logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
49m 55s

Jen Fisher: Burned Out at the Top—and Ch...

Cait Donovan
About this episode

Burnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]


Burnout isn’t a personal failure. Sometimes it’s a sign that the system around you never made space for you to ask what’s actually sustainable.


Kicking off Season 10 of FRIED. The Burnout Podcast, Cait Donovan is joined by Jen Fisher, the founder of The Wellbeing Team and the former Chief Well-being Officer at Deloitte, for a conversation that goes straight to the heart of what burnout really is, and why so many people are still afraid to talk about it honestly. Jen shares why, in her own experience, burnout was harder than cancer, and how the workplace responded to each in very different ways. 


Why do so many people feel like burnout is their fault? And what would shift if organizations started treating well-being as a core skill set, not a side conversation? Jen introduces the idea of well-being intelligence, a teachable approach to helping leaders spot the signs of burnout early and change the way teams operate. She and Cait talk about why clear language matters, what modeling healthy behavior actually looks like, and how leaders often fail to support their own well-being while trying to take care of everyone else.


This episode leaves listeners with a strong reminder: hope is more than wishful thinking. It’s a strategy, and one that’s available to anyone willing to take the next right step.


Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Jen Fisher

02:00 Why Burnout Was Harder Than Cancer

07:00 What Burnout Really Means (And What It Doesn’t)

12:00 How Work Culture Fuels Burnout

17:00 Rethinking Success, Sacrifice, and Leadership

22:00 Building a Well-Being Strategy Inside Big Organizations

28:00 What Is Well-Being Intelligence?

35:00 How Leaders Can Learn to Prevent Burnout

39:00 Hope Isn’t Wishful Thinking but a Tool for Recovery


Links

Connect with Jen Fisher:

https://www.instagram.com/jenfish23/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-fisher-7403868/

https://jenfisher.substack.com/


Connect with Cait:

Initial Call with Cait: bit.ly/callcait

Initial Call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahv


Burnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]



Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm


Up next
Oct 5
Coaching with Sarah: How to Calm Your Mind When You're Overwhelmed and Feeling Stuck
The right support changes everything. Our Director of Coaching, Sarah Vosen, combines expertise and compassion to walk beside you: https://caitdonovan.com/coachingBurnout recovery gets complicated as Sarah sits down with Janine, an anonymous guest who is more than halfway through ... Show More
50m 5s
Sep 28
Barry Goldstein: Lower Anxiety and Reconnect With Yourself Through Music
Your energy and well-being are worth investing in. Explore what recovery could look like for you: https://caitdonovan.com/coachingGrammy Award–winning producer Barry Goldstein joins Cait Donovan to explore burnout and the healing power of music. Barry shares how chasing success i ... Show More
1h 4m
Sep 21
Emily Slachetka: The Pros of Not Waiting Until You are Fried Crispy to Get Help
You don’t have to walk this road alone. https://caitdonovan.com/coaching connects you with Sarah Vosen, our Director of Coaching, who’s helped countless people reclaim their energy.What does burnout look like before it takes you all the way down? For Emily Slachetka, it showed up ... Show More
52m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
How To CREATE Your Life With Your MINDSET - Shape Your Reality With Your Thoughts & Feelings | Eric Thomas
In this powerful conversation, I sit down with ET "The Hip Hop Preacher" for a profound discussion on mindset, personal responsibility, and transformation. Eric shares his remarkable journey from homelessness in Detroit to becoming a renowned motivational speaker and thought lead ... Show More
1h 15m
Jan 2025
Stop Bad Habits with Self-Reflection
Do you ever feel stuck in your bad habits, unsure of what’s holding you back or how to move forward? In this episode, Brendon Burchard dives into the transformative power of self-reflection and how it can unlock purposeful insights about your life, your behaviors, and the world a ... Show More
16m 45s
Apr 2019
#102 – To Actually Live Your Life – with Khe Hy & Jerry Colonna
In this episode, we welcome back Khe Hy, founder of Rad Reads, to the Reboot Podcast for a second time. In his first appearance, Jerry worked with Khe to shed light on the ways in which his unrealized fears surrounding death had contributed to a lack of stillness and presence in ... Show More
59m 38s
Feb 2025
Ep 368: Insider Transformation Secrets with guest, Jeffrey Mort
Start Your Transformation Now  In this compelling episode of Transform Your Life From the Inside Out, Jim Fortin sits down with Jeffrey Mort—a former TCP student whose journey goes far beyond business growth. Jeffrey shares how a simple decision to invest in his inner work sparke ... Show More
40m 44s
May 2025
What Successful People Do When Things Go Sideways
When life throws a curveball and everything feels uncertain, the difference between success and stagnation comes down to how you respond. In this powerful episode, Brendon Burchard breaks down what successful people actually do when things go sideways — and how you can adopt the ... Show More
20m 14s
Aug 2019
225: How To Turn A Setback Into Comeback
Why do some people fall apart at the first sign of trouble, while others bounce back from even the most devastating setbacks? Today’s podcast guest, Tim Storey, says the difference isn’t about luck or genetics… it’s about mindset. And today, he’s sharing his best strategies to he ... Show More
1h 7m
Apr 2025
1203: Psilocybin, Plant Medicine, Psychedelics: A Journey Into Surrender & Emotional Freedom with Eddy Tony
What if the freedom you’re craving isn’t on the other side of doing more—but of letting go in a way you never have before? In this deeply personal episode, Heather sits down with ceremonial guide and psychedelic facilitator Eddy Tony, the man who held space for her own ceremonies ... Show More
1 h
Jul 23
COMMON: The Untold Story of How Heartbreak, Rejection & Self-Doubt Almost Derailed His Success (And How He FINALLY Found His Purpose)
Do you struggle with self-doubt sometimes? What helped you get through a tough emotional season? Today, Jay sits down with award-winning rapper, actor, and activist Common for a deeply moving live conversation recorded at the legendary Chicago Theater. Known for his poetic lyrics ... Show More
1h 3m
Dec 2024
How To Overcome Any Set Back w/The Come Back Coach To The Stars Tim Storey
Tim Storey, a renowned author, speaker, and life coach, shares his inspiring journey from growing up in Compton to becoming a successful global speaker and entrepreneur. Tim emphasizes the importance of mindset, originality, and persistence in achieving success. He discusses how ... Show More
25m 37s
Jun 2024
How to Turn Your Lowest Point into Your Biggest Breakthrough | Dariush Soudi | Ep 44
Perseverance leads to success. This is a common theme that we often hear in motivational speeches, self-help books, and success stories. But what does it really mean to persevere? And how does it lead to success? In this episode, you'll learn how Dariush Soudi, Dubai's sought-aft ... Show More
1h 3m