Balm in the Burnout

Balm in the Burnout – Episode 11: Joy as Mutual Aid in Dangerous Times, with Kelly Wilson of Do’gooders MN

Host: Megan Hadley, MA, NBC-HWC
Guest: Kelly Wilson, founder of Do'gooders MN

Episode Summary:

In this inspiring episode, host Megan Hadley sits down with Longfellow South Minneapolis neighbor, community organizer, and chronic joy-instigator Kelly Wilson. Kelly shares how personal burnout, systemic harm, and collective grief led her to create Do’gooders MN—a grassroots group spreading radical joy, mutual aid, and connection across Minneapolis.

From free LGBTQ+ weddings to hoodie drives and neighborhood networks, Kelly shows what becomes possible when we stop waiting and start working with who we have and what we’ve got. It’s incredible what we can accomplish together when we organize.

Key Topics:

• Kelly’s background as a wedding photographer, connector, and “get-it-done” human
• The origin of Do’gooders MN and the creation of “Unabashed: A Celebration of Love and Pride”—a free day-long event hosting 12 LGBTQ mini-weddings
• Mutual aid as joy, resistance, and nervous system support
• Chronic illness, grief, and estrangement as part of this activist’s journey
• Collaboration, delegation, and asking for help without apology
• Burnout in community care, and the necessity of rest and boundaries
• The ripple effect of micro-actions: hoodie drives, gifting events, and more
• How to build something without a plan, a budget, or official credentials
• “Zooming in” instead of being crushed by the big picture

Key Takeaways:

• You don’t need a five-year plan to make an impact—start small and start local
• Mutual aid thrives on collaboration, not perfectionism
• Rest is not abandonment—it’s strategy and survival
• Everyone has something to contribute, including you
• Joy can be its own form of protest and protection

Connect with Kelly Wilson & Do’gooders MN:

• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook (Personal): Kelly Wilson
• Facebook (Group): Do’gooders MN
• Website: dogoodersmn.com
  
  

Support the Podcast:

Balm in the Burnout is listener-supported. Contribute to the work or to the Community Scholarship Fund: Venmo: @HHW-LLC

Learn more about host Megan Hadley’s coaching, workshops, and offerings at:
 harvesthealthandwellbeing.com

Thank you for listening - we would appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Balm in the Burnout, Episode 10

What Cancer Taught Me About Burnout with Talaya Dendy

Show Notes:
 Welcome back to Balm in the Burnout, the podcast for humans navigating personal and systemic burnout in demanding, under-resourced, or misunderstood roles. In this episode, host Megan Hadley speaks with Talaya Dendy—cancer doula, patient advocate, speaker, and creator of the podcast Navigating Cancer TOGETHER—about what illness teaches us about burnout, identity, care, and the systems we’re forced to move through.

Talaya brings a perspective we haven’t yet explored on the podcast: the emotional labor of serious illness, survivorship, systemic harm, and the burnout of being both the “strong one” and the support system when you're the one in need of care.

In This Episode:

• Talaya’s cancer diagnosis and what it revealed about identity, isolation, and navigating healthcare.
• The role of a cancer doula and why emotional care is just as necessary as medical treatment.
• Burnout as it shows up in illness and long-term caregiving—and the signs we tend to ignore.
• Examples of the body’s warning signals: fatigue, irritability, shutdown, brain fog, and emotional exhaustion.
• How systemic harm, mistrust, and erasure impact clinical trials, treatment, and health outcomes.
• Integrative health practices (e.g., tai chi, journaling, meditation) and why they matter alongside Western medicine.
• Being an introverted leader and advocate, and finding power in quiet influence.
• The importance of stillness, glimmers, and realistic self-care when rest feels impossible.
• Shifting from “I have to be strong” to “I deserve support, too.”

Key Takeaways:

• Illness exposes what’s broken—not just physically, but systemically.
• Burnout can live in the body long before the mind acknowledges it.
• Caregivers, patients, and survivors deserve emotional support—not just logistics and treatment plans.
• Rest, advocacy, and community are not luxuries; they’re survival tools.

Connect with Talaya:

• Community Forum Waitlist:
   https://www.ontheotherside.life/forum-waitlist
  
  
• Website: https://www.ontheotherside.life
  
  
• Podcast: Navigating Cancer TOGETHER
   https://podcast.ausha.co/navigatingcancertogether/
  
  
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talayadendy/
  
  

Follow her work, access support resources, and stay connected to upcoming programming, including her private online community for patients, caregivers, and survivors.

Support the Show:

Balm in the Burnout is listener-supported. You can contribute to the community scholarship or leave a tip on Venmo @HHW-LLC to help others access subsidized services.

Connect with Host Megan Hadley:

Learn more about burnout prevention and resiliency support through Harvest Health & Wellbeing. https://hhwellb.com

If this episode resonated:

Subscribe, share it with someone who needs to feel less alone, and leave a review—it helps these conversations reach the people who need them most.

Balm in the Burnout, Episode 9: Scaling Without Sacrificing Yourself, with Tina Rexing of T-Rex Cookie 

Show Notes:

 Welcome to Balm in the Burnout, the podcast for cross-sector humans navigating personal and systemic burnout. In this episode, host Megan Hadley talks with entrepreneur Tina Rexing, founder of the nationally recognized women-owned business T-Rex Cookie, about burnout in the food industry, entrepreneurship as an immigrant daughter, and what it takes to grow something big without losing yourself.

In This Conversation:

• Tina’s leap from corporate life to launching T-Rex Cookie, and how a business plan (and a lot of grit) helped her land her first investment
• The evolution of T-Rex Cookie—from farmers’ markets to national features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, TimeOut Magazine, and more
• Why Tina says “no” to opportunities that compromise her values or brand identity—even when the world wants smaller cookies
• Honest talk about entrepreneurship burnout, toxic kitchen culture, and why asking for help and setting boundaries are essential
• How Tina’s parents and sons became part of the business, and the emotional labor of mixing family and legacy
• Navigating growth and funding while staying in control—choosing investors who believe in your mission instead of diluting your values
• Lessons on separating work and identity, protecting joy, and not turning every passion into a job

Key Takeaways:

• “Do what you love—but be careful what you turn into work.”
• Scaling a business doesn’t have to mean self-sacrifice
• Burnout in entrepreneurship is real—and rest, boundaries, and community are non-negotiable
• Immigrant hustle, family dynamics, and funding all shape the burnout experience differently than in other sectors

Guest Links:

T-Rex Cookie: Website 

Tina Rexing: LinkedIn

• Find T-Rex Cookie their shop in Eagan, at MSP Airport, Terminal 1, at retailers across Minnesota, and local direct shipping via their website.

Connect with Host Megan Hadley:

Support the Show: Balm in the Burnout is listener-supported. Contribute to our community scholarship or leave a tip on Venmo @HHW-LLC.

Visit Harvest Health and Wellbeing for coaching, workshops, and mindfulness-based burnout support.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to Balm in the Burnout  

00:37 – Meet Tina Rexing: From corporate to cookie entrepreneur  

01:57 – T-Rex Cookie’s rise: National features and business milestones  

03:29 – Staying grounded: Yoga, physicality, presence practices  

05:46 – The leap: Business planning, farmers' markets, early growth  

09:45 – Grit, family values, and the immigrant work ethic  

11:36 – Saying “no” and protecting your brand identity  

14:05 – Burnout in entrepreneurship and the food industry  

17:14 – Family labor, legacy, and sacrifice in small business  

20:35 – Growth, investment, and choosing aligned funders  

24:20 – Takeaways: What happens when hobbies become jobs

Balm in the Burnout, Episode 8:

I’m Part of the Story - Caregiver Burnout with Allison Breininger

Host: Megan Hadley
Guest: Allison Breininger, founder of The Negative Space

In this episode of Balm in the Burnout, host Megan Hadley talks with caregiver and advocate Allison Breininger about the realities of caregiving, the hidden toll it takes, and the importance of community and self-care. Allison shares her personal journey, the mission behind The Negative Space, and practical ways to support caregivers and prevent burnout. 

Episode Highlights:

• Allison shares her journey as a caregiver for her husband, who was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia, and how this experience led her to found The Negative Space.
• Discussion on the often invisible impact of caregiving, the importance of recognizing caregivers, and the need for self-advocacy in healthcare.
• The Negative Space’s mission: changing how caregivers are seen and supported, both through direct services and education for medical professionals and the public.
• The power of community, support groups, and creating spaces for caregivers to share their experiences without judgment or toxic positivity.
• Allison’s new project, The Storyline: an online resource for caregivers with chapters for different caregiving moments, including realistic self-care, reflection questions, meditations, and more.
• The importance of “micro moments” and small daily practices to reduce burnout risk.
• Statistics on caregiver burnout: caregivers are 90% more likely to experience daily anxiety and 70% show signs of clinical depression.
• Upcoming events: Caregiver Con on November 1st in Minneapolis, with resources, therapy dogs, and free massages.

Key Topics Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Balm in the Burnout and guest Allison Breininger  

01:42 – Grounding moment: Watching deer in a quiet pause  

03:18 – Allison shares her caregiving story and her husband’s diagnosis  

06:40 – The toll of invisible caregiving labor and chronic hypervigilance  

09:56 – What burnout looks like in long-term caregiving  

13:08 – The myth of the “strong one” and identity loss in caregivers  

17:02 – Finding and naming glimmers: a path back to presence  

21:00 – Realistic self-care and micro-moments of regulation  

25:10 – Developing “The Storyline” and building caregiver-centered resources  

29:04 – Training healthcare professionals to acknowledge caregivers  

32:20 – Language matters: shifting how we speak about caregiving  

36:40 – Closing reflections: belonging, burnout, and asking for help  

38:56 – How to connect with Allison and The Negative Space  

Resources Mentioned:

• The Negative Space: thenegativespace.life
• In Sickness Podcast: insickness.care
• Instagram: @negspacelife
• Facebook: The Negative Space
• Caregiver Con: caregivercon.com
  
  

Support the Podcast:
Balm in the Burnout is listener-supported. You can leave a tip on Venmo at HHW-LLC or contribute to a community scholarship.

Key Takeaway:
Start seeing caregivers. Be curious and empathetic about their experiences, and recognize the impact caregiving has on their health and wellbeing.

Contact:
For brochures, rack cards, or to support The Negative Space, visit the website or reach out directly to Allison.

Dive Deeper:

For more tools and services to support your risk reduction of burnout, visit Megan at harvesthealthandwellbeing.com, or hhwellb.com for her short links of upcoming events and free resources.

Balm in the Burnout, Episode 7: 

Healthcare Burnout to Work Life Balance - Designing a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From with Patrick Otis

Welcome back to Balm in the Burnout! In this episode, Megan sits down with Patrick Otis, a nurse anesthetist, pickleball enthusiast, and advocate for work-life balance.

About Our Guest:
Patrick has been a nurse since 2013 and a nurse anesthetist since 2018. Outside the operating room, you’ll find him on the pickleball court, singing in choir with his husband, deep in a personal finance spreadsheet, or planning his next adventure. Patrick is passionate about staying active—physically, mentally, and emotionally—and about creating balance in a demanding profession.

In This Episode:

• Patrick and Megan discuss burnout, the importance of finding joy and community outside of work, and how to avoid letting your job define your entire identity.
• Patrick shares how pickleball became a source of presence, mindfulness, and community in his life.
• The conversation explores the challenges of maintaining identity and wellbeing as a healthcare professional, especially through the pandemic.
• They touch on financial independence, the FIRE movement, moving the goalpost, and the value of enjoying life now rather than always chasing the next milestone.
• Patrick offers practical advice for reducing burnout: find something outside of work that you love and build community around it.
• The episode wraps up with reflections on fun, friendship, and the importance of being kind—to yourself and others.

Key Themes & Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Balm in the Burnout and today’s guest  

01:20 – Patrick’s grounding moment: singing and connection in choir  

03:08 – Patrick’s background in healthcare and navigating pandemic burnout  

06:35 – When your job becomes your identity (and how to change that)  

09:44 – Discovering joy through pickleball and physical presence  

13:55 – Why fun is an essential part of burnout recovery  

17:20 – Shifting values after crisis: work-life balance and reframing success  

20:45 – Finding a team that brings ease and connection  

23:03 – Exploring FIRE: financial independence and reclaiming your time  

26:42 – Escaping the cycle of “more”: enoughness, rest, and values  

30:15 – Final thoughts: community, self-kindness, and long-term healing  

33:12 – Outro and how to connect with Patrick on Instagram

Connect with Patrick:
Follow Patrick on Instagram: @pfaunillian to keep up with his pickleball adventures and more.

Takeaway:
Don’t work so hard that you forget to have fun. Find your people, build community, and remember: you are more than your job.

Thanks for listening!

Dive Deeper:

For more tools and services to support your risk reduction of burnout, visit Megan at harvesthealthandwellbeing.com, or hhwellb.com for her short links of upcoming events and free resources.

Balm in the Burnout, Episode 6:

Making Magic and Meaning in a Queer-Centered Space with Brenna Wernersbach, Owner of MoonStone MPLS

In this episode of Balm in the Burnout, host Megan Hadley speaks with Brenna Wernersbach, founder of MoonStone MPLS, a queer-owned metaphysical shop in South Minneapolis. Brenna shares how they transitioned from a background in psychology to creating a small business centered around wellness, inclusivity, and community care—blending metaphysics and science to support burnout recovery and authentic living.

They share insights on crafting the life they desire by becoming a business owner, the value of community collaboration, and the importance of self-advocacy. Brenna emphasizes the shop's role in fostering connections and providing a platform for local events and resources. The conversation touches on themes of work-life balance, inclusivity, and the power of creating spaces where people can be their authentic selves. 

Visit MoonStone MPLS in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis or online at moonstonempls.com to explore crystals, books, and tools for self-connection. Mention the podcast for a discount!

00:00 Introduction to Balm in the Burnout with Brenna Wernersbach

01:52 Brenna's Moment of Presence: A Rainy Day with Georgie the Cat

04:24 Health, Wellbeing, and Authenticity in Business

09:04 The Journey to MoonStone: Merging Metaphysics and Science

14:24 MoonStone's Evolution: From Uptown to Longfellow

15:54 Navigating Burnout as a Small Business Owner

18:35 Community Building and Collaboration in Retail

23:37 Balancing Business and Self-Care: Closing one Day Each Week

26:52 Final Thoughts: Self-Advocacy and Creating Space for Others

28:03 Closing Remarks and How to Connect with MoonStone

From Values to Action: Rethinking Organizational Wellbeing with Carl Atiya Swanson

In this episode of Balm in the Burnout, host Megan Hadley sits down with creative strategist and systems thinker Carl Atiya Swanson to explore how burnout shows up across sectors—and how values-aligned leadership can transform it. Carl shares his personal story of recovery and what it’s taught him about sustainable change, both individually and organizationally.

Together, they unpack how to notice what's already working, why naming shared values matters, and how to create systems that prioritize people over performance. Whether you're navigating burnout yourself or shaping workplace culture, this episode offers grounded insights and hopeful strategies for building resilience without bypassing the hard stuff.

00:00 Introduction to Balm in the Burnout

00:40 Meet Carl Atiya Swanson

05:14 Carl's Journey and Insights on Recovery

09:56 Organizational Health and Leadership

14:31 Navigating Burnout in Challenging Times

19:41 Personal Practices and Reflections

23:45 Alchemy in Organizational Work

27:32 Closing Thoughts and Takeaways

Carl’s Links

Consulting: www.castconsulting.co

Personal: www.carlatiyaswanson.com

@catiyas on just about all social media 

Ritual in a Bottle: On Herbal Skincare and Slowing Down with Romina Takimoto of Romi Apothecary

In this episode of 'Balm in the Burnout,' host Megan Hadley talks to Romina Takimoto, an occupational therapist turned herbal skincare creator. Romina shares her journey from hospital-based work to crafting herbal skincare products, exploring wellness through various spiritual practices, and balancing corporate med tech work. She emphasizes the importance of simplicity in health and wellbeing, focusing on sleep, nutrition, and exercise, and practicing the 80/20 principle. Romina also discusses her personal evolution through therapy and self-exploration, the significance of embracing nature, and addressing modern-day burnout. The conversation dives into ritualizing self-care, appreciating natural cycles, and the need for genuine human connection amidst technological advances. Romina offers practical advice on creating mindful skincare rituals infused with gratitude and presence.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Bio

02:18 Finding Presence in Nature

03:56 Health and Wellbeing Insights

09:52 Romina's Journey and Career Pivots

16:59 Understanding and Overcoming Burnout

22:49 The Importance of Human Connection

30:47 Ritualizing Self-Care and Skincare

41:08 Concluding Thoughts and Takeaways

Visit Romi Apothecary online at: https://romiapothecary.com/ 
Follow on Instagram: @romi_apothecary  and Romina at @relaxandrecover

Writing as Ritual: On Grief, Creativity, and Becoming with Taylor Brorby

Episode 3 - Balm in the Burnout Podcast

In this episode of Balm in the Burnout, host Megan welcomes Taylor Brorby, a writer and environmental activist, to discuss personal growth, the writing process, and the importance of storytelling. Taylor delves into his journey as a writer, reflecting on how routines, the loss of a loved one, and community activism shape his life and work. Touching on burnout, he describes how outdoor activities like fly fishing help him rejuvenate and maintain his creativity. The conversation also explores how storytelling can heal, the impact of environmentalism on his life, and the broader role of being curious and non-judgmental in personal development. Follow Taylor's work and summer book tour for "Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in a Fractured Land".

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:22 Taylor Brorby's Background and Achievements
01:47 The Writer's Journey and Daily Routine
07:25 Reflections on Grief and Presence
12:57 Burnout and Self-Care Strategies
20:16 Environmental Activism and Personal History
24:39 The Power of Storytelling
30:18 Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts

Boys and Oil: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324090861

Follow Taylor on Instagram at: taybro1987

Rewriting Narratives: Jason Sole on Abolition and Community

Balm in the Burnout podcast - Episode 2

In this episode, Jason Sole, an abolitionist, community leader, and professor at Hamline University, shares his journey from being a formerly incarcerated individual to becoming a criminal justice educator and activist. He discusses the importance of staying present, prioritizing health, and breaking cycles within his family. Sole also highlights his involvement in initiatives like the Humanize My Hoodie Movement and Relationships Evolving Possibilities (REP). Through personal anecdotes, he emphasizes the value of intentional living, self-awareness, and community support in achieving well-being and avoiding burnout.

00:00 Introduction to Jason Sole
01:06 The Importance of Being Present
03:59 Health and Wellbeing Insights
11:44 Family and Personal Life
18:28 Reflecting on Purpose and Community Work
19:23 Abolitionist Efforts and Community Support
20:57 Personal Values and Public Perception
22:54 Avoiding Burnout in Activism
25:55 Balancing Personal and Professional Life
32:25 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Connect with Jason and his work at jasonsole.com