Is burnout really a personal failing—or is the system setting us up to fail? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Lauryn sits down with award-winning educator and leadership coach Dr. Veirdre Jackson to challenge one of the most harmful myths in healthcare: that self-care alone can fix burnout. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in responsibilities and being told to “just breathe,” this conversation is your lifeline.

Together, they unpack why community care must replace performative self-care, how trauma lives in the nervous system, and what leaders can do to regulate their own stress before managing others. Dr. Jackson shares powerful, science-backed practices that foster true organizational resilience—plus, a practical “refill system” for creating cultures that sustain both providers and patients.

Key Takeaways:

• Burnout is a system failure, not a personal weakness. Dr. Jackson explains how emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and low self-efficacy stem from unsustainable workloads, not a lack of bubble baths.
• Somatic regulation is a leadership skill. You can't lead others through chaos if your own nervous system is dysregulated—learn how to build moments of sensory reset into daily practice.
• Community care trumps performative self-care. True healing happens when workplaces build in reflection, release, and recovery, not when overwhelmed employees are told to "self-manage" more.
• The body holds the story. Trauma isn’t just mental—it lives in the nervous system. Dr. Jackson shares how to read and respond to what stress signals are actually telling us.

About the Guest:

Dr. Veirdre Jackson is an award-winning author, educator, and the CEO of Living Strong Consulting. With over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and trauma-informed training, she equips organizations and individuals with the tools to foster resilience and create transformative change. A certified coach with the John Maxwell Team, Dr. Jackson is also the host of the internationally streamed podcast Living Strong: The Flip Side of Adversity, and the author of Fearless Conversations with a Limitless God. Her work bridges brain science, leadership, and somatic wellness to build stronger communities from the inside out.

Get in touch with Dr. Veirdre via email: [email protected]

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Resources:

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