Why I Left

About Why I Left

Why I Left tells real stories from real people about the bold career moves that changed their lives. Hosted by Brian Aquart, the show goes beyond resignations to uncover courage, clarity, and growth in the face of change. Each episode offers honest reflections, lessons learned, and practical insights for anyone considering a pivot, navigating uncertainty, or seeking inspiration for their next chapter. We don’t talk about resignations enough, this podcast makes sure we do.

Publisher

Brian Aquart

Category

business · education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 May 2022

Latest episode

7 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

125 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Aug 2026

   Season 5 Wrap-Up: Courage, Clarity, and the Next Chapter - Brian Aquart

   Send a message to the show Five seasons. 100 episodes. One belief still sits at the center of Why I Left: we do not talk about resignations enough. In this solo season finale, host Brian Aquart reflects on the milestone of reaching 100 episodes and the deeper purpose behind the show. What began as a labor of love during a period when millions of people were rethinking work has become a living library of stories about courage, clarity, choice, and growth. Brian looks back on the guests who tru...

2. 

   21 Jul 2026

   What a Hollywood Stunt Coordinator Knows About Risk and Leadership - Don Lee

   Send a message to the show Don Lee built a career around risk, but his biggest transition was not physical. It was learning how to stop thinking only about his own performance and start carrying responsibility for everyone else on set. Don is a stunt coordinator, fight coordinator, second unit director, and action designer whose credits include Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Cobra Kai, and Tulsa King. In this conversa...

3. 

   14 Jul 2026

   How to Build a Career Around the Problem You Want to Solve - Chike Aguh

   Send a message to the show Not every career pivot starts with a dramatic resignation. Sometimes the deeper shift happens when you realize the title you hold is no longer the best way to serve the problem you care about. In this episode of Why I Left, Brian Aquart sits down with Chike Aguh, Head of Innovation and Strategy at the Kapor Center, for a conversation about workforce, public service, leadership, and the quiet discipline behind intentional career movement. Chike reflects on his family...

Who has been a guest on Why I Left

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Chase Sterling
• Zhou Fang
• Danielle Perlin-Good
• Walt Morgan
• Makini Chisolm-Straker

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

80,687

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

20 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 88 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

93

Social presence

91

YouTube

85

Engagement

77

Contact Why I Left

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Why I Left