Burnout, Midlife and Human Design with Laura Cardwell

Welcome to the Jaime Fleres Podcast, a sanctuary for soulful creatives, heart-centered visionaries, and nonfiction authors exploring conscious creativity, personal transformation, and soulcentric embodied ways of being. Each episode offers inspiration, insight, and guidance for navigating the thresholds of creativity, life transitions, and self-expression. In this episode, Jaime talks with Laura Cardwell about burnout as more than exhaustion—and how it often marks a turning point rather than a personal failure. We explore how chronic stress and modern productivity culture impact the nervous system, why burnout frequently emerges during midlife or major transitions, and the journey to recovery and a purpose-led life. Together, we discuss the physiology of burnout, nervous system regulation and heart–brain coherence, identity shifts during midlife, Human Design and Astrology, and the role of rest in sustainable creativity and leadership. Listeners will gain practical tools and a new perspective on burnout, midlife, and living a creative life that feels aligned and sustainable. This conversation is ideal for anyone navigating burnout, midlife transitions, entrepreneurial exhaustion, or identity change. About Laura Laura Cardwell is a transformational coach, speaker, and co-author of Unstuck Yourself, where neuroscience meets soul work and burnout becomes a doorway to purpose. She specializes in guiding women through midlife transitions—menopause, identity shifts, and career recalibration—using a blend of Human Design, applied neurology, energy medicine, and lived experience. Laura’s work is equal parts science, intuition, and sacred rebellion, helping women stop abandoning themselves and start leading from who they truly are now. She believes midlife isn’t a crisis—it’s a calling. Learn more about Laura Cardwell here: www.lauracardwell.com www.instagram.com/lauracardwellqiw www.facebook.com/lauracardwellqiw https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-cardwell-qiw/ Chapters 01:45 - Unstuck Yourself Book 06:19 - Burnout as a Sign 14:51 - Managing Burnout 24:24 - External Pressures vs Purpose 31:25 - Sovereignty Living from the Inside Out 39:15 - Sustainable Entrepreneurship 47:45 - Valuing Rest and Self-Care 55:23 - Identity and Midlife Transitions 01:05:05 - Life's Initiatory Cycles: Human Design and Astrology 01:13:35 - Connecting with Laura Read Debrief of Episode on Blog If you found this episode inspiring or helpful, subscribe and leave a review. It helps other amazing humans like you find our podcast. Know someone who would enjoy this conversation? Screenshot and share. Tag us, follow us or reach out on Instagram @jaimefleres Stay connected to Jaime and Whale Song: Work with Us Order Jaime’s Book The Author Adventure Get emails with new episodes + resources Mentioned resources and opportunities Reach out to learn more about Jaime’s Astrology work and her program Soul Seasons, about how to navigate the initiations of midlife.