IN THIS EPISODE:

In this episode of ‘Out of Session’ by Kindman and Co., hosts Liam and Sarah dive deep into the systemic nature of burnout. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, they debunk the myth that burnout is an individual problem and highlight how workplace culture, unrealistic expectations, and lack of community contribute to this pervasive issue. They also discuss the importance of building connections with colleagues and offer practical advice on how to navigate and mitigate burnout. Tune in to explore how to reclaim your well-being in a demanding work environment.

TOPICS:

Burnout, Tiredness, Guilt, Self-Care, Hyper-Productivity Culture, Personal Journey, Mental Health Support, Systemic Problems, Workplace, Community

KEY FIGURES:

Liam Degeorgio, AMFT

Sarah Barukh, ACSW

Kindman & Co.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Burnout is systemic, not personal.

Burnout isn’t caused by individual weakness or poor coping—it’s driven by structural issues like workload expectations, productivity metrics, and organizational priorities.

2. Isolation makes burnout worse.

When workplaces discourage connection or leave no energy for relationships, people are more likely to internalize blame and feel alone in their struggle.

3. Work culture trains us to ignore our own needs.

When energy reserves are empty, reaching out to friends, returning calls, or engaging in meaningful connection can feel overwhelming—often accompanied by guilt for wanting what you can’t access.

4. Self-care advice often shifts responsibility away from broken systems.

Productivity hacks and “fix yourself” solutions place the burden back on individuals instead of addressing the workplace conditions causing burnout.

5. Technology keeps people psychologically on the clock.

Constant accessibility through phones and email erodes real downtime, making recovery from work stress increasingly difficult.

6. Connection and collective action are powerful antidotes to burnout.

Community—whether through coworkers, shared experiences, or organized action—helps reduce self-blame and creates pathways for meaningful change.

KEY QUOTES:
1. “Burnout is a system problem, not a you problem.” — Sarah

2. “There’s nothing more nihilistic than reducing life to something that needs to be optimized.” — Liam

3. “If these corporations are treating us like machines, then we see ourselves as machines” — Sarah

4. “I realized now, I mean, it is structural. The expectations of the company are not about helping people heal. It’s a numbers game.” — Sarah

5. “Nothing has an intrinsic meaning, and that encourages us to ask: whose values are these that I’m living by?” — Liam

CALL TO ACTION:

Today's episode is bringing you to the book, “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Emily Nagoski, PhD and Amelia Nagoski DMA. In this book they talk about what you can do to complete the biological stress cycle—and return your body to a state of relaxation, how to manage the “monitor” in your brain that regulates the emotion of frustration, and much more.

Interested in learning more about the Kaiser Permanente mental health workers that Sarah was talking about? Check out this article.
Look out for the transcript of this episode on the Kindman & Co. blog and sign up for the Kindman & Co. newsletter to stay connected.

Workplace Burnout and Mental Health: Why It’s a System Problem, Not a Personal Failure