Explore every episode of the podcast Burnout Recovery: Strategies for Professionals
Dive into the complete episode list for Burnout Recovery: Strategies for Professionals. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
Rows per page:
50
1–50 of 253
Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Ep#202 Not Good Enough
06 Nov 2025
00:14:01
In this episode, Dex unpacks how early conditioning shapes what we see as “truth,” and how those truths quietly drive our adult stress, dissatisfaction, and burnout. You’ll hear how our sense of being “not good enough” often began as a misguided attempt to stay loved and safe—and how that same belief now keeps us disconnected from joy and ease.
Dex shares a personal story about a moment of beauty that felt strangely unsatisfying—and how that revealed a buried old belief still running the show. He explores how to unlearn those inherited “truths,” and why the road back to peace and performance begins with something very simple: unconditional self-approval.
You’ll Learn:
Why there’s no absolute truth—only perception.
How early experiences form the foundation of “who we think we are.”
The hidden link between self-judgment and burnout.
Why self-love isn’t indulgent—it’s essential.
A simple practice for feeling good enough right now.
Quote from the Episode:
“Not good enough was never the truth—about me, or about you.”
Resources Mentioned:
Joy on Demand by Chade-Meng Tan
If You’re Struggling:
If you feel stuck in stress, isolation, or the quiet shame of not being enough—come talk to Dex. He’ll teach you how to believe in your own goodness again. That’s where everything changes. Start here https://dexrandall.com
When I first stepped into leadership, I kept doing what had always worked — analysing everything and making the right call. It strangled my team’s freedom.
Sound familiar?
If you’re a driven professional who’s starting to feel the burn, this episode is for you.
We’re talking psychological flexibility — the ability to be present, open, and adaptive, even when your mind and emotions are pulling you in old directions.
You’ll learn:
Why your success-driven habits might now be holding you back
How rigidity fuels burnout (and kills creativity, collaboration, and joy)
What psychological flexibility really means in plain English
Practical tools to train your mind to respond instead of react
Why recovering from burnout is the fastest way to amplify leadership impact
You’ll also hear how leaders just like you — brilliant, hardworking, ambitious — trade overthinking and control for authenticity and ease.
This is about maturing into your best leadership self — not by pushing harder, but by loosening your grip.
Because when you recover from burnout and reclaim psychological flexibility, your energy, purpose, and impact multiply naturally.
That’s the real “10x.”
Listen now and learn how to stop leading with fear and start leading with freedom.
To find out more about my 1-on-1 burnout recovery coaching program (with guaranteed results), visit dexrandall.com and book a free consult.
Ever wish you had a leadership coach in your back pocket—24/7, no judgement, no waiting for an appointment?
I've found a way to train my own Dex AI Coach, combining latest technology with my learning from 10,000 coaching sessions.
AI is now ready to play a real role in leading without burnout. It’s not about “pushing you harder” but giving you space, clarity, and control.
Discover: - Why AI coaching is uniquely powerful for high-pressure professionals. - What Coach AI is (and isn’t). - How it helps you in those “in-the-moment wobbles.” - Real examples from live chats. - The difference between superficial fixes and deep learning.
If you are stuck, stressed, or spinning your wheels as a leader — Coach AI can signpost your next major growth spurt. You'll learn to position yourself in calm authority.
Type A super-achievers can be rather obsessed with being the one who can fix every problem, and whose work ethic and performance are top shelf. But this ultimately contributes to burnout!
If that's you, burnout recovery is a gift that keeps on giving. You will learn a gentler way to be brilliant and deliver your best work to the world, that gives you room to breathe. You need NOT sacrifice career greatness for peace of mind.
If you are in burnout, I believe in you and you deserve recovery. There's a lot of good left in you, waiting to be released. Are you ready for that?
Towards year end is the perfect time to plan for next year. What do you want more of? Less of? What would a perfect year look like?
Because if we set a direct course, we're infinitely more likely to be gratified than if we dwell in fear and doubt, not daring to set any firm goal.
Silently backburnering your year before it even starts is a mark of the defeat and hopelessness that come with burnout. Don't yield to that!
Failure to thrive is NOT your destiny. Whatever you truly want next year, let me fight for it with you. My coaching clients thrive.
Part one of my coaching program is the revival - systematically coming out of burnout. Part two is spectacular and exciting career growth. Being who and how you want to be, fulfilling your potential in joyful ways.
As Thanksgiving, school break, the festive season and the new work year descend upon us - How can we set ourselves up for ease and enjoyment, rather than increasing bouts of pressure and irritation?
Be the host you want to be - focus on enjoyment, delegate tasks, and create a welcoming atmosphere at your home.
Be the guest and companion you want to be - releasing all your stress and dread, and finding gentle ways to connect.
This is a great moment to learn and practise dependable techniques to diffuse tension in yourself and with others, so you can manage anxiety, social awkwardness or friction and possible conflict during family gatherings and other social events.
Show Notes: How to Stop Other people hurting your feelings https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/episodes/12189186-ep-70-how-to-stop-other-people-hurting-your-feelings Calm an angry person in 90 seconds https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/episodes/12246874-s013-doug-noll-how-to-calm-an-angry-person-in-less-than-90-seconds The courage to be you https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/episodes/10284508-ep-27-the-courage-to-be-you When you feel disrespected https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/episodes/14574668-ep115-when-you-feel-disrespected
Many people have been feeling a bit destabilised in these changing times - more exposed, vulnerable and fragile. Less in control. Especially those who tend towards chronic anxiety and burnout.
Today we look at the perfect storm that got us here, and I share some practical exercises for you to self-right when you feel this way.
Coaching is a process of restoring confidence, balance and energy, but you can start now. Don't wait for things to become unbearable.
One of the least fun(!) parts of burnout can be how it affects our financial security - perhaps because we're not selling, earning, saving, or spending in our most rational and effective way. Or because we're suspended from work, off sick or between jobs. Or simply because the economy has turned down and we're feeling the pinch.
Not everyone in burnout has financial problems - but if you do, it can have a profound effect on morale and resilience. So in this episode we'll explore what can be done - we CAN usually right ourselves and set ourselves on a better track.
In particular, the professional coaching program I run is oriented towards creating the best possible financial future. Coaching needs to be R.O.I. positive, right?
Even for those in a tight spot, when you recover from burnout, you will go on to create a better financial position.
The first step in burnout recovery is being clear about what problem you're trying to solve. Then step 2 is finding an effective cure.
Many people come to me with what they THINK might be burnout, because my speciality is executive and professional burnout.
They tend to have four main questions for me: Is this burnout? If so, why am I in it? Why have I been unable to fix it? And when they hear that there IS a solution, the next question is - Will the solution work for ME?
I hope to give you a deeper understanding, and perhaps a new perspective, as I answer all of those questions in this episode.
Rest assured, if you are a professional in burnout, not only is there a solution, but even though nothing has worked to fix it so far, burnout coaching WILL work for you.
In burnout, we are typically over-run with all kinds of negative emotions, that wear us down, reduce our effectiveness at work and impact our mood and energy. Once we're very tired, this experience can become the norm and our defence against it is often to shut down our painful feelings, so we can get through our day.
Sadly, we cannot selectively shut down our emotions. When we try, we also block our positive emotions. In chronic anxiety or burnout, you may be familiar with this.
The key to moving forward is allowing our emotions back in. We're human, there really isn't any other choice. So, in this episode, you will learn how to gently do that, so you can start living a full life again. Feeling our feelings is one of the essential tools of burnout recovery and allows us to redress the balance and feel positive emotions once again.
In these anxiety-ridden times, we need to talk about safety, and how to create a sense of safety inside ourselves that allows us to open up to this full human experience without being overwhelmed.
The unfortunate truth is, some people don't feel comfortable having an experience of safety. It may trigger nervous system alarm and hyper-sensitivity to threat and can form part of a burnout experience.
If "safety" is sensed as unsafe, we will naturally shutdown or withdraw, but also the fight-or-flight response can become entrenched and reduce our capacity for normal function, cognition, social connection and rest.
A big part of burnout recovery is creating a genuinely felt internal sense of safety, which is a skill that we can learn.
S023 Jonathan Pritchard the Million Dollar Mindreader
28 Sep 2023
00:44:06
In this podcast episode, Dex Randall interviews Jonathan Pritchard, a mentalist and showman known as the "million dollar mind reader." Jonathan shares his journey in the world of mentalism, starting with his interest in magic tricks and eventually becoming a professional magician and martial arts.
"100% engaged, 0% attached is a very strong kung fu lesson".
Jonathan discusses the importance of defining the desired effect and outcome in magic performances and the power of a good script. Dex and Jonathan also talk about being introverts in performative roles and how they have found success in their careers. Jonathan shares insights on marketing, sales, and client retention, and even demonstrates a mind-boggling experiment with the audience's smartphones.
"Even if you learn just that little bit about your own operating system, you're ahead of most people"
Show Notes: https://www.jonathanpritchard.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanpritchard https://www.facebook.com/TheZavant https://www.instagram.com/thezavant https://www.amazon.com/Think-Like-Mind-Reader-relationships/dp/0982370857
Controlling the Narrative is often touted as a desirable outcome. But is it?
Certainly, when we're experiencing burnout, it has some appeal! We hope - usually in vain - that others will overlook our sketchy performance, surliness and teamwork fails. Perhaps they will give us the benefit of the doubt?
In this episode, let's explore the dynamics of controlling the narrative and consider what the alternatives might be. I can recommend a much less stressful way to create a sense of safety - one that does not rely on the co-operation of others.
Since quitting her own job as a lawyer, Goli Kalkhoran has transitioned to coaching and now hosts the "Lessons from a Quitter" podcast. She helps de-stigmatize quitting and coaches mostly women who are thinking of transitioning their careers to build a more intentional, fulfilling life.
I invited Goli on the show because so many clients who come to me in burnout are DYING to quit their jobs. In fact, some have already left. It's worth pausing and deciding your next move with confidence and assurance, for the best possible reasons. Leaving a job simply to escape the suffering of burnout often isn't effective. In working with clients, I often suggest they recover from burnout first, then move.
Listen in for Goli's wisdom on how to make the next move successful for you.
Ep#92 How to create safety with your magical Vagus nerve
07 Sep 2023
00:21:09
It's super-helpful to know how to use the vagus nerve to promote instant calm in your nervous system, mind and body.
Otherwise, if your nervous system is chronically triggered by stress and anxiety, you may remain in fight-or-flight for long periods and this will harm your mood, wellbeing and health.
Listen in for a quick primer on how the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) works and why you should care, plus Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory.
When you understand the real negative effects of chronic stress on rest, repair, and social functions, you will quickly see how important (and easy!) it is to manage the ANS. Learn various exercises and techniques to stimulate the vagus nerve and promote relaxation. Listeners are invited to join the Burnout to Leadership program for further support.
S021 - Dr Laura Sicola - leadership communication and influence expert
31 Aug 2023
00:35:59
Dr. Laura Sicola is an expert in a skill that many of us lack - powerful and influential communication at the C-suite level. She knows how YOU can help people hear, and stay engaged with, your message.
If you're anything like me, you know your stuff and can push through a presentation with professional acumen and passion, but sometimes a little tweak of the way you're actually speaking can make ALL the difference.
Listen to Laura as she gives compelling suggestions on how to modulate your voice and express yourself, so people will hang off your every word and remember afterwards what you said.
Show Notes TED Talk: "Want to sound like a Leader? Start by Saying Your Name Right" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02EJ1IdC6tE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadershipvoice1 Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-to-influence/id1515649028 Book: https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Influence-Mastering-Leadership-Voice/dp/194878730X
If you reckon you have "Type A" behaviours, you might notice how they contribute to burnout. You're most likely driving yourself hard, treating yourself harshly and taking no prisoners.
Listen in to discover what Type A is all about - and what upsides you might manifest once you tackle burnout. When you understand yourself more completely, the power is back in your hands.
On the flip side in burnout recovery, there is a positive aspect of these Type A traits that will uplift you and your career. Listen in to reconnect with the goodness of the 'real' you.
If you're wondering if you are in burnout, listen to the 7 deadly sins to find out. You also need to know why it's so hard to recover by yourself, and how you really can get your work mojo back. It's a straightforward process that anyone can follow.
Burnout is still on the rise globally, and I believe that each person who recovers then has the power to lead others out of burnout. Isn't that who you want to be?
When I was in burnout, I tried to fix it myself, and instead had a heart attack. So, if you're in burnout, PLEASE do something about it.
If you would like a tried and tested program that's guaranteed to see you out of burnout, come and talk to me, let's make a plan for your career rebound: https://mini.dexrandall.com
P.S. Please pass this episode on to a friend in need!
Show Notes: #1 https://www.whoopunite.com/blog/business/articles/cost-of-employee-burnout #2 https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx #3 https://hbr.org/1996/07/when-executives-burn-out
Ep#89 Quit self-neglect - find worthiness and self-approval
10 Aug 2023
00:20:33
One of my clients asked me last week how to start giving himself approval. It's a great question, because in burnout we're pretty mean to ourselves and, as a result, constantly seek external approval. A painful quest, huh?
So it's helpful to understand this typical burnout pattern and exactly how to resolve it.
When performance at work isn't great and our self-esteem is flat-lining, it's a great time to have our own back. It may sound flippant to "be our best ally", but listen in for how to do it authentically and with a warmth and compassion that actually feels good.
Everyone deserves to recover from burnout and feel worthy and cared for.
If you're ready to quit burnout and take your leadership skills to the next level, join the Burnout to Leadership program. Prepare for an eye-opening transition from the torture of burnout to a powerful, positive and rewarding future.
Let's talk! Book a free appointment at https://mini.dexrandall.com
It's vital to know that you can have great success after burnout, since burnout comes with an extra dose of despair.
So I'm going to say it here: If professional burnout is your main problem, you can have your mojo back, life can be sweet and better things await.
This episode is full of success stories from my clients who have forged spectacular results, often from long forgotten dreams and almost universally by crawling wearily out of the dark pit of burnout into the sunshine.
They did. You can.
When a person emerges from burnout, as they surely do in this step-by-step proven program, and the lights go back on - two things happen:
Their dreams and desires start to bubble back up, as if from nowhere; and
They suddenly become more assertive and decisive and go for them!
OK three things - they have much more passion and sense of fulfilment and these generate an 'unexpected' big leap forward in their career.
If you also want this, let's talk - see https://mini.dexrandall.com
If you’ve ever wondered why some people seem immune to burnout, this episode is your roadmap. I’ll walk you through the 10 key attitudes and practices that protect you from chronic stress, overwork, and frustration — and show you how to develop them for yourself.
These aren’t quick tips; they’re the personal traits and daily practices that create lasting resilience. You’ll learn why each one matters, how to put it into action, and how they work together to help you perform at your best without sacrificing your wellbeing.
From self-awareness and stress management, through emotional resilience, time management, and emotional intelligence, this is your practical guide to transforming how you work and live.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why prevention and recovery share the same core attributes
How to identify the biggest personal levers you can pull to improve your wellbeing
Practical steps to develop each of the 10 attributes
How shifting your mindset transforms your workplace experience
Where to start if you’re currently burnt out
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Burnout Recovery Powertools series — Episodes 155 to 166
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven R. Covey
Listen now and learn how to build your personal burnout-proof foundation.
The first step in burnout recovery can be daunting. Many men have no idea if, or how, burnout can be fixed - and facing the prospect of talking about what they see as a failing isn't very appealling.
Does it feel like a leap of faith to you? No worries, I've got your back. Not only is burnout NOT a failing, it's the hallmark of extremely high-achieving powerful contributors. You've just hit one or more road bumps and it's knocked the wind out of your sails. Recovery is a predictable step-by-step process that will restore all that is good in your work self.
Choosing to recover is an act of tremendous courage and self-support. As soon as you decide to be in the solution, a huge burden is lifted from your shoulders.
After that, simply follow the steps through guided personal coaching sessions, to overcome all that bothers you at work. I will be your expert guide. Your mojo - everything you previously thought was good about you - will return tenfold. We'll fix some lifelong irritations as we go.
If you're in burnout, I want to be clear - longterm recovery is 100% attainable. You can outperform anything you've done in the past and enjoy life and work again. You can restart your career growth in under 6 months.
Listen to the episode, then come and tell me where you're stuck, and let's set a course for your future. http://mini.dexrandall.com
Ep#86 From burnout to next level career in 6 months
20 Jul 2023
00:08:48
Do you want your career to grow this year?
In these times of interest rate hikes, escalating cost of living and widespread job loss - you can protect your career and finances, even if you are currently in burnout.
There is a golden opportunity right now for you to bring all your best attributes to the fore, when others are in retreat. To "keep your head, when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you." (Rudyard Kipling, "If")
You can be the bull in a bear market.
This is the journey I take my burntout clients on: the return to optimal success. I'm not satisfied merely supporting men out of burnout. Once they get their mojo back, I want them to be at their best, enjoy work and life, and create whatever they were born to create.
It's not a pipe-dream. Listen in for examples of clients' actual results. There are many more. That kind of success is available to you in the Burnout to Leadership program. Come and talk to me - let's plan out how that will look in your case. Book a time here: https://mini.dexrandall.com
Ep#85 How burnout recovery upgrades you career options
13 Jul 2023
00:24:46
You may have discovered that from the dark trenches of burnout, a new work role often looks very seductive. However, all is not as it seems.
If you are exhausted and frustrated to the extent of burnout, I always recommend you put on the coaching life-vest first, rather than bale out for a new position. Otherwise, the cynicism and frustration that have become so habitual run the risk of being portable, straight into the next job.
Once my clients recover from burnout, though, they are beautifully positioned to re-assess their career options from a place of energy, enthusiasm and optimism. Better choices become available at that point. Does that sound good?
I do encourage a deep re-evaluation of priorities, desires and values, so the decision about what to do next comes from a completely new perspective and old patterns are not repeated. This episode talks about how achieve that for yourself.
Getting new habits to stick can be a challenge(!), so here are some excellent tweaks to make habit-forming as close to effortless as it gets!
Starting small and easy, with plenty of reward, turns out to be the best way to get a new habit off the ground. What doesn't work is over-taxing yourself, dropping out and judging yourself a failure! Think Duo Lingo!
This episode is packed with more tips for getting off to a flying start.
Show Notes: Atomic Habits, James Clear https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-James-Clear-audiobook/dp/B07J1PMF1H Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, Dr Joe Dispenza https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Habit-Being-Yourself-Dispenza-ebook/dp/B006M7A8JI
As leaders, we might be tempted to ..ahem.. over-manage our teams, but in fact the greatest success is much more likely to come from teaching them to self-manage and letting their collective creative genius rip!
Here we will talk about the 3 steps to building effective self-managed teams, which are: Letting go of micro-management and the disempowering urge to solve your team's problems for them; Hiring people for the right attitude, or empowering the people you have to rise to the occasion; and Training them how to successfully self-manage in a productive and cohesive way.
Once you have your people self-managing, and they know how they got there, you can continually raise the bar on what they can achieve. They will now be working for you, instead of you working for them.
Packed with the best tips I have learned from various people, this is blueprint for getting started.
Show Notes: Ep#78 I Have to Solve Every Problem https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/12754182-ep-78-i-have-to-solve-every-problem Ep#66 Team Leadership https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/12065378-ep-66-leadership-skills-2-team-leadership Ep#67 Change How You Lead https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/12065382-ep-67-leadership-skills-3-3-top-tips-that-will-change-how-you-lead Ep#81 Performative Productivity https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/12891737-ep-81-how-performative-productivity-slows-you-down 10x is Easier than 2x, Dan Sullivan https://www.amazon.com/10x-Easier-Than-World-Class-Entrepreneurs-ebook/dp/B0BGK74SR5/ Big Potential, Shawn Achor https://www.amazon.com/Big-Potential-Transforming-Achievement-Well-Being/dp/1524761532 Atomic Habits, James Clear https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-James-Clear-audiobook/dp/B07J1PMF1H The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety, Timothy R Clark https://www.amazon.com/Stages-Psychological-Safety-Inclusion-Innovation/dp/1523087684
S020 Cait Donovan on ACEs, burnout prevention and recovery
22 Jun 2023
00:40:58
Cait Donovan has just written a paper on ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and burnout, so we talk here about that and her extensive experience as a Burnout Coach. Cait also shares her methods of burnout recovery - what she sees working, what she doesn't and how she views burnout recovery from both a medical and Chinese medicine perspective.
Anxiety is the main axis around which all the other symptoms of burnout revolve and it's especially so for leaders, whose distress might be amplified by the distress of the people they lead.
Many of us are promoted into leadership without much training, and rarely do we receive instruction on how to lead high-performing teams. So it's likely that however we worked prior to leadership is how we fundamentally still work, but with added responsibility and anxiety.
The question we can ask ourselves then is not HOW we want to lead but WHO we want to be, as leaders.
So today, I'm addressing the stigma of leadership anxiety, how to relate to it and how to manage it.
Show Notes Ep#1 to #3 Burnout recovery https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/9458245-ep-1-burnout-101-what-exactly-is-burnout https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/9458714-ep-2-what-type-of-person-gets-burnout-and-why https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/9458729-ep-3-what-to-do-if-you-re-in-burnout-and-want-your-mojo-back Ep#4 Anxiety https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/9459162-ep-4-how-to-manage-anxiety-at-work Ep#5 Overwhelm and Overwork https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/9459179-ep-5-how-to-fix-overwork-and-overwhelm Ep#36 Championing Yourself https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/10780250-ep-36-championing-yourself Ep#78 I have to Solve Every Problem https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/12754182-ep-78-i-have-to-solve-every-problem Ep#80 Taming Your Inner Critic https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/12863246-ep-80-top-5-tips-to-tame-your-inner-critic
Ep#81 How performative productivity slows you down
08 Jun 2023
00:21:46
Performative productivity sound good. Doesn't it?
But in burnout, it isn't. It's looking like you're being productive, without actually delivering the deep value that's expected of you. It's looking busy, but feeling jaded and cynical.
Here we will explore the signs of performative productivity and why you might be working this way.
Then we'll look at alternatives that will empower you and your team to become more successful, engaged and mutually supportive, so that you can deliver top class results with less effort, less friction and more fun.
I also include the traits I hire for, as an inclusive and people-centred leader. This has been so successful for me, I teach all my clients how to open up their leadership skills-base in the same way. Warning: Can increase career prospects.
Show Notes: Creativity Inc, Ed Catmull https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012 Good to Great, Jim Collins https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996 Brene Brown https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-on-armored-versus-daring-leadership-part-1-of-2/ https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-on-armored-versus-daring-leadership-part-2-of-2/
Our anguish in burnout tends to be magnified enormously by a merciless inner critic, that chips away at our self-esteem, morale and motivation all day long.
But you don't need to put up with THAT kind of friend!
When you turn down the firehose of self-criticism, you can create enough space to begin the work of burnout recovery and get a whole lot of energy and enthusiasm back.
In this episode I talk about WHY we have an inner critic and HOW to work skillfully with it, so it doesn't keep you beaten down in burnout.
Show Notes: Championing Yourself Ep36 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-36-championing-yourself/id1594461016?i=1000566705157 Feeling Discouraged Ep 37 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-37-feeling-discouraged/id1594461016?i=1000567548250 Creating Safety Ep 38 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-38-creating-safety/id1594461016?i=1000568374555 Untethered Soul by Michael Singer https://www.amazon.com/Untethered-Soul-Journey-Beyond-Yourself/dp/1572245379/ Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer https://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Experiment-Journey-Lifes-Perfection/dp/080414110X
Many of us dissociate when confronted with overwhelming uncomfortable emotions. It's a habit we pick up as children, that we could easily drop as adults, when we have greater emotional resilience. Yet we don't. Particularly in burnout. We can employ dissociation to withdraw further and further from a reality that has become increasingly painful.
Here we explore the mechanism of dissociation and some techniques to work skillfully to reduce it, since the price we pay for dissociation is not being present to our human experience and to the important people in our lives.
Show Notes Ep#32 Shame https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/10540254-ep-32-5-steps-to-manage-shame Ep#38 Creating Safety https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/10799771-ep-38-creating-safety
Ep#189 Breaking Unconscious Habits That Keep You In Burnout
14 Aug 2025
00:16:08
In this episode, Dex introduces systems thinking as a powerful tool for breaking burnout loops. Rather than blaming ourselves for exhaustion, Dex explains how unseen patterns — feedback loops, delays, and misguided leverage — quietly reinforce overwork, perfectionism, and stress.
You’ll hear how professionals like lawyers and doctors get stuck in these systems and how small but strategic shifts can transform your experience of work. Dex shares client stories, practical mental models, and journaling prompts to help you spot the invisible loops keeping you stuck — and how to break free.
What You’ll Learn:
Why burnout is not a personal failing — and what’s really driving it
How perfectionism and guilt create reinforcing burnout loops
The difference between reinforcing and balancing loops
How to use input → process → output → feedback to map your burnout system
Real-world client examples of finding leverage and regaining momentum
Why understanding the system gives you back your power
Key Questions to Reflect On:
What system are you in that keeps you in overwork?
Where’s the feedback loop? Where’s the delay?
What would happen if you stopped feeding the loop?
Referenced Resource:
Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella H. Meadows
Want Help Breaking Your Loop? Dex offers a proven burnout recovery coaching program that helps professionals regain their energy, confidence, and sense of purpose. Learn more at dexrandall.com
S019 Duncan So - helping workplaces recover from burnout
23 May 2023
00:36:59
In this episode I chew the fat on burnout recovery with renowned expert Duncan So. We share the view that burnout is a wake-up call - the body's catalyst to a magical transition into your next level of power and success.
Duncan is an engineer turned burnout recovery expert. He reveals profound insights into burnout at a societal, organisational and personal level.
Duncan delivers clinical burnout retreat experiences to leaders and is based in Toronto, Canada. He is also a Master Practitioner of NLP, MER, and Clinical Hypnotherapy and works with psychedelics in burnout recovery.
Duncan is a committed change maker and social entrepreneur and very involved in how HR teams can navigate the burnout epidemic. See Duncan's free HR playbook below.
When we're in burnout we might be trying to solve every problem - our own and other people's - often to save face and maintain status. The price we pay though might be exhaustion, overwork and resentment.
So, can we recover from burnout and be the saviour of the universe at the same time? Probably not. Do we need to? Probably not.
Listen to these tips on letting go of trying to solve EVERY problem for everyone. This is the key to stronger leadership, higher performance and deeper reward at work, whether you are an employee or the boss. Leadership has a multiplying effect through mentoring - developing others' skills, not simply your own. The soft skills you hone when you rise to this challenge will always accelerate your own career growth.
Show Notes: This is Marketing, Seth Godin https://www.amazon.com/This-Marketing-Seth-Godin/dp/0525540830 Essentialism, Greg McKeown https://www.amazon.com/Essentialism-Disciplined-Pursuit-Greg-McKeown/dp/0753558696 Ep#22 People-Pleasing https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/10025670-ep-22-the-trouble-with-people-pleasing
Sally Clarke and I discuss burnout - how people get it and what to do about it.
Sally is Co-Director at Human Leaders, a movement of leaders making work a place where humans thrive. Yay! She's also an author, coach, speaker, burnout researcher and co-host of the 'We are Human Leaders' podcast. Sally's latest book ‘Relight Your Spark’ guides individuals on how to heal and evolve after burnout.
Sally Clarke https://www.salcla.com Human Leaders https://www.wearehumanleaders.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyclarkeevolve Podcast https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast How self-compassionate are you? https://bit.ly/3VDAy4V
When we hold ourselves back from growing, it can simply be because we're judging and criticising ourselves, or we fear judgment and rejection from others. In short, we're worried we're going to look dumb and feel bad.
Learn 3 top tips for overcoming your squeamishness about surpassing what you have achieved so far. Help yourself learn new things, stay the distance and celebrate what you are REALLY capable of.
S017 Robin Keesler on rekindling robust mental health
08 May 2023
00:37:35
Robin Keesler switched from working as a critical care flight paramedic in Alaska to coaching. Here she talks candidly about the challenges of working in the medical field and the toll it took on her mental and emotional wellbeing.
Robin took time out to learn how to restore her own vitality, wellbeing and enjoyment of life and now teaches and coaches entrepreneurs how to thrive.
Two top tips to boost confidence or self-esteem. Which comes first? Find out as we look at what happens in lack of confidence and what happens in low self-esteem. You will discover how to replenish both, whether you are in burnout or not, and go on to create the results you want in life and at work.
Develop natural confidence around people - try these exercises to boost your confidence with people and feel less at the mercy of others' opinions.
One of the most devastating aspects of any burnout experience is lack of confidence around people - where we fear judgment, withdraw and isolate, then feel left out and even more at risk of failure.
Luckily, social insecurity is as amenable to change as any other misery of burnout.
Learn how to tell if your social confidence is affected by burnout and how to create an internal supply of confidence, without asking anything of others. This is how you can join back in at work and feel supported.
Ep#74 How confidence, clarity and efficiency work together
20 Apr 2023
00:19:45
Is your work dying a slow and painful death because you 've lost self-confidence?
In burnout and business-building, confidence is a key asset, without which morale flops and decisions become torture.
Don't do that to yourself! Self-confidence is just a skill and it can be boosted quite simply with coaching.
Try this one powerful exercise to boost your confidence and move forward with decisive clarity and efficiency.
What could you achieve in life, and what would your days look like, if you radiated a calm and easy self-confidence? If you stopped worrying so much about making a mistake?
How do you think you'd feel if you were so confident that solutions flowed like water? I coach people until clarity and efficiency take the place of doubt, confusion, rage, despair and inaction.
Burnout recovery depends first on creating a sense of safety. You'll find it hard to recover without one. This is why sometimes organisational support for employees falls short. So-called 'wellbeing' programs. Taking a holiday, playing table football, eating a better diet are all unlikely to cure burnout, because they don't fix the root cause of the problem.
The coaching tools I teach can be used to create spectacular results in life, but safety comes first. You first need to create a safe path out of exhaustion, anxiety, frustration and despair and rebuild your capacity for change. Then, clear the runway!
Here I share the steps to create that safety, resilience and wellbeing that are the prerequisites for lasting burnout recovery and career growth.
S016 Dr Laura Jurgens on somatics, sex and relationships
10 Apr 2023
00:53:02
Warning: Contains adult discussion of erotic energy, sexuality and relationships.
An interview with Dr Laura Jurgens, a somatics, sex, relationship and embodiment coach. Laura specializes in helping people have joyful and fulfilling relationships with their erotic selves and their partners.
Laura talks here about the relationship between burnout and shutting down our body's energy and emotions. In burnout, we dissociate from the pain we feel by compartmentalising and withdrawing consciousness from the painful parts of ourselves. This happens on top of societal conditioning, guilt and shame about sex, erotic energy and our bodies.
Healing takes place when we reclaim our whole selves, re-connect to our life force and pleasure, and become accomplished at connecting in a mutually respectful and nourishing way with others.
Worry can feel like a necessary part of success—but it’s more often a habit that drains your energy, confidence, and focus. In this episode, we explore two ways to cut worry down to size quickly.
First, we’ll look at a science-based 4-step protocol from Dr. Steve Bierman’s book The End of Worry, which helps dissolve worry as a reflex. Then, we’ll compare it to a coaching-based approach I use with clients in burnout—rooted in cognitive behavioural techniques and emotional leadership.
You’ll hear a real-world example of both methods in action, and learn how each approach helps disarm negative thinking and restore clarity—without toxic positivity or endless self-talk.
In this episode:
Why worry feels useful—but rarely is
The link between worry and imposter syndrome
Dr. Steve Bierman’s 4-step protocol for ending the worry habit
A burnout coaching approach based on real-time reframe
When to use each method—and how to make either one work for you
Mentioned in this episode: The End of Worry by Dr. Steve Bierman https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/episodes/11274011-ep-46-how-to-fix-problems
S015 Burnout, optimism and entrepreneurship with Matt Drinkhahn
06 Apr 2023
00:40:33
Matt Drinkhahn had a few tough breaks in his life. I guess we all did? But it's always great to hear from a man who got things back into shape and found a new sustainable model for life.
Matt talks about: Burning out at 34 years old, working 110 hour weeks; The hidden cost when your work "damages every relationship"; Finding balance after a showstopping life event; Corporate entrepreneurship & coaching; Cell phone jail; Practising curiosity;
Burnout recovery is available - don't let burnout be the final chapter in your work life.
Once you recover from burnout, you'll get your mojo back - your passion - and you will direct that to whichever work rewards you.
You might find new ways to get a kick out of your current role or you may move on, but at least you will choose a path that fulfils you, that you can pour your newfound enthusiasm into.
Find out how to create and sustain work you love here.
As burnout progresses, you might feel more and more empty inside as you progressively shut down the painful parts inside of you, until there's not much left functioning. If so, no wonder you're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and isolated.
Listen here to understand how we fall into the black hole of emptiness in burnout and discover the antidote. I talk about how to relate with your merciless inner critic in a way that defuses the pain and makes room for a fuller, richer experience of life.
If you forgot who you are and what you like doing, this one's for you.
Ask yourself the 3 vital questions if you feel empty. Try one simple yet profound exercise that will help.
As always, I will say that burnout is temporary and fixable, and you CAN have your mojo back. A deeper sense of connection is waiting for you.