479: High-Functioning Burnout Exposed: The Overwhelm Loop

Why is it that the very habits that drive ambitious women to succeed - the hustle, the long hours, the “I can do it all” mindset - are often the same ones that lead to burnout, anxiety, and resentment? In the first episode of our 5-part series with Awaken the Muse - Natalie, Alexi Panos and Emily Gallagher pull back the curtain on what they call the overwhelm loop - the cycle of urgency, overcommitment, and dysregulation that so many high-achieving women mistake for normal. Together, they share raw stories of postpartum identity shifts, hidden resentment in relationships, and the nervous system patterns that keep us chasing more even when we already feel depleted. You’ll learn what “functional freeze” actually looks like, why capacity can be a mask for self-abandonment, and the micro-practices that help you exhale, reset, and build a more sustainable kind of success. If you’ve ever felt like slowing down means falling behind, this episode will prove the opposite - that nervous system regulation is the real key to growth, profit, and fulfillment. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The hidden cost of high-functioning burnout 01:26 From biohacking to balance: how hormones tell the truth before we do 03:35 The LA hustle spell and the pressure to “stay relevant” 05:24 Postpartum wake-up calls: splitting yourself between business and baby 08:49 The identity crisis no one talks about after becoming a mother 11:27 Why your nervous system equates chaos with safety 15:10 How relaxing (not pushing harder) actually expands capacity 16:40 Soft CEO era vs. hustle culture: finding a middle ground 25:36 Functional freeze explained and why high achievers miss the signs 33:37 Resentment as a red flag for self-abandonment 38:23 Simple regulation tools you can use in under a minute 41:34 The myth that transformation has to be hard, and what actually works RESOURCES + LINKS Click Here To Join Soft Success: A Free Masterclass Experience Taking Place On September 24th To End High-Functioning Burnout And Redefine Success On Your Terms. Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter & Get Insights From Natalie Every Single Week On All Things Strategy, Motherhood, Business Growth + More.  Drop Us A Review On The Podcast + Send Us A Screenshot & We’ll Send You Natalie’s 7-Figure Operating System Completely FREE (value $1,997).