The First Interview: Katrina McGhee & Lyndall Farley on Career Breaks, Sabbaticals & BreakSpace

Episode 63 - The First Interview: Katrina McGhee & Lyndall Farley on Career Breaks, Sabbaticals & BreakSpace

In this milestone episode of Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee, we celebrate a first for the show—our very first guest interview.

Joined by BreakSpace co-owner Lyndall Farley, Katrina and James dive into the real story behind building BreakSpace, what it takes to step away from work, and how to design a truly life-changing career break.

From their journey as “competitors” to co-founders, to the emotional realities of burnout, identity, and re-entry, this episode is packed with honest, behind-the-scenes insights.

This conversation also dives into the emotional side of stepping away from work—the fear, the doubt, and the identity shift that comes with leaving a career you’ve worked hard to build. Katrina McGhee and Lyndall Farley share honest reflections on imposter syndrome, making big decisions without certainty, and learning to trust yourself through the process.

You’ll also hear real stories and transformations from inside BreakSpace, including people taking multiple career breaks, redesigning their lives, and returning to work with a completely new perspective. It’s a powerful reminder that a break isn’t just time off—it can be the catalyst for long-term change if you approach it with intention.

Whether you're considering a sabbatical, already on a break, or figuring out what comes next—this conversation will reshape how you think about work, rest, and life design.

RSVP for the 'Take a Break Without Falling Behind' Workshop: https://app.heartbeat.chat/breakspace/events/552F4A

🎯 What You’ll Learn

The difference between a career break and a sabbaticalHow to know if you’re ready to take time offWhy each stage (before, during, after) brings different challengesThe mindset needed for a successful, fulfilling breakHow community transforms the experienceWhy more people are taking multiple career breaksThe biggest mistakes to avoid when planning time offWhy AI can’t replace real human support in life transitions

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & first-ever interview on the podcast
01:00 – Meet Katrina McGhee & Lyndall Farley
03:00 – Career breaks vs sabbaticals: what’s the difference?
05:30 – How many breaks they’ve taken (and why it matters)
07:00 – The origin story of BreakSpace
10:30 – From competitors to collaborators
13:30 – Why finding the right partner is so difficult
14:30 – The “secret sauce” behind BreakSpace
17:30 – The power of community and connection
20:30 – Scared + excited: launching BreakSpace
22:30 – Trust, risk, and putting everything on the line
25:00 – Imposter syndrome and self-doubt
27:00 – Going public with BreakSpace (LinkedIn moment)
28:30 – Why a career break community is needed
31:30 – Early signs people wanted this
34:30 – What makes BreakSpace different
36:00 – Supporting people before, during, and after a break
38:30 – Where people struggle most
42:00 – Re-entry: the biggest challenge?
45:00 – Real transformations inside BreakSpace
48:30 – Taking second (and third) career breaks
51:00 – Favourite milestones and standout moments
54:30 – Why BreakSpace is hard to replicate
59:30 – Career breaks in the age of AI
01:02:00 – Why human connection still matters most

Don’t start at Episode 1! Find your best place to begin right here - ⁠⁠https://chatgpt.com/g/g-69b0e49d33008191a533dfd037479bfc-career-break-podcast-episode-recommender⁠⁠

Ready to stop "running on empty" and start running toward a life you actually love?

📞Schedule a call with Katrina - ⁠⁠https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/freeconsult⁠⁠

🫶🏼Join the BreakSpace community - ⁠⁠www.gobreakspace.com⁠⁠

🎁Order Katrina's book (w/ special bonus!) - ⁠⁠https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book⁠⁠

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into career growth, work-life balance, and mental resilience.

🎧Produced by Winging It Productions - ⁠⁠https://www.wingingitproductions.com