About Burning Passion: Understanding the Deeper Layers of Burnout (And How to Overcome It)
Welcome to Burning Passion, the podcast where we explore the relationship between burnout in modern-day society & the mind-body connection.
Whether you’re navigating the challenges of burnout, aiming to improve your health and wellbeing this year, or seeking practical tools to thrive, this space is for you.
Our priority is making the burnout conversation more accessible and inclusive (especially for marginalized communities) - serving those who benefit from it most.
Most burnout podcasts only cover the surface-level aspects: like "just do less!" or "more self care," but we recognize the social determinants of health, societal messaging, and lack of community- as key contributing factors.
If typical mainstream advice feels invalidating or limiting, we're here for you.
Join us as we deep dive into topics like:
-differentiating burnout from exhaustion
-hyper-individualism in culture + how we can create community
-expanding your "window of tolerance"
-the role of fitness in building resilience
-nervous system health and self-regulation strategies
-the interplay between identity and burnout.
Each episode is designed to spark meaningful conversations, build connections and create a community of support, and inspire actionable change.
With a mix of expert insights, real-world stories, and practical tips and resources, Burning Passion will empower you to transform your experience of burnout into a catalyst for growth and wellbeing. Make that cuppa, get cozy and join us for a conversation that goes deeper than surface-level self-care.
Hosts Natalie Smith and Alexis Postans examine the entanglement of work and identity, revealing how over-identification fuels burnout, and stress the need for boundaries to rediscover joy outside of work.
2 May 2025
Episode 5: Creating Safety & Expanding your "Window of Tolerance"
Today’s topic centers around window of tolerance - what it is, why it’s relevant to the burnout conversation, how you can grow your window - and gain self-regulation tools when you veer outside of it.
The “window of tolerance” is a crucial tool in understanding your capacity + how that relates to your nervous system state. Expanding it allows you to adapt to daily stressors, increase your resiliency, and gain self-awareness, so you can prevent burnout in the long run.
Self-regulation is an integrative, mind-body experience. Here we share some self-regulation tools, for both ends of the spectrum (hypo and hyper arousal), so you can keep expanding your window of tolerance & return to baseline, in your daily experiences. We believe that movement is essential in developing that internal awareness + helping our nervous systems establish safety - and share both our experiences & professional lens, to equip you in your journey.
Resources:
Window Of Tolerance (with a super helpful graphic!) https://katherineyeagel.com/2022/12/24/regulating-your-nervous-system-with-the-window-of-tolerance/ (https://katherineyeagel.com/2022/12/24/regulating-your-nervous-system-with-the-window-of-tolerance/)
Circle of Capacity: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/arts-and-health/202109/traumatic-stress-and-the-circle-capacity (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/arts-and-health/202109/traumatic-stress-and-the-circle-capacity)
Find your hosts here:
Natalie Smith is a Strength Coach, Nonprofit Co-founder, and Certified Trauma-Informed Weightlifting Practitioner. She works 1:1 with clients all around the world, supporting them in fitness + lifestyle goals, with a mental-health focused approach. You can learn more about her here: https://linktr.ee/integratedcoaching (https://linktr.ee/integratedcoaching)
Alexis Postans is a therapist, coach, and consultant. She owns Total Life Wellbeing, with the mission of improving wellbeing & preventing workplace burnout, for both individuals and teams. You can learn more about her here: https://www.tlwellbeing.com.au/meet-alexis (https://www.tlwellbeing.com.au/meet-alexis)
7 Apr 2025
Beyond the Buzz: What is burnout, REALLY? (+ how it differs from normal stress)
Burnout has become a buzzword for our times, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Workplace burnout is at an all-time high globally, affecting everyone from frontline healthcare workers to stay-at-home parents.
This episode will demystify what burnout really means, how it differs from everyday stress, and empower you with tools to recognise and address it. Burnout isn't a personal failing – it's a sign that something needs to change. We hope this episode equips you with the info and actionable tips you need to find the right support and begin your journey back to balance and wellbeing.
Resources:
Self Check-In Questions
Am I exhausted – physically and emotionally – most of the time?
Have I become more cynical or negative at work (or do I feel disengaged)?
Do I feel less effective or that I'm not accomplishing anything worthwhile?
If you answer yes to all three, there's a chance you're experiencing burnout rather than just routine stress.
Professional Assessment Tools
Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI): The most famous burnout assessment, used in research and by professionals.
Maslach-Burnout-Inventory-MBI.pdf (https://different.hr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Maslach-Burnout-Inventory-MBI.pdf)
Sydney Burnout Measure (SBM): A research-validated tool that evaluates burnout through cognitive, physical, and emotional exhaustion dimensions.
Sydney-Burnout-Measure-Questionnaire.pdf (https://www.naturallywith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sydney-Burnout-Measure-Questionnaire.pdf)
Take time to complete these assessments in a quiet environment where you can answer honestly. The results can help guide your next steps toward recovery and prevention.
5 Mar 2025
Sustaining Impact: How to Prevent Activism Burnout
In a world that glorifies doing everything, how do we find the balance between impact and rest? This episode dives deep into the tension between advocacy and social justice and the sustainability of long-term change.
It's not about pouring into your own cup *or* others' - both need to coexist (and go hand-in-hand). Collectivism is essential, and habitual self-care ensures your longevity in that.
Natalie shares her experience as a nonprofit co-founder in the U.S., and we both open up about our own brushes with activism burnout in trying to advocate for social change.
We unpack the dangers of all-or-nothing thinking, why rest is a radical act, and how small, intentional contributions to your community still matter.
Key takeaways:
Ditching perfectionism in community action
Accessible ways to contribute to your community- even when your capacity is low
How self-care and advocacy go hand-in-hand
How rest fuels your capacity to create impact
If you’ve ever felt like you’re not doing enough (or felt lost at WHAT to do), this episode is for you.
Tune in and let’s redefine what sustainable activism really looks like.
Resources for Queer, Black/Indigenous/People of Color, Immigrants, and other marginalized groups in the US:
https://www.aclu.org/
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/category/mental-health/
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/category/community/
https://www.linesforlife.org/get-help-now/services-and-crisis-lines/racial-equity-support-line/
https://www.las-americas.org/
https://supportkind.org/
https://colorofchange.org/
6 Feb 2025
Rising From the Ashes: Lessons, Insights & Tips on Recovering from Burnout
Burnout is more than just exhaustion; it’s all-out mindbody shutdown that can sneak up on even the most resilient.
In this episode, we get real about our most transformative experiences with burnout: where it stemmed from, the wake-up calls that made us pay attention & strategies that helped us pull through.
We’re diving into:
The experiences of major burnout that forced us to reassess work and life
Some of the drivers of burnout (+how to recognize the warning signs)
Learnings & insights since healing from burnout
How burnout shaped us, and how we avoid repeating patterns
Our best advice for anyone experiencing the impacts of chronic stress or burnout
Importantly, in this conversation we acknowledge that burnout is not caused solely by stressful workplaces or too many demands – anyone experiencing prolonged stress is at risk.
We hope that through sharing our stories, you’ll feel seen, understood, and – most importantly – empowered to navigate burnout with more awareness and self-compassion.
You’re not alone in this, and there is a way through.
Hit play and have a listen!
Got questions or feedback? We’d love to hear from you!
Email alexis@tlwellbeing.com.au (mailto:alexis@tlwellbeing.com.au) and we’ll answer your questions in the next episode!
(TW: this episode contains content about suicide. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing distress and in need of support, please contact one of the mental health helplines listed below):
AUS:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Mindspot 1800 61 44 34
USA: 988 - Crisis Hotline
18 Jan 2025
Episode 1: Introduction to Burning Passion: The Sociocultural Aspects of Burnout
An introduction to what we're all about - sparking the conversation around the deeper layers of burnout.
Whether you’re navigating the challenges of burnout, aiming to improve your health and wellbeing this year, or seeking practical tools to thrive, this space is for you.
Our priority is making the burnout conversation more accessible and inclusive (especially for marginalized communities) - serving those who benefit from it most.
Most burnout podcasts only cover the surface-level aspects: like "just do less!" or "more self care," but we recognize the social determinants of health, societal messaging, and lack of community- as key contributing factors.
If typical mainstream advice feels invalidating or limiting, we're here for you.
Join us as we deep dive into topics like:
-differentiating burnout from exhaustion
-hyper-individualism in culture + how we can create community
-expanding your window of tolerance
-the role of fitness in building resilience
-nervous system health and self-regulation strategies
-the interplay between identity and burnout.
Each episode is designed to spark meaningful conversations, build connections and create a community of support, and inspire actionable change.
With a mix of expert insights, real-world stories, and practical tips and resources, Burning Passion will empower you to transform your experience of burnout into a catalyst for growth and wellbeing. Make that cuppa, get cozy and join us for a conversation that goes deeper than surface-level self-care.
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