This week on Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Cait Donovan, an internationally recognized expert in burnout and resilience. Cait's career began as a practicing acupuncturist with a master’s degree in Chinese medicine, but after experiencing burnout herself, she shifted focus to study biobehavioral health. Today, she’s an in-demand speaker, the host of Fried – The Burnout Podcast, and the author of The Bouncebackability Factor: End Burnout, Gain Resilience, and Change the World. In this enlightening conversation, Cait delves deep into the causes and signs of burnout, explaining how chronic stress affects the brain, body, and emotions. She shares research on the six workplace factors that contribute to burnout, how trauma plays a role, and why certain people become apathetic while others are highly reactive. She also explores burnout recovery—what habits and routines can help restore energy, repair the brain, and rebuild resilience. Whether you’re struggling with burnout yourself or looking for ways to support others, this episode is packed with insights that will help you take the next step forward in your journey of healing and empowerment.

 

About Cait Donovan: Cait Donovan, a global burnout expert and resilience advocate, has spent years helping leaders and teams break free from burnout culture. With a background in Traditional Chinese Medicine and over 250 podcast episodes exploring burnout recovery, she’s developed a proven framework for success. After years of running her own clinics and working with high-level professionals, Cait channeled her expertise into keynotes, workshops, and her top 1% podcast, FRIED: The Burnout Podcast. Now, she’s on a mission to #endburnoutculture, empowering organizations to create sustainable success with emotional intelligence at the core.