144: Saving with Steve with Steve Sexton & guest Diana Bernal144: Saving with Steve with Steve Sexton & guest Diana Bernal
UK Health Radio Podcast
Steve Sexton and Diana Bernal talk about toxic workplaces, layoffs and the realities of self-employment, focusing on side hustles, mindset and family impact. The conversation shares practical steps and honest stories to help people rethink their relationship with work, money and long-term fulfilment.
44:57•5 Sept 2026
Financial Freedom, Side Hustles and Escaping Toxic Work with Diana Bernal
Episode Overview
- Relying on a single employer is high risk; a side hustle can act as both a test run and a hedge against sudden job loss.
- Start with skills people already seek you out for, then test whether strangers will actually pay for your service before investing heavily.
- Track income and expenses carefully, using tools or a bookkeeper, to know whether a business idea is genuinely profitable and sustainable.
- Journal on your motivations and values to decide whether you need a new employer, a new role, or a completely different path.
- Share plans gradually, involve family and an accountability partner, and build a realistic action plan instead of making impulsive leaps.
“"If you serve everyone, you serve no one."”
What drives someone to seek a life that feels freer – financially, emotionally, and professionally? This episode of Saving with Steve zooms in on that question as Steve Sexton talks with executive coach and author Diana Bernal about escaping toxic work situations and building a career with intention. Diana shares her own journey from frustrated employee to self-employed coach, juggling kids, ageing parents and household finances along the way.
She speaks directly to those feeling stuck in unstable jobs or unhealthy environments: stressed, out of control, and worried about what a layoff could mean. As she puts it, having one employer is essentially having "one client" – and you can "go from one to zero really fast." You’ll hear practical chat on side hustles as both a testing ground and a safety net.
Diana breaks down how to start with what you’re already good at and what people naturally come to you for, rather than chasing random ideas because they sound trendy. She’s clear that profit matters, explaining how she uses a bookkeeper, looks honestly at revenue versus costs, and makes projections instead of relying on hopeful guesses.
The conversation also steps into the emotional side: layoffs at big-name companies, mid-career cuts hitting people in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and the guilt many feel about changing direction after investing years in a particular career. Diana urges listeners to journal, question their "why", and consider whether they’re simply in the wrong place or truly ready for something different.
Family dynamics get a candid airing too – from long commutes and missed dinners to how partners and kids respond when someone decides to shift path.
Diana suggests starting with quiet reflection, then sharing plans with trusted people and finding an accountability partner who won’t just say, "Let’s go for margaritas and forget the plan." If you’ve ever sat in a car park asking yourself, "Is this it?", this conversation might be the nudge to rethink how you earn, spend your time, and define success. Could it be time to put your own happiness back at the centre of your financial life?
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