Life’s too short to be stuck doing something that you don’t enjoy - career change interview with Emily Taylor

From Classroom to Mountaintops: Emily's Journey of Grief and Career Transformation[Note: This interview includes sensitive topics about grief, mental health, and suicide. Please consider carefully if it’s a suitable time for you to listen to this content.]Emily Taylor, also known as Trigs and Teeth, shares her inspiring journey from being a teacher to becoming a prominent outdoor influencer and mountain leader. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and a friend started exploring trig points in the Peak District, which eventually led her to create an Instagram page documenting her adventures. The page grew, and Emily continued to build a community around it, eventually becoming an Ordnance Survey Champion and collaborating with major outdoor brands like Rab and Acai Outdoor Wear. Emily opens up about her struggles with mental health, her father's tragic death, and how reconnecting with nature became a crucial coping mechanism. She describes her career transition from teaching, a profession she once thought she'd retire from, to leading walks, teaching navigation courses, and creating content for brands. Her story emphasises the importance of following one's passion, the power of nature in working through emotions, and the significance of a supportive network in making such a transformative career change. This episode contains sensitive discussions about mental health, grief, and suicide. Emily’s experiences highlight the critical need for self-care and the courage required to make significant life changes. Listen to the end for her thoughtful question that might help you evaluate your own career path.Recording informationThis interview was recorded outdoors in Edale beside Crowden Brook on 7th October 2025.Emily's LinksEmily's outdoor events for women on eventbriteEmily’s outdoor adventures: TrigsandteethConfidence building for outdoor women: peakoutdoorcoachingReferencesSuzanne HillAcai Outdoorwear websiteRab websiteTog24 websiteBlacks online websiteYoga teacher Emily in the Outdoors Instagram accountFinal notesVisit About The Adventure website to contact Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for future guests. Or email directly: [email protected] to Sarah's newsletter to receive episodes in your inbox, along with career change interviews and career coaching questions.Podcast music is by Tsarzi and artwork by Tiffany-Francis Baker.Thanks for listening!