The Burnout Recovery Podcast

What happens when a doctor's carefully planned career path takes an unexpected turn? In this compelling interview, Dr. Ben Condon shares his journey from aspiring plastic surgeon to emergency medicine during COVID, and ultimately to healthcare innovation. As Clinical Director at Heidi Health, Ben is now focused on making the healthcare system work better for both clinicians and patients. This episode explores the reality of medical burnout, the importance of career pivots, and how technology can support rather than burden healthcare workers. Ben's honest reflection on his multiple encounters with burnout and his strategies for sustainable wellbeing offer valuable insights for any healthcare professional questioning their path. Key Topics Covered • Career Pivots in Medicine: When your original specialty isn't sustainable • Healthcare Innovation: How digital health is changing patient care delivery • Burnout Recognition: Warning signs and early intervention strategies • Sustainable Wellbeing: Practical approaches to maintaining mental health in high-pressure roles • Leadership Support: Creating psychologically safe workplaces in healthcare Guest Bio Dr. Ben Condon is a medical doctor, digital health innovator, and Clinical Director at Heidi Health. After training in plastic surgery and working in emergency medicine during COVID, Ben transitioned to healthcare technology, first at Eucalyptus and now at Heidi. He's passionate about using innovation to make healthcare more accessible and sustainable for both patients and clinicians. Quote: "We're almost trained, maybe guilted into putting ourselves last. But to make it sustainable and to make it a 30 plus year career that's fulfilling and challenging, we need to make sure that we're looking after ourselves." This episode is brought to you by Heidi Health, an AI-powered medical scribe that helps clinicians focus on what matters most - their patients. Learn more here: heidihealth.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That difficult conversation you've been putting off at work isn't going away - and avoiding it is actually fuelling your burnout. In this episode, Dr. Jo Braid explores why healthcare professionals who excel at difficult conversations with patients often freeze when it comes to workplace conflict with colleagues. She shares the CLEAR framework for approaching these conversations constructively, along with specific scripts for common scenarios like dealing with chronically late colleagues or micromanaging supervisors. Research shows that avoiding workplace conflicts increases emotional exhaustion by 40%, while addressing them constructively leads to higher job satisfaction and better team relationships. Ready to tackle that conversation you've been avoiding? Your action step: schedule it within the next seven days. Resources: Website: https://drjobraid.com Join the Coaching waitlist: https://drjobraid.com/coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you're burnt out, the last thing you need is another overwhelming plan — and in this episode, Dr. Jo Braid explains why the grand reset almost always fails, and what the science says actually works. Drawing on behavioral research, neuroplasticity, and the concept of atomic habits, Jo unpacks why tiny, consistent micro-changes are the most powerful tool in burnout recovery. You'll walk away with three practical tools — the One-Percent Audit, habit stacking, and measuring consistency over intensity — that you can start using today, no matter how depleted you feel. This episode is an honest, compassionate reminder that small is not the same as insignificant, and that sustainable recovery is built one quiet, courageous percent at a time. Join the conversation and share your micro-habit for the week over in The Healthcare Leadership Hub on Skool — because doing this work in community makes all the difference. Resources: Book Dr Jo as a speaker via: https://drjobraid.com Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Dr. Jo Braid tackles one of the most requested — and least talked about — topics in healthcare burnout: the colleague who makes an already demanding job feel almost impossible. Drawing on her own experience as a doctor of over 20 years, alongside research on workplace incivility and the neuroscience of threat response, Jo explores why certain people trigger us so deeply and why that reaction makes complete sense. She introduces the SPACE framework — a practical, five-step tool for protecting your energy, setting quiet but firm boundaries, and reclaiming your sense of power in difficult workplace dynamics — without burning professional bridges. This episode is the first in a powerful new series shaped entirely by listener survey responses, with the next ten episodes diving into everything from financial stress and time poverty to organisational factors like workload, fairness, and recognition. If you've ever dreaded a shift because of one person, this episode is your reminder that you cannot change them — but you absolutely can change your response. Resources: Book Dr Jo as a speaker via: https://drjobraid.com Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Dr Jo explores how to create your personal burnout prevention plan using fire readiness parallels—from recognizing early warning signs to building defensible space around your time and energy. She breaks down the critical 80/20 reality: 80% of burnout stems from systemic workplace factors, not personal failings, and shares how to distinguish between organizational and individual risk factors. Learn about the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index, a validated 16-item assessment tool that measures both burnout and professional fulfillment. Download the free Burnout Recovery Checklist to assess where you are across the four pillars (Mindset, Movement, Sleep, Support) and create your actionable recovery roadmap with immediate, short-term, and long-term strategies. Resources: Burnout Recovery Checklist: https://drjobraid.com/recovery-checklist Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index: Check your score here Join The Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we explore where your mental energy really goes and why healthcare professionals feel so depleted. I share the story of Kate, a coaching client running her own allied health clinic while navigating the demands of the sandwich generation, and the profound exhaustion she experienced. We dive into the neuroscience of cognitive load—including how the brain uses 25% of our body's metabolic energy—and why chronic overload increases burnout risk. You'll learn practical tools for conducting your own energy audit, identifying drains, and implementing optimisation strategies using my sleep, support, mindset, and movement framework. This episode will help you understand the limits of your mental energy and what you can do to protect and replenish it. Resources: Book Dr Jo as a speaker via: https://drjobraid.com Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jo shares her raw, honest experience as a locum doctor in a Sydney trauma hospital, where perfectionist expectations led to sleepless nights, self-doubt, and rumination over clinical decisions. She explores the crucial difference between adaptive perfectionism that drives professional growth and maladaptive perfectionism that fuels burnout and anxiety. Drawing on Stanford WellMD research and neuroscience, Jo reveals how asking for help transformed her experience and why vulnerability creates psychological safety for entire healthcare teams. This episode offers practical tools for managing perfectionist tendencies, including movement strategies, sleep hygiene techniques, and reframing methods that prioritize patient care over ego protection. Resources: Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid Website: https://drjobraid.com Drs4Drs: 1300 374 377 Lifeline: 13 11 14 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feeling exhausted before your day even starts? In this episode, Dr. Jo shares how a simple 5-minute morning micro-recovery can transform anticipatory dread into intentional energy. Drawing from Stanford neuroscience research on the "physiological sigh," she explores evidence-based techniques that shift your nervous system from stress to calm in minutes. Through a real coaching story and practical self-coaching tools, you'll discover how to reclaim agency over your day before it begins. Perfect for healthcare professionals seeking burnout prevention strategies that actually fit into busy schedules. Resources: Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid Website: https://drjobraid.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Dr. Jo shares her personal struggle with social media comparison when she started her coaching business five years ago and how she overcame the constant feeling of professional inadequacy. She explains the neuroscience behind why social comparison activates our threat-detection systems and becomes a significant burnout trigger for healthcare professionals who are already operating with heightened stress responses. Dr. Jo introduces the "Authenticity Audit" - a practical weekly practice to curate your social media feeds by unfollowing accounts that trigger comparison and following those that inspire and educate instead. The episode emphasizes how understanding the connection between comparison and burnout helps us recognize that feeling triggered by social media isn't a personal weakness, but a predictable physiological response we can learn to manage. Resources: Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid Website: https://drjobraid.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Dr. Jo Braid explores how our devices can become sources of chronic stress and burnout for healthcare professionals, sharing a personal story about digital overwhelm while building her coaching business alongside her medical practice. She dives into the latest neuroscience research, explaining how notifications simultaneously trigger dopamine cravings and cortisol spikes, while "attention residue" from constant interruptions takes 15-23 minutes for our brains to recover from each distraction. Dr. Jo provides practical tools within her four-pillar framework and introduces three essential digital boundary strategies: conducting a notification audit, implementing scheduled check-ins, and using the 15-minute rule to break automatic phone-checking patterns. The episode emphasizes that without proper digital boundaries, our devices keep our nervous systems in hypervigilance, preventing the neural recovery essential for avoiding burnout. Listeners will leave with actionable steps to reclaim their attention and create intentional relationships with technology that support rather than sabotage their wellbeing. Resources: Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid Website: https://drjobraid.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel like your brain never gets a break? In this episode, Dr. Jo explores the invisible cognitive burden that healthcare professionals carry and how it's damaging the relationships that matter most. Drawing from Stanford WellMD research showing that over 40% of physicians report work negatively impacting their personal relationships, discover practical strategies to break the mental load cycle. Learn the 4-Step Relationship-Protective Mental Load Reset and workplace advocacy strategies that protect your personal time. Key Takeaways Mental load = cognitive + emotional + invisible labour that follows you home Stanford research: 40% of physicians report moderate to high Impact of Work on Personal Relationships Impacted relationships correlate with higher burnout and more patient complaints The 4-Step Reset: Acknowledge → Externalize → Transition → Connect Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid Website: https://drjobraid.com Thank you to our sponsors: MIGA: https://miga.com.au & Heidi Health: https://heidihealth.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you experiencing burnout, or is something deeper happening when you feel that gut-wrenching sensation of knowing what's right but being unable to do it? In this episode, Dr. Jo Braid draws from her experience chairing an expert panel at the MPLA conference in 2025 to clarify the crucial distinctions between moral distress, moral injury, and burnout. Understanding these differences isn't just academic—it's essential for addressing what you're actually experiencing and finding the right interventions. You'll learn to recognize the physical and emotional signs of each condition, discover why moral distress often gets misdiagnosed as individual weakness when it's actually a system problem, and gain practical tools for responding appropriately to each situation. Join Dr. Braid as she gives you the vocabulary to name your experience and the framework to address it effectively, because when you can accurately identify what you're facing, you can take the right steps toward recovery. Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq Connect with Dr Jo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr Connect with Dr Jo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid Website: https://drjobraid.com Thank you to our sponsors: MIGA: https://miga.com.au & Heidi Health: https://heidihealth.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to another episode of The Burnout Recovery Podcast! I'm absolutely delighted to share my conversation with Anthony Mennillo, Head of Claims and Legal Services at MIGA - Medical Insurance Group Australia, who has spent over two decades walking alongside doctors through their most challenging professional moments. As someone who has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that medical complaints can have on our wellbeing - from junior doctors questioning if they'll ever be good enough, to seasoned consultants wondering if they've lost their purpose - Anthony brings both professional expertise and deeply personal insights to our conversation. In this heartfelt discussion, Anthony opens up about his own burnout experience following an MS diagnosis, and how it transformed his approach to supporting healthcare professionals. You'll discover the comprehensive support that extends far beyond legal defence, including peer support networks and mental health resources that many doctors don't even know exist. Most importantly, Anthony shares two powerful, evidence-based strategies that can help prevent complaints before they happen: mastering the art of communication with our patients and colleagues, and prioritising our own wellbeing through professional support networks. Whether you're a junior doctor feeling overwhelmed, a consultant navigating team dynamics, or anywhere in between, this conversation offers practical wisdom and gentle reminders that you're not alone in this journey. Join us as we explore how proactive self-care and authentic communication can not only protect our careers but also restore our sense of purpose in medicine. Resources: https://www.miga.com.au/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/migainsurance/ https://drjobraid.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid Thank you to our sponsors: MIGA: https://miga.com.au & Heidi Health: https://heidihealth.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey amazing listeners! After 160+ episodes together, I want to make sure The Burnout Recovery Podcast is creating content that truly serves YOU in 2026. Whether you're a healthcare professional, someone passionate about workplace wellbeing, or you just love practical strategies that work - your feedback will directly shape what you hear on this podcast. What's in it for you? ✨ One lucky respondent wins a $50 Amazon digital gift card ✨ Your input shapes future episodes, topics, and guests ✨ Takes just 2 minutes (seriously!) Ready to help? 👉 Take the survey: https://bit.ly/burnoutreview26 Survey closes Wednesday 28th January 2026 at 11.59pm AEST- don't wait, do it now while you're thinking about it! Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Y our voice matters, and I can't wait to create even better content based on what you tell me. Connect with Dr Jo: 🌐 Website: drjobraid.com 📧 Instagram: @burnoutrecoverydr 💼 LinkedIn: /in/drjobraid Thank you to our sponsors: MIGA: https://miga.com.au Heidi Health: https://heidihealth.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the key to transforming your workplace culture isn't fixing what's broken, but amplifying what's already working? In this episode, Dr. Jo Braid shares insights from her Stanford WellMD Director of Wellbeing Course and explores how Appreciative Inquiry can shift team dynamics from problem-focused to possibility-focused conversations. Drawing from real examples and research-backed strategies, you'll discover practical tools to start meetings differently, build stronger colleague relationships, and create positive change in your healthcare environment. Learn the simple 3-Question Appreciative Check-in framework and discover how changing your first question can transform your work experience. Join Dr. Braid as she shows you how focusing on strengths isn't just feel-good fluff—it's a powerful approach to reducing burnout and increasing engagement in healthcare teams. Join the free Healthcare Leadership Hub: https://bit.ly/3LAIDqq Resources: https://drjobraid.com www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid Thank you to our sponsors: MIGA: https://miga.com.au & Heidi Health: https://heidihealth.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feeling flat and unmotivated after what should have been a restorative break? You're not alone. In this episode, Dr. Jo explores the science behind post-holiday blues, including the role of dopamine crashes and why healthcare workers are particularly susceptible to this phenomenon. She shares practical, evidence-based strategies for gradual re-entry, maintaining holiday elements in daily routine, and resetting your dopamine baseline. Learn why these feelings are a normal neurobiological response and discover actionable steps to extend the benefits of your time off while being compassionate with yourself during the transition back to work. Resources: https://drjobraid.com www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid Thank you to our sponsors: MIGA: https://miga.com.au & Heidi Health: https://heidihealth.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Dr. Jo shares a personal story about stepping into a locum position where she inherited a "difficult" patient situation involving family complaints and communication challenges. Rather than approaching the interaction defensively, she chose curiosity over preconception and discovered that the family wasn't difficult—they were scared and feeling unheard. Through this experience, she learned that healthcare resilience isn't about developing thicker skin, but about maintaining openness and choosing connection even in challenging situations. The episode explores how reframing complaints as information about unmet needs can transform patient relationships and offers practical tools including the "Fresh Eyes" approach, curious questioning techniques, and complaint reframing strategies. Thank you to our sponsor MIGA: https://miga.com.au Resources: https://drjobraid.com www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid I acknowledge that I create this podcast on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people, who have been the custodians of this land around Orange, New South Wales, for thousands of generations. I pay my respects to Wiradjuri Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognize the continuing connection to land, waters, and culture. This acknowledgment is a small but important step in recognizing the sovereignty of First Nations peoples and the deep historical and ongoing relationship with Country. Disclaimer: The information provided on or through our Site, products and/or services is intended to be for informational purposes only. It does not constitute or replace professional advice for individual or specific situations and nor does it take into account your specific needs or circumstances. Under no circumstances should the content made available on our Site, or regarding our products and/or services be relied upon as professional legal, medical, financial, business or other advice. You agree to obtain these services if you need these. Our Site may have articles and content that is of a general nature and is intended to be for informational purposes only. Your access to and use of they Site is subject to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Jo Braid shares a conversation with her mother that fundamentally changed how she views career success and professional identity in healthcare. Through her mother's journey from university lecturer to teaching retirees, Jo explores how healthcare professionals can avoid the dangerous trap of tying their self-worth to professional achievements. Drawing on research from the Mayo Clinic and Stanford's WellMD Center, this episode examines the "arrival fallacy" - the belief that reaching the next career milestone will bring lasting fulfilment - and offers evidence-based strategies for reframing work as a means to support your life, not define it. Perfect for healthcare workers and helping professionals seeking to prevent burnout while maintaining meaningful careers, this episode provides practical tools for identity diversification and sustainable excellence. Resources: https://drjobraid.com www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid I acknowledge that I create this podcast on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people, who have been the custodians of this land around Orange, New South Wales, for thousands of generations. I pay my respects to Wiradjuri Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognize the continuing connection to land, waters, and culture. This acknowledgment is a small but important step in recognizing the sovereignty of First Nations peoples and the deep historical and ongoing relationship with Country. Disclaimer: The information provided on or through our Site, products and/or services is intended to be for informational purposes only. It does not constitute or replace professional advice for individual or specific situations and nor does it take into account your specific needs or circumstances. Under no circumstances should the content made available on our Site, or regarding our products and/or services be relied upon as professional legal, medical, financial, business or other advice. You agree to obtain these services if you need these. Our Site may have articles and content that is of a general nature and is intended to be for informational purposes only. Your access to and use of they Site is subject to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Dr. Jo Braid explores why healthcare workers and helping professionals often struggle with gratitude despite doing meaningful work. She breaks down the neuroscience behind how chronic stress and burnout literally rewire our brains, making it harder to experience positive emotions like appreciation. Dr. Braid explains the concept of "toxic gratitude" - when societal pressure to be thankful becomes another source of stress - and introduces evidence-based micro-gratitude practices designed specifically for overwhelmed helpers. Learn why your inability to feel grateful isn't a character flaw, but a predictable neurobiological response to sustained occupational stress, and discover practical strategies to rebuild your gratitude pathways without adding more pressure to your already stressed system. Resources: https://drjobraid.com www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid I acknowledge that I create this podcast on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people, who have been the custodians of this land around Orange, New South Wales, for thousands of generations. I pay my respects to Wiradjuri Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognize the continuing connection to land, waters, and culture. This acknowledgment is a small but important step in recognizing the sovereignty of First Nations peoples and the deep historical and ongoing relationship with Country. Disclaimer: The information provided on or through our Site, products and/or services is intended to be for informational purposes only. It does not constitute or replace professional advice for individual or specific situations and nor does it take into account your specific needs or circumstances. Under no circumstances should the content made available on our Site, or regarding our products and/or services be relied upon as professional legal, medical, financial, business or other advice. You agree to obtain these services if you need these. Our Site may have articles and content that is of a general nature and is intended to be for informational purposes only. Your access to and use of they Site is subject to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feeling overwhelmed before that big meeting or presentation? In this episode, I share my go-to stress management technique that can shift your entire nervous system in under 30 seconds. You'll discover the science behind the physiological sigh - a simple two-breath pattern that Dr. Andrew Huberman introduced me to - and learn how it activates your parasympathetic nervous system to bring instant calm and clarity. I'll walk you through the exact technique I use before every keynote and workshop, plus share two additional breathing tools (box breathing and triangle breathing) that you can use anywhere, anytime. By the end of this episode, you'll have three evidence-based breathing techniques in your stress management toolkit that you can start using immediately. Resources: https://drjobraid.com www.instagram.com/burnoutrecoverydr www.linkedin.com/in/drjobraid I acknowledge that I create this podcast on the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people, who have been the custodians of this land around Orange, New South Wales, for thousands of generations. I pay my respects to Wiradjuri Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognize the continuing connection to land, waters, and culture. This acknowledgment is a small but important step in recognizing the sovereignty of First Nations peoples and the deep historical and ongoing relationship with Country. Disclaimer: The information provided on or through our Site, products and/or services is intended to be for informational purposes only. It does not constitute or replace professional advice for individual or specific situations and nor does it take into account your specific needs or circumstances. Under no circumstances should the content made available on our Site, or regarding our products and/or services be relied upon as professional legal, medical, financial, business or other advice. You agree to obtain these services if you need these. Our Site may have articles and content that is of a general nature and is intended to be for informational purposes only. Your access to and use of they Site is subject to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.