Life After Public Service

Today, Donna discusses the new direction she plans to take the podcast. Whether you have served in the NHS, policing, the military, local government, or social care, leaving the job that defined you is rarely just a career change; it is a profound identity shift. Donna outlines her mission to provide honest conversations, real stories of reinvention, and practical tools to help listeners rebuild confidence and find new meaning after the ID card is handed in.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Leaving public service is fundamentally an identity shift rather than a simple career move, often requiring a total redefinition of who you are without the uniform or title.

The transition is frequently disorienting and emotional, yet these challenging feelings are rarely discussed openly or honestly within the sector.

There is a vast, supportive community of former public servants from various sectors, including the military, police, and social care, who are navigating this same path together.

The podcast will move beyond theory to offer actionable advice on rebuilding confidence, well-being, and purpose to help you ground yourself in a new life.

Despite the feelings of loss that come with leaving, the podcast focuses on hope, proving that there is a meaningful future and a new 'you' to discover beyond the role you once held.

BEST MOMENTS

"What happens when the job that shaped you ends? When the uniform comes off, the ID card is handed in, and the role that once defined you becomes a memory?"

"For millions of people who served in the NHS, local government, policing, social care, the military, and the wider public sector, leaving isn't simple. It's emotional. It's disorienting."

"I learned firsthand that life after public service is not a career change, it's an identity shift."

"You'll discover that you're not alone, there's a whole community walking this path with you."

"Remember, you're not alone, and there is a future beyond the role you once held."

ABOUT THE HOST

Donna Bentley‑Carr is a former NHS nurse turned leadership coach, organisational wellbeing strategist, and host of Life After Public Service — the podcast that explores what happens when a career of service comes to an end and a new identity begins.

After 30 years on the frontline of healthcare, Donna experienced firsthand the emotional, psychological, and cultural challenges that come with leaving public service. Her own transition revealed a truth many never speak about: stepping away from a life of service isn’t just a career change — it’s an identity shift.

Today, Donna supports people and organisations across the UK as they navigate change, rebuild confidence, and create healthier, more human‑centred cultures. Through her coaching, leadership development work, and storytelling, she brings warmth, honesty, and deep insight to conversations about purpose, resilience, and reinvention.

With a blend of lived experience, professional expertise, and a gift for making people feel seen, Donna creates space for real stories, real emotions, and real transformation. Her mission is simple: to help people rediscover who they are beyond the role they once held — and to show that there is a meaningful, hopeful, and fulfilling life after public service.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FjUrwC7qS

https://www.lifeafterpublicservice.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-bentley-carr

This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Donna sits down with Amanda Norbury, also known as The Salford Chocolatier. Amanda shares her remarkable journey from a 30-year career as an aircraft engineer in the Royal Air Force to launching her own artisan chocolate business. She discusses overcoming challenges, the importance of vulnerability and asking for help, and how a chance appearance on James Martin's Saturday Morning show catapulted her business to new heights. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Amanda's career shift began with a simple interest in physics and a chance encounter at a careers office, leading to a fulfilling 30-year career in the RAF.

The discipline, resilience, and adaptability Amanda learned in the military proved invaluable in launching and running her own business.

Admitting you don't know everything and asking for help is not a weakness; it builds trust and fosters stronger connections with others.

You don't need to dive into the deep end immediately. Taking small steps, like talking to strangers or attending local events, can help build the confidence needed for bigger leaps.

In a digital age, face-to-face interactions and showing your authentic self can be a powerful differentiator for your business.

BEST MOMENTS

"I never really had the confidence though, and that was the difference. I never believed any of this was going to happen, but I just took the opportunity when it came along."

"The strength comes from vulnerability, not from showing the world that you can achieve everything, which we can't."

"You can be a leader and still be human and still be vulnerable."

"Don't do anything until you've got some advice, support. Use all your resources, empower yourself with those tools because Googling will waste hours and hours of precious time."

"Invest in yourself: You're worth that investment."

ABOUT THE HOST

Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades. 

She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles.  Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FjUrwC7qS

https://www.lifeafterpublicservice.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-bentley-carr

This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Donna interviews Mike, known as the Classroom Exit Coach, to discuss his journey from being a history teacher to coaching others in the education sector. Mike shares his experiences in teaching, the challenges of navigating a demanding profession, and the impact of systemic changes on educators' well-being. They reflect on the importance of career guidance for young people, the pressures faced by public sector workers, and the emotional toll of maintaining a professional identity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Teaching is not just a job; it often becomes a significant part of one's identity. The pressure to maintain a positive image can lead to burnout, as educators feel the need to perform and mask their true feelings.

Both teaching and other public sector roles, such as nursing, are characterised by high workloads, emotional demands, and a lack of adequate support. Many professionals in these fields work unpaid overtime, leading to a sense of being trapped in a ‘gilded cage’.

Teachers play a crucial role in shaping young people's lives, and their mental well-being directly affects their students. The need for positive role models is essential, as students are influenced by the attitudes and behaviors of their teachers.

The focus on recruiting new teachers often overshadows the need for retaining existing staff. Addressing the reasons why educators leave the profession could be more beneficial than simply trying to bring in new talent.

BEST MOMENTS

"I think like a lot of people, when you're going into a profession, you only see the positives. You kind of go, what am I going to do with this history degree now?"

"You feel like you've got to ask permission to go early from your leader and they sort of give you that sort of side eye as if to say you're being a bit cheeky."

“The day-to-day of the job is very different to the two or three great bits. It's like relentless pressure, inability to switch off."

"The biggest issue in all of these things is retention. If we put that money into why are people leaving in the first place, then we wouldn't need to spend all this money on advertising."

"If your bucket's got a hole in the bottom, it doesn't matter how much we pour in the top."

ABOUT THE HOST

Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades. 

She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles.  Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FjUrwC7qS

https://www.lifeafterpublicservice.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-bentley-carr

This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Donna interviews Rusty Carroll, a former paramedic, ex-military officer, and leadership consultant. Rusty shares his remarkable journey from a childhood dream of becoming a soldier to his impactful career in public service, highlighting the importance of servant leadership and the profound effects of trauma in frontline roles. He candidly discusses his experiences with PTSD, the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, and the significance of self-awareness and compassion in leadership.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The concept of servant leadership emphasises that leadership is fundamentally about serving others. This principle is crucial in both military and healthcare settings, where leaders should focus on creating an environment that supports those doing the actual work.

Everyone has an impact on those around them, whether positive or negative. It's essential to be self-aware and understand how one's actions and behaviours affect others, as this awareness can lead to more compassionate and effective leadership.

Frontline workers, including paramedics and police officers, often experience moral injury due to the traumatic events they witness. This type of psychological distress is underreported and can have significant long-term effects on mental health.

Successfully processing traumatic experiences is vital for mental well-being. Techniques like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) can help individuals work through their trauma, allowing them to move from acute distress to a healthier state of mind.

Organisations should recognise the unique needs of their employees, especially those who are neuro divergent. Creating flexible work environments that cater to individual strengths can enhance productivity and overall job satisfaction, aligning with the principles of servant leadership.

BEST MOMENTS

"The most meaningful thing for me in my career is when I had an impact and it made something better, was of service."

"It's not possible to not have impact. What we need to try and be aware of is whether we're having positive or negative impact."

"If you develop the pathway of growing your worldview, you develop the neural pathway of accepting that bad things are part of this thing we call life."

"It's very, very likely that you are going to suffer trauma if you do the job for long enough."

"Nobody should ever ask that question, ever."

ABOUT THE HOST

Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades.

She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FjUrwC7qS

https://www.lifeafterpublicservice.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-bentley-carr

This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Donna interviews Bex, a former special constable and prison officer who has dedicated her career to public service and helping vulnerable individuals. Bex shares her journey from a diverse educational background to her various roles in law enforcement and social housing, highlighting the challenges and rewards of working with those in difficult situations. She discusses the importance of non-judgmental support, the need for better rehabilitation systems for prisoners, and the emotional toll of working in such demanding environments.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The journey into public service can be non-linear, with experiences in various fields such as drama, hospitality, and security before finding a calling in roles like special constable and prison officer.

Many individuals in the criminal justice system or facing homelessness are often victims of circumstance, having faced significant disadvantages in life. Recognising this can foster empathy and a non-judgmental approach.

Building strong relationships and camaraderie with colleagues is crucial in high-stress environments like policing and prison services, where trust and support can be vital for safety and morale.

Maintaining mental health is essential in public service roles, especially when dealing with trauma and challenging situations. Being aware of personal limits and seeking help when needed is important for long-term well-being.

During the holiday season, individuals are encouraged to give back to the community by volunteering time or resources to support vulnerable populations, emphasising that acts of kindness can make a significant difference.

BEST MOMENTS

"I always wish, you know, I always think, you know what, you could have been born in the wrong postcode and you end up in a different path."

"You just, you are locking and unlocking people. There doesn't seem to be the rehabilitation that I wanted to be around."

"I think you've got to be completely non-judgmental because everyone... it's a lottery, isn't it?"

"There is something around the ability to just get yourself up and ready without having to make those decisions around what you're going to wear."

"I think Christmas has become quite greedy kind of socially. Maybe you can go and do something, give your time, which is very precious as well."

ABOUT THE HOST

Donna is a Registered Nurse who has worked in the NHS for three decades.

She brings you real-life stories from people in front-line public service roles. Some of the stories discuss war, terrorism, suicide, abuse, COVID, death, and vicarious moral injury, which may be triggering for some listeners. Alongside these are stories of joy, hope, empathy, and humanity, highlighting the positive impact individuals have made. Many of her guests have navigated career changes, found work-life balance, or transitioned into new roles, including charity work or entrepreneurship. If you have a story to share that could inspire others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch. Inviting individuals from fire, police and probation services, healthcare, military, teaching, social services, local government, and civil service.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FjUrwC7qS

https://www.lifeafterpublicservice.co.uk/

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-bentley-carr

This podcast features real-life stories from frontline public service workers, covering tough topics such as war, trauma and loss, and may be triggering to some listeners. Guests also share their tales of everyday heroism, inspiring joy, hope, empathy and humanity. If you have a story to share that could encourage others seeking change or additional income, please get in touch.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/