Medium Lady Talks: Burnout Recovery for Millennials and Mothers

Welcome to a new episode of Medium Lady Talks, part of our Summer of Real Rest series. Today, we’re diving deep into the book that inspired the framework for this entire season: Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith.

Have ou ever felt exhausted even after a full night of sleep? You're not alone—and you're not just tired, you're depleted. Dr. Dalton-Smith’s book introduces seven distinct types of rest—and it turns out, most of us ...

This episode is your permission slip to stop grinding and start healing—gently.

In this heartfelt episode of Medium Lady Talks, Erin shares a deeply personal talk on reclaiming “soft work” as a vital part of healing. Inspired by a moment with her therapist and delivered originally at the Say It Like You Claimed It event with Jam Gamble, this message is a reminder that you can’t recover from burnout by doing more hard work.

Instead,...

🎧 Self-care isn’t a vibe. It’s a practice—and it’s time to get real about it.

In this powerful kickoff to the new series on Medium Lady Talks: Summer of Real Rest, Erin unpacks the uncomfortable truth about modern self-care: we’re spending our time, money, and attention in all the wrong places.

If you’ve ever wondered why journaling, green smoothies, or a perfectly lit bath still leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed—you’re ...

What if menopause wasn’t something to endure—but something to liberate? In this powerful and perspective-shifting episode of Medium Lady Talks, I’m joined by Lisa Boate—Certified Menopause Coach, Founder of Liberated Menopause Consulting and Coaching, and host of the Transforming 45 podcast.

This episode is part of our “How to Take Care of Yourself” series—because self-care isn’t all bubble baths and meditation apps. Sometimes, it’...

In this heartfelt episode of Medium Lady Talks, Erin is joined by filmmaker and memory-keeper Kalee Isbell, founder of Isbell Family Films, to explore how photography and family videos can become a vital tool in your self-care toolkit.

What starts as a chat about taking more selfies quickly unfolds into a deeper conversation about postpartum depression, creative healing, and the emotional power of seeing yourself—and your life—thro...

In Episode 139 of Medium Lady Talks, I’m joined by floral designer and creative entrepreneur Jennifer Lasachuk, owner of The Paisley Rose in Mississauga. Jennifer has been running her floral business for nine years—exactly as long as she’s been a mom—and together we explore how matrescence and entrepreneurship often arrive hand-in-hand. As someone who launched Medium Lady when my youngest was born, I couldn’t relate more to her jou...

What if your nervous system didn’t believe it was safe to want something just for you?

In Episode 138 of Medium Lady Talks, Erin is joined by life coach Cecelia Mandryk (@ceceliabmandryk) to continue our series on How to Take Care of Yourself. Together, they explore the difference between dopamine-driven quick fixes and the courageous work of sustained self-care. Cecelia offers powerful tools and reframes that help high-functioning...

In episode 137 of Medium Lady Talks we continue the How to Take Care of Yourself series, I'm joined by surface designer and illustrator Devon Bennett of PencilsnParsley. Together, we explore how making something just for the joy of it — no fancy supplies, no pressure — can be a powerful form of creative self-care.

Devon reminds us that you don't have to be an artist to start creating. You don't even have to look at your finished pi...

This episode originally aired April 10, 2024. Enjoy Episode 98 of Medium Lady Talks!

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Welcome back, listeners! Today I’m solo on mic exploring a question that's inspired by a text chat I had with a friend: "Is your burnout preventable?" If you've ever found yourself plagued with exhaustion, resentful of all the things out of your control, and down the path to truly crippling physiological symptoms, this episode is for you.

Su...

Episode 136 of Medium Lady Talks is a refreshingly honest and hilariously real conversation with my two best friends, Sarah and Emily. We share a candid conversation about taking medication for mental health. One of us is a routine queen when it comes to her meds, one of us is a little chaotic (but loveable!), and I’ve taken mental health medication during two meaningful chapters of my life. Together, we open up about what it reall...

In episode 135 of Medium Lady Talks, Erin shares five meaningful ways to celebrate yourself as part of the ongoing "How to Take Care of Yourself" series. Inspired by her recent 42nd birthday, Erin makes the case that celebrating yourself isn't indulgent, it's necessary for sustained well-being.

• Celebrating yourself is a practice, skill, and mindset that contributes to your susta...

In this third installment of the "How to Take Care of Yourself" series, Erin explores how curiosity can be a gentle, accessible tool for wellness that doesn't require a life overhaul. Whether you're ready to embrace change or feeling too depleted to add one more thing to your to-do list, this episode offers simple ways to replace judgment with curiosity.

• Why we def...

Many people struggle to recognize their own needs, especially when they’ve been conditioned to prioritize everyone else first. In Medium Lady Talks, Episode 133, host Erin Vandeven explores why naming your needs is the first step to sustainable self-care—and how to start, even when it feels impossible.

💡 This episode covers: ✔️ Why it’s so hard to identify personal needs (hint: it’s not a personal failure) ✔️ How burnout and car...

In Episode 132 of Medium Lady Talks Erin shares the first episode in the new self-care series “How To Take Care of Yourself”. The first item on the list is one that most people definitely struggle with - saying yes to help that’s offered. This isn’t just about asking for help, which is naturally hard enough and makes many of us feel vulnerable and out of control! But there are many people in our lives who offer help or who are very...

Hello, hi! This week’s episode is a bit of a vulnerable off the cuff episode - I have a few things weighing heavy on my mind, and all of it surrounding the frustrations we all experience around the effort of taking care of ourselves. My hope is that this episode represents a "kick off" of a new series of content designed to help us all consider the smallest most useful and accessible ways of taking care of ourselves today, so we ca...

This episode aired in February 2023, and yet I feel like our challenges with enjoying ourselves are being tested now more than ever. I hope you enjoy this episode from the archives! I'll be back next week with a fresh episode!

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Hello, hi and welcome to another episode of Medium Lady Talks! In Episode 97, we're delving into a topic that's close to the hearts of many burnt-out millennial mothers: the pursuit of genuine enjoyment...

Hello, hi! This week’s episode is an authentic and open episode with my guest Ashlie Daigle, otherwise known as the Cheerbrarian. Ashlie and I have been “kindred spirits” both in the kind of content we like to share with the world, as well as our outlook on life and our enthusiasm for giving advice. Despite that identity and persona, Ashlie gets real with her current mental health struggles and how hard it is to reconcile the part ...

Hello, hi! I’m so excited to welcome today’s guest to the show. Anna Przy! Does the phrase “It’s called manifesting… look it up…” or “You better Keep it up Cutie” sound familiar? Anna Przy is most recognizable for her short form social media videos that involve a bathrobe, her front yard, and no shoes. Sometimes featuring an old vacuum and some high kicks you’ll often see Anna looking up at the sky and politely appealing to the cos...

Hello, hi and welcome to the first interview for Season 5 of Medium Lady Talks! In this episode, I chat with Helen Schrute and Christina Cohen, therapists and hosts of the It’s YOUR Birthday Podcast. We’re talking all about friendship, partnership, trust and navigating the messy middle of life with your bestie by your side.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, you’ll hear more from my guests about: - The incredible story of their indi...