Astronaut to Zookeeper

The A to Z of life after school! The Art teacher formally known as Miss Willis is on a mission to catch up with former students to see what career paths they have taken and what advice they would give their 14 year old self. All with the aim to open up the imagination for young people when it comes to life after school!

Recent Episodes

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Interior Designer - Sarah Richards
Aug. 30, 2022

Interior Designer - Sarah Richards

In this episode I chat to former student Sarah, who is a now an Interior Designer! We talk about how it's so important to listen to yourself and what really interests you, how she ended up designing for palaces in Dubai and about the time she knocked over a Tracey Emin painting!
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Coach and Speaker - Ginny Radmall
Feb. 17, 2022

Coach and Speaker - Ginny Radmall

In this episode I chat to former student Ginny, who is a now a Coach and Speaker! We talk about her route into this career, how important communication and authenticity is in today's world, and of course what she wanted to be when she was 5 years old!
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Performing Arts Academy and Agency Owner - Caroline Boury
Nov. 22, 2021

Performing Arts Academy and Agency Owner - Caroline Boury

In this episode I chat to former student Caroline, who is a Performing Arts Academy and Agency Owner! We talk about her route into this career, how important it is that all young people should have access to the Arts, and of course what she wanted to be when she was 5 years old!
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Special Episode - A Conversation with Mae and Sam, Co Founders of ERIC
Aug. 19, 2021

Special Episode - A Conversation with Mae and Sam, Co Founders of ERIC

To kickstart Season 3 of Astronaut to Zookeeper podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Mae Yip and Samantha Hornsby who are the Co Founders of ERIC - the exciting career & self-discovery platform for young people. ERIC ...
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Teaching Assistant - Jerome Marshall
July 18, 2021

Teaching Assistant - Jerome Marshall

In this episode I catch up with former student Jerome who is now a Teaching Assistant. We chat about the varied responsibilities of a TA , how young people best flourish, and of course the good days and the bad days being a t...
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Gender Balance Coach - Stephanie Bevan
July 1, 2021

Gender Balance Coach - Stephanie Bevan

In this episode I chat to former student Stephanie, who is now a Gender Balance Coach for the Institute of Physics! We talk about the importance of gender balance in every profession, unconscious bias, role models and of cour...
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Reviews

Love Elysia’s voice

"I listened to the first episode with Tim Pearson and it was a powerful episode. I think if you want high quality interviews this is a great show for you"

R-tistic @Rtisticworld | Aug. 2, 2020

Refreshing

"In this world of noise a refreshingly honest idea, young people sharing their experiences of their transition from education into work. Listening with my daughter as she edges closer to that moment."

Slack Dad | Oct. 17, 2020

Elysia Willis does it again!

"Having known Elysia for most of my life (scary), I've never seen a reduction in her creative momentum – teaching art, freelancing, building businesses, making podcasts... where does it end? I think …"

Lbooooy | Sept. 3, 2020

A to Z is so insightful!!

"I really enjoyed these podcasts, really insightful and such a great source of ideas and inspiration for kids thinking about what they want to do when they leave school. It also helped address some of…"

Dilly1979 | April 19, 2020

What a gem?!

"It’s a gem of a podcast with fascinating stories of people like you and I who when on to do things they love, depicting the beautiful and hard journey of how to begin your adult life once you leave s…"

ola15793 | April 18, 2020
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