EP 9: World Mental Health Day Special: From Burnout to Breakthrough

With Guest: Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston — veterinarian, integrative health and life coach, consultant, speaker, entrepreneur, and as she calls herself, a “recovered, burned-out veterinarian.”

Amelia’s story is one so many of us in this profession can relate to. On the outside, she was thriving and living her childhood dream, but underneath she was anxious, exhausted, and burned out. That turning point led her to explore a different way of living and working—one rooted in compassion, curiosity, and connection. Today, she helps veterinary professionals “uninstall the malware” of hustle culture and outdated roles so they can create sustainable, authentic, and energizing lives. We get into what burnout really is (spoiler: it’s an overwhelmed nervous system), why productivity can feel safer than rest, and how shifting from judgment to curiosity changes everything—from team dynamics to self-leadership. We talk about vulnerability in leadership (why saying “today isn’t my best day” builds psychological safety), the trap of external validation, and how to reframe uncomfortable pauses as powerful opportunities for growth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How burnout shows up in the body: fight, flight, and freeze explained

• Why rest feels so uncomfortable—and how to practice it without guilt

• The “3 C’s” framework: compassion, curiosity, and connection as everyday tools

• Leading by example: modeling boundaries and vulnerability for your team

• How to spot the early warning signs of burnout (in yourself and your team)

• Why external validation feeds burnout—and how to redefine success on your terms

• The power of the pause: lessons from healing through concussion and burnout recovery

Connect with Dr. Amelia:

• 🔗 Website: https://www.lifeboost.today/

• IG: @lifeboostwithamelia

• LinkedIn: Amelia Knight Pinkston

• 🎙 Podcast: https://lifeboostwithamelia.buzzsprout.com/

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