You can't use your PTO when you're dead. We're sure you know that, but we just wanted to be sure. Cuz hey! Even we still struggle with the guilt (read: trauma) tied to taking time off. In this episode, we discuss everything from unlimited PTO (and how it's not actually unlimited) to the internalized shame that keeps us asking for time off even when we’re burnt out af.

We talk about navigating PTO while juggling life, health, and the ever-looming threat of layoffs. We also touch on societal expectations, like the guilt trips women get for leaving work to take care of a sick kid (or, god forbid, give birth).

Just remember: You don't owe anyone anything. Take the time off. Prioritize yourself. And spitefully take all the PTO you can because life’s too short to be a corporate puppet.

In this episode:

• Article: Millennials feel the most guilt about taking PTO

Have a suggestion for our next episode? A burnout story to share? Send us a text!

Support the show

The Burnout Collective Podcast is hosted by Jamie Young and Rebecca McCracken. We’ve had every ounce of inspiration sucked out by years of startups and hustle culture, and we’re trying to reclaim our creativity. Join us and our guests as we explore how to restart and reenergize our brains. Every Thursday at 5pm PT, we stream live on twitch.tv/TheBurnoutCollective.

Join our Discord community: discord.gg/ZwBjbmVfAF
Follow us on Twitch and Subscribe: twitch.tv/theburnoutcollective
Follow us on our socials: linktr.ee/burnoutcollective

Music track: Snap Your Fingers by Aylex
Source: https://freetouse.com/music

We kick off Episode 30 with the winners of our giveaway announced! (Unfortunately, the first two winners didn't respond, so we picked two new winners.) Congrats to @z_mertz and @liz_aday for winning some Burnout Merch!

This week has been A WEEK. We wanted to talk about those times when you can't even. When you can't even muster the energy to do basic things—brushing teeth, taking out trash, feeding your children (jk). You know: How to self-care when you just self-can't.

We chat about the unfair expectations at work to keep up appearances and the pressure of functioning normally despite the state of the world. Jamie opens up about her own battles with mental health and being in the depression hole, including neglected her 50+ plant collection until they all died and cleaning her depression apartment. Rebecca talks about the extra layer of guilt you have when it's not just you—your family depends on you, too.

No one has it all together. Even though we all try to act like we do.

...and we're still waiting for That One Notebook(tm) that will fix our lives.

Have a suggestion for our next episode? A burnout story to share? Send us a text!

Support the show

The Burnout Collective Podcast is hosted by Jamie Young and Rebecca McCracken. We’ve had every ounce of inspiration sucked out by years of startups and hustle culture, and we’re trying to reclaim our creativity. Join us and our guests as we explore how to restart and reenergize our brains. Every Thursday at 5pm PT, we stream live on twitch.tv/TheBurnoutCollective.

Join our Discord community: discord.gg/ZwBjbmVfAF
Follow us on Twitch and Subscribe: twitch.tv/theburnoutcollective
Follow us on our socials: linktr.ee/burnoutcollective

Music track: Snap Your Fingers by Aylex
Source: https://freetouse.com/music

This week we're joined by Adan Hinojosa (aka @manicsocratic) to talk about the highs and lows of being a live content creator. We cover everything from fitting into the retro gaming scene, managing petty community drama (Rebecca's fav), and the emotional labor that comes with being a Twitch streamer.

Sparked by a life reboot that took him from the desert to the Pacific Northwest, Adan rediscovered his love of Nintendo, started buying retro hardware, and began sharing some vintage gaming treasures with his community.

We complain about bad movie sequels, chat about Vegas orgies (we mean meetups!), and unlock the past trauma that is the Wii balance board and Wii Fit.

Despite the occasional urge to burn it all down and walk away, Adan finds joy and connection in his streaming ventures. If you're craving a peek behind the streamer curtain, this episode is for you.

You can find Adan on:

Twitch: twitch.tv/manicsocratic
Instagram: @manicsocratic
Threads: @manicsocratic
Bluesky: @manicsocratic.bsky.social

Mentioned in this episode:

• The absolute best clip from Manic's famous "Wordle Wind Down"
• The pants thing clip from Manic's Twitch
• Little Misfortune (best game ever, not retro)
• 198X (another great game, retro but not really retro)

Have a suggestion for our next episode? A burnout story to share? Send us a text!

Support the show

The Burnout Collective Podcast is hosted by Jamie Young and Rebecca McCracken. We’ve had every ounce of inspiration sucked out by years of startups and hustle culture, and we’re trying to reclaim our creativity. Join us and our guests as we explore how to restart and reenergize our brains. Every Thursday at 5pm PT, we stream live on twitch.tv/TheBurnoutCollective.

Join our Discord community: discord.gg/ZwBjbmVfAF
Follow us on Twitch and Subscribe: twitch.tv/theburnoutcollective
Follow us on our socials: linktr.ee/burnoutcollective

Music track: Snap Your Fingers by Aylex
Source: https://freetouse.com/music

This week, we got comfy with the talented Liz Aday to discuss her journey as a singer, musician, and producer. She talks about her battle with physical and mental health (including how she lost her voice to vocal cord paralysis) and how she copes with burnout.

Liz discusses the devaluation of music, her experience with sexism in the industry over the years, and the importance of hope in her creative practice (which inspires us!).

Before the end of the show, we commiserate with Liz over the lack of Mexican food in Oz and Jamie gets pretty good at an Australian accent (kind of) (ok not really).

You can find Liz on:

Linktree: linktr.ee/LizAday
Instagram: @aday.liz
TikTok: @lizadayvoice1
YouTube: youtube.com/@lizaday9374
Website: lizaday.com.au
Patreon: patreon.com/LizAday

Mentioned in this episode:

• Liz's singing range with vocal cord palsy
• Liz’s mom singing Mozart in the 80s
• Lily Oddsock (Liz's content for children)
• Badass Tiktok guitarist Rebecca mentioned

Have a suggestion for our next episode? A burnout story to share? Send us a text!

Support the show

The Burnout Collective Podcast is hosted by Jamie Young and Rebecca McCracken. We’ve had every ounce of inspiration sucked out by years of startups and hustle culture, and we’re trying to reclaim our creativity. Join us and our guests as we explore how to restart and reenergize our brains. Every Thursday at 5pm PT, we stream live on twitch.tv/TheBurnoutCollective.

Join our Discord community: discord.gg/ZwBjbmVfAF
Follow us on Twitch and Subscribe: twitch.tv/theburnoutcollective
Follow us on our socials: linktr.ee/burnoutcollective

Music track: Snap Your Fingers by Aylex
Source: https://freetouse.com/music

Rebecca couldn't make this week's episode, but will be back next week!

We were stoked to welcome Joel Tamas from the band Red Heaven to the show this week to talk about the modern-day musician who must wear too. many. hats.

The first thing you need to know is that Joel rocked out with robot cats in Second Life before V-tubers were even cool (and still does live shows in SL today!). He goes on to share some sketchy music biz practices, how AI is affecting the industry, and why chasing the algo just doesn't work.

In the end, we both agree: Creativity shouldn't be chained to these ever-changing algorithms. Instead, let's stay focused on connecting authentically with other human beings. With each other.

Look for Red Heaven's upcoming album Let the Dead Things Die later this year. (Maybe in November. But we're not sure we even heard that right.)

You can find Red Heaven on:

Linktree: linktr.ee/RedHeavenLive
Instagram: @redheavenlive
TikTok: @redheavenlive
YouTube: youtube.com/RedHeaven
Website: redheaven.ca
Patreon: patreon.com/redheavenlive

Mentioned in this episode:

• 'Martyr' music video
• 'Tyendinaga' music video
• All Red Heaven music videos
• Hit Men book by Fredric Dannen
• Search Engine podcast episode: Is there a sane way to use the internet?
• Joel interviews Liz Aday (our guest next week!)

Have a suggestion for our next episode? A burnout story to share? Send us a text!

Support the show

The Burnout Collective Podcast is hosted by Jamie Young and Rebecca McCracken. We’ve had every ounce of inspiration sucked out by years of startups and hustle culture, and we’re trying to reclaim our creativity. Join us and our guests as we explore how to restart and reenergize our brains. Every Thursday at 5pm PT, we stream live on twitch.tv/TheBurnoutCollective.

Join our Discord community: discord.gg/ZwBjbmVfAF
Follow us on Twitch and Subscribe: twitch.tv/theburnoutcollective
Follow us on our socials: linktr.ee/burnoutcollective

Music track: Snap Your Fingers by Aylex
Source: https://freetouse.com/music

"Hey, do you have a minute to chat?"

"Hey, how are you? How was your weekend?"

If your anxiety just skyrocketed or you feel triggered, we get it. That's why Episode 26 is all about the bane of our corporate existence: meetings.

Listen. The chaos and exhaustion of (mostly pointless) meetings can turn even the most on-it Type A into a burnt out mess. How are you supposed to get any work done when you're in meetings all the time?

So, come fill your BINGO card over here with us! We've got co-workers who never mute, late-evening surprise 1-on-1s, idle chit-chat, and excessive PowerPoint users who use corporate jargon no one understands.

After sharing a few coping mechanisms for long meetings—like crocheting during calls or playing solitaire—we want to remind you of the sweet, sweet relief that comes if you just...turn your off camera.

Have a suggestion for our next episode? A burnout story to share? Send us a text!

Support the show

The Burnout Collective Podcast is hosted by Jamie Young and Rebecca McCracken. We’ve had every ounce of inspiration sucked out by years of startups and hustle culture, and we’re trying to reclaim our creativity. Join us and our guests as we explore how to restart and reenergize our brains. Every Thursday at 5pm PT, we stream live on twitch.tv/TheBurnoutCollective.

Join our Discord community: discord.gg/ZwBjbmVfAF
Follow us on Twitch and Subscribe: twitch.tv/theburnoutcollective
Follow us on our socials: linktr.ee/burnoutcollective

Music track: Snap Your Fingers by Aylex
Source: https://freetouse.com/music

Since it's our birthday month and we wanted to do a special stream, we did what anyone else would have done and procrastinated until the last day of the month for our stream (and giveaway announcement!).

But first, we decided to take a little journey down memory lane and share stories from when we were kids. We reminisce about hilarious and cringey high school moments, talk about our childhood dreams, and wonder if we would ever actual have been friends in school (Rebecca says absolutely not).

Rebecca shares how she was once grounded from the library and Jamie shares about the time she got grounded for an entire month from music.

And yes, you heard us right: We're doing a giveaway! You can win some burnout merch—like stickers or a T-shirt! Follow us on socials and listen in for deets on how to enter our Burnout Birthday Giveaway.

Have a suggestion for our next episode? A burnout story to share? Send us a text!

Support the show

The Burnout Collective Podcast is hosted by Jamie Young and Rebecca McCracken. We’ve had every ounce of inspiration sucked out by years of startups and hustle culture, and we’re trying to reclaim our creativity. Join us and our guests as we explore how to restart and reenergize our brains. Every Thursday at 5pm PT, we stream live on twitch.tv/TheBurnoutCollective.

Join our Discord community: discord.gg/ZwBjbmVfAF
Follow us on Twitch and Subscribe: twitch.tv/theburnoutcollective
Follow us on our socials: linktr.ee/burnoutcollective

Music track: Snap Your Fingers by Aylex
Source: https://freetouse.com/music

On this week’s episode, we chat with Dr. Priyanka Rao, a psychologist and executive coach who specializes in neurodivergence. We immediately dive into the world of adult ADHD and autism—why so many get diagnosed later in life, how it shows up, and why it's so fucking difficult to get diagnosed at all.

Each of us share our personal struggles with having a late diagnosis (Pri, too!). Jamie tries to get Pri to diagnose her parents, claiming the apple didn't fall far from the tree. And Rebecca shares the time her husband "took the scenic route" on a trip and didn't tell her beforehand (and now. he. knows.). We also talk about how hard it is for neurodivergent women (especially) to get diagnosed and how hormones can affect ADHD symptoms.

Pri drops the mic at the end after giving us all some crucial advice:  
You are not broken. You are not less than. You are not deficient. You just have a different operating system (like Mac and Windows).  There is nothing wrong with you. You've just been trying to live according to a different operating system.

Yeah. We're pretty sure that counts as two mic drops.

You can find Pri on:

Instagram: @ashacoach
TikTok: @ashacoach
Websites: asha-coaching.com | ashamh.com

Mentioned in this episode:

• Temple Grandin

Have a suggestion for our next episode? A burnout story to share? Send us a text!

Support the show

The Burnout Collective Podcast is hosted by Jamie Young and Rebecca McCracken. We’ve had every ounce of inspiration sucked out by years of startups and hustle culture, and we’re trying to reclaim our creativity. Join us and our guests as we explore how to restart and reenergize our brains. Every Thursday at 5pm PT, we stream live on twitch.tv/TheBurnoutCollective.

Join our Discord community: discord.gg/ZwBjbmVfAF
Follow us on Twitch and Subscribe: twitch.tv/theburnoutcollective
Follow us on our socials: linktr.ee/burnoutcollective

Music track: Snap Your Fingers by Aylex
Source: https://freetouse.com/music