Feeling the relentless pull to work harder, do more, and prove your worth through productivity? That’s not ambition talking—it’s internalized capitalism, and it’s keeping you trapped in a cycle of overwork and burnout. This week, we’re tackling the insidious ways internalized capitalism uses toxic productivity to take advantage of us, and how we can fight back.

Ambition should empower you, not exhaust you. It’s time to call out the lies we’ve been sold about hustle culture and start reclaiming a healthier, more fulfilling drive.

In this episode, Caitlin unpacks:

- The key difference between healthy ambition and toxic productivity

- How internalized capitalism keeps you working more than you should be

- The mental toll of “doing it all” and how internalized capitalism forces you to

- Caitlin's personal experience on leaving corporate and why

- the propaganda machine against workers unionizing

- Why saying "no" is a radical act of self-care

If you’ve ever questioned the grind and wondered if it’s okay to slow down, this conversation is a must-listen.

🎂 OH AND APRIL IS CAITLIN'S BIRTHDAY MONTH

Check out their Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SSTWSKA9GVO6

UPCOMING EVENT: NOVEL PARKOUR!!!!

📅 May 16–18 | 💻 It’s free | 🎟 It’s for you

Caitlin’s free, 3-day writing workshop for neurodivergent creatives is happening May 16–18, 2025. It’s designed to help you wrangle your story idea into an outline that’s flexible, doable, and tailored to brains that don’t do things the “normal” way.

👉 Sign up here: https://www.askfishfisher.com/novel-parkour-live-2025

Support the Podcast: Membership Drive on Patreon!

So the pod is back to four episodes a month!! If you want to support the neurodivergent creative chaos and listen to more unhinged, informed, deeply compassionate rants like this one?

Join Caitlin’s Patreon for bonus mess, early content, and merch! We’re so close to hitting the next Patreon milestone.

💋 https://www.patreon.com/caitlinlizfisher

Join our little neurodivergent creative club!

🌞 Want to support these heartfelt conversations about mental health, creativity, and neurodivergence? Hop over to Patreon to keep the podcast going and join us in our free creative community, The Neurodivergent Creative Pod: https://www.askfishfisher.com/pod

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PS - Caitlin wants to hear from you! Drop Caitlin a DM on Instagram @caitlinlizfisher or leave a comment on the episode (especially if you're tuning in on YouTube).