In this episode, we basically hold up a mirror to our work lives and go, “Oh… THAT’S why we’re tired.” Fresh off a chat with Laura Suttin, MD, MBA, PCC , we unpack the wild idea that maybe sprinting through our careers like we’re being chased by a bear isn’t the healthiest strategy. Turns out, pausing, breathing, and occasionally acting like humans instead of productivity robots might actually help. 

We dive into team culture and realize—surprise!—your vibe as a leader is contagious. If you’re running around stressed and skipping lunch, your team’s not exactly going to be sipping tea and setting boundaries. We compare the classic “rise and grind” mentality with a more radical approach: not burning everyone out. 

Of course, we get real about burnout—what it looks like, how it sneaks up on you, and how it’s basically your brain waving a tiny white flag saying, “Please stop.” We talk about actually listening to those signals instead of powering through like it’s a personality trait. 

“The way you work sometimes just sets the stage for how you expect everybody else to work—even if you never say it out loud.” 

In this episode:

• Team Culture: Are we thriving or just tired? (1:25)
• Why self-care is not optional (4:56)
• The “CEO energy” we thought we have vs reality (8:00)
• Subtle clues that you might be heading toward burnout (12:44)

Each month we host a live Deeper Dive so you can connect with us, our special guests, and each other + get lifetime access to the recording!

Links and Resources

• Subscribe to the Deeper Dive Membership: https://learn.paperlesslactation.com/subscription/deeper-dive-membership
• Have an idea for a podcast episode or a Deeper Dive? Let us know! https://learn.paperlesslactation.com/form/collaborate
• Submit your listener questions here: https://forms.gle/NsmGysHMAULW9o1z5
• Connect with Dr Suttin: https://www.drlaurasuttin.com/
• The Self-Compassion Institute: https://self-compassion.org/
• The Purposeful MD by Laura Suttin: https://bookshop.org/a/110134/9798987370452
• Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff: https://bookshop.org/a/110134/9780062991058
• Drive by Daniel Pink: https://bookshop.org/a/110134/9781594484803

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About Us

Leah Jolly is a private practice IBCLC with Bay Area Breastfeeding in Houston, Texas.

Annie Frisbie is a private practice IBCLC serving Queens and Brooklyn in New York City and the creator of the Lactation Consultant Private Practice Toolkit.