Overachieving Shitshow

Why do we spend 10 hours putting out fires at work just to come home and watch a medical drama like The Pit? Dr. Kate gets into the "guilty as charged" reality of why overachievers crave high-stress entertainment and what it reveals about our own nervous systems. In this episode, we break down the five types of burnout—from the "I Got It" over-functioner to the cynical "Everyone is Annoying" phase. If you feel like your battery is at 5% but you're still performing like a boss, it’s time to learn how to triage your life before your body pulls the emergency brake for you.

What do you do when your phone charger won't plug in and you're suddenly screaming at the wall? You might be in menopause, and you’re definitely an overachieving shit show. Dr. Kate and guest Heidi Hovda get real about the "psychopath at night" phase of life, the beauty of "rage poems" (5-7-5 or bust!), and why we’re all choosing the bear. Grab a drink and pull up a spot on the floor—this one is for everyone currently white-knuckling life.

Don’t be too pretty. Don’t be too angry. Don’t wear hoops." Criminal defense attorney Lisa Greenberg spent years trying to follow the "rules" of being a female lawyer before realizing that her greatest weapon wasn’t her suit—it was her rage and her humanity. In this episode, Dr. Kate and Lisa dive into the grit of the legal system, the dark humor that keeps them sane, and why being a "Venmo Mom" is a perfectly valid survival strategy. From capital murder cases to the "emergency pack" of cigarettes in the console, this is an unfiltered look at what it takes to carry the weight of other people's lives without losing your own.

Do you ever feel like a hero at the office—the calm "fire extinguisher" who handles every crisis with a smile—only to walk through your front door and lose your mind because someone asked what’s for dinner?You’re not a "cold bitch" or a "bad partner." You’re experiencing The Saint Paradox.In this solo episode, Dr. Kate Rodriguez dives into the messy reality of burnout and why we often give our best "Saint" energy to strangers while saving our most exhausted, "shitshow" selves for the people we love most. She breaks down the science of why your brain's "CEO" (the prefrontal cortex) goes offline by 6:00 PM, leaving your "Fire Alarm" (the amygdala) in charge of your evening.

Once you’ve tasted total autonomy, there’s no going back. Crystal explains why she’s officially "unemployable," how she survived the "once-in-a-lifetime" crises of bridge closures and global shifts, and why she’d rather make the tough calls herself than ever sit in someone else’s 9-to-5 again.

Meet the accountant turned therapist who is done with the "perfect overachiever" narrative. Dr. Diane Herrero joins Dr. Kate to discuss why the path to becoming a Chingona is often messy, ugly, and full of pivots. If you’ve ever felt like you’re working twice as hard for the same seat at the table, this episode is your permission slip to set boundaries and breathe.Disclaimer: Dr. Kate Rodriguez is a therapist, but the information shared here is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. No therapist-client relationship is formed by consuming this content.

If one more person asks you "How do you do it all?" you might actually snap. Dr. Kate Rodriguez is here to validate what you’ve been feeling: your high-functioning competence is a trap. In this podcast, we dismantle the "strong woman" trope with a mix of dry humor, clinical insight, and radical honesty. From "Guinness shortages" to "productive procrastination," we discuss the messy reality of burnout and the practical, gritty steps required to get your life back. No fluff, no jargon, just the truth about what it takes to stop drowning and start floating.

Welcome to Overachieving Shitshow, the podcast for smart, capable women and some men who look like they have it all together but are secretly exhausted from holding everything up.I’m Dr. Kate, a counselor, speaker, and proud overachieving shitshow myself. In this podcast, we talk honestly about what it’s like to be the one everyone depends on — the professional, the helper, the fixer, the one who always gets shit done.We’ll unpack the pressure to achieve, the cultural expectations many of us carry, and the lie that burnout is just the price of being successful. You’ll hear conversations about protecting your spark, closing the mental loops that keep your brain spinning, and learning how to stay ambitious without running yourself into the ground.This isn’t about doing less or lowering your standards.It’s about building a life where your talent, ambition, and energy actually work for you, not against you.If you’ve ever thought “I’m fine… just busy and tired,” you’re in the right place.