FRIED. The Burnout Podcast

Burnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]Burnout reaches far beyond the office, touching every layer of health, purpose, and identity, and Dr. Jen Wagner joins Cait Donovan to uncover what true recovery really looks like. As Chief Health and Performance Officer at Canyon Ranch, Dr. Wagner brings both professional expertise and lived experience, sharing how her own burnout as a young physician and mother reshaped her path and deepened her commitment to helping others heal. Together, she and Cait explore why burnout isn’t just mental exhaustion but a full-body, whole-life disruption that can strip away joy, relationships, and meaning.This episode shines a light on Canyon Ranch’s integrative model of care, where labs, glucose and cortisol monitoring, nutrition, mental health, and spiritual practices come together to give people the tools and support they need to rebuild. Recovery, they emphasize, is not an overnight solution but a 12 to 18 month journey of self-awareness, community, and purpose realignment. Along the way, they tackle the systemic pressures that push women leaders to the brink and the cultural belief that suffering through misery is a badge of honor. What emerges is a powerful reminder that joy and well-being are not luxuries but essentials, and that choosing recovery is one of the most important investments we can make in ourselves and the people we love.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Meet Dr. Jen Wagner and the Burnout Retreat03:28 How Burnout Reshapes Body, Identity, and Purpose04:35 Recovery vs. Prevention of Burnout06:56 Medical Testing and Biomarkers That Matter10:18 Integrative Care and Community at Canyon Ranch13:53 Dr. Jen Wagner’s Personal Burnout Story22:09 Inside the Burnout Retreat Experience29:12 Long-Term Recovery and Ongoing SupportConnect with Dr. Jen Wagner:Canyon Ranch Canyon Ranch: Beat BurnoutFollow Canyon Ranch on Instagram LinkedInConnect with Cait:Initial Call with CaitInitial Call with SarahBurnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Burnout recovery often requires a supportive environment and self-reflection. Most people face a timeline of 12 to 18 months, influenced by emotional and identity shifts. Challenges like letting go of a dream job or caregiving responsibilities can prolong recovery. The podcast dives into these key factors, emphasizing the importance of boundaries and how relationships may evolve unexpectedly. Ultimately, burnout can lead you toward a more fulfilling life, making the challenging journey worthwhile.

Feeling stuck by burnout? Discover the 'Worst Case Scenario' exercise, a powerful tool to confront fears and navigate tough decisions. This method helps you explore worst-case outcomes and action plans, giving you confidence to move forward. With insights on seeking support from unexpected places, like local librarians or Facebook groups, you'll learn that recovery is a journey best taken with a little help. Ready to tackle those daunting decisions head-on?

Sarah Vosen, Director of Coaching at Burn Bold and acupuncturist, shares her journey through burnout recovery. She highlights the dangers of hyper-independence and why even coaches need support. With her personal story, she emphasizes how asking for help can shift one’s healing process. Sarah also introduces Qigong practices, like 'pulling down heavens,' which use breath and movement to restore energy flow. Her insights encourage listeners to embrace support and make mindful practices a staple in their recovery.

Cait Donovan reveals her personal struggle with a long-standing sugar habit, highlighting how habits can mask deeper discomforts. With support from dietitian Sydney Green, she explores her relationship with food through compassion rather than shame. Instead of drastic changes, she opts for a small yet powerful shift — no sugar in her coffee. This simple decision leads to greater awareness of her body and emotions, inviting listeners to reflect on what habits they might be avoiding and encouraging them to start small on their own journey.

Burnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]If your brain screams ‘lazy’ every time you try to rest, it’s time to stop trusting a bully and start listening to the one part of you that never lies: your body. So many people in burnout recovery hear the same harsh inner dialogue. “You’re lazy.” “You should be doing more.” “You’ll never be enough.” But what if those thoughts aren’t reflections of reality, just echoes of a brain running on exhaustion and fear?Sarah Vosen is back for another #sarahshares episode to unpack a powerful community poll that revealed just how mean our minds can be when we try to rest. She walks through what it means to recognize those messages as lies and gives guidance for tuning into your body’s truth instead. Because when the body says “I’m too tired,” it isn't a weakness. It’s wisdom.This episode invites you to try a different approach - one rooted in self-compassion, small moments of rest, and the radical idea that your worth isn’t tied to your productivity.Episode Breakdown:00:00 What Your Brain Says When You Try to Rest03:02 The Lying Brain vs. the Truthful Body07:09 How to Rest Even When Guilt Creeps In08:13 Why Self-Compassion Is Key to Burnout Recovery10:00 Sarah’s Personal Turning Point with Self-Kindness13:03 Can Wearable Data Help You Trust Your Body Again?LinksListening to your body:https://open.spotify.com/episode/7f3rMZ42rwnWW3c8kuAKk5?si=YSkz0JS0RTyOwWu6LN4XOAKristin Neff:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5vHiMpzVHcOYRdvDXwbyE1?si=AmhF8nCERjm5zLBY2rKsFwHow to resolve exhaustion:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0W65Yv1l2aOI7F5ZyebfXs?si=Eyt5XV8uS8ODyv7DxoJfegConnect with Cait:Initial Call with Cait: bit.ly/callcaitInitial Call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvBurnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Burnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]Imposter syndrome has a way of creeping in when we’ve spent so long meeting everyone else’s expectations that we forget what we actually want for ourselves.In this episode, Cait Donovan reconnects with Nicole Kalil for a conversation about burnout, confidence, and the stories we tell ourselves when we’re doing all the right things but still don’t feel like we belong. Nicole shares what happened when she finally cleared space in her life and was left with a surprising sense of emptiness, a feeling that’s all too common but rarely talked about. What do you do when achievement no longer feels satisfying? How do you navigate that awkward in-between where you’re no longer burned out, but not quite sure who you are without the hustle?Together, Cait and Nicole explore the deeper patterns behind imposter syndrome, including the habit of blaming yourself when things go wrong and dismissing your role when things go right. They talk about how women especially are conditioned to internalize failure, and how that mindset can make even well-deserved success feel like a fluke. They also raise an important question: when you say you don’t belong, is it because of the culture around you or because you haven’t figured out what belonging actually feels like for you?This isn’t a step-by-step guide. This episode’s an invitation to pause, question what you’ve been carrying, and consider what it might look like to build confidence from a place of self-trust rather than constant achievement.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Welcome to FRIED: The Burnout Podcast02:16 The Link Between Burnout and Feeling Underwhelmed07:22 What Imposter Syndrome Really Means12:28 Why High Achievers Struggle to Own Their Success17:06 Recognizing Red, Yellow, and Green Light Phases21:05 How to Manage Head Trash and Build Confidence24:23 Gender, Expectations, and the Pressure to Perform30:02 Is It a Toxic Workplace or Just a Bad Fit?36:56 Separating Facts from Feelings41:26 Rewiring Your Brain with Cognitive Reappraisal47:11 Where to Find Nicole Kalil and Her Confidence QuizLinksConnect with Nicole Kalil:https://www.instagram.com/nicolemkalil/ www.linkedin.com/in/nicolekalil https://nicolekalil.com/confidencequizConnect with Cait:Initial Call with Cait: bit.ly/callcaitInitial Call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvBurnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Discover the common symptoms of burnout revealed in a listener survey, from brain fog to insomnia. Cait Donovan shares her insights on how burnout impacts our cognitive functions and emotional well-being. Dive into the emotional weight of dread and the struggle to reconnect with your sense of self. The conversation highlights the shame often felt around taking time to rest and offers a compassionate perspective on navigating these challenges. Healing begins with listening to yourself again.

Burnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]Perimenopause and burnout often hit at the same time, and when they do, it can feel like something is off but you’re not quite sure what. Cait Donovan talks with wellness expert Adrien Cotton about the confusion so many women face in midlife. Adrien shares how years of high-pressure work and unresolved health issues led her into what she calls a “perimenopause prison,” and how she eventually found her way out by learning to understand her body on a deeper level.How do you tell the difference between burnout and hormonal shifts? Why do symptoms like headaches, sleep issues, and mood swings so often get brushed aside? Adrien offers clarity without oversimplifying and reminds us why it matters to track our cycles, lift heavy things, and rethink the stories we’ve been told about our bodies.Adrien doesn’t promise a quick fix. She offers tools, context, and the encouragement to pay closer attention. She also shares how her program, Master Menopause Now, helps women approach this phase with more knowledge and less shame. If you’ve been feeling off and haven’t been able to explain why, this episode will help you start making sense of the changes and remind you that you’re not alone in them.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Welcome to FRIED. The Burnout Podcast02:21 Adrien Cotton’s Burnout and Perimenopause Story05:18 Debunking Common Myths About Perimenopause06:06 Why Tracking Your Cycle Matters08:00 Early Signs of Hormonal Shifts12:12 Weight Gain, Insulin Resistance, and Sleep Disruption18:08 Symptoms of Late Perimenopause23:18 Distinguishing Burnout from Perimenopause24:52 How Menopause Specialists Can Help32:22 The Power of Commitment in Health Changes37:02 Rethinking Diet Culture and Food Relationships42:13 Strength Training as a Tool for Resilience48:38 Life and Relief After MenopauseLinksConnect with Adrien:https://adriencotton.com/https://adriencotton.com/master-menopause-now/ Use the coupon code FRIED25 for a special discount only for FRIED listeners!https://www.instagram.com/adrienmcotton/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriencotton/ https://adriencotton.com/newsletter/Connect with Cait:Initial Call with Cait: bit.ly/callcaitInitial Call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvBurnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Summer can amplify anxiety, turning your emotions up to eleven. Sarah Vosen discusses how seasonal energy shifts—especially around the solstice—can trigger racing thoughts and fatigue. She shares relatable stories, including one from a program graduate who faced unexpected unease without clear reasons. To combat this, she offers hydration tips, grounding foods, and calming techniques like self-massage. The focus is on reconnecting with your body and finding balance amidst the chaos.