7 Podcast Episodes on Burnout That Won't Waste Your Time
by Madison Utendahl
I get asked a lottttt about what to read and listen to when tackling burnout. I understand…there’s an endless stream of similar voices—hello, middle-aged white women of the podcast world.
The real question is which of the middle-aged white women of the podcast world do you actually listen to? What episodes will actually be helpful? What if you don’t want to listen to the middle-aged white women of the podcast world?
Let’s just say I’ve listened to more episodes than I can count, and I’ve filtered through a lot of the crap to bring you the ones that truly deliver. So, what makes these chosen few stand out from the rest? They’re not terribly long, they don’t just wallow in personal stories, and they definitely don’t leave you hanging without real, practical solutions. And yes, *le sigh,* there are a few middle aged white women episodes that are actually good — they’re sprinkled in below (Glennon, Sister and Abby…I love you!)
Here’s the lineup that cuts through the noise:
"Real Self-Care: Burnout Is Not Your Fault & the Way Out" with Dr. Pooja Lakshmin on "We Can Do Hard Things." Dr. Lakshmin gets right to the point about systemic problems and what self-care should really look like—no bs, just facts. Give it a listen here
"When to Quit" with Brendon Burchard on Motivation. Brendon digs into the nitty-gritty of deciding when it’s time to walk away, and it’s as eye-opening as it is practical. Check it out here
"How to be productive without burning out" with Cal Newport on "WorkLife with Adam Grant." Newport flips the script on productivity, focusing on how to get things done efficiently without sacrificing your sanity. Listen here
"Overthinking About Burnout" on "Magical Overthinkers." This episode is perfect for anyone who’s stuck in their head, breaking down how overthinking feeds into burnout and what to do about it. I will say it features Emily and Amelia Nagoski,who are phenomenal humans, but their book Burnout is quite mediocre. If you’re still interested…here you go.
"Burnout and How to Avoid It" with Dr. Laurie Santos on "The Happiness Lab." Dr. Santos blends science with practical advice, showing you how to tweak your daily habits to dodge burnout before it even starts. Check it out on Spotify
“How to Manage Your Time to Manage Your Health" ft. Daphne Javitch” on “Naked Beauty Podcast" Daphne Javitch & Brooke DeVard dive into the crucial relationship between time management and health. She offers clear, practical advice on how structuring your time can lead to significant health benefits, sharing insights grounded in personal experience and professional expertise. Listen Here
“Black Girl Burnout” Black Girl Burnout is a podcast uniquely tailored for black women that guides us from burnout to joy and abundance. The premise and content of BGB are GREAT….the sound quality is not..which can make it hard to listen to at times. Despite the audio, its a worthy podcast…I felt very seen when I came across it. Check it out here
If you're really feeling the weight of burnout and need some straightforward, no-nonsense advice, these episodes deliver. They’re like the perfect blend of tough love and smart, practical strategies.
This list is short for now, but will keep growing. Hit play on these and start taking some real steps towards feeling better.
Have a suggestion of a podcast episode on Burnout that actually was helpful? Message us! Link below.