Burnt Out or Ready to Leave Teaching?

Are you burnt out — or is it time to leave teaching?In this Q&A episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down again with Hugo Trace, the former teacher known as “The One Who Got Away,” for an honest conversation about what happens when teachers start thinking seriously about leaving the classroom.Hugo talks openly about burnout, money fears, career change, starting a business, using AI to plan your next move, and whether teachers regret leaving education. He also shares why teachers should not underestimate the skills they already have, and why betting on yourself may feel risky — but staying stuck can be risky too.This episode is for teachers who are asking questions they may not want to say out loud:Am I just tired, or do I need to leave?What if I cannot afford to leave teaching?Should I build something on the side first?Will I regret leaving the classroom?What else can teachers actually do?Whether you are ready to leave, thinking about a career change, or simply questioning your next step, this conversation gives a real, honest look at life beyond the classroom.💬 “I don’t think you can ever really regret betting on yourself. Who else are you going to bet on?”Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast.📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcastListen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145⸻⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:45 - Welcome back: Hugo Trace, “The One Who Got Away”2:00 - How Hugo helps teachers thinking about leaving4:00 - How to contact Hugo Trace5:00 - Are you burnt out or do you actually need to leave?8:00 - The “crushing feeling” many teachers experience11:00 - Is it the school, the environment, or education itself?13:00 - I want to leave, but I’m scared about money16:00 - Why teachers may be more valuable than they realise18:00 - Should teachers build something on the side first?21:00 - Using AI to plan your next career move24:00 - Betting on yourself instead of the system27:00 - Will I regret leaving teaching?30:00 - The difficult stage after leaving33:00 - What teachers should do before resigning36:00 - Final advice for teachers thinking about leaving38:00 - Share the podcast and final reflections⸻📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development.Each guest joins us for two episodes: one exploring their story, and one answering real questions submitted by parents, teachers, leaders, and the wider community.#SLTPodcast #LeavingTeaching #TeacherBurnout #TeacherRetention #TeacherLife #CareerChange #EducationPodcast #TeacherWellbeing #SchoolLeadership #SeriousLeadersTalking