The Hearing – A Legal Podcast

EP. 186 – Finding purpose beyond law (Jodi Ettenberg, Legal Nomads)

The Hearing – A Legal Podcast

Show Notes

This episode features a conversation with Jodi Ettenberg, a former lawyer who left her corporate practice in 2008 to travel the world and become a successful travel writer and entrepreneur. Host Janelle Wrigley explores Jodi's unconventional journey from billing 3,000 hours as a first-year attorney in New York to building Legal Nomads, a pioneering travel blog that evolved into a thriving business serving a global community.

Janelle and Jodi discuss the challenges of leaving a legal career and practical approaches for lawyers considering major life changes. The conversation takes a profound turn as Jodi shares how a routine medical procedure in 2017 left her with a chronic spinal CSF leak, a debilitating condition that ended her ability to travel and led to a new role as a health advocate.

Throughout the episode, Jodi offers candid insights on navigating grief, adapting to change, and the power of community support. Her story highlights the value of intellectual curiosity and the importance of building a life aligned with your values rather than external expectations. This conversation will resonate with anyone facing uncertainty, whether contemplating a career change or managing unexpected life challenges.

Alternative careers for lawyers: https://www.legalnomads.com/alternative-careers-lawyers/ To learn more about spinal CSF leak: https://spinalcsfleak.org/

More from The Hearing – A Legal Podcast

Feb 9, 2026

After nearly 8 years, just shy of 190 episodes, and countless conversations across the legal world, The Hearing signs off with a special, full‑team finale. In this reflective and heartfelt episode, the podcast's co-founder and editor, Ben Clayton, brings together the current hosts and producers – Kaley Botting, Yasmin Sheikh, Janelle Wrigley, Becky Annison, Teneé Frazier and Christina Lynn – for an open conversation about the stories, challenges, surprises, and stand‑out moments that shaped the show.

Jan 26, 2026

In this episode, host Teneé Frazier and Roger Horner, a municipal law expert at Practical Law, discuss the contentious topic of book banning.

Jan 12, 2026

Is your duty of care climate‑ready? Extreme weather, shifting regulations and liability exposure are no longer environmental side notes – they're core to competent legal advice across a range of practice areas.

Dec 8, 2025

This episode examines the post-Covid trend among many employers to increase the number of days staff are expected to attend their place of work. Host Yasmin Sheikh sits down with UK employment law expert Kate Dodd to discuss the evolving landscape of workplace culture and the legal considerations surrounding hybrid work. Kate is a partner at Pinsent Masons and heads up Brook Graham – their equality, diversity and inclusion consultancy.

Nov 17, 2025

In this episode, Teneé Frazier sits down with Chris Gillett, owner of Chris Gillett Photography and a former trial attorney, to explore how lawyers can strategically use headshots to communicate their professional brand. Discover why your headshot is more than just a photo – it’s your first impression, a confidence booster, and a tool for shaping how clients and colleagues perceive you.

See all episodes →