This week on The Burnout Club, I’m joined by the extraordinary Dr. April Joy Damian, Chief Scientific Officer and Director of the Weitzman Institute, the national research, education, and innovation arm of the Moses/Weitzman Health System. Her leadership reaches more than two million patients across the U.S., and her mission is deeply human: to transform how health systems serve historically underserved communities through evidence-based, compassionate, community-centered care. April brings a rare blend of rigor, heart, and lived experience to the conversation — and she holds nothing back.

In this episode, we explore what happens when innovation meets purpose, how prevention is the missing link in burnout and mental health, and why reconnecting with your “why” may be the most powerful tool you have. April also opens up about the season in her life when burnout brought her to a full stop — and how teaching mindfulness and yoga in El Salvador became a path back to herself. This episode is grounding, expansive, and full of actionable insight for anyone trying to sustain meaningful work without losing themselves in the process.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Why innovation brings optimism — and why optimism protects against burnout
• How primary care sits at the center of equity, mental health, public health, and prevention
• A research-based approach to solving big, overwhelming problems without burning out
• The importance of raising your own awareness to spot burnout early
• Why letting others use their gifts actually protects you from burnout
• What “seasons” have to do with resilience and adapting to change
• How food, culture, and curiosity can reconnect you with joy

ABOUT DR. APRIL JOY DAMIAN

Dr. April Joy Damian, PhD, MSc is a mission-driven healthcare leader passionate about transforming how health systems deliver care, advance research, and improve outcomes for historically underserved communities. With a proven track record of shaping national initiatives, building strategic partnerships, and driving large-scale innovation, she brings a powerful blend of vision, operational expertise, and research acumen to the executive table.

As Chief Scientific Officer and Director of the Weitzman Institute, she leads multi-million-dollar projects that bridge cutting-edge research with real-world practice—ensuring evidence-based solutions reach the patients and communities who need them most. Her academic foundation includes a PhD from the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a Master's in Medical Sciences from Harvard Medical School, and a BA (Highest Honors, Phi Beta Kappa) in Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley. April is committed to driving evidence-informed, systems-level change that leaves a lasting impact on health equity nationwide.

Fun fact: Between medical school and beginning her PhD, she became a certified yoga instructor and taught mindfulness and yoga in El Salvador through a United Nations–sponsored mission.

CONNECT WITH DR. APRIL JOY
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apriljoydamian/
Weitzman Institute: https://www.weitzmaninstitute.org/

If this conversation expanded your thinking or grounded your spirit, please share the episode, leave a review, and subscribe so more people can join us in rewriting burnout from the inside out.

Together, we can build healthier systems, healthier communities, and healthier lives — one conversation at a time. ❤️

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/

In this thought-provoking and deeply human conversation, I’m joined by Denley W. McIntosh, CEO, Principal Coach, and host of The Coach’s Corner. Denley is someone who meets people right where they are — in the thick of life’s battles — and helps them return to the “corner” with clarity, confidence, and compassion. With a rare blend of intellect, lived experience, and heart, he brings together engineering, theology, sociology, and leadership to help people understand themselves and each other more deeply.

In this episode, we explore loneliness at work, identity, relationships, parenting, burnout, purpose, and the emotional habits that keep us grounded. Denley shares how he simplifies the complex, breaks down barriers between people, and creates space for genuine connection — especially during moments when life feels heavy. This one is full of wisdom, warmth, and reminders that you don’t have to walk through the ring of life alone.

What You’ll Learn

• The hidden epidemic of workplace loneliness — and how to truly see it
• Why men often struggle with connection (and what to do about it)
• The surprising value of recording your own thoughts — even privately
• How relationships evolve over time, and why couples must keep “studying” each other
• The Script–Soul–Story framework and how it reshapes your inner narrative
• Where burnout shows up for high-capacity people — and how Denley stays grounded
• Why laughter, levity, and purpose are essential in avoiding burnout

About Denley McIntosh
Denley W. McIntosh, host of The Coach’s Corner, is an award-winning author, podcaster, and keynote speaker known for his global impact in workplace culture and leadership. A recipient of the Amethyst Award, he brings 15+ years of expertise in executive coaching, DEI&B, and organizational development to audiences worldwide. He is deeply passionate about helping individuals prevent and recover from burnout — a topic he explores in signature episodes on the Mission Matters Podcast, including:

Burnout Episodes by Denley

Rekindle the Flame: 9 Ways to Stop Burnout
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rekindle-the-flame-9-ways-to-stop-burnout/id1642373962?i=1000706518047

Setting Boundaries: 10 Keys to Protecting Your Energy, Health & Wellbeing
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/setting-boundaries-10-keys-to-protecting-your-energy/id1642373962?i=1000711018860

Connect With Denley

Podcast: The Coach’s Corner
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2RBKawTPG7bMrR0Lk8AyGU?si=f920a7ce2ea04eeb
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denleymcintosh/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coach.denley.tcc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecoachescornerpod/
Websites: www.renewiq.ca | https://www.thecoachscorner.ca/

🌿If this episode cracked something open for you — a question, a memory, a sense of possibility — share it with someone who might need a little encouragement today. None of us are meant to carry life alone. Your corner matters. Your people matter. And you deserve support in the ring.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/

This week on The Burnout Club, I sit down with Lisa Levey — a longtime documentary producer and co-founder of The Otherhood Collective, a storytelling platform for people navigating nontraditional paths to fulfillment and family. Lisa opens up about her own journey through infertility, the grief that followed, and how she’s redefining what a “full life” looks like outside the narrow boxes of parent or non-parent. We talk about friendship, purpose, and what it means to build community around stories that often go untold — the ones sitting quietly behind closed doors.

If you’ve ever felt on the outside of someone else’s version of “having it all,” this one’s for you. Listen in, take a breath, and maybe see yourself in a new light.

About the Guest
Lisa Levey is the co-founder of The Otherhood Collective, a digital storytelling platform that creates space for honest and layered conversations around nontraditional paths to parenthood. Whether you're childless by choice, circumstance, or simply feeling a sense of otherness within the context of family and societal norms, this is a place where our complex stories aren't just shared, but celebrated.

Lisa is also a freelance Executive and Consulting Producer specializing in documentary and unscripted television — bringing decades of experience in human-centered storytelling to every project she touches.

When asked what she most wants people to know, Lisa says: “Why we started The Otherhood Collective.”

Connect with Lisa & The Otherhood Collective

Website: theotherhoodcollective.com
YouTube: @TheOtherhoodCollective
Instagram: @theotherhoodcollective
TikTok: @theotherhoodcollective
LinkedIn: The Otherhood Collective

🌿If this conversation resonated with you, take a second to subscribe, rate, or share The Burnout Club with someone who might need it today. These stories remind us we’re not alone in the messy middle — and that’s kind of the whole point.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/

What if fulfillment didn’t have to follow the traditional script? In this episode, Patrice sits down with Sarah Berl Clifford, Founder and Marketing Director of The Otherhood Collective, to explore what it means to create belonging outside of societal expectations. Sarah opens up about her deeply personal journey through infertility, identity, and leadership — and how it inspired her to build a community where people can share their stories without labels, shame, or judgment.

Together, they unpack how empathy, connection, and honest conversation can bridge the gap between “childless” and “child-free,” inviting us all to see family, purpose, and success through a more compassionate lens. Whether you’ve walked an untraditional path yourself or simply want to understand it better, this conversation will shift how you think about otherhood — and remind you that your story, exactly as it is, matters.

✨ What You’ll Learn

• The inspiration behind The Otherhood Collective and why inclusivity matters in conversations about parenthood
• How assumptions about “career women” and motherhood often miss the truth
• The quiet toll of being “the one without kids” in professional spaces — and how to set boundaries with confidence
• Why sharing your story can be both healing and empowering for others
• How leadership rooted in empathy and transparency changes team culture
• The global lens on fertility, family, and workplace support — and what the U.S. can learn
• A simple way to reconnect and restore energy through authentic human connection

About Sarah Berl Clifford

Sarah Berl Clifford is a seasoned marketing and creative strategy leader with nearly two decades of experience working with global brands like ESPN, Disney, Paramount, and Amazon. Today, she brings her storytelling and brand expertise to The Otherhood Collective, a platform she co-founded to amplify honest, inclusive conversations about the many paths to — and beyond — parenthood. Through her work, Sarah invites us to rethink what fulfillment, family, and leadership can look like when we drop the labels and lead with empathy.

Connect with Sarah

Website: theotherhoodcollective.com

Instagram: @sbclifford | @theotherhoodcollective

LinkedIn: Sarah Berl Clifford | The Otherhood Collective

TikTok: @theotherhoodcollective

YouTube: @theotherhoodcollective

If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who needs a reminder that their story matters.

🌿Tune in to The Burnout Club wherever you get your podcasts — and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help us keep these conversations going.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/

This week, Patrice welcomes Dr. Noah Wilson-Rich, biologist, entrepreneur, and founder of The Biodiversity Lab, for a fascinating look at what we humans can learn from the natural world — especially the bees. From the queen’s burnout to the worker’s exhaustion, Noah bridges science and soul to show us that burnout isn’t just a human experience — it’s biological. Nature has already written the playbook on resilience, connection, and renewal; we just need to remember how to read it.

Patrice and Noah unpack how the hive mirrors our own social systems, what the queen bee can teach us about leadership fatigue, and how even burnout holds clues for regeneration. Through stories of evolution, AI-powered biodiversity, and the lessons of millions of years of social living, this conversation reconnects us to something we’ve lost: our shared role in the greater hive.

✨ What You’ll Learn

• What burnout looks like in the natural world — and why bees might understand it better than we do
• The fascinating “five-step process” of change management used by honeybees
• How aging and career pivots mirror biological evolution and purpose
• Why connection and togetherness are nature’s antidote to exhaustion
• The role of technology, biodiversity, and environmental DNA in restoring our balance with nature
• How apps like iNaturalist and Merlin can help you reconnect with your surroundings
• Why “try beekeeping” might be the most unexpectedly healing advice you’ll ever get

About Dr. Noah Wilson-Rich, PhD

Noah Wilson-Rich, PhD is the author of over 20 scientific publications, including The Bee: A Natural History (Princeton/Oxford University Press). He has served as lecturer, researcher, or full-time faculty member at Tufts University, Northeastern University, Simmons University, MIT, and Harvard University. As founder of The Best Bees Company, the Boston Area Beekeepers Association, Classroom Hives, and the Urban Bee Lab, Noah’s work spans science, entrepreneurship, and community education. He’s delivered three TEDx talks — soon to be four — with over three million views. Today, as founder of The Biodiversity Lab, his cutting-edge environmental consulting work integrates AI, robotics, and environmental DNA into corporate ecosystems around the world.

Connect with Dr. Noah Wilson-Rich

🌿 Website: www.thebiodiversitylab.com

🐝 More from Noah: www.noahwilsonrich.com | www.urbanbeelab.org | www.bestbees.com

💛 Instagram: @thebiodiversitylab | @urbanbeelab | @noahwilsonrich | @bestbees | @cornershopcomms

If this episode reminded you that burnout is part of a bigger story — one that’s been unfolding in nature for millions of years — share it with someone who needs to hear it.

🌿Remember to subscribe to The Burnout Club for more real conversations on what it means to grow, change, and thrive in today’s world.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/

What if resilience isn’t something we’re born with but something we can build, one simple breath at a time? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Kate Lund, Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Kate Lund Psychology PLLC, joins Patrice to explore how we can create more calm, confidence, and connection in our daily lives.

From navigating childhood medical challenges to supporting others through burnout and parenthood, Dr. Kate has lived and studied resilience from every angle. Together, she and Patrice unpack the mindset shifts and micro-practices that make a real difference when life feels heavy and remind us that it’s okay not to have it all figured out.

What You’ll Learn

• How Dr. Kate’s early life shaped her passion for helping others thrive
• What it truly means to “build resilience within your own context”
• A simple 5-minute Relaxation Response practice to regulate stress
• How to stop comparing yourself and focus on your strengths
• The science behind calming your nervous system to prevent burnout
• Why modeling emotional balance matters more than perfect parenting
• Small ways to bring joy and connection back into your daily rhythm

About Dr. Kate Lund

Dr. Kate Lund is a Clinical Psychologist, author, and performance coach helping individuals and families strengthen resilience, overcome setbacks, and thrive. Through her private practice, Kate Lund Psychology PLLC, and her work as an author and speaker, she blends research-based strategies with lived experience to empower people to navigate challenges with authenticity and grace.

Her latest book, Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting, weaves together her perspectives as a clinician, parent, and former patient to offer practical tools for managing stress, building emotional awareness, and raising resilient kids. When she’s not working with clients or writing, Dr. Kate volunteers alongside her therapy dog, Wally, at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Connect with Dr. Kate Lund

• Website: www.katelundspeaks.com
• LinkedIn: Kate Lund on LinkedIn
• Instagram: @dr_kate_lund
• Book: Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting — available on Amazon

If this episode reminded you to pause, breathe, and believe in the possibility on the other side of your challenges, share it with someone who needs that same reminder today. Subscribe to The Burnout Club on YouTube or your favorite podcast app, and join Patrice each week as we explore what it really takes to succeed without burning out.

🌿 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help others transform their leadership and reduce burnout.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/

When the world stopped talking during the pandemic, Katie Severt decided to start the conversation that mattered most. As the founder of Let’s Talk Women, Katie is on a mission to close the women’s health gap by elevating the researchers, clinicians, and innovators shaping the future of care.

In this episode, Patrice and Katie explore what happens when women stop saying “I’m fine” and start telling the truth about their health, burnout, and belonging. From pivoting out of tech into healthcare, to creating a thriving national platform for change, Katie shares how she transformed frustration into forward motion—and how we can all help amplify women’s voices, one conversation at a time.

✨ What You’ll Learn

• How Katie’s pivot from tech to healthcare ignited Let’s Talk Women
• What inspired her to take on the women’s health gap—and why it matters to everyone
• How to amplify women’s voices in medicine, innovation, and leadership
• Why self-advocacy in healthcare is a skill every woman needs
• How to break generational silence and talk honestly about what’s not fine
• What’s next for women’s health innovation—and how to get involved
• How movement, stillness, and community can help prevent burnout

About Katie Severt

Katie Hjelmstad Severt, MBA, is an energetic leader with a natural affinity for building relationships and driving meaningful change. As the Founder of Let’s Talk Women, she leads a fast-growing platform and event series working to close the women’s health gap by elevating and amplifying leaders, innovators, researchers, frontline clinicians, investors, and policymakers.

Since launching, Katie has hosted more than a dozen sold-out events convening national voices around pressing issues in women’s health. In November 2025, she’s spearheading THE CHANGE, a groundbreaking summit on menopause featuring some of the most influential experts in the country.

Deeply embedded in Minnesota’s healthcare and innovation ecosystem, Katie serves on the Boards of the Hennepin Healthcare Foundation and the UMN CUHCC Philanthropic Advisory Board, and on the Minneapolis Public Health Advisory Committee. With an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School and a background in technology, strategy, and communications, Katie blends business acumen with a passion for equity and community impact—working toward a future where women’s health is valued, funded, and prioritized.

Connect with Katie & Let’s Talk Women

Website: letstalkhealthwomen.com
LinkedIn: Katie Severt | Let’s Talk Women
Instagram: @letstalkhealthwomen
Facebook: Let’s Talk Women
YouTube: Let’s Talk Women Channel

Katie reminds us that progress starts with honesty. When women talk openly—about their bodies, burnout, and barriers—we all move closer to balance. Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that they don’t have to be “fine” to be strong.

🌿 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help others transform their leadership and reduce burnout.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/

This week on The Burnout Club, we sit down with Dr. Alexis Kennedy—CEO of Compassion Recharge, forensic psychologist, former attorney, and burnout researcher with decades of experience working in trauma recovery. From interviewing victims of human trafficking to educating first responders after mass tragedies, Dr. Kennedy brings a powerful blend of compassion, science, and practicality to the conversation on burnout. Her turning point came when she realized she could no longer carry the emotional weight of others without learning how to care for her own nervous system.

In this episode, we go deep into how burnout rewires the brain, how to listen to your body’s early warning signs, and how to gently interrupt the stress response before it derails your health. Whether you’re a caregiver, a high-achiever, or simply stretched too thin—this episode offers actionable strategies and a whole new lens for self-compassion. You’ll leave feeling seen, grounded, and equipped with tools you can start using today.

✨ What You’ll Learn

• How chronic stress literally shifts blood flow in your brain—and what to do about it
• The surprisingly powerful impact of saying, “Thank you, body”
• Why burnout is not a personal failure, but a biological overload
• The myth of doing it all—and the science of why you shouldn’t
• How first responders, lawyers, and caregivers are learning to reframe self-care as peak performance
• The power of planning joy (even more than the actual event!)
• How trauma-informed techniques can be accessible and healing for everyone

About Dr. Alexis Kennedy

Dr. Alexis Kennedy is a forensic psychologist, trauma recovery expert, and founder of Compassion Recharge. With over 35 years of experience in the field of human trafficking and victim services, she brings a deep understanding of the human nervous system—and what it takes to restore it. Her approach blends neuroscience, practical tools, and heartfelt connection, making her a sought-after speaker for industries like healthcare, law, and emergency response. She’s on a mission to make stress interruption science easy to understand, and even easier to implement.

Connect with Dr. Kennedy

• Website: www.recharge.how
• Instagram: @doctor.alexis.recharge
• LinkedIn: Dr. Alexis Kennedy

If this conversation helped you exhale, consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing this episode with someone who could use a moment of peace today. The Burnout Club is here for all of us navigating the edge between ambition and exhaustion—one breath, one strategy, one episode at a time.

🌿 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help others transform their leadership and reduce burnout.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/