World Led to The Whitney - Gretchen Andrew

    Send a message to the show Gretchen Andrew left Google with just $5,000, no art degree, and no clear roadmap. Years later, her work, Facetune Portraits, now lives inside the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art. In this episode of Why I Left, Gretchen shares how she walked away from one of the most prestigious jobs in tech, taught herself painting online, and pioneered “Search Engine Art” by manipulating digital systems as artistic expression. Along the way, she confronted rejection, grief, gatekeeping, and the pressure of building an identity completely outside traditional institutions. This conversation is about far more than art. It’s about reinvention, self-belief, visibility, and the courage to pursue something that feels impossible before anyone else validates it. If you’ve ever questioned the path you’re on or wondered whether it’s too late to rebuild your life around what actually matters to you, this episode is for you. Enjoy! Stay connected with Gretchen Andrew Website: https://www.gretchenandrew.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-andrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gretchenandrew/ Work with Brian Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work. Learn more:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IT1-NDl51cZbhNUzUO4lCyjVJiVcmvxS/view?usp=drive_link Stay connected with Why I Left Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co  Subscribe:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgQI4X0kEp8-o7Z9D3tRmg Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwhyileft/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/  Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100  Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswood, an executive branding and narrative strategy service for high-impact professionals who are stepping into a new chapter. Elevate your leadership. Command your story. Support the show Interested in sponsoring Why I Left? Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

    44 мин.
  8. Why He Left Hollywood to Reclaim His Attention - Steven Puri

    12 мая

    Why He Left Hollywood to Reclaim His Attention - Steven Puri

    Send a message to the show At the height of a successful career in Hollywood, Steven Puri was working on some of the biggest film franchises in the world. The path forward was clear. Bigger titles. Bigger budgets. More recognition. But something didn’t sit right. What happens when you realize the system you’re succeeding in no longer reflects your values? For Steven, that moment came when he saw firsthand how success could be disconnected from meaning. The work was profitable, but it wasn’t purposeful. In this conversation, Steven shares how a health diagnosis, impending fatherhood, and growing disillusionment with the attention economy pushed him to step away from Hollywood and return to building something different.  Today, he’s focused on helping people reclaim their focus through his company, The Sukha Company. This episode explores the hidden cost of distraction, the discipline of deep work, and the courage it takes to choose alignment over achievement.  You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of focus, flow, and how to reclaim your attention in a world designed to take it from you. Enjoy! Stay connected with Steven Puri Website: https://thesukha.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-puri/ Work with Brian Storyline by Kingswood helps leaders and professionals make sense of career transitions, identity shifts, and the stories they’re telling about their work. Learn more:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IT1-NDl51cZbhNUzUO4lCyjVJiVcmvxS/view?usp=drive_link Stay connected with Why I Left Visit: https://www.WhyILeft.co  Subscribe:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgQI4X0kEp8-o7Z9D3tRmg Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TE4Y626idPxNeewpCG6Ef  Follow: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwhyileft/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/why-i-left/ Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianaquart/  Rate us 5 stars and share feedback: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-i-left/id1613667100  Thanks to our partners & sponsors:  BetterHelp: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/whyileft and get 10% off your first month   ApodcastGeek: Use Code BA10 to 10% off your first order at https://apodcastgeek.com/   Your story deserves to be told with clarity and impact. That’s why I created Storyline by Kingswood, an executive branding and narrative strategy service for high-impact professionals who are stepping into a new chapter. Elevate your leadership. Command your story. Support the show Interested in sponsoring Why I Left? Learn more about partnership opportunities here: https://whyileft.co/sponsor-why-i-left-podcast/

    57 мин.
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Why I Left tells real stories from real people about the bold career moves that changed their lives.  Hosted by Brian Aquart, the show goes beyond resignations to uncover courage, clarity, and growth in the face of change. Each episode offers honest reflections, lessons learned, and practical insights for anyone considering a pivot, navigating uncertainty, or seeking inspiration for their next chapter. We don’t talk about resignations enough, this podcast makes sure we do.

Информация

  • Автор
    Brian Aquart
  • Годы выхода
    2022 - 2026
  • Выпуски
    122
  • Ограничения
    С ненормативной лексикой
  • Авторские права
    © 2026 Why I Left
  • Сайт подкаста
    Why I Left

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