Sometimes The Most Productive Thing Is To Do Nothing At All - Austin Drabik
What happens when you burn out while building a burnout prevention product?In this episode, Sophie speaks with Austin, tech founder, writer, and systems thinker who created a burnout solution inside Slack, only to hit burnout himself. Together, they explore the complexity of purpose-fueled exhaustion, the invisible weight founders carry, and how productivity culture often disguises suffering.Austin shares powerful reflections on energy management, journaling, self-worth, and why recovery isn't a clean break, it’s a series of course corrections. He also introduces a moving metaphor: the blister of burnout, a warning to those who jump back in too soon.If you're a builder, leader, or anyone trying to do meaningful work without losing yourself this one’s for you.📌 Key themes:→ Purpose-fueled burnout→ Energy & wellbeing debt→ The myth of balance vs. polarity→ Journaling as a healing tool→ Community as medicineConnect with Austin here:LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-drabik/Personal website / blog — https://www.austindrabik.com/Conjuring Culture — https://conjuringculture.com/
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Recovery Is Not Weakness - Adam Dehaty
What if recovery isn’t a break from strength but where strength begins?In this powerful episode of The Burnout Detox Podcast, Sophie speaks with Adam Dehaty, a former professional rugby player turned psychologist, about what true resilience really looks like.From the rugby pitch to Nike’s European HQ, Adam’s journey reveals how high performers often confuse pushing with progress and why learning to pause with purpose might be the bravest thing we ever do.Together, we explore:The pressure to endure even when the injury is invisibleHow workplaces can learn from sports: stress + rest = growthThe “messy drawer” metaphor for ending your day with intentionWhy wellbeing isn’t just yoga or apps it’s systemicThe belief Adam had to let go to finally healThis episode is both practical and poetic. A masterclass in redefining strength not as effort, but as alignment.🎧 Whether you're burning out quietly or already deep in recovery, this one is for you.Find Adam here:https://www.adamdehaty.com/
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Burnout Doesn't End When You Quit - Harpreet Barhad
What if leaving the job doesn’t leave the burnout behind?In this raw and real episode, Sophie sits down with burnout survivor Harpreet for an unfiltered, two-way conversation between two high-achieving women who thought they had healed until burnout knocked again.Together, they explore:The guilt and shame of “knowing better” and still crashingHow our identity becomes entangled with workWhy rest isn’t always the answerThe hidden struggles of burnout in menThe moment you realise: survival itself is sacredThis isn’t an expert interview, it’s a moment of truth. A call to reset. A story still unfolding. If you’re in the thick of it, let this be a reminder: you are not alone.🎧 Connect with Harpreet:https://www.openyourreach.com/
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"Who You Are is your Superpower" - Alex Pett
What if resilience isn’t about being strong, but about finally feeling safe?In this episode, I’m joined by Alex Pett, a former lawyer turned resilience coach who burned out twice before discovering the truth about what it really takes to recover. Together, we unpack:Why burnout isn't a failure, it's a feedback loopHow shame and overachievement keep us stuckThe real definition of resilience (hint: it’s not toughness)Nervous system awareness and emotional regulationWhy connecting to your values can change everythingAlex’s wisdom is honest, grounded, and deeply human. T🎙️ This one’s for anyone who’s ever pushed through pain just to prove their worth.📲 Follow Alex:Instagram → @alexresiliencecoachWebsite → www.surecoaching.com
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I Ignore Who I Was Just To Fit In - Neely Kimey
“Burnout means something different to all of us, it shows up as shame, silence, even identity loss.”In this episode, I sit down with Neely Kimey to explore how burnout looks for neurodivergent hyper-achievers and why internalized ableism keeps so many of us stuck.We unpack:Neely’s personal burnout journey and the cost of hiding her strugglesHow she turned that pain into a “sandbox” for practicing boundariesWhat recovery really means when worth equals productivityConnect with Neely:Website: www.weird-wired.comTiktok: @neelykimeyLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/neelykimeyYoutube: @neelykimey
Burnout isn’t just about stress. It’s about disconnection from yourself, your joy, and what matters most.
I’m Sophie Theen, and after a decade in high-growth startups and leadership roles, I found myself completely burnt out and completely lost. This podcast is part recovery, part rebellion.
The Burnout Detox Project is a space for honest conversations with founders, operators, creatives, and healers who’ve lived through burnout or help others rise from it.
Together, we unpack what causes burnout (spoiler: it’s not just “working too hard”) and what it takes to heal.
Italia