Outlaws Podcast

From Lawyer to Author: How Sulari Gentill Left Law and Found Her True Calling

Ever feel like there’s something you’ve forgotten to do — but you can’t quite name it? For Sulari Gentill, leaving the law and picking up a pen finally let her breathe.
In this episode of Outlaw Diaries, we talk to the incredible Sulari Gentill — a former corporate lawyer who swapped contracts for crime fiction, and found the thing she didn’t even know she was missing. From astrophysics to cow pregnancy tests to bestseller lists, her story is a beautiful, funny, and surprisingly relatable exploration of what happens when you finally listen to that quiet itch inside you.
She shares:
– Why being a lawyer never felt wrong, but never felt whole– The moment writing made her feel like she was breathing properly for the first time
– The identity crisis that comes with leaving a high-status profession– How leaving a stable, high-status profession can make you feel untethered — and why that’s part of it– Why she “corporate-lawyered” her way into a sustainable creative career (yep, you can do that)
– How her legal background (and a bit of astrophysics) helps her write brilliant mysteries
– What happened when she tried to write literary fiction (spoiler: a body showed up)
If you’ve ever dreamed about writing a novel, leaving your profession, or just finding the thing that feels like breathing — this episode is a must-listen
💡 This episode is for you if:– You’re stuck in the “shoulds” and wondering if it’s too late  or too hard to start again– You’re craving a more creative life but worried it’s impractical– You’re torn between security and soul-sparking joy– You’ve ever told yourself “I can’t afford to leave” and secretly hoped someone would prove you wrong– You need permission (and a strategy) to make your leap
🔧 Resources & Links📚 Explore Sulari Gentill’s books — including The Mystery Writer and the award-winning Crossing the Lines (due to be released in August) https://ultimopress.com.au/collections/sulari-gentill 
❤️ If you loved this episode...Send it to a friend who’s got “write a book” on their someday list.Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify — it helps more Outlaws find us.
🔗 Connect & Explore with us
🌐 Website: www.outlawspodcast.com📬 Email us: contact@outlawspodcast.com
💬 Join the conversation:📸 Instagram: @the.outlaws.podcast📘 Facebook Group: 💼 LinkedIn
Hosted and produced by: Shayla Strapps and Kate Offer
🎧 Hosted on Podbean
Chapters
00:00 From Lawyer to Author: A Journey of Transition07:30 The Search for Identity and Fulfillment11:13 The Creative Awakening: Discovering Writing16:18 The Leap of Faith: Embracing a New Career18:56 Untethered Identity: The Transition from Lawyer to Writer24:06 The Solitary Nature of Writing: Finding Community27:20 The value of Sulari's legal education in her writing29:42 Using Life Experience as Material for Writing29:47 Redefining Success: A Writer's Journey30:21 Navigating Financial Realities in Writing31:40 The Shift to Contemporary Writing33:03 Strategising for Success in a New Market34:35 Preparing for Opportunities: The Importance of Readiness35:07 Building a Supportive Community37:40 Advice for Aspiring Writers: Planning and Community

What Does Success Really Mean? Start With How You Spend Your Time

What if success wasn’t about ticking boxes, climbing ladders, or polishing your LinkedIn profile — but about something quieter, deeper, and more you?
In this episode, a follow up to our very popular Backwards Budget episode, Shayla and Kate take the conversation beyond the Backwards Budget and dive into the real question underneath it all: What does success actually mean to you?
Spoiler: it’s probably not “I worked 80 hours a week and missed all the good bits.”
From French school lunches to flow states, from joyful routines to redefining ambition, this is an invitation to slow down and think about how you really want to live — and how to put that in the budget.
🎧 In this episode, we talk about:– Why your version of success might be totally different (and why that’s a good thing)– The difference between happiness and fulfillment– How daily routines, small pleasures, and deeper conversations can signal what really matters– Cultural differences in how we value time, connection, and work– The power of “flow” — and how to know when you’re in it– Practical steps for weaving more meaning into your days — without burning everything down
💥 This episode is for you if:– You’re tired of chasing someone else’s dream– You want to feel more joy, energy, and purpose in your everyday life– You’re craving space to ask bigger questions– You want to shift how you spend your time, not just how you spend your money– You’re ready to start building a life that feels like yours
🎶 Bonus inspo from the episode📚 Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi → Penguin link🎵 Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds → Listen on YouTube
📚 2025 Personal Planning Template by Grace Clarke at (grace-clarke.com)
 
🔧 Resources & Links🎁 Download the Backwards Budget Tool: Sign up on our website to get your copy!💬 Join the Facebook Group and let's get chatting in real life: Outlaws Podcast Community📩 Subscribe to our newsletter via the website www.outlawspodcast.com: Tips, updates & occasional shoe reviews.
❤️ If you loved this episode...Send it to someone who’s been questioning their 9–5.Rate and review us on Apple or Spotify — it helps other Outlaws find us.
🎧 Find out more🌐 Website: www.outlawspodcast.com
🔗 Connect with us📸 Instagram: @the.outlaws.podcast📘 Facebook Group💼 LinkedIn: Outlaws Podcast
🎙️ Hosted and produced by Shayla Strapps & Kate Offer📍 Recorded in Australia, available wherever you podcast.
We pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land on which we live and record this podcast, the Wajduk people of the Noongar Nation.  

Budgeting for a Life You Love: How to Use the Backwards Budget to Change Your Life and Career

💡 What if your budget started with the life you want, not the one you’re stuck in?
In this episode, Shayla and Kate unpack a deceptively simple but transformative tool: the Backwards Budget. Born out of Shayla’s own burnout and a desire to live more deliberately, this approach flips traditional financial planning on its head — starting not with income, but with the kind of life you actually want to live.
From spreadsheets to existential questions, they talk about:
– The real cost of the life you want (and how to calculate it)– Why your gut reaction to “what would you do with $70 million?” matters– The slow, doable steps toward change — even when quitting your job feels impossible– How financial clarity can give you emotional and creative freedom
🎧 Whether you're contemplating a career shift, craving more time for your family, or dreaming about becoming an author, this episode will help you turn that dream into a budget — and then a plan.
💥 In this episode– Shayla’s story of burnout and rebuilding her life from the budget up– The power of starting with what you want and working backwards– Kate’s thoughts on financial fear and practical freedom– The emotional side of money — and how budgeting can be liberating, not limiting– Why this isn’t just for rebels and risk-takers — but for anyone who wants to live with more intention
💡 This episode is for you if:– You’re constantly dreaming of quitting your job– You want more time, more freedom, or more space to breathe– You’re curious about how to start over — without starting from scratch– You’re craving real, grounded conversations about life design and money– You’ve ever said “I can’t afford to change” and wished it weren’t true
🔧 Resources & Links🎁 Download the Backwards Budget Tool: Sign up on our website to get the spreadsheet as soon as it’s ready!💬 Join the conversation in our Facebook Group: Share your budget stories, ask questions, or just lurk for inspo.📩 Want updates and tips? Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop.
❤️ If you loved this episode...Share it with a friend who’s always Googling “how to quit my job and not starve.”Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more Outlaws find us!
🎧 Find out more🔗 Website: www.outlawspodcast.com
🔗 Connect & ExploreHosted and produced by: Shayla Strapps and Kate Offer
🌐 Website: www.outlawspodcast.com📬 Email us: contact@outlawspodcast.com
💬 Join the conversation:📸 Instagram: @the.outlaws.podcast📘 Facebook Group: Outlaws Podcast Community💼 LinkedIn: Outlaws Podcast
🎧 Hosted on Podbean

Outlawbrary #1: 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman, Time Anxiety, and the Freedom of Letting Go

In this episode, Shayla and Kate crack open Oliver Burkeman’s powerful book 4,000 Weeks — and let’s be clear, it’s not about to-do lists.
They explore the confronting reality that 4,000 weeks is roughly all we get in a lifetime, and how that number becomes a springboard for bigger questions: What truly matters? Why do we equate our worth with productivity? And how can we let go of the pressure to do it all?
With personal stories, a healthy dose of irreverence, and some classic Outlaw-style reflection, this first Outlawbrary episode offers insights on how to rethink your relationship with time — and find more meaning by doing less.
🎧 Whether you’ve read the book or not, this one’s for anyone questioning the hustle, craving a slower life, or wondering how the heck to use their 4,000 weeks.
 
💥 In this episode– Why 4,000 weeks hits harder than any productivity hack– Time anxiety and the trap of “trying to do it all”– How accepting your limitations can actually set you free– Stories from Shayla and Kate on how this book shifted their thinking– The case for slowing down — and living better, not faster
💡 This episode is for you if:– You secretly feel like you're always behind– You’re craving more meaning but not sure how to get there– You’ve ever googled “how to be more productive” at 2am– You love a good book that messes with your worldview (in a good way)– You’re ready to rebel — gently — against the cult of busyness
Learn more about Oliver Burkeman and 4,000 Weeks:
https://www.oliverburkeman.com/books
Oliver's last Guardian column
🎧 Find out more🔗 Website: www.outlawspodcast.com
🔗 Connect & ExploreHosted by: Shayla Strapps and Kate OfferProduced by: Shayla Strapps
🌐 Website: www.outlawspodcast.com📬 Email us: contact@outlawspodcast.com
💬 Join the conversation:📸 Instagram: @the.outlaws.podcast📘 Facebook Group: Outlaws Podcast Community💼 LinkedIn: Outlaws Podcast
🎧 Hosted on Podbean

From Litigation to Legal Tech and Author: Reinventing Success with Fiona McLay

In this episode we share our first 'Outlaw Diaries', and Shayla sits down with Fiona McLay—a former litigation lawyer turned legal tech evangelist and author—for an honest conversation about what it really takes to change course.
Fiona shares how she moved from the traditional path of legal practice into something far more aligned with who she is today. They talk about the messy middle of reinvention, the fear and worries, and the quiet courage it takes to follow a different vision of success—even when the world expects you to stay in your lane.
💥 In this episode:
The unexpected turning points in Fiona’s legal career
Why reinvention isn’t a neat and tidy process
How coaching and community played a role in finding clarity
Learning to define “enough” for yourself
Legal tech, creativity, and carving your own niche
The power of backing yourself—before you feel ready
💡 This episode is for you if:
You’re wondering if the career you chose still fits
You’ve been sitting on a pivot but afraid to act
You want a real-world example of how to shift direction—without losing yourself in the process
You love hearing honest, smart conversations about work, growth, and living more honestly
🎧 Hit play to hear how Fiona stepped off the script and into a career that finally fits.
🔗 Connect & Explore
Hosted by: Shayla Strapps and Kate OfferProduced by: Shayla Strapps
🌐 Website: www.outlawspodcast.com📬 Get in touch: contact@outlawspodcast.com
💬 Join the conversation:
Instagram: @the.outlaws.podcast
Facebook Group: Outlaws Podcast Community
LinkedIn: Outlaws Podcast
🎧 Hosted on Podbean
🎙️ Learn more about Fiona McLay
Fiona is a legal tech evangelist, author, and consultant helping the profession evolve with purpose. You can find her work and insights and buy her book at:🌐 www.fionamclay.com.au🔗 LinkedIn: Fiona McLay📘 Facebook: Tech Enabled Lawyer

The Hidden Rules of Success: What We’re Unlearning (And why you might want to, too)

In this episode of Outlaws, Shayla and Kate pull back the curtain on the hidden curriculum—the sneaky, unspoken rules that shape how we define success, worth, and ambition.
From career ladders you never questioned to the belief that being busy means you're important, they unpack the beliefs that ruled their lives (until they didn’t). They share five deeply ingrained "rules" they’re actively unlearning—and how it’s changing the way they work, live, and measure success.
But this conversation goes deeper. They explore what happens when you realise you’ve been performing an identity that isn’t fully yours. The burnout that comes from trying to be palatable, professional, and perfect. The pressure to be “good” at everything, including being human. And the radical relief of asking: what if I just stopped?
💥 In this episode:
The myth of the ladder: Why climbing higher doesn't always mean going further
How we confuse busy with worthy (and how to stop)
The sunk cost fallacy: Why time spent doesn’t have to equal a lifetime commitment
External validation vs. internal clarity
The cost of performance: When “doing it all” means losing yourself
Why redefining success is a radical act—and a necessary one
💡 This episode is for you if:
You're questioning your career path or life choices
You've ever felt guilty for not wanting more
You’ve internalised rules that no longer serve you
You’re tired of performing an identity just to “fit”
You’re ready to design success—and your life—on your own terms
🎧 Listen now and start unlearning the rules that were never yours to begin with.
 
Links
Alain de Botton TEDX talk https://www.ted.com/talks/alain_de_botton_a_kinder_gentler_philosophy_of_success?language=en 
 
CREDITS
Hosts and producers: Shayla Strapps and Kate Offer
Website - www.outlawspodcast.com 
Get in touch  - Contact@outlawspodcast.com 
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.outlaws.podcast/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1335594167730235 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/outlawspodcast 
Hosted on Podbean. 
 

When Success Isn’t Enough: Burnout, Unlearning & Becoming an Outlaw

You followed the rules. You ticked all the boxes. You built the “successful” career.So… why does it still feel like something’s missing or that you're not really happy?
In this first episode of Outlaws, your hosts Shayla and Kate (two former lawyers turned question-askers and life-redesigners) get real about what brought them here — from burnout and breakdowns to career pivots and messy in-betweens.
We talk:
Walking away from careers that once felt like a calling
Burnout, identity, and the cost of "success"
Why we started this podcast (and who it’s for)
The power of unlearning and choosing your own way
Why you don’t need to have it all figured out to begin again
This is not your average self-help show. Outlaws is for anyone standing at the edge of a big change — curious, scared, maybe a little bit fed up — and wondering what life could look like off-script.
Whether you're ready to quit, pause, pivot, or just take a breath — this is your permission slip.
 
CREDITS
 
Host and producers: Shayla Strapps and Kate Offer
 
Website - www.outlawspodcast.com 
 
Get in touch  - Contact@outlawspodcast.com 
 
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.outlaws.podcast/ 
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1335594167730235 
 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/outlawspodcast 
 
Hosted on Podbean. 

Trailer Outlaws Podcast - Unlearning the rules of work and life

Outlaws is the podcast for professionals who look successful on paper but feel stuck inside. Hosted by two (out)laws who walked away from traditional legal careers, we explore bold career pivots, honest stories, and practical tools for rewriting the rules of work and life. If you're craving more meaning, freedom, and truth in your career—this is your space. Subscribe and start your own outlaw journey.