In this episode of Burnout and Breakthroughs, we talk about what it means to balance the weight of the world on your shoulders, while your job description pretends it’s just “part of the role.” From emotional labor to administrative creep, we’re unpacking the hidden work that fuels burnout across nonprofits and other service professions.

Key Takeaways:

• The Atlas Complex: Understanding why service professionals feel compelled to carry everyone else's responsibilities and how this psychological pattern fuels burnout
• Boundary Setting Strategies: Practical phrases and approaches for negotiating scope creep without appearing uncommitted to your mission
• Leadership Solutions: Organizational changes that protect staff passion while improving service quality and retention

Full list of references and resources from this episode → Show Notes

Read the full blog post that pairs with this episode → The Atlas Complex: From Parentified Children to Burnt-Out Caregivers

If this episode resonated, rate and review the podcast → Leave a Review

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What if someone had pulled you aside on your first day in nonprofit work and told you the truth?

In this episode of Burnout & Breakthrough, I'm having the conversation I wish someone had with me on my first day in nonprofit work. The real stuff that you don't learn about until you've been in the trenches long enough to get burned. Like how your passion can be weaponized against you, or why "collaborative environment" often means "no one's actually in charge."

I asked my network what they wish they'd known before jumping into this field. Their answers were raw, honest, and necessary—from learning that being the "go-to person" eventually backfires, to realizing that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away.

Key Takeaways

• How passion exploitation shows up in nonprofit workplaces.
• Why impact gets reduced to meaningless metrics and what it costs us.
• The hidden costs of flat organizational structures and unclear decision-making.
• Honest advice from seasoned nonprofit professionals on how to survive and thrive.

If you've ever felt blindsided by the realities of nonprofit work, or if you're considering this path, this episode is your heads-up.

Complete list of references and resources from this episode → Show Notes

Read the full blog post that pairs with this episode → No One Told Me This: The Silent Truths of Nonprofit Work

If this episode resonated, rate and review the podcast here → Leave a Review

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In this episode of Burnout & Breakthroughs, we’re unpacking one of the most harmful stories in nonprofit culture: the idea that the “best” workers are the ones who give endlessly, asking nothing in return. From the Giving Tree to modern-day nonprofit workplaces, this myth teaches us that worth is tied to depletion, and it’s time to call that out.

We’ll explore where this narrative comes from, how it shows up in our daily work, and why setting boundaries is not selfish but essential if we want to keep caring without burning out.

Key Takeaways

• Why the “selfless servant” story is really exploitation dressed up as service
• How this myth harms not just individuals, but entire organizations
• The surprising power of boundaries to make generosity sustainable
• Practical scripts for setting boundaries at work (and what to expect when you do)

Full list of references and resources from this episode → Show Notes

Read the full blog post that pairs with this episode → The Giving Tree Problem: Why Nonprofit Workers Deserve Boundaries

If this episode resonated, rate and review the podcast → Leave a Review

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In this episode of Burnout & Breakthroughs, we dive into the hidden costs of nonprofit burnout — from skipped vacations to guilt around setting boundaries. I share real stories and practical strategies to help you protect your capacity and reclaim your humanity while at work.

Key Takeaways

• Why boundaries feel hard in service-based work
• How guilt shows up when we start saying “no”
• Real-world boundary-setting examples you can try this week

Full list of references and resources from this episode → Show Notes

Read the full blog post that pairs with this episode → Decoding the Body's Response to Nonprofit Stress

If this episode resonated, rate and review the podcast here → Leave a Review

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🔥Understanding Burnout

It’s National Nonprofit Day—and while the sector celebrates impact, we also need to honor the people who make that impact possible.

In this first episode, I share my breaking point in nonprofit work, the toll of emotional labor, and why burnout isn’t an individual failure but a systemic issue. We’ll also discuss what a “breakthrough” can look like when we begin setting boundaries and protecting our humanity.

Topics:

• Honoring nonprofit workers without glorifying burnout
• The health toll of emotional suppression
• Why burnout is systemic, not about willpower
• Breakthrough as boundaries, not collapse

Reflection: What boundary could you set this week that honors your humanity over your exhaustion?

When we protect the people, we preserve the purpose.

References & Resources:

Want to dig deeper into the research I mentioned in this episode? Here are some places to start:

• Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Burnout: A brief history and how to prevent it. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/07/burnout-a-brief-history-and-how-to-prevent-it
• Baird, K. (2021). Nonprofit workers are stressed, burned out, and leaving. Stanford Social Innovation Review. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/nonprofit_workers_are_stressed_burned_out_and_leaving
• National Council of Nonprofits. (2023). The nonprofit workforce shortage crisis. https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/trends-policy-issues/nonprofit-workforce-shortage-crisis
• American Psychological Association. (2019). Stress effects on the body. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body