From Classrooms to Mountaintops: Emily's Journey of Grief and Career Change

Emily Taylor, also known as @trigsandteeth on Instagram, shares her inspiring journey from being a teacher to becoming a prominent outdoor influencer and mountain leader.

Emily Taylor on About The Adventure Podcast

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.

In this interview, 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.

Listen to the interview by clicking the play button below, or download it here. The episode is also available on About The Adventure podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Recording information

This interview was recorded outdoors in Edale beside Crowden Brook on 7th October 2025.

Emily's Links

Emily's outdoor events for women on eventbrite

Emily’s outdoor adventures: Trigsandteeth

Confidence building for outdoor women: peakoutdoorcoaching

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Visit About The Adventure website to contact Sarah, the podcast host, with your comments, questions or suggestions for future guests. Or email directly: sarah@sarahventurer.com

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Podcast music is by Tsarzi and artwork by Tiffany-Francis Baker. Thanks for listening!