Burnout-Free Me

Want more of this? On Substack, I share longer reflections, practical tools, and honest conversations that don't make it onto the pod. Join the Burnout-Free Me community: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com   Episode Details: You've probably felt it — completely wrecked by your job in a way that sleep doesn't fix, or on edge in a way you couldn't quite explain. What if the missing piece wasn't a solution, but a language? May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in this episode, Dr. Amy Grimm kicks off a special two-part series timed to her upcoming presentation on compassion fatigue at AVMA in July. Episode 147 lays the foundation: the trauma terminology that changes how you understand yourself, your stress, and your burnout. This isn't therapy. It's information — the kind that finally makes the things you've been carrying make sense.   What You'll Learn       What it actually means to be trauma-informed — and why it matters beyond healthcare       The ACE study: what adverse childhood experiences are, what the research found, and how to think about your own score       Big T vs. Little T trauma — and why the labels can help or hurt       The three types of traumatic stress: primary, secondary, and environmental       Why trauma is defined by the response, not the event — and what that means for you   Links & Resources Substack: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com Coaching & website: https://burnoutfreeme.com ACE Questionnaire: https://www.acesaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ACE-Questionnaire-for-Adults-Identified-English-rev.7.26.22.pdf   About Dr. Amy Grimm Dr. Amy Grimm is a veterinarian, success coach, and wellbeing expert and the host of Burnout-Free Me -- the podcast for high-achieving women who are done running on empty. Real talk, practical tools, and honest mindset shifts every week.   Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe so you don't miss Episode 148, where we go deep on secondary traumatic stress — the burnout you don't see coming. And if this show has been valuable to you, please leave a rating and review. It helps other women find this community.

Join me on Substack: If you’re ready for more honest, real conversations about burnout, nervous system regulation, and creating a life that actually feels good to live… along with tools and practices that actually help… 👉 Subscribe here: https://amygrimmburnoutfreeme.substack.com/ That’s where I share deeper insights, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and practical ways to start shifting out of survival mode.   Share This Episode: If this episode made you feel seen or helped something click… send it to a friend who needs to hear it too. Resources: The Burnout Fix A practical tool designed to help high-achieving professionals regulate their nervous system and break free from the productivity trap. Learn more at: burnoutfreeme.com Work With Amy If you're a high-achieving professional who feels like you're constantly running on empty, Amy helps ambitious women understand burnout, regulate their nervous systems, and build careers that support their lives rather than consuming them. Learn more or book a consultation: burnoutfreeme.com Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode of Burnout-Free Me, make sure you're subscribed so you never miss a conversation about burnout recovery, nervous system health, and creating success without sacrificing your wellbeing. Leaving a quick review also helps more high-achieving women find the show.   Episode Notes: If you feel exhausted all the time… even though you’re doing everything “right”… this episode is going to make that make sense. Because this isn’t about time management or being more disciplined. And it’s not because you’re falling behind. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, I’m breaking down why so many high-achieving women feel constantly drained despite being capable, responsible, and on top of their lives… and what’s actually going on beneath the surface. We’re talking about the hidden cost of chronic stress, how your nervous system adapts to pressure over time, and why “used to it” doesn’t mean “okay.” If you’ve ever felt like you should have more energy, more motivation, or just be handling things better… this conversation is for you. This is where we shift from “What’s wrong with me?” to “Oh… this actually makes sense.” And that shift changes everything.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why feeling exhausted doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong How high-achievers unknowingly adapt to unsustainable levels of stress The difference between being “used to it” and actually being okay Why rest doesn’t always feel restorative (and what that really means) How your nervous system keeps you stuck in “go mode” without you realizing it The subtle reason you feel behind… no matter how much you do   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

High-achievers love a good plan. We map out the perfect workout routine. The ideal morning ritual. The healthy habit that will finally help us feel organized, productive, and in control again. And then… we quit. Not because we lack discipline or because we don’t care, but because perfectionism quietly turns habit-building into an impossible standard. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm explores why perfectionism is actually a terrible strategy for creating healthy habits, especially for ambitious professionals who are already carrying a lot of responsibility. When your brain defaults to all-or-nothing thinking, habits tend to follow a predictable pattern. You start strong with an ambitious plan, life inevitably disrupts it, and your brain decides that if it can’t be done perfectly, it’s not worth doing at all. That cycle isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a nervous system problem. When stress narrows your capacity and shrinks your window of tolerance, the rigid plans perfectionists rely on simply stop working. Sustainable habits require a different approach. One that works with your real life, your energy levels, and the reality that high-responsibility careers rarely run on a perfectly predictable schedule. In this episode, you’ll learn how to shift away from perfectionistic habit building and toward a strategy that actually supports long-term consistency. Amy shares the powerful concept of a minimum baseline habit, how to create a backup plan for chaotic days, and why building habits around your current capacity is the key to making them stick. This conversation blends nervous system awareness, mindset shifts, and practical habit strategies so you can stop quitting on yourself and start building routines that support your health, energy, and life outside of work. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the start-stop cycle with healthy habits, this episode will give you a much more sustainable way forward. In This Episode, You’ll Learn Why perfectionism sabotages healthy habit formation How all-or-nothing thinking keeps high-achievers stuck in burnout cycles What nervous system capacity has to do with consistency How to create a minimum baseline habit that actually sticks Why every habit needs a backup plan for real life How consistency rewires your brain and widens your window of tolerance A Simple Habit Experiment to Try Choose one habit you’ve struggled to maintain. Instead of focusing on the ideal version, define the smallest version that still counts. Something you can do even on stressful days. Then decide on a backup version for when life inevitably gets messy. The goal is not perfection. The goal is continuity. Small, consistent actions train your brain and nervous system to support the identity you want to build. Resources Mentioned If you want to better understand what burnout is actually doing to your brain and nervous system, start with my free resource: The Burnout Fix A simple guide to help high-achievers stop running on empty and start restoring their energy. You can download it at: burnoutfreeme.com Connect with Dr. Amy Grimm If this episode resonated with you, make sure you follow the podcast so you don’t miss future conversations about burnout, nervous system regulation, and creating a life that actually feels good to live. You can also watch full episodes and additional content on YouTube and explore coaching resources at: burnoutfreeme.com

Many high-achieving women quietly wonder the same thing: Is it actually possible to have a fulfilling career and a fulfilling relationship? When you care deeply about your work, carry a lot of responsibility, and want to do things well, it can start to feel like your career and your love life are competing for the same limited energy. You may find yourself emotionally exhausted at the end of the day, mentally preoccupied with work when you're trying to be present with your partner, or wondering if pursuing success has unintentionally pushed relationships to the side. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm explores why this happens and why the real issue is often not time management or “balance.” Instead, the root of the problem often lies in the productivity trap many ambitious women grow up internalizing. When your worth becomes unconsciously tied to achievement and responsibility, work can slowly consume more energy and capacity than you ever intended. Over time, this affects your nervous system, your emotional availability, and your ability to fully connect with the people you love. In this conversation, Amy shares how burnout and chronic stress influence intimacy and presence in relationships, why nervous system regulation is essential for connection, and how high-achieving women can build careers that support their lives rather than quietly draining them. You’ll also hear a real coaching example that shows how shifting your internal experience of work can dramatically improve your relationship without requiring you to sacrifice your career. This episode is for any ambitious woman who wants success, meaningful relationships, and a life that actually feels aligned.   In This Episode Amy explores: Why high-achieving women often fall into the productivity trap • How unconscious beliefs about worth and achievement affect relationships • Why burnout and chronic stress make emotional connection more difficult • The role your nervous system plays in communication, presence, and intimacy • Why “work-life balance” may not be the right goal • The concept of life-work alignment and how it changes everything • A real coaching example of improving a relationship without leaving a demanding career • Simple shifts that help ambitious professionals reconnect with themselves and their partners   Resources Mentioned The Burnout Fix A practical tool designed to help high-achieving professionals regulate their nervous system and break free from the productivity trap. Learn more at: burnoutfreeme.com Work With Amy If you're a high-achieving professional who feels like you're constantly running on empty, Amy helps ambitious women understand burnout, regulate their nervous systems, and build careers that support their lives rather than consuming them. Learn more or book a consultation: burnoutfreeme.com   Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode of Burnout-Free Me, make sure you're subscribed so you never miss a conversation about burnout recovery, nervous system health, and creating success without sacrificing your wellbeing. Leaving a quick review also helps more high-achieving women find the show.

“We’re like family here.” It sounds warm, supportive, and welcoming. But in many workplaces, this phrase can quietly blur boundaries and create pressure to sacrifice more of yourself than is healthy or sustainable. In this episode, Dr. Amy Grimm explores why the “work family” narrative can contribute to burnout, especially for high-achieving professionals who already tend to overextend themselves. When loyalty, belonging, and identity become tangled up with our jobs, it becomes much harder to recognize when our needs are being pushed aside. Amy shares how language like this can subtly shape expectations in the workplace, why healthy boundaries are essential for protecting your mental and emotional well-being, and how patterns like perfectionism, people-pleasing, and over-responsibility can keep us stuck in cycles of overwork. You’ll also learn why having meaningful relationships at work is still important, and how the real goal isn’t distance from colleagues but clarity about roles, expectations, and limits. If you’ve ever felt pressure to give more than you realistically have to give, or struggled with the guilt of setting boundaries in your career, this conversation will help you rethink what healthy success actually looks like. By the end of this episode, you’ll understand how recognizing your boundaries and using them intentionally can help you build a career that supports your life instead of consuming it. In This Episode Why the phrase “we’re like family” can create unhealthy workplace dynamics How blurred boundaries contribute to burnout The role perfectionism and people-pleasing play in overworking What cognitive schemas are and how past experiences shape your work patterns Why connection at work still matters and how to balance openness with healthy limits How understanding your boundaries can transform your work experience Resources & Next Steps If this episode resonated with you, there are a few ways to continue the conversation: Join the Burnout-Free Me Newsletter for deeper insights and tools to help you stop running on empty and start building success that actually feels good. Download The Burnout Fix, a practical tool to help you identify what’s really driving your exhaustion and how to start shifting it. You can find both at burnoutfreeme.com. Subscribe & Review If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Burnout-Free Me so you never miss a conversation about burnout, nervous system regulation, leadership, and building a life that feels as successful on the inside as it looks on paper. And if you’ve listened to a few episodes and found them helpful, leaving a review helps more people discover the show. Thanks for being here.  

Burnout in the Bedroom: When Sex Becomes Another To-Do with Laura Jurgens When you’re burned out, overwhelmed, and running on empty, intimacy is often one of the first things to change—and one of the hardest to talk about. Desire fades. Connection feels harder. Sex can quietly turn into another obligation on an already too-long to-do list. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, I’m joined by relationship and intimacy coach Laura Jurgens, host of the The Desire Gap Podcast, for an honest, shame-free conversation about burnout in the bedroom. We explore why desire gaps are so common—especially for high-achieving, people-pleasing women—and how chronic stress and nervous system overload affect desire, arousal, orgasm, and emotional connection. Laura helps us unpack why thoughts like “I should want sex” or “What’s wrong with me?” are not only unhelpful, but deeply disconnected from what’s actually happening in the body. Together, we talk about duty sex, relationship anxiety, and how intimacy changes when your nervous system has been stuck in survival mode for too long. This conversation isn’t about fixing yourself or forcing desire. It’s about understanding what’s happening beneath the surface, letting go of shame, and finding more compassionate, sustainable ways to reconnect—with yourself and with your partner—without making sex another performance or productivity goal. If you’ve ever felt successful everywhere except here… this episode is for you.   About Laura: Laura Jurgens, PhD is a dual-certified Master relationship and intimacy coach and host of The Desire Gap Podcast. She is a desire-arousal specialist helping individuals and couples discover authentic sexual connection, shed relationship anxiety, gain confidence, master communication, and release shame around intimacy. Her approach is play-based, practical, inclusive, trauma-informed, and grounded in the latest research. She is a former university professor with a PhD in biological sciences and certifications from the Somatica Institute, the Life Coach School, and the NeuroAffective Touch Institute. Learn more about Laura’s work: 🌐 Website: https://laurajurgens.com ✍️ Blog: https://laurajurgens.com/the-desire-gap-blog/ 🎧 The Desire Gap Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-desire-gap-real-solutions-for-couples-with/id1728337669 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laura.jurgens.coach 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurajurgenscoaching/   Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her fiance enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

How Gratitude Changes Your Brain When You’re Under Pressure When life feels heavy and pressure is high, your brain doesn’t respond by becoming calm or rational—it narrows its focus, scans for problems, and stays on high alert. That’s not a personal failing. It’s biology. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm breaks down what neuroscience actually says about gratitude—and why it works very differently than most people think. This is not about pretending everything is fine or forcing positivity when you’re exhausted. It’s about how gratitude, when practiced in small, grounded ways, changes how your brain processes stress, recovers from pressure, and carries mental load over time. You’ll learn how gratitude affects attention, memory, and nervous system regulation, why it can help pressure feel less intense and less sticky, and how it supports faster recovery after stressful moments. Amy shares practical, science-backed prompts you can use even on your busiest, most overwhelming days—no journaling marathons required. If you’re a high-achiever who feels constantly “on,” mentally compressed, or unable to fully relax even when nothing is actively wrong, this episode will help you understand what’s happening in your brain—and give you tools to work with it instead of fighting it. ✨ If this episode resonated, consider sharing it with someone who helps you feel a little steadier under pressure.   Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.  

The Human Cost of Caring: Burnout, Compassion, and Meaningful Work with Dr. Marie Holowaychuk Caring deeply about your work can be meaningful—and exhausting. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, I’m joined by Dr. Marie Holowaychuk, veterinary specialist and author of A Compassionate Calling, for a powerful conversation about the human cost of caring in high-pressure, high-responsibility careers. While Marie’s work is rooted in veterinary medicine, the themes we explore extend far beyond one profession. We talk about stress, burnout, perfectionism, professional identity, and the emotional weight that comes with work that truly matters. Together, we unpack what happens when high-achieving women hold themselves to impossible standards—and what it takes to stay human, connected, and resilient without losing yourself in the process. This episode is for anyone who loves their work, cares deeply, and is quietly wondering if there’s a better, more sustainable way to keep going. About Dr. Marie: Dr. Marie Holowaychuk, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC, is a passionate advocate for mental health and wellbeing in caregiving professions, and empowers veterinary teams and other caregiving professionals to prevent burnout, build resilience, and cultivate fulfilling careers. With over 20 years of experience as a veterinarian and critical care specialist, Marie founded Reviving Veterinary Medicine to provide evidence-based resources through transformative programs like From Burnout to Balance and From Toxic to Terrific. As a certified coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and wellbeing facilitator, Marie blends science, empathy, and practical insights to engage and inspire audiences. She also hosts the Reviving Vet Med Podcast, exploring topics such as mental health and workplace culture. Her contributions have earned her the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association’s Communication Award and the Alberta Blue Cross Face of Wellness Award, as well as being recognized as one of Canada’s Top Keynote Speakers of 2025 by Eureka Education and Top 100 Health & Wellness by Top 100 Magazine.  Marie’s book, A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to Be a Veterinarian, offers a candid exploration of the challenges and rewards of a career in veterinary medicine, shedding light on the emotional complexities and deep sense of purpose that drive those in the profession. Learn about Dr. Marie's work: Website: https://marieholowaychuk.com/ Reviving Veterinary Medicine: https://revivingvetmed.com/ A Compassionate Calling (book): https://acompassionatecalling.com/   Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

Can Burnout Affect Your Sex Drive? The Effect of Chronic Stress on Desire When you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and constantly running on empty, desire is often one of the first things to fade. But that doesn’t mean something is wrong with you or your relationship. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm explores how burnout and chronic stress affect the nervous system—and why that directly impacts libido, intimacy, and pleasure. This isn’t a conversation about fixing desire or forcing intimacy. It’s about understanding what your body is doing when it’s been in survival mode for too long. Amy breaks down how the fight, flight, and freeze response can turn inward, leading to self-criticism, avoidance, and overthinking around intimacy. You’ll learn how burnout quietly reduces capacity for pleasure, why desire often goes offline as a protective response, and what to pay attention to if you suspect burnout may be affecting your sex drive. If you’ve ever thought, “Everything is fine, so why don’t I want this?”—this episode will help you make sense of what’s happening with compassion, clarity, and a nervous-system-informed lens.   Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

Have you ever made a small mistake—sent the wrong email, misspoke in a meeting, said something mildly awkward—and then found yourself replaying it over and over in your head long after it was already resolved? If so, you’re not overreacting. You’re experiencing a very normal nervous system response. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm explains why your brain fixates on mistakes, why “just letting it go” doesn’t work, and what’s actually happening in your body when anxiety takes over. You’ll learn how your threat response gets activated by perceived risks to your competence, reputation, or belonging—and why trying to out-think anxiety often makes spiraling worse. Amy walks you through a simple, science-based 3-step strategy to interrupt the spiral, calm your nervous system, and help your brain stand down once the danger has passed. Along the way, she shares real-life examples (including a painfully relatable social slip-up), common client scenarios, and the exact language she uses in coaching to help high-achievers recover faster after mistakes. This episode is for you if you: Can’t stop replaying small mistakes Feel anxious or embarrassed long after an interaction ends Struggle with overthinking, self-criticism, or rumination Want practical tools to calm your nervous system quickly Are ready to stop spiraling and trust yourself again You’ll walk away understanding that nothing has gone wrong—you’re not broken—and that learning to recover from mistakes is a skill you can practice and strengthen over time. ✨ If you’re ready to stop running on anxiety and start feeling more calm, confident, and grounded in your day-to-day life, learn more about coaching with Dr. Amy Grimm here.   Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.  

If you’re heading into the holidays feeling tired, overstimulated, or quietly overwhelmed, even while everyone around you seems to be sprinting toward joy, this episode is for you. This isn’t a productivity episode. It’s a pause. In this short, heartfelt holiday check-in, Amy shares a more personal, behind-the-scenes moment from her own life and offers permission to let this season be softer. For many high-achievers, the holidays come with unspoken pressure to keep going, keep performing, and keep optimizing—when what’s actually needed is rest, presence, and space to breathe. Amy reflects on why the holidays don’t have to be cheerful, polished, or high-energy to be meaningful, and why slowing down isn’t something you need to earn. She also invites listeners to step into community—by sharing topic requests, podcast recommendations, and helping spread this work to more high-achievers who need it. If you’ve been craving a gentler close to the year—without fixing, hustling, or figuring everything out—consider this your permission slip.   HOW TO SUBMIT Topic Requests or Podcast Recommendations: Step 1: Visit my podcast page by clicking this link. 🔗 Step 2: Scroll to the bottom of the page. ⬇️ Step 3: Fill out the request form. 📋 Step 4: Hit Submit! That's it! ✅   Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions among high achievers about stress: the belief that stress is inherently bad.  Stress is actually a normal (and necessary!) part of being human, which means it's in our best interest to learn how to work with it instead of fighting against it. In this episode, you'll learn: How your nervous system and mindset shape your stress response Why stress boosts performance How too little stress is just as harmful as too much And why avoiding stress keeps you stuck in overwhelm and burnout.  Amy also shares two powerful stories that show stress as a wake-up call and a catalyst for meaningful change.  If you’ve been trying to “get rid of stress,” this episode will help you rethink your entire relationship with it, and finally feel more in control.   Burnout & Wellbeing Coaching With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

If you’ve been feeling foggy, overwhelmed, indecisive, or like your brain just… stops, you’re not alone. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm breaks down the cause behind decision fatigue: cognitive fatigue, a burnout symptom most high-achievers mistake for personal failure. You’ll learn how chronic mental load drains your brain’s ability to make decisions, why “just prioritize” doesn’t work when you’re overloaded, and how your nervous system plays a direct role in your clarity, focus, and ability to choose. Amy shares the neuroscience behind cognitive fatigue, relatable examples from high-responsibility women, and simple tools you can use immediately to reduce overwhelm, strengthen your decision-making, and reclaim your mental energy. If you’re tired of feeling mentally scattered, stuck, or exhausted, this episode will help you finally understand what’s happening and what to do next.   Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

This Thanksgiving week, I’m practicing what I preach — rest, play, and doing things that make me feel alive. In this mini episode of Burnout-Free Me, I share why I’m taking the week off to go explore Death Valley… and why rest doesn’t always mean slowing down. Sometimes rest is joy. Sometimes it’s adventure. Sometimes it’s simply doing something because you love it. You’ll get a quick reminder that: Play is medicine for burnout Rest can look like movement, creativity, or fun Guilt-free downtime is essential, not optional This is your permission slip to pause and reconnect with yourself! Whether you spend the week relaxing, catching up on episodes, or doing something that lights you up — I’m cheering you on. Happy Thanksgiving, my friend. 💜     Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

AKA - How to Thrive Without Quitting Your Job (Or Losing Your Sanity)!  You don’t have to quit your job or escape to Bali to stop burning out. You just need a nervous system that feels safe, a brain that works with you (not against you), and a few tools to bring both back online. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm shares the five core skills she teaches her coaching clients to help them stop living in survival mode and start thriving, no matter how demanding their career is. You’ll learn: ✨ How to regulate your nervous system so your body stops running on adrenaline ✨ Why aligning your life with your core values is essential for real balance ✨ The simple shifts that help you meet your own needs (without guilt) ✨ How to manage your mind so you stop spiraling and start leading yourself ✨ The emotional processing that turns overwhelm into resilience These five skills are the foundation of Amy’s coaching framework, and the reason her clients go from exhausted and reactive to calm, confident, and capable. If you’re ready to stop running on fumes and start feeling like yourself again, tune in and learn how to thrive from the inside out.   Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

What Every Ambitious Woman Needs To Know About Happiness, Success, and Sanity. You’ve checked all the boxes, climbed the ladder, and built the life you thought you wanted… So why doesn’t it feel good? In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, Dr. Amy Grimm gets real about the difference between success and happiness, and why chasing them will leave you drained. Tune in to learn: Why external achievements can’t fill internal gaps How to redefine success so it actually feels good Why you must stop postponing happiness until “after the next goal” How your nervous system plays a role in feeling fulfilled And how to create achievement that’s sustainable, not exhausting You deserve a life that feels as good as it looks. 💯 Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

If you’ve been feeling lost, unsure, emotional, or just over it during a major life or career shift, you are not alone. And nothing has gone wrong. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, we’re breaking down 5 common thought traps that high achievers face during big transitions, and why these thoughts are actually signs that you’re growing. You’ll learn about: ✨ Why your identity feels wobbly when everything changes ✨ The moment when your “dream job” stops feeling dreamy ✨ The pressure to have life figured out by now (and why that’s a myth) ✨ The grief that comes with choosing what’s best for you ✨ Why your nervous system wants to hide when you try to evolve And because I love a good metaphor, we’re also talking about caterpillars turning into soup. Your goo era is part of the transformation 🐛🦋 If you’ve ever wondered: What is happening to me? Why is this so hard? Am I making a huge mistake? Take a deep breath. This is the messy middle — the chrysalis stage — where everything familiar dissolves so something better can emerge.   Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

Do you ever stop yourself from wanting more because it feels selfish or impossible to achieve? In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, we’ll unpack the hidden fears that make “wanting” feel unsafe, and how to give yourself permission to desire more without guilt or burnout. You’ll learn how to recognize the difference between external expectations and genuine desire, why your values are the clearest guide to what you truly want, and how Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can help you build a sustainable foundation for growth. I’ll also share a real coaching story about moving from “Should I?” to “How can I?”,  and a powerful mindset shift that changes everything. Getting what you really want isn’t about working harder, it’s about aligning with who you are and what matters most. And pursuing what you want shouldn’t lead to burnout. It should bring you back to yourself.   Download the Resource Guide for this Episode: Reflection Prompts and Values List     Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.    

High-achieving women often love their work, but love alone doesn’t protect them from feeling drained, exhausted, or burned out. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me, I sit down with Crystal Stokes, founder of Full Circle Lab, therapist, and leadership coach, to explore how ambitious professionals can thrive without sacrificing their well-being. You’ll hear Crystal’s journey from working in veterinary medicine to supporting the people within the profession, and what inspired her to focus on purpose, resilience, and values-driven leadership. We also discuss the balance between personal responsibility (how to show up, set boundaries, and protect yourself from burnout) and the role of organizational support (what systems and cultures look like when they truly optimize performance, leadership, and well-being). If you’re a driven professional who wants to succeed in your career while protecting your energy and joy, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and inspiring perspectives on leading yourself and your teams in a sustainable, fulfilling way.   Meet Our Guest: Crystal Stokes, is the founder and managing director of Full Circle Lab. With a background in veterinary medicine, psychotherapy, leadership development and coaching, and business operations, she leads with a blend of emotional intelligence, strategy, and heart. Her work is deeply rooted in evidence-based practices and high-performance coaching, and she's passionate about helping veterinary professionals rediscover purpose, build resilience, and lead from a grounded, values-driven perspective. Crystal has walked in many shoes—starting as a GP and then overnight ER veterinary technician, then becoming a licensed therapist, and now a director of operations, certified professional coach, and leadership consultant. Crystal understands the unique challenges of veterinary medicine and high-stress careers, not just clinically, but emotionally and culturally. That’s what drives her to build stronger, healthier teams. She’s also the host of the Vet Med Wellness & Leadership Podcast, where she dives into the heart of veterinary culture, burnout, and what it really means to thrive in this field.   Contact Crystal: https://www.fullcirclelab.com/ https://www.fullcirclelab.com/vet-med-podcast https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalstokes/    Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.

Emotions are temporary nervous system responses, not life sentences. They’re invitations to pause, listen, and understand yourself more deeply. In this episode, I’m sharing the art and science of emotional processing and how understanding your nervous system can transform the way you experience stress. You’ll learn why your brain tricks you into thinking feelings are permanent, how the 90-second emotional wave works, and why naming your emotions is like turning on your internal GPS. We’ll cover practical strategies to move through tough feelings, uncover their deeper messages, and regulate your nervous system so you can respond instead of react. Whether it’s that sharp email right before you leave work or the quiet frustration simmering at home, this episode gives you the tools to handle emotions with clarity and compassion. What You’ll Learn: Why your brain overestimates how long emotions last How to ride the 90-second emotional wave The power of naming and getting curious about your feelings How emotions shape your perception and decision-making Practical ways to bring your nervous system back into regulation If you’re ready to stop being swept away by your emotions and start working with them, this one’s for you. Visit www.daring dvm.com to explore ways to work together and join the Burnout-Free Community. And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share the episode!   Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.  

Big changes are happening! And I’m sharing all the details in this episode. From leaving small animal practice to coaching veterinarians, and now expanding to help ambitious women from any field who are done running on empty, my work has been on a journey —and so has my life. In just a few short years, everything has evolved: my energy, my focus, my community, and my business. It’s time for a fresh identity and a new vision. Join me this week to learn about the new direction I’m taking, what’s coming next, and how you can be part of this exciting shift, creating a generation of successful, energized, and fulfilled women who are finally living life on their own terms. 💜🙌   What You’ll Learn From This Episode: The twists and turns of my coaching journey so far. How my life and work have evolved in ways I didn’t expect. Why I’m taking my work in a bold new direction. What Burnout-Free Me really means, and who it’s for. What you can look forward to from me, the podcast, and my work in the near future. Here's to going from burnout to break through, together!   Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Burnout-Free Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.    

Let’s talk about how to stay grounded, sane, and effective while standing up for what you believe in. In this episode of Burnout-Free Me (previously Daring DVM), I share why connection and curiosity are more powerful than judgment, how willful ignorance keeps people stuck in survival mode, and why your anger about injustice isn’t something to numb—it’s fuel for meaningful action. We’ll also discuss powerful examples of using presence and compassion to shift perspectives, even in the most entrenched situations. If you want tools to navigate conflict, protect your well-being, and become a more effective ally in the world, this episode is for you. Tune in and learn how to heal, stand firm in your values, and sustain your activism without sacrificing yourself and without burning out.   Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and ways we can work together. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements here. JOIN the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Burnout-Free Me Podcast (previously Daring DVM Podcast), a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.    

The world feels a little… 🦇💩 crazy right now. Between the news cycles, social media chaos, and the constant division, it’s easy to feel anxious, angry, or just plain exhausted. If you’ve been wondering how to keep your head and your heart intact amid all this, you’re not alone. In this episode of Daring DVM, I’m sharing science-backed, soul-deep strategies for staying sane in a world gone mad. Think of it as your sanity survival guide: real talk, practical strategies, and a little bit of sass to remind you that you can show up with courage and kindness even amidst the mess. Here’s what we’ll cover: Why acknowledging reality (not ignoring it) is the first step to resilience What it means to be values-driven and kind (without being a pushover or an *sshole) How to respond instead of react (and why that pause is everything) Why action (not motivation) is the antidote to overwhelm How to be a thoughtful media consumer without checking out completely or going insane 💜 We need courage, kindness, grace, resilience and grit now more than ever.💜 Burnout Free Me If you’re ready to stop running on empty and start living a burnout-free life, join the brand-new Burnout Free Me Coaching Intensive—a transformative small-group program designed to help you build sustainable rest and balance for your high-achieving life. Join the waitlist now for first dibs on enrollment and access to exclusive founding member pricing. Spots are limited! Find out more at www.daringdvm.com. Learn more about the program and join the waitlist at www.daringdvm.com.   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. She also hosts the Daring DVM Podcast, a free resource for high-achievers and career professionals who want to live with less stress and create a life of balance, fulfillment, and joy. Outside of work, Amy and her partner enjoy travel and all things outdoors. You’ll most likely find them on top of a mountain, in the middle of a desert, somewhere underwater, or 100 miles into a ride on their tandem mountain bicycle.   Work With Amy: ✨ Ready to break free from exhaustion and stop running on empty, so you can create real balance, reclaim your energy, and finally feel like yourself again? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today! 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. JOIN the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

Ever heard the saying, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”? 🤔 We’ve been told that too much free time is the problem. Leisure makes us lazy, distracted, and overindulgent. Even Dr. Anna Lembke argues this in Dopamine Nation – too much free time leads to dopamine over-consumption and addiction.  But here’s my hot take:  That's not true and Leisure time isn’t the enemy. The real issue is that we’ve been conditioned to believe our worth = our productivity. So when downtime shows up, our nervous systems panic. Stillness feels unsafe. Rest feels like failure. And we end up filling our “free time” with things that exhaust us (overthinking, stressing, scrolling, distracting ourselves) instead of nourishing us. In this "hot take" episode, I’m breaking down why more free time isn’t the problem (it’s actually the opportunity) and what you need to relearn NOW, before the future gives us even more hours back (🤞fingers crossed!). If you’re tired of running on fumes and ready to finally feel safe doing less, this one’s for you. 💜💯   Burnout Free Me If you’re ready to stop running on empty and start living a burnout-free life, join the brand-new Burnout Free Me Coaching Intensive—a transformative small-group program designed to help you build sustainable rest and balance for your high-achieving life. Join the waitlist now for first dibs on enrollment and access to exclusive founding member pricing. Spots are limited! Find out more at www.daringdvm.com. Learn more about the program and join the waitlist at www.daringdvm.com.   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

This week’s episode is a little different—it wasn’t planned, but that’s the point. When my fiancé’s back injury sent us to the ER, my carefully mapped-out week unraveled. Old me would have spiraled—frustrated, resentful, guilty, and overwhelmed. But this time, I leaned on the tools I teach: nervous system regulation, mindset shifts, and self-trust. In this short, behind-the-scenes episode, I share how I navigated a week that went completely off the rails and why these tools matter most when life doesn’t go according to plan. You’ll walk away with practical reflections you can use to meet your own curveballs with more resilience, clarity, and calm. Plus, if you’re ready to go deeper, I share how you can join my Burnout Free Me group coaching program to put these tools into practice with guidance and support.   Burnout Free Me If you’re ready to stop running on empty and start living a burnout-free life, join the brand-new Burnout Free Me Coaching Intensive—a transformative small-group program designed to help you build sustainable rest and balance for your high-achieving life. Join the waitlist now for first dibs on enrollment and access to exclusive founding member pricing. Spots are limited! Find out more at www.daringdvm.com. Learn more about the program and join the waitlist at www.daringdvm.com.   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

Burnout in veterinary medicine is real, and it’s costing many vets their energy, purpose, and joy. In this episode of Daring DVM, I tackle the most common questions I hear from veterinarians about burnout: how to tell if you’re burned out, what to do when you’ve lost your passion for vet med, and how recover. If you’ve been running on empty and wondering if there’s a better way, this episode will help you take the first step back toward balance.   Burnout Free Me If you’re ready to stop running on empty and start living a burnout-free life, join the brand-new Burnout Free Me Coaching Intensive—a transformative small-group program designed to help you build sustainable rest and balance for your high-achieving life. Join the waitlist now for first dibs on enrollment and access to exclusive founding member pricing. Spots are limited! Find out more at www.daringdvm.com. Learn more about the program and join the waitlist at www.daringdvm.com.   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

Struggling with burnout, exhaustion, or constant stress? Discover how dopamine addiction disguised as achievement fuels burnout and why traditional self-care isn’t enough to escape the trap. I’ll show you how your nervous system responds to rewards and stress, and provide you with practical strategies to retrain your brain, restore energy, and finally break free from burnout.   Episode Information: Fellow high-achievers! Are you running on fumes, chasing the next “win,” or feeling like rest just isn’t enough? You’re not alone! In this episode of Daring DVM, Dr. Amy Grimm breaks down the science of dopamine, the brain chemical that rules our motivation, reward, and yes, even our burnout. What you'll learn: How pleasure and pain are tied together in your brain, and why chasing quick hits of dopamine can leave you exhausted. Why high-achievers are particularly vulnerable to dopamine-driven burnout. The role your nervous system plays in craving, stress, and exhaustion. Practical, actionable strategies to reset your dopamine system and reclaim your energy (without giving up ambition or success!). From practicing boredom and delaying gratification to prioritizing real self-care and leaning into meaning, you’ll learn how to break free from the cycle of constant chasing and create lasting balance in your life. If you’re ready to stop running on autopilot, calm your nervous system, and finally feel like yourself again, this episode is for you.   Burnout Free Me If you’re ready to stop running on empty and start living a burnout-free life, join the brand-new Burnout Free Me Coaching Intensive—a transformative small-group program designed to help you build sustainable rest and balance for your high-achieving life. Join the waitlist now for first dibs on enrollment and access to exclusive founding member pricing. Spots are limited! Find out more at www.daringdvm.com. Learn more about the program and join the waitlist at www.daringdvm.com.   Meet Amy: Dr. Amy Grimm is a success and well-being coach, speaker, and veterinarian who helps high-performing professionals lead with clarity, energy, and purpose without sacrificing their well-being. A former medical director who experienced burnout firsthand, Amy now coaches leaders across industries to recognize the hidden costs of hustle culture and create sustainable success through strategic prioritization and people-first leadership. ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

Veterinarians and other high achievers are no strangers to long hours, high standards, and pushing past their limits. But what happens when that constant drive starts to take a toll on the body? Chronic stress doesn’t just drain your energy; it can disrupt your gut, your hormones, and even your mood. In this episode of Daring DVM, Dr. Amy Grimm discusses with Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Restore and Blossom podcast host Krisie Stanley, how stress affects gut health, why symptoms like brain fog and fatigue may be connected, and simple daily habits busy women can use to restore balance and feel their best. Burnout Free Me If you’re ready to stop running on empty and start living a burnout-free life, join the brand-new Burnout Free Me Coaching Intensive—a transformative small-group program designed to help you build sustainable rest and balance for your high-achieving life. Join the waitlist now for first dibs on enrollment and access to exclusive founding member pricing. Spots are limited! Find out more at www.daringdvm.com. Learn more about the program and join the waitlist at www.daringdvm.com.   ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn   Connect with Krisie Stanley: Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restoreandblossom/ Free 30-minute consultation: https://bit.ly/Krisierestoreandblossom   Krisie Stanley is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist who specializes in gut health, hormone balance, and root-cause healing. Krisie has a deep passion for helping others restore their health naturally, and helps clients uncover and address the underlying gut imbalances contributing to fatigue, digestive issues, hormonal challenges, and more. She is the founder of Restore and Blossom, a virtual holistic nutrition practice where she supports people in achieving vibrant health and lasting transformation through personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies. She also hosts the Restore and Blossom Podcast, where she helps listeners break up with diet culture, build a healthier relationship with food, understand how nutrition works for them. In addition, she provides services at Complete Care and Wellness Counselling, helping individuals navigate illness and recovery, and collaborates with a local gym to guide clients toward strength, energy, and sustainable body confidence through balanced, personalized approaches. Krisie’s mission is to empower others with the knowledge, tools, and encouragement they need to eliminate gut symptoms, reclaim their health, and experience the fullness of life—spirit, soul, and body.

High achievers are wired to care deeply, but that same wiring can make burnout almost inevitable. In this episode of Daring DVM, I share what’s happening in your nervous system when you’re constantly “on,” how the biology of stress fuels exhaustion, and why self-compassion is the surprising first step to recovery. We’re covering the physiology of stress in high achievers and why your very drive to care deeply can put you at greater risk for burnout what’s happening in your nervous system when you’re in a constant state of “go” how chronic activation erodes your resilience why slowing down feels so unnatural for people who are used to pushing through how the biology of stress interacts with the psychology of caring, creating a perfect storm for exhaustion and detachment and why the first step out of that cycle is practicing self-compassion. We’ll also look at the internal and external signs of burnout so you can spot them early and take action before they take over.   Burnout Free Me If you’re ready to stop running on empty and start living a burnout-free life, join the brand-new Burnout Free Me Coaching Intensive—a transformative small-group program designed to help you build sustainable rest and balance for your high-achieving life. Join the waitlist now for first dibs on enrollment and access to exclusive founding member pricing. Spots are limited! Find out more at www.daringdvm.com. Learn more about the program and join the waitlist at www.daringdvm.com.   ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

If you’ve ever left work physically but found your brain still clocked in—running through to-do lists, replaying tough conversations, or worrying about tomorrow—you’re not alone. I In this episode of Daring DVM, I’m sharing practical tools and mindset shifts to help you actually leave work at work. You’ll learn how to set mental boundaries, transition out of “work mode” faster, and create space for rest, relationships, and the parts of your life that light you up. Whether you’re a veterinarian, healthcare professional, business owner, or any high-achieving woman who’s tired of feeling “always on,” this episode will give you actionable strategies to protect your energy and reclaim your evenings, weekends, and peace of mind. And if you’re ready to go deeper, my group program Burnout Free Me will help you create lasting balance and build a life where work supports you (not the other way around!) You can join today through the link in the show notes. 💜   Burnout Free Me If you’re ready to stop running on empty and start living a burnout-free life, join the brand-new Burnout Free Me Coaching Intensive—a transformative small-group program designed to help you build sustainable rest and balance for your high-achieving life. Join the waitlist now for first dibs on enrollment and access to exclusive founding member pricing. Spots are limited! Find out more at www.daringdvm.com. Learn more about the program and join the waitlist at www.daringdvm.com.   ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

What does real rest mean for ambitious, high-achieving women who are tired of feeling exhausted despite getting “enough” sleep. In this episode of Daring DVM, Dr. Amy Grimm breaks down the seven essential types of rest and explains why each one is important for reclaiming your energy and joy. 🎉 Special announcement! 🎉 If you’re ready to stop running on empty and start living a burnout-free life, join the brand-new Burnout Free Me Coaching Intensive—a transformative small-group program designed to help you build sustainable rest and balance for your high-achieving life. Join the waitlist now for first dibs on enrollment and access to exclusive founding member pricing. Spots are limited! Find out more at www.daringdvm.com.   Learn more and join the waitlist at www.daringdvm.com.   ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

Have you ever looked around at work and wondered, “Do I even belong here?” In this episode of the Daring DVM Podcast, I’m joined by Samantha Harris, host of the Rooted In Your Confidence podcast, who coaches women navigating leadership in male-dominated industries. Together, we discuss the mindset shifts that help ambitious women reclaim their power without burning out or becoming someone they’re not. Find out: What confidence really looks like when you’re the “only one” in the room How to stop overproving and start owning your worth The concept of self-allyship and why it matters more than ever Practical tools to lead, rise, and stay grounded in challenging environments Whether you're a veterinarian, executive, or high-achieving woman holding your own in a tough space, this conversation is your permission slip to take up space on your terms.   💫Special Announcement! The waitlist is officially open for the first-ever Burnout-Free Me group coaching program! If you're ready to stop running on fumes and start living like yourself again, this is your invitation. Join the waitlist now for first dibs on enrollment and access to exclusive founding member pricing. Spots are limited! Find out more at www.daringdvm.com.   Connect with Samantha: Rooted in Your Confidence  Email  Website LinkedIn  Samantha’s Confidence Quiz   ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

In this episode of the Daring DVM Podcast, I’m breaking down what true resilience really means, because it’s not just about bouncing back or pushing through. Real resilience is about feeling grounded and at peace with yourself, even in the middle of chaos. It’s about responding to life in a way that aligns with who you are and what you want, instead of reacting out of habit or burnout. I’m sharing the key patterns I’ve seen in the women I coach—those who have healed from past experiences and created more joy, self-trust, and sustainable success in their lives.  If you’ve been running on fumes and wondering how to feel like you again, this episode is for you.   ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

Veterinary medicine can be deeply fulfilling, but let’s be honest, it can also leave you exhausted, emotionally drained, and questioning how long you can keep going at this pace. In this Q&A episode, I’m answering two powerful questions that get to the heart of what veterinarians are struggling with, and how to shift from just surviving to living a life and career you actually enjoy. We’ll explore: The most common emotional and motivational challenges veterinary professionals face, and how to manage them (especially when you’re dealing with difficult coworkers or clients). One simple daily practice to help you stay grounded, resilient, and connected to what matters, no matter how chaotic the day gets. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in “go mode,” or just craving a deeper sense of purpose in your work, this episode offers practical, compassionate strategies you can start using right away.   🧠 Want to build sustainable habits without the burnout? Go back and listen to Episode 6 for a step-by-step habit strategy that actually works. ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

In this powerful follow-up to our conversation on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we’re diving deep into the foundational level: physiological safety. If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re just going through the motions, even while doing “all the right things”, this episode is for you. You'll learn why true well-being starts in your body, not just your mind, and how nervous system regulation is the missing link in most self-care plans. Dr. Amy walks you through how stress gets stored in your body, why your brain can't simply “think” its way out of burnout, and what you can do today to start reconnecting with yourself from the inside out.   🔑 In this episode, we cover: Why skipping over the basics can sabotage your growth How your vagus nerve plays a critical role in stress and safety What to do when “doing more” isn’t helping Simple, science-backed micro-moments to regulate your nervous system How to take just one small step to begin feeling better 🧠 Want to build sustainable habits without the burnout? Go back and listen to Episode 6 for a step-by-step habit strategy that actually works. ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today. 🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

In this episode of Daring DVM, host Dr. Amy Grimm is digging into perfectionist relationships. If you’ve ever felt frustrated that your partner doesn’t meet your standards, struggled to delegate because "no one does it quite right," or found yourself pulling away instead of asking for help, this one’s for you. You’ll learn: How perfectionism isn’t just about achievement or performance, it’s often a protective strategy that creates distance in our closest connections. Why high-achieving women, in particular, struggle with vulnerability How the drive to be self-sufficient and responsible for everything can backfire when it comes to intimacy, communication, and trust. Plus, I’m sharing a sneak peek into my upcoming group coaching program designed to help high-achieving women release the grip of perfectionism, build more authentic relationships, and find real support in a community of women who get it. This is for those ready to experience more connection, presence, and peace. AKA – No more burnout!   ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today.   🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

In this episode of Daring DVM, Dr. Amy Grimm discusses a surprisingly common struggle for high-achievers: procrastination. We’re not talking about laziness or lack of discipline, we’re talking about the real reason we procrastinate (hint: it has everything to do with avoiding negative emotion). You’ll learn: The two sneaky ways perfectionists tend to procrastinate Why smart, driven women find themselves delaying or distracting, even when they really want to follow through How emotions like fear of failure, overwhelm, self-doubt, and discomfort fuel the cycle of avoidance Practical journaling prompts and self-awareness exercises to help you figure out what you’re trying to avoid What it actually takes to break the habit of procrastination (no willpower required) If you’re tired of putting things off, constantly feeling behind, or stuck in a burnout spiral, this episode will help you start moving forward, one uncomfortable but empowering step at a time.   ✨ Ready to create your burnout-free life? Book your free Burnout-Free Me consultation today.   🌐Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! 📩Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

Why do so many high-achieving professionals feel like they don’t belong even when they’ve clearly earned their success? In this episode of Daring DVM, I sit down with Savanna Symons, a life and leadership coach who helps ambitious women own their expertise, lead with confidence, and break free from the cycle of self-doubt. Together, we unpack the hidden link between imposter syndrome and burnout and why constantly feeling “not enough” can quietly drive you to exhaustion, overworking, and chronic stress. This conversation will help you identify the signs of imposter syndrome and give you tools to start shifting your mindset. You will learn: The reason high-achievers often feel like frauds How imposter syndrome leads to burnout, even in people who “look fine” Practical coaching tools to build genuine confidence Why believing you belong is essential for well-being and leadership If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “good enough” or feared being found out as an imposter, this episode will show you you’re not alone, and there is a path forward.   🔗 Learn more about Savanna Symons at Website Newsletter Instagram LinkedIn 💬 Share your thoughts or tag me on Instagram @DaringDVM ✨ Ready to reclaim your energy and confidence? Visit https://www.daringdvm.com.   Tired of running on empty? Want to live life on your terms? Schedule a complimentary consultation in which I create a personalized Burnout Free Me blueprint just for you. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

In this episode of Daring DVM, we continue with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs through the lens of self-care. Dr. Amy walks you through each level of the pyramid, from foundational needs like sleep, hydration, and safety, to deeper goals like confidence and self-actualization. You’ll learn how to self-assess, set small actionable goals, and coach yourself when you feel stuck. Discover how to reclaim your energy, feel like yourself again, and build the life you truly want, on your terms. Plus, get practical strategies to address burnout, boost confidence, and align your life with what matters most. 👉 Don’t forget to download the Burnout-Free Me guide linked in the show notes to start applying these steps today!   LINKS: Burnout Free Me Guide - Grab Yours Here Stress Resilience vs. Reduction - Listen to Ep 96  VIA Character Survey - Take the Free Survey Here   Tired of running on empty? Want to live life on your terms? Schedule a complimentary consultation in which I create a personalized Burnout Free Me blueprint just for you. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

In this episode of Daring DVM, Dr. Amy Grimm breaks down Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a powerful framework for understanding what truly drives us, and then re-frames it through the lens of self-care. Doing this helps us understand why we feel the way we do, and why burnout can feel so confusing, even when life looks ‘good’ on paper. If you’ve ever felt guilty for resting or confused about why you’re so exhausted despite “having it all,” this episode is for you. Learn how real self-care starts with honoring your most basic needs and builds toward a life that actually feels good, not just looks good on paper. When you think about self-care, I want you to think less about ‘treating’ yourself and more about supporting yourself from the ground up. That’s how you build a life that actually feels good to live in. 💜 In this episode: A quick vacation recap and a peek at what we’ve been up to A simple breakdown of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs How to understand your needs through the lens of self-care What it means to build a life from the inside out Practical ways to support yourself, without guilt or overwhelm   LINKS: Episode on Determining Your Values - Listen Here VIA Character Survey - Take the Free Survey Here   Tired of running on empty? Want to live life on your terms? Schedule a complimentary consultation in which I create a personalized Burnout Free Me blueprint just for you. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

In this episode of The Housecall Vet Café, Dr. Eve Harrison sits down with Dr. Amy Grimm—veterinarian, certified life coach, and founder of Daring DVM—for a heartfelt and insightful conversation on burnout, healing, and reclaiming purpose in veterinary medicine. Dr. Amy shares her journey from South Africa to becoming a vet and coach in the U.S., and how her own experience with burnout led her to a new path of helping others. Together, they explore the emotional toll of veterinary work, the power of understanding our nervous systems through Polyvagal Theory, and why giving back can be a powerful antidote to disconnection and exhaustion. You’ll walk away with practical advice for getting unstuck, restoring your energy, and finding your way back to the version of yourself that feels whole again.   LINKS: Have you heard Dr. Eve Harrison's Guest Interview on Daring DVM? Listen here Interested in working together? Schedule a Coaching Conversation with me to learn how to finally feel like yourself again. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

Thinking about leaving your job, but not sure if it’s really time to go? In this Daring DVM episode, I’m sharing 10 red flags 🚩🚩 that can help you get clear on whether your workplace is truly terrible or just in need of some boundaries, improved communication, or a mindset shift. We’ll explore signs that it might be time to walk away and moments where there’s room for growth or negotiation. If you're feeling stuck, second-guessing yourself, or wondering if you’re the problem—or if it really is the job—this episode is your permission slip to get clarity and take action.   LINKS: Interested in working together? Schedule a Coaching Conversation with me to learn how to finally feel like yourself again. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

Have you ever felt torn between speaking up and staying silent, especially when someone says or does something harmful? In today’s episode of Daring DVM, we’re exploring a transformative alternative to cancel culture that invites accountability without dehumanization. I’m diving into a conversation inspired by Loretta Ross, a longtime activist and educator, who teaches us how to "call in" instead of "call out." Calling in is about holding people accountable with love, grace, and empathy, without turning to shame or public humiliation. It’s about believing in the possibility of growth, even in challenging conversations. Whether you’re navigating conflict at work, with family, or on social media, this episode offers a more compassionate roadmap for real change. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The difference between calling out and calling in—and when each might be appropriate How calling in can transform conflict into connection and growth The power of radical empathy, even in the face of hate or ignorance Why public shaming often backfires—and what to do instead Practical tools and scripts you can use to engage in courageous, respectful conversations How to lead with values, ask better questions, and affirm shared humanity—even when it’s uncomfortable Whether you’re a leader, an ally, a friend, or simply someone trying to improve your community, this episode will give you the tools to speak up with strength and compassion. Let’s explore how to be change-makers without burning bridges.   LINKS: The interview that inspired this episode: Listen here Interested in working together? Schedule a Coaching Conversation with me to learn how to finally feel like yourself again. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

Navigating Uncertainty: A 3-Part Series to Find Calm in the Chaos This is the final episode in our 3-part series on navigating uncertainty—and it’s all about action! Now that we’ve explored how uncertainty impacts your nervous system and your mindset, this episode focuses on simple, effective tools you can use in real life. Whether you're facing big decisions, life transitions, or just the daily stress of the unknown, these practical strategies will help you ground yourself, create clarity, and move forward with confidence.   LINKS: Interested in learning more? Schedule a Coaching Conversation with me to learn how to finally feel like yourself again. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

Navigating Uncertainty: A 3-Part Series to Find Calm in the Chaos Welcome to Daring DVM Part 2 of our 3-part series on navigating uncertainty. In this episode, we shift from the body to the brain. We’ll talk about what’s going on in your mind during uncertain times, including common thought traps that increase anxiety and keep you stuck. You’ll learn how coaching tools can help you reshape your mindset, build resilience, and regain a sense of internal stability—even when your external circumstances are anything but predictable.   LINKS: Interested in learning more? Schedule a Coaching Conversation with me to learn how to finally feel like yourself again. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

Navigating Uncertainty: A 3-Part Series to Find Calm in the Chaos This is Part 1 of our 3-part series on navigating uncertainty. In this episode of Daring DVM, we’re diving into what uncertainty actually is and why it feels so uncomfortable—especially when we’re stuck in survival mode. Through the lens of the nervous system, we’ll explore how your body responds to unpredictability, what it’s trying to protect you from, and how that impacts your emotions, behaviors, and energy. If you’ve ever felt like uncertainty hijacks your ability to think clearly or stay calm, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do about it.   LINKS: Interested in learning more? Schedule a Coaching Conversation with me to learn how to finally feel like yourself again. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can join the Daring DVM Community for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn  

In this episode of Daring DVM, I’m answering four of the most common (and most pressing) questions high-achieving women have about burnout. If you’re constantly exhausted, struggling to slow down, and wondering why everything feels so hard even though you’re “checking all the boxes,” this one’s for you. Tune in for honest answers, practical mindset shifts, and encouragement to start feeling like yourself again—without sacrificing your success.   LINKS: LAST CHANCE!!!! 🥳 Celebrating 100 Episodes Coaching Giveaway!!! Enter by April 11, 2025, to win a month of free coaching with me. Click HERE to enter. Or copy/paste this link in your browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv9VOcmG3GmvCZ4VjS3OySfrDdDEDcMiaJfNUUnBXJd5bgiA/viewform?usp=header   Got more questions about burnout? Schedule a Coaching Conversation with me to learn how to finally feel like yourself again. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can subscribe to the Daring DVM Newsletter for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

Happy 100th Daring DVM Episode! 🥳 To celebrate I'm sharing TEN of the most powerful lessons I have learned to break free from burnout and create real balance, reclaim my energy, and finally feel like myself again. 💜 Also, in the spirit of celebration, click HERE to win a month of free coaching with me! It's my way of saying THANK YOU for choosing yourself and doing the work to create your own burnout free life. And thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey. 🌱   Ok, so we all know work can be demanding, and many of us feel like our time and energy are not really ours to control. Between packed schedules, client messages, and the emotional weight of patient care, it’s easy to feel drained. But here’s the truth: you have more control than you think. And today, we’re going to talk about how to take it back. In today’s Daring DVM episode I’m sharing: 10 powerful strategies to help you regain control of your time and energy How to set boundaries without guilt How to structure your day for energy efficiency How to let go of the pressure to overwork Along with specific veterinary examples to help you put these strategies into practice. So if you’re ready to stop feeling stretched too thin and start feeling more balanced and in control—this episode is for YOU.   LINKS: 🥳 Celebrating 100 Episodes Coaching Giveaway!!! Enter to win a month of free coaching with me. Click HERE to enter. Or copy/paste this link in your browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv9VOcmG3GmvCZ4VjS3OySfrDdDEDcMiaJfNUUnBXJd5bgiA/viewform?usp=header   Tired of taking on everyone else's stress as your own? Schedule a Coaching Conversation with me to learn how to set boundaries, protect your energy, and create success on your terms. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can subscribe to the Daring DVM Newsletter for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

If you’ve ever felt exhausted from giving so much of yourself to this profession, this episode is for you. Empathic strain is not something you just have to endure. Yes, it is considered an occupational hazard of veterinary medicine, AND we all have the opportunity to recognize where we are, address our situations, and heal. And that’s exactly what we are doing in this episode! This week on the Daring DVM Podcast, we’re going to cover: How we can make veterinary workplaces more psychologically safe to minimize our risk of empathic strain What you can do to take care of yourself and others.   As you’re listening to this episode, I encourage you to ask yourself: “What is one-small step I can implement today to help me decrease my stress and my risk of burnout and compassion fatigue?” This episode follows last week’s one on The Five Stages of Empathic Strain.   LINKS: 🥳 Celebrating 100 Episodes Coaching Giveaway!!! Enter to win a month of free coaching with me. Click HERE to enter. Or copy/paste this link in your browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv9VOcmG3GmvCZ4VjS3OySfrDdDEDcMiaJfNUUnBXJd5bgiA/viewform?usp=header   Tired of taking on everyone else's stress as your own? Schedule a Coaching Conversation with me to learn how to set boundaries, protect your energy, and create success on your terms. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can subscribe to the Daring DVM Newsletter for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn

As a veterinary caregiver, your ability to care deeply is one of your greatest strengths—but it can also take a serious toll on your emotional well-being. Over time, the constant exposure to others’ suffering, stress, and high expectations can lead to empathic strain—a gradual erosion of your emotional resilience. In this episode, we’re breaking down the five stages of empathic strain so you can recognize where you are in the process before burnout takes over. We’ll cover: ✅ The five stages of empathic strain and how they progress ✅ Key signs to watch for at each stage ✅ Real-life examples from veterinary medicine ✅ How coaching can help you regain balance and resilience The earlier you can recognize the symptoms, the better equipped you’ll be to protect your mental health and stay connected to the work you love—without running yourself into the ground! So come learn how to spot the signs and take back control of your well-being.   LINKS: 🥳 Celebrating 100 Episodes Coaching Giveaway!!! Enter to win a month of free coaching with me. Click HERE to enter. Or copy/paste this link in your browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv9VOcmG3GmvCZ4VjS3OySfrDdDEDcMiaJfNUUnBXJd5bgiA/viewform?usp=header   Tired of taking on everyone else's stress as your own? Schedule a Coaching Conversation with me to learn how to set boundaries, protect your energy, and create success on your terms. Visit www.daringdvm.com to learn more about coaching and working with me. You can also find out about team trainings and speaking engagements. And you can subscribe to the Daring DVM Newsletter for weekly inspiration, coaching tools, special offers, and more! Let's connect on Instagram or LinkedIn