The Burnout Collective

Narrator: And now it's time for Silly Songs with Larry, the part of the show where Larry comes out and sings a silly song. To get hyped for the show this week, we watched everyone's favorite Christian vegetables ( Veggie Tales ). It turns out Silly Songs With Larry was the only good thing we can recall from our religious upbringings, but let’s get into it anyway. We delve into our person...

Hey, everyone! We’re back. And it’s just the two of us this week which we haven’t done in a while. We decided to talk about all things cozy, comfy, and coping—and we all know Rebecca is all about the warm and fuzzies.  Jamie starts by talking about her visit to Super Nintendo World over the weekend and how magical it was to see her childhood come to life. Then, we dive in to our go-to comforts. Fr...

" Are You Tired of Being Paid Less Than You're Worth?" or How Rachel Ended Up an Electrician Apprentice This week, we're joined by Rachel Cannon, Rebecca's sister, who has had one heck of a career journey. She graduated during a recession, worked as a bicycle tour guide, switched majors, and picked up plenty of peculiar internships—like putting snails in jars at the Smiths...

This week our guest is Robin Saks Frankel who Jamie worked with at her last job. After Jamie gushes over Robin's no-nonsense communication style and mentorship, we explore the themes of empowerment, especially among women, in the workplace. We talk about the importance of asking questions at work, even when it feels intimidating, and how Robin challenged the norm by always speaking up. Jamie...

This week, we welcome guest Madeline Shores. She basically said "eff this" and quit her full-time job of 10 years to focus on herself (because surprise! she was burnt out af). So on her 1-Year Anniversary of Being Jobless , she shares the surprising realities of living without a full-time corporate gig, as well as the financial and emotional aspects of her transition.   Madeline also lay...

Well, Rebecca took a pain killer right before the show (that's where we're at). But this week, we're talking about dealing with chronic illnesses, both mental and physical, especially in the workplace. We discuss the struggle of working through pain in high-stress job hellscapes because we're sometimes afraid to take time off.  We also talk about the invisible illnesses others...

TW: Please note that this episode contains some brief talk of eating disorders, as well as mentions of fatphobia and body shaming. If you're sensitive to these topics, we suggest skipping through minutes 14 to 17 and 25 to 38. Get ready to talk food burnout with us in Episode 12. We discuss pandemic grocery woes, meal prep/planning exhaustion, dietary restrictions, and eating on hard mode whe...

You guys. It's been a week. Rebecca is obsessed with Rednote. She'll be speaking fluent Mandarin in about 2 weeks. Jamie tried to watch her first episode of J*e R*gan, but gave up after 15 minutes.  It's time to delve into moral injury vs. burnout. We couldn't help but talk about the dumpster fire that is big tech, Meta's racist AI gone rogue, and DEI efforts being dismant...

We made it to Episode 10! Our tiny, black neurodivergent hearts thank all of you for that.  Our special episode needed a special guest (and our first!) and we're so happy it was Elyssa. Elyssa is one of our good friends that we both met at work and she hasn't been able to get rid of us since. She is a a creator in so many ways—artist, writer, podcaster, TikTok creator, personal finance e...

It's time for us to talk about everyone's favorite manipulative sitcom family: The Work Family. We'll give you tips on avoiding workplaces that mirror the most unhealthy family dynamics, dealing with companies that expect you to just drink the Kool-Aid (especially startups), and share our own personal stories. Plus, we talk about the importance of pay transparency and how to advocat...

In this episode, we dive straight into the coping mechanisms we use every day to function (and survive). We discuss both helpful and harmful ways to dissociate and find comfort in the chaos (video games, shopping, tv shows, sleep) especially if you're neurodivergent. We focus on taking care of our mental health, the importance of therapy and meds, and the struggles of actually obtaining the d...

This episode is all about surviving the holidays, savory gelatin dishes (that all seem to trace back to Mormons and The Midwest), and why we all just need a nap. We discuss how much pressure has been put on women for generations to Make the Holidays Happen. We also share personal stories about family dynamics during holiday get togethers and the importance of setting boundaries to protect our ment...

Time to get. shit. done. In this episode, we talk about raising the stakes when it comes to motivation (like a real-life Tamagotchi). We delve into everything from ADHD brain hacks to body doubling to travel tips (we love you, Alaska Airlines!). We also discuss the GTD productivity method and the different tools we use to help us stay organized. Mentioned in this episode: Jamie's fav calendar...

In this episode of the Burnout Collective, we discuss a topic we have no business discussing: shopping. Or, rather, using shopping as a coping mechanism—which some like to call doom spending. We talk about buying unnecessary items when stressed or bored, like 6 different Muslin Comfort blankets (and this one time a car). We then chat about the struggle of managing finances to begin with, the scien...

In this episode, we discuss the quirks and joys of having a "work spouse" or work bestie. We share hilarious stories about workplace etiquette (like being betrayed by a potential work wife), the importance of having a reliable ally at work, and the unspoken rules of office friendships. Plus, Rebecca has her own moment of realization that she's the "mean friend." And, dear...

In Episode 2 of The Burnout Collective, we chat about what haunts us all...MANAGERS. From the rare good manager to the plethora of terrible managers we've encountered in our careers, each and every one has shaped our own management styles. We discuss the irreversible damage bad managers can do, how some people just have a lust for power, the importance of empathy as a leader, and quiet leader...

Well, somebody got laid off. So we fast-tracked this episode to take full advantage of her trauma and poke at fresh wounds. [Redacted] shares her recent layoff experience and how she's dealing (or not) with it. We chat about the rollercoaster that is job (in)security, toxic workplaces, and the importance of remembering to put yourself first. (You're not an asshole, we promise.) Have a su...

In the first episode of The Burnout Collective, we share how we met and how we immediately started bonding over corporate BS—emphasizing the need for companies to have a "no asshole" policy. We talk about dealing with mean girls on the daily, the need to form strategic alliances, and why trauma bonding is inevitable. We unpack the experiences with burnout we’ve had throughout our careers...