The Hearing – A Legal Podcast EP. 186 – Finding purpose beyond law (Jodi Ettenberg, Legal Nomads)
Dec 22, 2025
52:47
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/
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/