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In this episode, Cassie breaks down what burnout actually is, and how it affects people with invisible illness differently than the average person. Drawing on the Oxford English Dictionary's historical definition ("to burn until extinguished by want of fuel"), she reframes burnout as a problem of depleted resources, not character or work ethic.

Topics Covered:

• What burnout actually is (and what it isn't)
• The Oxford English Dictionary definition of burnout as "burning until extinguished by want of fuel"
• How burnout compounds when you're already operating from limited energy
• Illness-related burnout from navigating the medical system
• The difficulty of distinguishing burnout symptoms from illness symptoms
• Three strategies for supporting yourself during burnout: specific routine change-ups, scheduling things to look forward to, and giving yourself time to (in Cassie's words) be a potato.
• Why there's no silver bullet — and why small steps and small wins matter

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

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In this episode, Cassie sits down with Vishay Karia, a two-time founder, to explore life with invisible illness; specifically ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Vishay shares his journey from an undiagnosed childhood in London, through years of masking his true self, to a turning point at university where he finally felt accepted for who he was. They discuss the interconnected nature of anxiety, stress, and depression; coping mechanisms rooted in understanding what you can and can't control; and how leaning into ADHD rather than fighting it became a creative superpower in entrepreneurship. The conversation also covers men's mental health, the importance of vulnerability and communication, practical systems for reducing mental load, navigating burnout, and the Eisenhower Matrix for managing attention as a finite resource.

Topics & Timestamps:

• Intro & guest background (~0:40)
• Growing up different: ADHD before diagnosis (~1:30)
• Masking, therapy, and formal diagnosis (~2:45)
• Anxiety, stress, and depression as "worry in different time zones" (~3:20)
• Coping mechanism: focusing on what you can control (~5:00)
• University as a turning point — acceptance and self-worth (~5:40)
• Mental health in South Asian and minority backgrounds (~8:00)
• Men's mental health: sport as the only emotional outlet (~11:30)
• The need for systemic change starting in early childhood (~12:50)
• Practical strategies: leaning into ADHD with systems and routines (~14:30)
• Reducing mental load through calendar systems (~16:00)
• ADHD as a creative superpower in entrepreneurship (~17:00)
• Navigating burnout: the antidote is the opposite of what ADHD wants (~20:00)
• The Eisenhower Matrix and protecting your attention (~23:00)
• Advice for someone struggling: talk to the right people (~24:30)
• Out-of-pocket question: Touch Grass Day (~27:00)

Where to find Vishay:

• Eagle: eagleapp.us

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

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Content Warning: This episode discusses mental health conditions, wrongful diagnosis, medication, addiction, suicidal ideation, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

In This Episode:

Cassie sits down with Paul to discuss his 18-year journey of being wrongfully diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, the impact of being medicated with clozapine — a drug that actually compounded his OCD — and how a single smile from a stranger became the turning point in his life. They explore the role of community, creativity, and connection in managing invisible illness, and Paul shares his hard-won philosophy on success, self-advocacy, and keeping going when things get dark.

Key Topics & Timestamps:

• 0:37 — Guest introduction and Paul's mental health conditions
• 2:29 — The wrongful paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis and 18 years on clozapine
• 8:08 — Living with OCD: invisible thought loops, rituals, and coping strategies
• 11:33 — Finding community at a local coffee shop and the moment someone realized he hadn't been around
• 14:23 — Rediscovering creativity: poetry, synthesizers, and chess as therapy
• 24:51 — The turning point: a smile from a stranger in Trent Park
• 33:13 — Redefining success: from owning things to being happy for half an hour
• 37:42 — Advice for someone struggling: be kind to yourself, talk to someone
• 40:26 — The out-of-pocket question: an ultimate chess battle with any musician

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.