Episode 172: Burnout - a Broken World, Not a Personal Failing

“Today’s episode argues that burnout is not an individual failing but a predictable outcome of an oppressive system that relentlessly extracts resources from individuals. Drawing a parallel to historical understandings of “shell shock” and its evolution to PTSD, the author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, contends that burnout is similarly framed as a personal weakness rather than a rational response to unsustainable conditions. Dr. Hoerricks critiques capitalism and societal demands for constant productivity and adaptation, particularly highlighting the compounded pressures faced by marginalised groups such as autistic, disabled, and BIPOC individuals. Ultimately, they call for solidarity over charity, advocating for a recognition of systemic failures instead of individual blame and emphasising resistance against an inherently exhausting world.”