Episode Description

Hey friends! This episode is a really special one because I'm sitting down with one of my best friends, Casey Calkins—the person who literally talked me out of the classroom and into tech, and who has been cheering on this podcast since it was just a scribble in my notes app.

If you're a high-achieving, spreadsheet-loving, "I can handle it" working mom who's running on fumes, this one's for you.

Casey spent 20 years in sales at companies like Salesforce, leading teams and crushing it on paper. But behind the scenes, her body was waving every red flag: chronic migraines that looked like strokes, a collapse at lunch with her parents, a heart defect, and what turned out to be a cerebellar stroke.

In This Conversation, We Talk About:

• What burnout really looks like for ambitious women (beyond "I'm tired")
• How COVID, remote work, and little kids created the perfect storm for chronic stress
• The identity crisis that came with taking a leave of absence
• The resentment she felt towards her own body
• Small, unsexy things that helped her heal: walks, boundaries, fiction, creativity, asking for help
• Why she left corporate to start C2IT Partners, coaching leaders to build healthier team cultures

If you've ever wondered "Is it really this bad? Or am I just not enough?"—you need to hear this. You are not weak. Your nervous system is just tired.

Note: This episode is longer than usual because I couldn't cut anything out. Grab your coffee (or sleepy time tea), maybe some banana bread, and let's dive in.

Resources Mentioned:

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily & Amelia Nagoski

Unlocking Us® episode: "Burnout and How to Complete the Stress Cycle"

The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom

After-School Banana Bread by Joanna Gaines Get the cookbook here! View the recipe

Connect with Casey Calkins:

Website: C2IT Partners

LinkedIn: Casey Calkins

Instagram: @c2itpartners

Connect With Me:

Instagram: @wannagrabcoffeepod

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses health crises and the physical effects of chronic stress.