Burnout Isn’t Your Fault — Kristen Donnelly on Culture, Curiosity, and Crashing Through the Wall

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING
The following episode includes emotional discussion on burnout, exhaustion, and mental health that may not be suitable for all listeners. Discretion advised.

Dr. Kristen Donnelly is a sociologist, four-time TED Speaker, and co-author of The Culture of Burnout. She’s made it her life’s work to expose one hard truth: burnout isn’t weakness — it’s culture.

In this conversation:

• The Puritan work ethic and how it still fuels American burnout

• Why “suck it up” culture keeps responders sick

• The body’s breaking point — when rest stops being optional

• Curiosity as the antidote to guilt

• The four pillars of recovery: Rest, Rejuvenation, Realignment, and Reconnection

• Why joy isn’t indulgence — it’s survival

• What leaders can do to stop rewarding exhaustion

Kristen’s message is simple: you’re not broken — you’re burned out.
And it’s fixable.

🔗 Links
🌐 Dr. Kristen Donnelly → https://drkristenspeaks.com
📘 Book: The Culture of Burnout (by Dr. Kristen Donnelly & Erin Harlow)

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⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast contains graphic content, emotional storytelling, and dark humor based on real-life EMS and first responder experiences. Listener discretion is advised.  
Any medical discussion is personal opinion, not medical advice. Always follow your local protocols, medical direction, and training guidelines.

This podcast isn’t about fairy tales. It’s about real calls, real chaos, and the medics who survive both.  
Dispatched & Dysfunctional — because sometimes the worst calls… make the best stories.