Season 1 Recap and Looking Ahead To Season 2

Jo & JJ Go Mental

What a season! As Jo and J.J. wrap up Season 1, they identify a few of the themes that came up with the fantastic array of guests. Between fear, shame, embracing your weirdness and much more, Season 1 was chock full of learning from each other and calling in new perspectives. This week, they highlight a few stand-out moments and give us a sneak peek of what we can look forward to in Season 2.

Takeaway:

[4:43] As Jo was reading the Sunday papers over breakfast, she came across an article she found interesting. Titled, “I Didn’t Have Burnout. It was a Lie,” designer Rebecca Minkoff explained why she dreaded going back to work after maternity leave, and why it may not have been her own burnout but external factors. This brings up the conversation of the pros and cons of more people speaking openly about burnout and putting a label on it. It may help people speak up and have language and feel less alone, but we can also over-identify with labels and not take accountability.

[9:44] Jo has gotten direct feedback from her presentations on burnout that talking about it helps bring it into the light and helps people feel less like they are losing their minds. When we know that it’s exhaustion rather than a character flaw or defect, we have structure and can get an actionable plan more into place.

[12:59] Jo and J.J. recap the amazing guests they have had this first season, and although the guests have all been quite different, each one of them offers their intelligence, perspective, and wisdom to the episode. A few of the themes that came from conversations include letting go of control, embracing your authentic nature and even the weirdness that may come along with it, and intentionality. A big one that came up, as it did here in the episode with author and coach Kristine Goad, is that the biggest adventure in life is to be yourself.

[17:05] Another theme was shame and guilt. We often have no idea the guilt or shame we carry around, as evidenced in the recent episode with Reverend Erika Allison who talked openly about her healing after conversion therapy. Jo used to feel guilty for not working during holidays. Most people suffer from the worry that they are not good enough, so they self-medicate with shame. Before we even try to problem solve and put our minds on the case, we must validate our emotions and sit in them for a moment.

[22:06] We are encouraged by society to burn ourselves out and be anxious. Products are sold by tapping into people’s fear and desire to constantly be better, skinnier and appear more wealthy. When you finally start to feel as though you are good enough, you can partake in these things from a place of joy instead of lack.

[25:42] These conversations are complex because if you are balancing self-care and acting according to your values, then productivity will go up. However, the more people can feel you setting boundaries, the more they sometimes want to push them.

[30:28] There are subtle and not-so-subtle ways that work environments try to trample people’s boundaries. Middle management is sometimes caught between the higher-up boss and the employee: this is when good communication and the ability to regulate emotions is critical.

[34:02] Great leaders can also help millennials and the younger workers have the right tools in place to both be great at their job but also have boundaries in place. Jo has been on both sides, and feels that a manager and employee can aim for constructive conversations around it.

[35:32] There are so many levels to power dynamics but there are easy ways to change.

[37:58] Women working for women can be challenging, and internalized sexism is definitely a thing. People may act like they have power over you, but it’s up to you to confirm it.

[41:14] What’s coming up for the next season? Great guests, listener questions, a deeper dive into topics, and a lot of laughs and learning along the way.

Connect With Us:

Joanna Denton | Dr. J.J. Kelly

Listen to Season 1 here

“I didn’t have burnout. It was a lie.”

Brene Brown