This week on The Burnout Club, I’m joined by the extraordinary Dr. April Joy Damian, Chief Scientific Officer and Director of the Weitzman Institute, the national research, education, and innovation arm of the Moses/Weitzman Health System. Her leadership reaches more than two million patients across the U.S., and her mission is deeply human: to transform how health systems serve historically underserved communities through evidence-based, compassionate, community-centered care. April brings a rare blend of rigor, heart, and lived experience to the conversation — and she holds nothing back.

In this episode, we explore what happens when innovation meets purpose, how prevention is the missing link in burnout and mental health, and why reconnecting with your “why” may be the most powerful tool you have. April also opens up about the season in her life when burnout brought her to a full stop — and how teaching mindfulness and yoga in El Salvador became a path back to herself. This episode is grounding, expansive, and full of actionable insight for anyone trying to sustain meaningful work without losing themselves in the process.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Why innovation brings optimism — and why optimism protects against burnout
• How primary care sits at the center of equity, mental health, public health, and prevention
• A research-based approach to solving big, overwhelming problems without burning out
• The importance of raising your own awareness to spot burnout early
• Why letting others use their gifts actually protects you from burnout
• What “seasons” have to do with resilience and adapting to change
• How food, culture, and curiosity can reconnect you with joy

ABOUT DR. APRIL JOY DAMIAN

Dr. April Joy Damian, PhD, MSc is a mission-driven healthcare leader passionate about transforming how health systems deliver care, advance research, and improve outcomes for historically underserved communities. With a proven track record of shaping national initiatives, building strategic partnerships, and driving large-scale innovation, she brings a powerful blend of vision, operational expertise, and research acumen to the executive table.

As Chief Scientific Officer and Director of the Weitzman Institute, she leads multi-million-dollar projects that bridge cutting-edge research with real-world practice—ensuring evidence-based solutions reach the patients and communities who need them most. Her academic foundation includes a PhD from the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a Master's in Medical Sciences from Harvard Medical School, and a BA (Highest Honors, Phi Beta Kappa) in Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley. April is committed to driving evidence-informed, systems-level change that leaves a lasting impact on health equity nationwide.

Fun fact: Between medical school and beginning her PhD, she became a certified yoga instructor and taught mindfulness and yoga in El Salvador through a United Nations–sponsored mission.

CONNECT WITH DR. APRIL JOY
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apriljoydamian/
Weitzman Institute: https://www.weitzmaninstitute.org/

If this conversation expanded your thinking or grounded your spirit, please share the episode, leave a review, and subscribe so more people can join us in rewriting burnout from the inside out.

Together, we can build healthier systems, healthier communities, and healthier lives — one conversation at a time. ❤️

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/

In this thought-provoking and deeply human conversation, I’m joined by Denley W. McIntosh, CEO, Principal Coach, and host of The Coach’s Corner. Denley is someone who meets people right where they are — in the thick of life’s battles — and helps them return to the “corner” with clarity, confidence, and compassion. With a rare blend of intellect, lived experience, and heart, he brings together engineering, theology, sociology, and leadership to help people understand themselves and each other more deeply.

In this episode, we explore loneliness at work, identity, relationships, parenting, burnout, purpose, and the emotional habits that keep us grounded. Denley shares how he simplifies the complex, breaks down barriers between people, and creates space for genuine connection — especially during moments when life feels heavy. This one is full of wisdom, warmth, and reminders that you don’t have to walk through the ring of life alone.

What You’ll Learn

• The hidden epidemic of workplace loneliness — and how to truly see it
• Why men often struggle with connection (and what to do about it)
• The surprising value of recording your own thoughts — even privately
• How relationships evolve over time, and why couples must keep “studying” each other
• The Script–Soul–Story framework and how it reshapes your inner narrative
• Where burnout shows up for high-capacity people — and how Denley stays grounded
• Why laughter, levity, and purpose are essential in avoiding burnout

About Denley McIntosh
Denley W. McIntosh, host of The Coach’s Corner, is an award-winning author, podcaster, and keynote speaker known for his global impact in workplace culture and leadership. A recipient of the Amethyst Award, he brings 15+ years of expertise in executive coaching, DEI&B, and organizational development to audiences worldwide. He is deeply passionate about helping individuals prevent and recover from burnout — a topic he explores in signature episodes on the Mission Matters Podcast, including:

Burnout Episodes by Denley

Rekindle the Flame: 9 Ways to Stop Burnout
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rekindle-the-flame-9-ways-to-stop-burnout/id1642373962?i=1000706518047

Setting Boundaries: 10 Keys to Protecting Your Energy, Health & Wellbeing
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/setting-boundaries-10-keys-to-protecting-your-energy/id1642373962?i=1000711018860

Connect With Denley

Podcast: The Coach’s Corner
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2RBKawTPG7bMrR0Lk8AyGU?si=f920a7ce2ea04eeb
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denleymcintosh/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coach.denley.tcc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecoachescornerpod/
Websites: www.renewiq.ca | https://www.thecoachscorner.ca/

🌿If this episode cracked something open for you — a question, a memory, a sense of possibility — share it with someone who might need a little encouragement today. None of us are meant to carry life alone. Your corner matters. Your people matter. And you deserve support in the ring.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/

This week on The Burnout Club, I sit down with Lisa Levey — a longtime documentary producer and co-founder of The Otherhood Collective, a storytelling platform for people navigating nontraditional paths to fulfillment and family. Lisa opens up about her own journey through infertility, the grief that followed, and how she’s redefining what a “full life” looks like outside the narrow boxes of parent or non-parent. We talk about friendship, purpose, and what it means to build community around stories that often go untold — the ones sitting quietly behind closed doors.

If you’ve ever felt on the outside of someone else’s version of “having it all,” this one’s for you. Listen in, take a breath, and maybe see yourself in a new light.

About the Guest
Lisa Levey is the co-founder of The Otherhood Collective, a digital storytelling platform that creates space for honest and layered conversations around nontraditional paths to parenthood. Whether you're childless by choice, circumstance, or simply feeling a sense of otherness within the context of family and societal norms, this is a place where our complex stories aren't just shared, but celebrated.

Lisa is also a freelance Executive and Consulting Producer specializing in documentary and unscripted television — bringing decades of experience in human-centered storytelling to every project she touches.

When asked what she most wants people to know, Lisa says: “Why we started The Otherhood Collective.”

Connect with Lisa & The Otherhood Collective

Website: theotherhoodcollective.com
YouTube: @TheOtherhoodCollective
Instagram: @theotherhoodcollective
TikTok: @theotherhoodcollective
LinkedIn: The Otherhood Collective

🌿If this conversation resonated with you, take a second to subscribe, rate, or share The Burnout Club with someone who might need it today. These stories remind us we’re not alone in the messy middle — and that’s kind of the whole point.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/patrice-bonfiglio/