Episode Details

Depression. Burnout. Imposter Syndrome.

I’ll take “3 Things I’d Rather Not Admit That I’ve Experienced” for $1000, Alex!

In today’s society we are conditioned to believe that we have to show up to work every single day, all day, for ridiculously long days, and always be able to perform at an equally high level. The expectation is that we should be able to summon creativity on demand, and while it is possible to learn how to do so on a more consistent basis, it’s just not realistic to expect that you can push yourself at 100% capacity all the time. Subsisting off Red Bull, M&M’s, and pizza definitely doesn’t help either despite that being the standard diet in most creative office spaces. And if you’re a woman in a male-dominated field, let’s just say the deck is not stacked in your favor either.

I’ve shared my story more than once about the many times I’ve experienced depression, burnout, and imposter syndrome throughout my career, and in today’s episode I’ll be sharing more of my experiences alongside my guest Genevieve Malone, the founder of The Inertia Project who is also a civil engineer as well as a competitor in the sport of female bodybuilding, specifically as a figure competitor.

Genevieve founded The Inertia Project to empower other women to take control of their lives and habits, but if you’re a guy listening today, don’t let that scare you away. Even though Gen specializes in working with women, she has plenty of killer tips & tricks for the men out there as well. She focuses on fun, quick, effective workouts and incorporates behavior change techniques to make the changes stick.

If after listening you’d like to start taking real action, Gen has been kind enough to provide a bonus for this episode. It includes:

• A shopping list with healthy recipes using food to stay alert and focused all day long
• 3 energizing workouts to sharpen your focus and prevent burnout
• Her “Crystal Ball Technique” to harness the power of visualization

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• What burnout looks like, the ugly side, especially when dealing with "Imposter syndrome"
• Going from a civil engineer to a female body builder
• Framing failure as a learning experience, especially if it leads to depression and burnout
• Habit stacking and visualization to go from unlikely behaviors to likely behaviors
• Dealing with common misconceptions around being a body builder
• Processing depression in the midst of becoming a public figure
• Evaluating the standards you define yourself by in the wake of burnout
• Relieving yourself of the obligation to help people and giving yourself permission to fail
• The simplest steps you can take to move towards health while in the throes of depression

Useful Resources Mentioned:

The Intertia Project

Our Generous Sponsors:

This episode is made possible by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in moving more at their height-adjustable workstation. Listen, standing desks are only great if you’re standing well, otherwise you’re constantly fighting fatigue and chronic pain. Not like any other anti-fatigue mat, the Topo is scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. And they’re really fun and a great conversation starter.

Guest Bio:

Genev