
FRIED. The Burnout Podcast
Real. Raw. No Holding Back. Stories from people like you who've burnt out and come back to tell the tale. From thought leaders to your friend down the street, there's a story in FRIED that you will relate to, guaranteed. You are not alone. You might be fried crispy at this point, but I promise you there is a way through. Each week, there is a story of breakdown and build back up and we don't skip over the nasty bits. The journey through burnout is rarely a beautiful one, but it creates some pretty amazing careers and lives. The point of this space is to assure you that you aren't alone and that there is a way through. If one week doesn't resonate, be sure that another week will. There's a solution for every story and we will cover them all. I promise. And - the help doesn't stop there. UNFRIED is a small group coaching program (under 10 people per cohort) that is available for you. Find the info here. (bit.ly/UNFRIED)
Latest episodes

Nov 12, 2023 • 11min
#straightfromcait: How to End Rumination, People Pleasing, and Perfectionism
This podcast discusses strategies for overcoming rumination, people pleasing, and perfectionism. It suggests interrupting ruminating thoughts, practicing disappointing people, and embracing imperfection. It also explores accepting gratitude and avoiding unnecessary apologies as ways to overcome perfectionism and people-pleasing tendencies.

Nov 5, 2023 • 59min
Amelia Nagoski: Unlocking the Stress Cycle, Dealing with Privilege, and Increasing Interoception to Get Out of Burnout
Amelia Nagoski, an expert on emotions and stress, discusses her book 'Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle.' She explores the importance of completing the stress response cycle and offers guidance on moving from stress to safety. Amelia also delves into the impact of privilege and immigration on stress, as well as the significance of supportive relationships in preventing burnout.

Oct 29, 2023 • 20min
#straightfromcait: Why Does Burnout Recovery Take So Long?
Hey there, curious minds, and welcome to today's episode. I'm Cait Donovan, your trusted companion on this exciting journey. We're about to unravel why burnout recovery can be a lengthier process than you might think. From the physical aspects of healing to understanding the web of causation, we'll explore the nuances of this transformative path. Discover why it's okay to bump into your growth edges and how post-burnout growth can be beautiful. Let's dive in and uncover the fascinating layers of burnout recovery.Episode Highlights:Cait reveals that recovering from burnout is like a carefully crafted masterpiece, taking time and patience. This transformative journey involves addressing the physical and emotional exhaustion that burnout brings, which requires gradually nurturing your body with essential nutrients.She also delves into prioritizing quality sleep and time in nature to rejuvenate your energy. Slow movement practices like Tai Chi and yin yoga can help restore your well-being. Cait's message resonates with the idea that recovery is a unique, step-by-step journey, and self-compassion is the guiding light.Embrace the post-burnout growth as a tool for personal development and trust that the process is an investment in your well-being and future.Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.com https://caitdonovan.comBook a free 1:1 call: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED's group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfried

Oct 22, 2023 • 48min
Hailey Magee: Boundaries for Burnt Out People Pleasers
Hailey McGee, certified coach, shares her insights on breaking free from people-pleasing. She discusses her journey of burnout, the importance of setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and recognizing the difference between requests and boundaries. The podcast also explores the significance of clear communication in relationships and the importance of setting boundaries in healthy and unhealthy relationships. Overall, it provides valuable insights and practical tips on establishing healthy boundaries for personal growth.

Oct 15, 2023 • 8min
#straightfromcait: 3 Core Components of Burnout Recovery
Hello, lovely souls, and welcome to today's episode. I'm Cait Donovan, and I'm truly honored to be your guide as we dive into the essential tools for recovering from burnout. We'll talk about the healing power of yoga, the importance of foundational self-care, the creation of an upgraded boundary system, and the immense value of community in your burnout recovery process. Stay tuned as we unpack these essential tools, share practical insights, and embark on a journey toward a life filled with more balance, joy, and purpose.Episode Highlights:Cait emphasizes the critical importance of foundational self-care, urging listeners to heed their body's basic needs, enhance interoception, and embrace practices like Yoga Nidra. She also delves into the significance of cultivating an upgraded boundary system, underlining the role of improved interoception in setting flexible, healthy boundaries. Cait underscores the value of community in burnout recovery, highlighting how isolation can contribute to burnout and encouraging listeners to seek support from various groups and communities. Her message resonates with the idea that recovery is a unique, step-by-step journey, and self-compassion is the guiding light.Everyone's path to recovery is unique. These core components provide a foundation, but your journey may require additional elements. Take it one step at a time, listen to your body, and allow your recovery to unfold naturally. Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.com https://caitdonovan.com Book a free 1:1 call: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED's group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfried

Oct 8, 2023 • 48min
Henna Pryor: Embracing Awkward and Using AI to Reduce Burnout
Henna Pryor, a performance expert and professional coach, discusses using AI to reduce burnout and embracing awkwardness for personal growth. She shares how AI makes work easier and stress-free, and why high-performers should embrace vulnerability. The podcast also explores the benefits of embracing uniqueness and awkwardness, enhancing likability and resilience, and using AI to simplify tasks.

Oct 1, 2023 • 16min
#straightfromcait: Bad Advice for Burnout (and what to do instead)
In today's episode, I will talk about the bad advice you can get regarding burnout and how those pieces of advice came to be due to certain misconceptions. I will be emphasizing how burnout is not solely a mental or thought issue but a systemic one involving various aspects of life. Episode Highlights:Cait Donovan talks about burnout advice she wrote about two years ago and still agree with. She talks about how many people perceive burnout as solely a mental or thought-related issue, which affects the how they distinguish between burnout prevention and recovery, and that most advice falls into prevention. Cait stresses the importance of life pruning, rebuilding emotional filters, and moving intentionally during recovery.Cait encourages listeners to trust their inner guidance when choosing which advice to follow.Remember, trust your inner guidance. In a sea of advice, your intuition knows what resonates with your soul. When choosing which path to follow, listen closely to that inner voice, for it knows the way to your own unique journey of healing and growth. Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.comhttps://caitdonovan.comBook a free 1:1 call: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED's group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfried

47 snips
Sep 24, 2023 • 50min
Kristen Holmes: Stay Ahead of Your Health with Whoop
In this world full of stress and a toxic environment, getting a hold of your health and staying physically and mentally fit is challenging. But worry not, as there are ways to stay ahead of your health. In this episode, I have an exciting discussion with Kristen Holmes, the vice president and principal scientist at Whoop. Kristen shares how Whoop, a physiological monitoring device, can help you track your body’s data, take action accordingly, and ultimately have control over your health. She also talks about why heart rate variability matters, workplace resilience, sleep consistency, real burnout prevention, difference of stress and anxiety, and more! Episode Highlights:Kristen focuses on aligning your mind and body– in other words, having extreme awareness of your body is crucial to taking control of your health. She also explains the usage of technology and how we can utilize it to get optimal data to work and take the needed actions for our bodies. Kristen shares tips and tricks to aid in increasing stress resilience, sleep consistency, and managing stress, such as aligning our circadian rhythm, time-restricted eating, viewing sunlight, breathwork, and regular body movement throughout the day. Listening to this episode will encourage you to take action and start your health and wellness journey. Don’t wait for your body to suffer. Instead, focus on taking preventive measures. It’s not too late; with discipline and perseverance, you can achieve your goal. Everyone deserves to live better, healthily, and joyfully–free of too much stress and burnout.LINKS TO FRIED EPISODES ON TRAUMA AND COPING MECHANISMS: https://www.friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/post/straightfromcait-how-childhood-trauma-is-related-to-burnout-even-if-you-think-you-have-nonehttps://www.friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/post/straightfromcait-coping-mechanisms-and-burnout-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly Connect with Kristen Holmes:https://www.whoop.com/us/en/ https://www.instagram.com/kristen_holmes2126/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-holmes/ Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.comhttps://caitdonovan.comBook a free 1:1 call: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED's group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfried

Sep 17, 2023 • 22min
#straightfromsarahandcait: Wildfires, Burnout, and Getting the Help You Need
Burnout is the feeling of exhaustion physically and mentally from the problems you have in everyday life. Similar to wildfires, where everything is burned out to ash. However, life is a cycle of death and rebirth, which is critical in keeping the balance in the world. With the right resources, we can return to life beautiful and stronger. Our speaker today, Sarah Vosen, a burnout recovery coach at FRIED, explains the relation of wildfires to being burned out, why you should honor the cycle in life, and how Sarah can help in your burnout recovery journey. Tune in to learn more!Episode Highlights:Sarah discusses the similarities between burnout and wildfires. Just like wildfires, where everything is burned, fall, decay, and turn into ash, being burned out will feel like our life is falling apart. However, a burned forest will go through a rebirth cycle, and everything will return beautifully. Similarly, experiencing burnout will allow us to be reborn, and with the right resources, we can come back to life.Sarah highlights the importance of honoring the cycle in life. We don’t need to be burned completely to have a renewal; we just need to realize that life is constantly changing, and resting is necessary to balance our work. We need to stop forcing ourselves to be the same every day. Slow down and give some time and space to process your emotions, set boundaries, and know the most important things in your life.Burnout is normal, so just acknowledge your problems or difficulties and pay attention to control them. Recognize that you have the ability to control it, heal, and recover to become stronger.Connect with Sarah Vosen:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahvosenlac/ https://www.instagram.com/sarah.vosen/https://www.facebook.com/sarah.vosenBook a call to start your burnout recovery together with Sarah: https://caitdonovan.as.me/sarah Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.comhttps://caitdonovan.comBook a free 1:1 call: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED's group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfried

Sep 10, 2023 • 48min
Ruth Rathblott: The Liberating Path of Unhiding
Do you ever feel like you have to hide something about yourself from the world? In this episode, you will hear an honest and heartfelt conversation with Ruth Rathblott, a speaker, coach, and author of the book Singlehandedly: Learning to Unhide and Embrace Connection. Ruth shares her story of living with a limb difference and how she used it as a tool to start conversations and create safe spaces for others to share their stories. She also reveals the secrets of unhiding, which is the process of releasing shame, overcoming fear, and embracing your true self, without worrying about what others think.Episode Highlights:Ruth Rathblott opens up about the common phenomenon of hiding, which affects many people who feel like they are the only ones who have a visible or invisible difference, such as a disability, a mental health issue, a family background, or a personal struggle. She explains how hiding can make us feel isolated, exhausted, and limited, and how unhiding can help us live more authentically and confidently.Ruth shares some practical tips and exercises to help you unhide in your own life and create more meaningful connections with others. She emphasizes the importance of being the first to go first, which means sharing something about yourself that you are hiding or uncomfortable with, in order to create a safe space for others to do the same.This episode is a powerful reminder that you are not alone in your hiding journey. You have the power to unhide and live your truth. Listen to this episode now and start your own unhiding journey today. You will be amazed by the freedom and joy that comes from being yourself and connecting with others who accept you as you are!Connect with Ruth Rathblott:https://ruthrathblott.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ruthrath/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-rathblott/ https://twitter.com/ruthrath https://www.amazon.com/Singlehandedly-Learning-Unhide-Embrace-Connection-ebook/dp/B0B95TSJBS Connect with Cait:https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.comhttps://caitdonovan.comBook a free 1:1 call: bit.ly/callcaitBook a free 1:1 call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahvGet info on FRIED's group program for burnout recovery: https://caitdonovan.com/unfried