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A workplace wellness podcast
THE BURNOUT ROOM, sponsored by the Kentucky Psychological Foundation (KPF), is a podcast about burnout, effective leadership, and wellbeing in nonprofits.
Listen as Dr. Courtney Keim, a workplace wellness researcher, Professor, and KPF board member, and Sarah Burress, a nonprofit leader whose burnout story inspired KPF’s Nonprofit Wellness Initiative, dive into the challenges of mission-driven work.
Courtney and Sarah share honest conversations, practical strategies, and psychology-based insights to help organizational leaders and staff recognize burnout, reduce its impact, and navigate it effectively.
Whether you're a leader guiding a dedicated team, a nonprofit staff member experiencing burnout, or someone wanting to create a healthier workplace, The Burnout Room is your space to find support, community, and solutions…for any organization.
Episodes

May 11, 2026
May 11, 2026
1 hr 16 min
We all have those songs that define our professional lives, whether they’re the high-energy anthems that get us through a Monday or the melancholy B-sides we hum when the fluorescent lights feel a little too bright. Listen as Courtney and Sarah warm up their walkman’s, quiz each other with their workplace anthems, and talk burnout through music.
Sarah and Courtney end by offering their "Ripples of Gratitude", where they say who they are especially thankful for this week.
The Burnout Room, sponsored by the Kentucky Psychological Foundation (KPF), is a podcast about burnout, effective leadership, and wellbeing in nonprofits. Link to “The Inbox Submission” where we answer your workplace questions https://linktr.ee/theburnoutroompodcast
Link to Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/44hkemFUCoX7LpfjlllQn7?si=LXx1vGqrQ_-x6LMMKJuUcg

Apr 27, 2026
Apr 27, 2026
1 hr 8 min
Steven Farr, HR Leader, reflects with Courtney and Sarah about his upcoming retirement after 40 years of nonprofit experience. Steven offers his wisdom on how leaders should be curious when helping staff navigate burnout, asking questions rather than coming with pre-determined solutions.
Sarah and Courtney end by offering their "Ripples of Gratitude", where they say who they are especially thankful for this week.
The Burnout Room, sponsored by the Kentucky Psychological Foundation (KPF), is a podcast about burnout, effective leadership, and wellbeing in nonprofits.
Link to “The Inbox Submission” where we answer your workplace questions https://linktr.ee/theburnoutroompodcast

Apr 13, 2026
Apr 13, 2026
55 min
Sarah and Courtney dive into why you can’t "self-care" your way out of a toxic workplace, using the classic metaphor of the canary in the coal mine. They discuss why the solution to burnout isn't making employees tougher, but rather fixing the "mine" through better workloads, fair pay, and truly supportive leadership.
Sarah and Courtney end by offering their "Ripples of Gratitude", where they say who they are especially thankful for this week.
The Burnout Room, sponsored by the Kentucky Psychological Foundation (KPF), is a podcast about burnout, effective leadership, and wellbeing in nonprofits. Link to “The Inbox Submission” where we answer your workplace questions https://linktr.ee/theburnoutroompodcast
Show notes
Re: Coal Facts - Sarah is not an actual coal researcher, so please take any such facts as fun and not, in fact, factual.

Mar 30, 2026
Mar 30, 2026
1 hr 9 min
Sarah and Courtney talk about how folks might be resistant to organizational change, but that leaders can navigate through the uncertainties of change through establishing buy-in, rewarding short-term wins, and including staff in the entire change process.
Sarah and Courtney end by offering their "Ripples of Gratitude", where they say who they are especially thankful for this week.
The Burnout Room, sponsored by the Kentucky Psychological Foundation (KPF), is a podcast about burnout, effective leadership, and wellbeing in nonprofits. Link to “The Inbox Submission” where we answer your workplace questions https://linktr.ee/theburnoutroompodcast

Mar 16, 2026
Mar 16, 2026
58 min
Courtney and Sarah talk to Ryan Brooks, co-founder of Countbubble, a data management company. They discuss his journey from working in nonprofits to developing software specifically for nonprofits. Ryan offers his lessons on empathy in the workplace and building a new business with intention. Sarah and Courtney end by offering their "Ripples of Gratitude", where they say who they are especially thankful for this week.
The Burnout Room, sponsored by the Kentucky Psychological Foundation (KPF), is a podcast about burnout, effective leadership, and wellbeing in nonprofits. Link to Inbox Submission: https://linktr.ee/theburnoutroompodcast
Show notes

Mar 2, 2026
Mar 2, 2026
56 min
Sarah and Courtney talk about psychological safety and ways leaders can cultivate cultures that create space for mistakes and learning, beneficial conflict, and meaningful communication. They discuss two stories—a workplace with psychological safety and one without—highlighting how different leadership styles influence the employee experience.
The Burnout Room, sponsored by the Kentucky Psychological Foundation (KPF), is a podcast about burnout, effective leadership, and wellbeing in nonprofits.
Show notes
Amy Edmondson link to her 1999 article- https://www.academia.edu/download/89087179/Edmondson__20ASQ_201999.pdf
Link to Amy Edmondson youtube video: https://youtu.be/GZgmoxOgfig?si=_GU5uCxGAv9a_lTG
Want to contact us? Email us at theburnoutroompodcast@gmail.com

Feb 23, 2026
Feb 23, 2026
1 hr 8 min
Sarah and Courtney talk with Eric Hawkins, a manager and consultant with a background in transportation, logistics, and nonprofit work. Eric shared what makes a good nonprofit leader, the importance of storytelling, and how nonprofit donors and grantors affect employee wellbeing.
The Burnout Room, sponsored by the Kentucky Psychological Foundation (KPF), is a podcast about burnout, effective leadership, and wellbeing in nonprofits.
Show Notes:
“Joy and Sorrow”, a poem by Kahlil Gibran https://poets.org/poem/joy-and-sorrow
The Huberman Lab podcast: Dr. Alia Crum: Science of Mindsets for Health & Performance https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-alia-crum-science-of-mindsets-for-health-performance

Feb 16, 2026
Feb 16, 2026
1 hr 33 sec
Sarah and Courtney discuss how leaders can help navigate the unexpected (flooding, plane crash), provide support during times of great change (maternity leave), and assess workers fairly (education v skills). At the end of the episode, Sarah and Courtney offer their "Ripples of Gratitude," where they say who they are especially thankful for this week.
The Burnout Room, sponsored by the Kentucky Psychological Foundation (KPF), is a podcast about burnout, effective leadership, and wellbeing in nonprofits.
Link to Inbox Submission: https://linktr.ee/theburnoutroompodcast
Link to Nonprofit Wellness Initiative toolkit- https://www.kentuckypsychologicalfoundation.org/for
Link to SNL Skit [Work Birth with Amy Poehler- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYphunIQIhg
