Dream Chasers
Dream Chasers is a personal-development podcast hosted by Alison O'Leary, a certified life and career coach who left a high-paced corporate job in London for rural Wales. She shares her own story of realizing her seemingly successful life was making her ill, and uses the show to help listeners pursue the career and lifestyle changes they truly want. Episodes blend practical advice with candid, energetic conversations with people who have already reshaped their working lives or are in the middle of doing so. The aim is to inspire listeners to go after their goals on their own terms and overcome the obstacles in their way.
Episodes
EP041 | Hidden No More: Growing a Word-of-Mouth Psychic Business, With Philippa Methuen
I sit down with my client Philippa Methuen, a psychic medium who has quietly built a thriving, word-of-mouth practice over more than two decades - all alongside her ongoing employed career.Philippa shares how the traumatic loss of her sister as a teenager sparked unexplained experiences that she didn’t understand at the time and how, years later, further loss and upheaval brought her back to explo
EP040 | Define your era, reject old labels and reclaim who you really are, with Alison O'Leary
In this episode:Here’s my invitation to you - to pause, reflect and get intentional about who you are becoming in 2026 – not through goals, resolutions or “self-improvement pressure”, but through identity.So many of us carry labels we never consciously chose. They’re handed to us by family, work, culture and circumstance, and over time they quietly become part of who we think we are. The problem?
EP039 | Corporate Exhaustion to Soulful Retreat Creator, with Jo Chidwick
In this episode:Have you ever reached that point where your career looks brilliant on the outside, but feels like an emotional flatline on the inside? My guest, the vibrant and soulful Jo Chidwick, knows that feeling only too well.After 30 years in the corporate world - leading global marketing for major IT brands - Jo found herself exhausted, disconnected from joy, and realising she’d drifted mil
EP038 | The Micro-Kindness Happiness Hack, With Alison O'Leary
In this episode:Have you ever stopped to think how much difference a tiny act of kindness can make - not just to someone else, but to you?In this episode, I dive into one of my favourite happiness hacks of all time - micro-kindness. Not the grand, cinematic gestures that get social media applause, but the everyday moments that no one sees. The ones that keep our collective humanity ticking along.Y
EP037 | From People Pleasing to Personal Freedom with Nicola Cameron
In this episode:Do you ever feel like you’re at the bottom of a never-ending to-do list that’s full of other people’s priorities and tasks?That was exactly where my guest, Nicola Cameron, found herself. A solicitor by profession, Nicola had built a life that looked successful from the outside, but underneath she was completely disconnected from her own wants and needs.After literally Googling “how
EP036 | Tiny Tweaks, Big Joy: The Power of Mixing Things Up, With Alison O'Leary
In this episode:Ever feel like your days are blurring into one? Same routines, same places, same everything and suddenly life feels… flat? In this episode, I explore why routine, while comforting, can also dull our senses and flatten our happiness, and why introducing even tiny changes can reignite joy, creativity and meaning.We’ll dive into the proven research on novelty and happiness, explore ho
EP035 | How small, brave choices can make a big difference, with Suzi Lawrence
In this episode:I’m joined by the wonderful Suzi Lawrence who is a former client, inspiring human and all-round wise owl. She comes to share her refreshingly honest story of how small, brave choices helped her reclaim her spark, confidence, and a sense of work-life happiness.After spending 17 years with the same organisation and climbing the ranks to Managing Director of Talent, Suzi found herself
EP034 | Squad goals for ultimate health and happiness, With Alison O'Leary
In this episode:Join me as I dive into the fascinating science and heartfelt truths behind the connection between our relationships and our health and happiness. Drawing on insights from Harvard’s 86-year-long study on happiness, I unpack the profound impact our connections have—not just on our emotional well-being, but on our physical health and longevity too.I’d love you to join me as I explore
EP033 | A story of adventure, purpose and passion, with Jack Fleckney
In this episode:I speak to the awe-inspiring Jack Fleckney, co-founder of Legend Expeditions. From playing professional rugby and serving as a Royal Marine Commando to running his own gym and leading world-class adventure expeditions, Jack’s career journey is a testament to following your passions and embracing reinvention. Together, he and I explore his incredible story, the challenges he overcam
EP032 | The Surprising Ripple Effect of Gratitude, with Alison O'Leary
In this episode:I’m get into the subject of gratitude. Now, before you roll your eyes because this is something we’ve all heard of before and we know we’re supposed to do more of it (!), what I’m delving into here isn’t just the bog standard “this is why gratitude is good for you and why you should do it” argument. There’s actually a fascinating result of gratitude practices that isn’t r
EP031 | 37 million lessons in happiness, with Matt Phelan
In this episode:What an awesome guest I have for you in this episode. He is truly the go-to person on the subject of happiness at work. Come and listen as I talk to Matt Phelan, Co-founder and Co-CEO at ‘The Happiness Index’.A few years ago, Matt gave a TEDx talk where he presented 12 million data points in happiness, from 1 million people in over 100 countries. Safe to say - what this man do
EP030 | The secret to nurturing curiosity and creative thinking, with Paul Spiers
In this episode:I have invited my friend, Paul Spiers, back to talk about the subject of creativity.When it comes to figuring out the life and career changes that will make us feel the happiest, most fulfilled and most alive, we need to be creative. We need to be able to free our minds up to think beyond our current set up and experience, and really allow ourselves to imagine what could be p
EP029 | 7 Types of Rest That Unlock Your Happiness Secret, with Alison O’Leary
In this episode:I delve into the subject of REST. It’s a really interesting topic to talk about because I’m not just talking about sleep here. Oh no!In fact, there are seven different types of rest that we all need to feel fully alive and completely ourselves. I want to get into this subject because so many people I work with, and know personally, are struggling with fatigue. Whether it’s a genera
EP028 | The Three P's for Self-Employment Success, with Derek Britton
In this episode:I speak to my wonderful former client and all-round excellent human being, Derek Britton.Derek and I originally worked together years ago when he was a marketeer at a B2B software firm that I was doing PR for, and then last year he became a coaching client after becoming a casualty of the ongoing tech industry layoffs. With three decades of in-house experience across the marketing
EP027 | The Provocative Philosophy of 'Dying with Zero', with Alison O’Leary
In this episode:I want to share a provocative philosophy with you. I’ve been really inspired by a book I listened to called ‘Die with Zero’, by Bill Perkins. On the surface, it’s all about aiming to die with zero pounds (or dollars) in the bank. Now I appreciate this sounds quite drastic, and possibly a bit mad, but the deep premise behind Perkins’ philosophy is about aiming to consciously get the
EP026 | Using Your Subconscious Mind to Generate Feel-Good Ideas, Alison O'Leary
In this episode:I’m delving into the power of the subconscious mind, and how and why it can help you pinpoint the career or lifestyle changes that you truly want. The subconscious mind has a big role to play in helping any of us identify what will really make us happy, but it’s often ignored or dismissed, or just not recognised as important. In this episode, I talk you through: · The difference
EP025 | Choosing Fun From Now On. Early Retirement and adventure, with Cara Leach
In this episode:I introduce you to a brilliant friend and client, Cara Leach, who has bucked the trend and chosen to semi-retire early at 49. Cara has always been a career woman, setting an example to her two daughters who she raised for many years as a single mum. She’s a sales and marketing whiz, and has worked in sectors as varied as tech, pharmaceuticals and sport. She was most recently brand
EP024| What it looks like to work with a Career Coach. Alison O’Leary talks to Shelley Rostlund
In this episode:With the help of my fabulous friend and podcast producer, Shelley Rostlund, we’re delving into the subject of career and life change.Yes, it’s a big subject, but we are honing in on how you can identify the kind of changes that will make you truly happy – be they role, career path or lifestyle related. Having coached hundreds of people through career and life change, I can say for
EP023 | Rediscovering the joy of Sundays. From PR to Physiotherapy, with Amy McLean
In this episode:I invite a former client and friend to come and share her career transition story with you. Amy and I first met in our old lives, when she was one of my PR clients. Years later, she became one of my coaching clients, when she was seeking a career change that would make her truly happy. Today, after 18 years as a communications and public relations professional in IT, Amy is a regis
EP022 | Our values guide and motivate our attitudes and actions, with Alison O’Leary
In this episode:I delve into the fascinating subject of VALUES and their importance to a really happy personal and professional life. Values are the fundamental drivers that guide and motivate our attitudes and actions.We each have unique set of values, and they help us to determine what is important to us; they describe the personal qualities we aim to embody; they direct the sort of person we w
EP021 | Business Ideas Can Get Better with Time, Reflection and Fresh Eyes, with Paul Spiers
In this episode:I’ve asked one of my favourite people, my awesome friend, Paul Spiers, to share his entrepreneurial journey with us.Paul and I met about 10 years ago, when we worked together in our old lives, and I’ve always been massively inspired by his creativity, his thoughtful perspectives, and his tenacity.Paul is a serial entrepreneur. He’s founded and experimented with different businesses
EP020 | How to Reboot Your Fun Quota, with Alison O’Leary
In this episode:I’m covering the subject of FUN!Because frankly, many of us are not getting enough of it in our daily lives.This episode has been inspired by the BBC TV series, Race Across the World. I’m obsessed with it and love the life insights gleaned from watching the experiences the contestants have while competing. On the celebrity version of the show, I was touched by the relationship betw
EP019 | How to Remove Imposter Syndrome for Good, with Alison O’Leary
In this episode:I tackle something that a lot of people really struggle with and that’s IMPOSTER SYNDROME. If you suffer from: …persistent self-doubt and second-guessing yourself…feeling like a fraud (and afraid you’ll be found out soon)…regularly questioning your intelligence or abilities…a perpetual fear that you aren’t good enough…or your daily lived experience involving relentless worry, anxie
EP018 | How age is on my side. Starting a new career journey in my 50s, with Anna Perkins
In this episode:I am joined by my fabulous former client, Anna Perkins, who (and she won’t mind me telling you) has started a new career journey in her early 50s.Anna has been a marketeer for 25+ years, and while there’s a lot about this role she still really enjoys, she knew that if it’s all she continued to do until the end of her working days, it would kill her soul (her words, not mine!)After
EP017 | Burnout Recovery, Finding Balance & Customising Your Life, with Sarah Allison
In this episode:Have you ever experienced burnout?How did it look and feel like for you? Did you know that it can be experienced differently – person to person?I have invited my old work colleague and friend, Sarah Allison, to come and share her burnout and recovery story, which saw her redefine what her life and work looked like in major ways.Sarah has had a rich and varied career, working for gl
EP016 | Four key signs, warning of a disconnection from your happiness path, with Alison O’Leary
In this episode:In this episode I’m coming at you solo to talk about the notion of HAPPINESS.It’s something we are all seeking, but it’s a nebulous term, and for many, working out what it actually looks and feels like for us is really hard to pin down.Personally, I spent a lot of years in the dark, with no idea what happiness genuinely looked like for me, and now I have a lot of clients who come t
EP015 | City life to Rural Wales. A couple’s career and life change story, with Alison O’Leary
In this episode:A slightly different episode for you this time! My fabulous friend and podcast strategist and producer, Shelley Röstlund, interviews me about what drove mine and my late husband’s own huge career and life change. Back in 2012, together, we made the decision to throw everything up in the air and totally reinvent what our work and personal lives looked like. It saw us leave a c
EP014 | Making Feel-Good Changes. Philosophies on Luck and Risk, with Michael Taggart
In this episode:I talk to my long-time friend, Michael Taggart, who has had a really interesting career path with numerous twists and turns - some chosen by him, and some forced upon him by forces outside of his control.Through a mix of employment and self-employment, he’s been a journalist on national newspapers, a comms guy for city councils, a PR for financial services companies, he’s built and
EP013 | From Daily Fatigue To Energised Joy. My Career Change Saved My Health, with Amy-Beth Mellor
In this episode:Join me as I talk to a former client, Amy-Beth Mellor who I’m personally super inspired by. Amy-Beth spent 20 years working in the NHS as a Dietician in pretty senior roles, whilst battling a number of physical health issues that she’d had since childhood, as well as an inexplicable level of exhaustion that left her unable to function during her time off. Then, in 2020, she got a l
EP012 | Overcoming Relentless Setbacks to Achieve my Dream Book Deal, with Claire Frances
In this episode:The amazing and highly inspirational Claire Frances joins me. Claire is a professional writer and soon-to-be published author, who also happens to be my fabulous cousin.Claire has come on to share her pretty incredible journey to having her first novel published. Despite her experience as a journalist and freelance feature writer for publications like BBC Countryfile Magazine
EP011 | Beat Your Four Fears®. Bravely Step Towards Self-Employed Happiness, with Mark Franklin
In this episode:I’m joined by the awesome Mark Franklin, a consultant, trainer and speaker, with two decades experience supporting solo and small business owners to overcome their Four Fears®, Mark’s proprietary framework for tackling what holds us back the most in our professional and personal lives.This episode is for you if you are a self-employed business owner or are dreaming of running your
EP010 | Bringing 'Big Yes' energy to everything you do. A career change born from a need to rediscover fun, with Susan Hyatt
In this episode:Ever felt like you are tired and burnt out, despite earning a decent income and having the outward markers of a good life…and then weirdly wracked with guilt because you ‘should’ be much more grateful than you feel?That was Susan Hyatt in the early 2000s. She got to a point in her life where she was ticking all the right ‘success’ boxes that we’ve been conditioned to believe are th
EP009 | Pursue heartfelt happiness, above all else. Jeremy’s example to us all, with Alison O’Leary
In this episode:I'm coming at you in all my vulnerability. This show is all about pursuing happiness, but my personal experience over the last two months has really challenged me to the core on this. My beloved husband, Jeremy, the love of my life, was diagnosed almost out of the blue with terminal cancer on the 7th of Feb 2024, and 11 days later, I lost him. As you might imagine it's been an insa
EP008 | Proud to be 100% myself. How My Values Define Me, with Dan Gamble
In this episode:If you ever needed a confirmation that making bold moves by listening to your instincts and being true to your own values is priceless – then this episode with Dan Gamble is for you!Dan’s insights and views really shine a light on how important our values are to our sense of wellbeing and happiness, and our mindset.You'll here how Dan’s upbringing and challenging adolescence shaped
EP007 | ‘Let’s Pretend’. How I retrained to become a Nutrition Coach, with Sian Aherne
In this episode:Do you dream of making heartfelt, purposeful change, but struggle with fear, self-doubt and procrastination, which ultimately stops you going after what you want?If so, you are definitely not alone! Many of my clients have experienced exactly this, and Sian Aherne is one of them.In this episode, I talk to Sian about the fear and discomfort that has held her back for years, and the
EP006 | Natural movement and dynamic aging. A career change story, with Mike Mullins
In this episode:Meet Mike Mullins, from Liverpool, who has spent over 30 years working in the education sector, most recently supporting parents and carers of children with special educational needs or disabilities around their legal entitlements. In May 2023, he embarked on a career change to pursue what he is most passionate about and is now working as a Mobility Coach.If you’re not familiar wit
EP005 | Listen to your body’s responses, there is wisdom deep within, with Alison O’Leary
In this episode:Have you come to believe in work and life you have to just battle through and compromise, which means you end up chasing goals and expectations that society, culture and others dictate for you, when it’s not what you truly need or want?That was me. In this podcast episode, I share my own story of how my body clearly signalled I was not living true to myself. Even to the point where
EP004 | When Scary Met Exciting. How I Became a Published Author, by Elijah Lawal
In this episode:Have you ever dreamt of writing a book and becoming a published author?Many have, but get derailed by a lack of professional writing experience, confusion over where to start, the deflation of rejections, and the belief that it’s simply not possible.It’s easy to succumb to the perceived barriers and limitations that our minds and “accepted wisdom” throw up in response to this goal,
EP003 | My Ex-PR Story Telling Skills Helped Me to Become a Celebrant, with Eleanor Willock
In this episode:Many dream of making a fulfilling career change, but get stuck in a cycle of fear around making the wrong choice, throwing away years of existing experience, and the big one – taking a big pay cut or not making enough money.It’s easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis, circling around wanting to make a change, but feeling like it’s just not possible, so in this episode, I invite El
EP002 | The Liberation of Beginner's Mind. From Tax Accountant to Comedian, with Samantha Day
In this episode:Have you ever dreamt of making a wildly different career change but told yourself it’s not “realistic” or possible?Our minds place all sorts of limits on what we can and can’t do, and what’s permissible, so in this episode I invite Samantha Day to share her story and insights on how she made the seemingly impossible shift from tax accounting to stand-up comedy.In her inimitable sty
EP001 | Why this show, why me, why YOU?
In this episode:Before you jump into my upcoming interviews and hear from many of my clients and friends who have navigated the thrilling, scary and exciting concept of career and life transition…I thought you may like to know a bit about me, your host.Why do I care about this subject so much? Why am I driven to support people who feel that either something is missing or they just want more out of
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