Emma Gannon on chronic burnout, the success myth and the joys of being child-free by choice

This week we are so excited to welcome Emma Gannon on the pod, ahead of her speaking at the fantastic Wimbledon Bookfest, which runs 12-22 October.

Emma is the author of six books and creator of hit Substack newsletter, The Hyphen. Having published The Success Myth earlier this year, which explains why our obsession with achievement is a trap and how to break free, Emma was diagnosed with chronic burnout, an irony that she unpicks with us as she gets into how it left her dissociated and unable to work for four months. 

From her own experience of massive success – and how it left her feeling unfulfilled and miserable – to workaholism, the subjective nature of success and how to design a life (not a career) you enjoy, there is so much insight and wisdom for all you angels here regardless of what you do for work! It felt almost like we’d been in one of Emma’s coaching sessions after this chat, and we absolutely loved it. 

Also up for debate are the joys of being child-free by choice (her novel Olive is all about this and it is fab), finding your own version of “fun”, how to earn more doing LESS work, the importance of prioritising a solo holiday and, of course, boundary setting. 

Also, a big shout out in our intro to The Apollo Arms, the most gorge new pub in Clapham, South London, that has the most incredible gastro menu we’ve tried in a long time. We implore you to go check it out! apolloarms.co.uk

Get your copy of The Success Myth at all good booksellers, follow Emma on socials @emmagannonuk and check out her newsletter at thehyphen.substack.com/subscribe

Please do rate review and subscribe and shoot us a DM about what you’d like us to chat about next @straightupod on IG

Thanks so much to our three brilliant partner for this ep:

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