EP 9: World Mental Health Day Special: From Burnout to Breakthrough with 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 Today, she helps veterinary professionals “uninstall the malware” of hustle culture and outdated roles so they can create sustainable, authentic, and energizing lives.We get into what burnout really is (spoiler: it’s an overwhelmed nervous system), why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 explainedWhy rest feels so uncomfortable—and how to practice it without guiltThe “3 C’s” framework: compassion, curiosity, and connection as everyday toolsLeading by example: modeling boundaries and vulnerability for your teamHow 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 termsThe power of the pause: lessons from healing through concussion and burnout recoveryConnect with Dr. Amelia:🔗 Website: https://www.lifeboost.today/IG: @lifeboostwithameliaLinkedIn: Amelia Knight Pinkston🎙 Podcast: https://lifeboostwithamelia.buzzsprout.com/🎧 Subscribe to Leading Veterinary Teams On Air for real talk, tactical tools, and conversations that challenge the old-school way of leading in vet med. If this episode resonates, share it with a colleague and leave a review—it helps more veterinary leaders find the show.