What does burning the candle at both ends really look like?

And how bad can the consequences be?

In this episode of Work Truths Off the Record, host Rachel Morris speaks with Jay Asthana about his personal journey with burnout, starting from his early career as a pot washer to becoming a chef in prestigious London hotels.

Jay shares his experiences of overwork, the impact of high expectations, and the eventual diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. He reflects on the importance of support from friends and family, the challenges of recovery, and the lessons learned about self-acceptance and prioritising mental health. The conversation emphasises the need for balance and the dangers of ignoring one's well-being in pursuit of success.

Guest Information

Jaiveer Asthana has had many careers over his lifetime. Never quite knowing what he wanted to do, he threw himself into everything. Eventually he started his own company Turtle Massage where he helps athletes back into sports after injuries.

Jaiveer is a amateur film maker who will be releasing his second feature film in early 2026.

You can find more info on Jay's socials:

Instagram: @turtlemassage - Business

Instagram: @ogflavourja - Indie film

Website: Turtlemassage.com

And Jay's books:

Semi fictional life story about online dating as a create your own adventure book

https://amzn.eu/d/395YE9z

Self defense for kids

https://amzn.eu/d/2rT7XZD

What have we learnt from our guests this season?

And how do coaches work with their clients to support them before, during and on the recovery from burnout?

In the final episode of Work Truths Off the Record series 1, host Rachel Morris and coaches Julie Nelson and Amy Funkhouser Watkins discuss and draw insight from the previous episodes of the first series. They reflect on their own and other guests' experiences along with the stories from their coaching practices.

The conversation emphasises the importance of recognising early signs, the individual nature of burnout, and the critical role of support systems in recovery.

The coaches share practical strategies for helping individuals navigate their burnout experiences, highlighting the need for kindness, grace, and community support.

Guest Information

Amy Funkhouser Watkins

Amy Funkhouser Watkins is an executive coach, leadership team facilitator and founder of Hummingbird Insights, LLC. She helps leaders and teams reach their greatest potential with a focus on results and authenticity.

She brings over 25 years of experience in business and leadership helping people thrive in change and complexity, bringing her integrity, compassion, courage and curiosity to every situation.

Her LinkedIn profile is https://linkedin.com/in/amyfunkhouser.

Julie Nelson

Julie Nelson is an executive and leadership coach, accredited in coaching and change management, and a certified NLP Master Practitioner. She is the designer of the BeYou Programme, which empowers individuals to build confidence, resilience, and authentic leadership.

Julie delivers personal growth, management training, and leadership development programmes across diverse sectors, drawing on her senior leadership experience and a strong background in HR, Learning and Organisational Development. Her holistic coaching approach creates psychologically safe spaces for transformation.

Her work as a coach supports clients to prevent, navigate, and recover from burnout—helping them rediscover balance and purpose.

Julie is also an associate coach at Motion Learning, creators of the Work Truths podcast https://www.motionlearning.com/julie-nelson.

Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-n/

In this episode of Work Truths Off the Record, host Rachel Morris speaks with Julianne Gilbert, a seasoned leader, about the critical issue of workplace burnout. They explore the definition of burnout, its recognition in teams, and the responsibilities of managers and organisations in addressing it. Julianne shares her insights on the signs of burnout, strategies for managers to support their teams, and the importance of creating a supportive work environment.

Key Discussion Points

Burnout can manifest in various individual ways.

Recognising burnout requires understanding team dynamics.

Leaders must be proactive in checking in with their teams.

Managers need a toolkit for supporting employees.

Creating a culture of openness is essential for addressing burnout.

Employers have a responsibility to support mental health.

Self-care for managers is vital to prevent burnout.

Good intent in management can foster a supportive environment.

Guest Information

Julieanne Gilbert is Executive Director, People at City Lit, leading the HR and Student Services team. Julieanne has over 25 years of experience working and leading teams within both private and public sectors including retail, energy and business schools.

Julieanne is known for her values-driven and human-centric approach to leadership and development. As a qualified coach, she’s passionate about empowering individuals and organisations to thrive through authentic connection, empathy, and purpose-led growth.

She would be delighted to connect and her LinkedIn profile is: www.LinkedIn/in/julieannegilbert