Burnout-Free Me

Amy Grimm, DVM, CLC
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Burnout-Free Me is the success and well-being podcast for high-achievers and ambitious career professionals who are done running on empty and ready to thrive on their own terms. Hosted by Dr. Amy Grimm—a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert—this podcast gives you the tools, mindset shifts, and honest conversations you need to break free from the hustle. Each week, you’ll get real talk about stress, mental health, work-life balance, productivity, and all the ways burnout sneaks into our lives. You’ll learn practical strategies to manage overwhelm and anxiety, reclaim your energy, and create space for balance and joy, without sacrificing your career or ambition. Dr. Amy has lived the grind herself, and now she’s here to help you rewrite the rules of success so you can finally feel like yourself again. Wherever you are on your burnout recovery journey, Burnout-Free Me is here to help you take back your energy, your confidence, and your life. (Previously The Daring DVM Podcast) You can find out more about Amy and her work at https://www.daringdvm.com. Music by Alex Grohl by Pixabay.

  1. 5h ago

    151 - What Happens When You Can't Imagine Doing It for Another 20 Years? Burnout, Identity Shifts, and Reinventing Yourself with Dr. Shahrzad Rafiee

    Sometimes the hardest question isn't "What do I want to leave behind?" but "What do I want to move toward?" What happens when you've accomplished the thing you worked so hard for, but you can no longer imagine doing it for another twenty years? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Shahrzad Rafiee, an emergency physician, therapist, writer, and educator, for a thoughtful conversation about burnout, moral injury, identity, and what it means to create a life that feels meaningful, not just successful. After nearly three decades in emergency medicine, Dr. Rafiee found herself questioning whether she could continue on the same path. Rather than walking away from medicine entirely, she began exploring what else might bring purpose and fulfillment to her life. That journey eventually led her to become a therapist, where she now helps healthcare professionals and other high-achieving individuals navigate stress, burnout, anxiety, and life transitions. Together, we explore burnout in high-pressure environments, why so many successful people struggle to identify what they actually want, and how emotions can serve as valuable information rather than obstacles to overcome. We also discuss career pivots, identity shifts, emotional processing, and the challenge of building a life that feels aligned after achieving the goals you once thought would make you happy. Whether you're questioning your career, feeling trapped by an identity you've outgrown, or simply wondering if there's more to life than checking the next box, this conversation is for you.   Want more of this? On Substack I share longer reflections, practical tools, and honest conversations that don't make it onto the pod. Join the Burnout-Free Me community: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com Links & Resources: Join the Burnout-Free Me community on Substack: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com Work with Amy: https://burnoutfreeme.com About Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert and the host of Burnout-Free Me — the podcast for high-achieving women who are done running on empty. Real talk, practical tools, and honest mindset shifts every week. If this episode resonated, please take 30 seconds to leave a rating and review — it helps more women find the show. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. In This Episode, We Discuss: Dr. Rafiee's journey from emergency medicine to becoming a therapist Why burnout and moral injury are not the same thing The hidden emotional costs of working in helping professions How the healthcare system contributes to burnout and moral distress Why many high-achievers know exactly what they don't want but struggle to identify what they do want The difference between intellectualizing emotions and actually processing them How emotions provide valuable information for decision-making and personal growth Identity shifts, career pivots, and navigating uncertainty Letting go of perfectionism, control, and black-and-white thinking What Dr. Rafiee wishes she could tell her younger self Why finding meaning outside of work can sometimes make work more sustainable About Dr. Shahrzad Rafiee Dr. Shahrzad Rafiee (Mushi) is an emergency physician, associate marriage & family therapist, speaker, and educator with a unique perspective on the intersection of medicine, mental health, and human resilience. After years of caring for patients in the emergency department, she expanded her work to include psychotherapy, helping healthcare professionals and other high-achieving individuals navigate stress, burnout, anxiety, and the emotional demands of modern life. Her approach combines evidence-based psychology, practical clinical experience, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by people working in high-pressure environments. Dr. Rafiee has spoken on physician wellness, burnout prevention, emotional resilience, and executive functioning in healthcare settings. She has also facilitated longitudinal process groups for emergency medicine trainees, helping physicians develop healthier ways to understand and respond to the emotional challenges of their work. Through her clinical practice, South Bay Therapy Works, and her writing and speaking, Dr. Rafiee is passionate about helping people move beyond survival mode and create lives that are both successful and sustainable. Connect with Dr. Rafiee: Website: SouthBayTherapyWorks.com https://southbaytherapyworks.com/meetshahrzad LinkedIn: Dr. Shahrzad Rafiee www.linkedin.com/in/shahrzad-mushi-rafiee-md-ms-amft-11b88239 Article in Psychology Today: When the System Overloads: Lessons From the ER https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-tools-school/202606/when-the-system-overloads-lessons-from-the-er

    53 min

  2. Jun 25

    150 - 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Coach (That Apply to Every High-Achiever): On imposter syndrome, failure, and why confidence beats perfection every single time

    Want more of this? On Substack I share longer reflections, practical tools, and honest conversations that don't make it onto the pod. Join the Burnout-Free Me community: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com   Episode Details: You've done the work. You've built the career. So why does it still feel like you're dragging yourself through every single day? In this milestone 150th episode, Dr. Amy Grimm gets real about the three things she wishes she'd known before becoming a coach — and why every ambitious woman in a high-responsibility role needs to hear them. This episode isn't just for aspiring coaches. It's for the new grad vet suddenly expected to lead a whole team. The woman who just got promoted and is quietly terrified. The entrepreneur who left stability to chase something that actually lights her up. These are the lessons nobody tells you — and they might change how you see everything. What You'll Learn: Why stepping into something new tends to surface the exact patterns you thought you'd already dealt with (and what that actually means) The real reason your burnout followed you into your next chapter — and how to finally stop running from it What one early coaching failure taught Amy about the limits of her training — and the humbling moment she realized what was missing Why failing more than you succeed isn't a red flag — it's literally the mechanism that creates long-term success The surprising reason confidence matters more than having perfect skills — whether you're a coach, a leader, or just trying to show up better How perfectionism quietly keeps high-achievers small, stuck, and mentally replaying every conversation they've ever had Plus — Amy celebrates 150 episodes and reflects on the evolution from The Daring DVM Podcast to Burnout-Free Me, and what it means to finally be building something that feels like her. Links & Resources: Join the Burnout-Free Me community on Substack: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com Work with Amy: https://burnoutfreeme.com About Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert and the host of Burnout-Free Me — the podcast for high-achieving women who are done running on empty. Real talk, practical tools, and honest mindset shifts every week. If this episode resonated, please take 30 seconds to leave a rating and review — it helps more women find the show. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

    27 min

  3. Jun 11

    149 - The 3 Mindset Shifts That Actually Changed My Life and What Turning 40 Taught Me

    Want more of this? On Substack I share longer reflections, practical tools, and honest conversations that don't make it onto the pod. Join the Burnout-Free Me community: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com   Episode Details: You've hit the milestones, built the relationship, chased the goals. So why doesn't anything feel that different? In this episode, Dr. Amy Grimm gets real about what turning 40 actually taught her -- and it's not what she expected. Amy shares three of the biggest mindset shifts from her 39th year: how she coached herself through the gut-punch of discovering people she cared about held beliefs she finds genuinely harmful, why no single achievement will ever change your life the way you think it will, and how she made high-stakes decisions in the middle of real economic uncertainty without losing her mind. The thread running through all of it? Whether you're willing to tell yourself the truth. Honest, a little political, deeply personal, and completely relatable. You're going to hear yourself in this one. What You'll Learn: Why your brain dismisses your own growth the moment it happens The sneaky belief that makes disagreement feel like a personal attack Why the milestone you're chasing won't change your life -- and what actually will How to make hard decisions when nobody can give you the certainty you're looking for The one practice underneath all three lessons that nobody talks about enough Links & Resources: Subscribe to Burnout-Free Me on Substack: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com Work with Amy: https://burnoutfreeme.com About Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert and the host of Burnout-Free Me -- the podcast for high-achieving women who are done running on empty. Real talk, practical tools, and honest mindset shifts every week. If this episode resonated, please leave a rating and review—it helps more women find the show. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

    29 min

  4. May 28

    148 - Secondary Traumatic Stress and The Burnout You Don't See Coming: The Invisible Wounds of Helping Professionals

    Want more of this? On Substack I share longer reflections, practical tools, and honest conversations that don't make it onto the pod. Join the Burnout-Free Me community: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com   Episode Details: What if your job has been quietly affecting you — and you never knew it had a name? Secondary traumatic stress is one of the most underrecognized contributors to burnout in high-achieving professionals. It doesn't arrive all at once. It accumulates slowly, invisibly, the way water heats around a frog in a pot. And most people don't realize how far it's gone until they've already crossed their limit.   In Part 2 of this special Mental Health Awareness Month series, Dr. Amy Grimm goes deep on secondary traumatic stress — what it is, what makes you vulnerable to it, how to recognize it in your own body and behavior, and where to start when it comes to taking care of yourself. She walks through the Contributing Factors Venn Diagram developed by Françoise Mathieu and the TEND Academy — a powerful framework for understanding the eight risk factor categories that shape your personal stress threshold. This is one of the most important conversations in the burnout space. And nobody taught us this.   What You'll Learn       What secondary traumatic stress actually is — and the neuroscience behind why it happens       The 8 risk factor categories from Françoise Mathieu's Contributing Factors model       Moral distress, empathic strain, and systems failure — and why they matter for burnout       How to recognize secondary traumatic stress in yourself across three symptom categories       The three warning sign categories to watch for: physical, behavioral, and emotional       Where to start when it comes to managing and recovering from secondary traumatic stress   Links & Resources Substack: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com Coaching & website: https://burnoutfreeme.com TEND Academy (Françoise Mathieu): https://www.tendacademy.ca Contributing Factors Venn Diagram: https://www.tendacademy.ca/venn-diagram/ Missed Part 1? Listen to Episode 147: Trauma 101: Understanding the Basics of Traumatic Stress   About Dr. Amy Grimm Dr. Amy Grimm is a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert and the host of Burnout-Free Me -- the podcast for high-achieving women who are done running on empty. Real talk, practical tools, and honest mindset shifts every week.   Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if this show has been valuable to you, please take a moment to leave a rating and review. It helps other women find this community — and that matters.

    28 min

  5. May 14

    147 - Trauma 101: Understanding the Basics of Traumatic Stress: The Language of Trauma and Why It Matters for Burnout

    Want more of this? On Substack, I share longer reflections, practical tools, and honest conversations that don't make it onto the pod. Join the Burnout-Free Me community: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com   Episode Details: You've probably felt it — completely wrecked by your job in a way that sleep doesn't fix, or on edge in a way you couldn't quite explain. What if the missing piece wasn't a solution, but a language? May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in this episode, Dr. Amy Grimm kicks off a special two-part series timed to her upcoming presentation on compassion fatigue at AVMA in July. Episode 147 lays the foundation: the trauma terminology that changes how you understand yourself, your stress, and your burnout. This isn't therapy. It's information — the kind that finally makes the things you've been carrying make sense.   What You'll Learn       What it actually means to be trauma-informed — and why it matters beyond healthcare       The ACE study: what adverse childhood experiences are, what the research found, and how to think about your own score       Big T vs. Little T trauma — and why the labels can help or hurt       The three types of traumatic stress: primary, secondary, and environmental       Why trauma is defined by the response, not the event — and what that means for you   Links & Resources Substack: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com Coaching & website: https://burnoutfreeme.com ACE Questionnaire: https://www.acesaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ACE-Questionnaire-for-Adults-Identified-English-rev.7.26.22.pdf   About Dr. Amy Grimm Dr. Amy Grimm is a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert and the host of Burnout-Free Me -- the podcast for high-achieving women who are done running on empty. Real talk, practical tools, and honest mindset shifts every week.   Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe so you don't miss Episode 148, where we go deep on secondary traumatic stress — the burnout you don't see coming. And if this show has been valuable to you, please leave a rating and review. It helps other women find this community.

    27 min

  6. Apr 30

    146 - Why You’re Always Exhausted (Even When You’re Doing Everything Right)

    Join me on Substack: If you’re ready for more honest, real conversations about burnout, nervous system regulation, and creating a life that actually feels good to live… along with tools and practices that actually help… 👉 Subscribe here: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com/ That’s where I share deeper insights, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and practical ways to start shifting out of survival mode.   Share This Episode: If this episode made you feel seen or helped something click… send it to a friend who needs to hear it too. Resources: The Burnout Fix A practical tool designed to help high-achieving professionals regulate their nervous system and break free from the productivity trap. Learn more at: burnoutfreeme.com Work With Amy If you're a high-achieving professional who feels like you're constantly running on empty, Amy helps ambitious women understand burnout, regulate their nervous systems, and build careers that support their lives rather than consuming them. Learn more or book a consultation: burnoutfreeme.com Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode of Burnout-Free Me, make sure you're subscribed so you never miss a conversation about burnout recovery, nervous system health, and creating success without sacrificing your wellbeing. Leaving a quick review also helps more high-achieving women find the show.   Episode Notes: If you feel exhausted all the time… even though you’re doing everything “right”… this episode is going to make that make sense. Because this isn’t about time management or being more disciplined. And it’s not because you’re falling behind. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, I’m breaking down why so many high-achieving women feel constantly drained despite being capable, responsible, and on top of their lives… and what’s actually going on beneath the surface. We’re talking about the hidden cost of chronic stress, how your nervous system adapts to pressure over time, and why “used to it” doesn’t mean “okay.” If you’ve ever felt like you should have more energy, more motivation, or just be handling things better… this conversation is for you. This is where we shift from “What’s wrong with me?” to “Oh… this actually makes sense.” And that shift changes everything.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why feeling exhausted doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong How high-achievers unknowingly adapt to unsustainable levels of stress The difference between being “used to it” and actually being okay Why rest doesn’t always feel restorative (and what that really means) How your nervous system keeps you stuck in “go mode” without you realizing it The subtle reason you feel behind… no matter how much you do   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

    17 min

  7. Apr 16

    145 - Perfectionism Is a Terrible Strategy: The simple habit that helps high-achievers stay consistent without burning out

    High-achievers love a good plan. We map out the perfect workout routine. The ideal morning ritual. The healthy habit that will finally help us feel organized, productive, and in control again. And then… we quit. Not because we lack discipline or because we don’t care, but because perfectionism quietly turns habit-building into an impossible standard. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm explores why perfectionism is actually a terrible strategy for creating healthy habits, especially for ambitious professionals who are already carrying a lot of responsibility. When your brain defaults to all-or-nothing thinking, habits tend to follow a predictable pattern. You start strong with an ambitious plan, life inevitably disrupts it, and your brain decides that if it can’t be done perfectly, it’s not worth doing at all. That cycle isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a nervous system problem. When stress narrows your capacity and shrinks your window of tolerance, the rigid plans perfectionists rely on simply stop working. Sustainable habits require a different approach. One that works with your real life, your energy levels, and the reality that high-responsibility careers rarely run on a perfectly predictable schedule. In this episode, you’ll learn how to shift away from perfectionistic habit building and toward a strategy that actually supports long-term consistency. Amy shares the powerful concept of a minimum baseline habit, how to create a backup plan for chaotic days, and why building habits around your current capacity is the key to making them stick. This conversation blends nervous system awareness, mindset shifts, and practical habit strategies so you can stop quitting on yourself and start building routines that support your health, energy, and life outside of work. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the start-stop cycle with healthy habits, this episode will give you a much more sustainable way forward. In This Episode, You’ll Learn Why perfectionism sabotages healthy habit formation How all-or-nothing thinking keeps high-achievers stuck in burnout cycles What nervous system capacity has to do with consistency How to create a minimum baseline habit that actually sticks Why every habit needs a backup plan for real life How consistency rewires your brain and widens your window of tolerance A Simple Habit Experiment to Try Choose one habit you’ve struggled to maintain. Instead of focusing on the ideal version, define the smallest version that still counts. Something you can do even on stressful days. Then decide on a backup version for when life inevitably gets messy. The goal is not perfection. The goal is continuity. Small, consistent actions train your brain and nervous system to support the identity you want to build. Resources Mentioned If you want to better understand what burnout is actually doing to your brain and nervous system, start with my free resource: The Burnout Fix A simple guide to help high-achievers stop running on empty and start restoring their energy. You can download it at: burnoutfreeme.com Connect with Dr. Amy Grimm If this episode resonated with you, make sure you follow the podcast so you don’t miss future conversations about burnout, nervous system regulation, and creating a life that actually feels good to live. You can also watch full episodes and additional content on YouTube and explore coaching resources at: burnoutfreeme.com

    20 min

  8. Apr 2

    144 - How to Balance Career and Love Life as a High-Achieving Woman

    Many high-achieving women quietly wonder the same thing: Is it actually possible to have a fulfilling career and a fulfilling relationship? When you care deeply about your work, carry a lot of responsibility, and want to do things well, it can start to feel like your career and your love life are competing for the same limited energy. You may find yourself emotionally exhausted at the end of the day, mentally preoccupied with work when you're trying to be present with your partner, or wondering if pursuing success has unintentionally pushed relationships to the side. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm explores why this happens and why the real issue is often not time management or “balance.” Instead, the root of the problem often lies in the productivity trap many ambitious women grow up internalizing. When your worth becomes unconsciously tied to achievement and responsibility, work can slowly consume more energy and capacity than you ever intended. Over time, this affects your nervous system, your emotional availability, and your ability to fully connect with the people you love. In this conversation, Amy shares how burnout and chronic stress influence intimacy and presence in relationships, why nervous system regulation is essential for connection, and how high-achieving women can build careers that support their lives rather than quietly draining them. You’ll also hear a real coaching example that shows how shifting your internal experience of work can dramatically improve your relationship without requiring you to sacrifice your career. This episode is for any ambitious woman who wants success, meaningful relationships, and a life that actually feels aligned.   In This Episode Amy explores: Why high-achieving women often fall into the productivity trap • How unconscious beliefs about worth and achievement affect relationships • Why burnout and chronic stress make emotional connection more difficult • The role your nervous system plays in communication, presence, and intimacy • Why “work-life balance” may not be the right goal • The concept of life-work alignment and how it changes everything • A real coaching example of improving a relationship without leaving a demanding career • Simple shifts that help ambitious professionals reconnect with themselves and their partners   Resources Mentioned The Burnout Fix A practical tool designed to help high-achieving professionals regulate their nervous system and break free from the productivity trap. Learn more at: burnoutfreeme.com Work With Amy If you're a high-achieving professional who feels like you're constantly running on empty, Amy helps ambitious women understand burnout, regulate their nervous systems, and build careers that support their lives rather than consuming them. Learn more or book a consultation: burnoutfreeme.com   Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode of Burnout-Free Me, make sure you're subscribed so you never miss a conversation about burnout recovery, nervous system health, and creating success without sacrificing your wellbeing. Leaving a quick review also helps more high-achieving women find the show.

    22 min
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About

Burnout-Free Me is the success and well-being podcast for high-achievers and ambitious career professionals who are done running on empty and ready to thrive on their own terms. Hosted by Dr. Amy Grimm—a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert—this podcast gives you the tools, mindset shifts, and honest conversations you need to break free from the hustle. Each week, you’ll get real talk about stress, mental health, work-life balance, productivity, and all the ways burnout sneaks into our lives. You’ll learn practical strategies to manage overwhelm and anxiety, reclaim your energy, and create space for balance and joy, without sacrificing your career or ambition. Dr. Amy has lived the grind herself, and now she’s here to help you rewrite the rules of success so you can finally feel like yourself again. Wherever you are on your burnout recovery journey, Burnout-Free Me is here to help you take back your energy, your confidence, and your life. (Previously The Daring DVM Podcast) You can find out more about Amy and her work at https://www.daringdvm.com. Music by Alex Grohl by Pixabay.

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Grimm, DVM, CLC
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Burnout-Free Me