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What if you’re not “unmotivated”… you’re depleted?
In this week’s episode of Growing Tall Poppies, Dr. Nat Green sits down with Dr. Heather Clark—existential coach and creator of Divinely Structured Success—to unpack what burnout actually looks like on the inside, why it can feel terrifyingly physical, and how recovery begins when you close the identity gap between who you really are and how you’ve learned to operate for safety.

Heather shares her personal journey from pharmacy and high-achievement to a sudden collapse where even a shower required a lie-down—followed by years of searching for answers, navigating the “it’s all in your head” loop, and finally rebuilding her capacity from the ground up.

Together, Nat and Heather explore the intersection of science and spirit, nervous system realities, and the practical framework Heather teaches clients to prevent the slide back into exhaustion: Goals, Roles, and Resource Flow.

In this episode, we explore:

• The difference between “tired” and true burnout exhaustion (the kind sleep doesn’t fix)
• Why high-achievers can be great at their job… and still be deeply misaligned
• The long, costly road of searching for answers when tests say “you’re fine”
• Adrenal fatigue: what it can look like and why it made sense physiologically for Heather
• The “identity gap” and how it shrinks your capacity to access vitality and energy
• Why recovery accelerates when you own who you are (instead of performing who you should be)
• Burnout risk factors for conscientious, impact-driven, neurodivergent “justice-wired” humans
• The power of saying no (and how people-pleasing is often a survival strategy)
• A practical self-leadership tool: Goals → Roles → Resource Flow
• Why self-care shouldn’t become another obligation—and how to build your personal “self-care menu”
• A grounding reminder: you are not broken—there’s nothing to fix

Heather’s practical framework (take this with you):

1) Goals: What do I actually want right now (be honest)?
2) Roles: What is my role here—and what isn’t mine to carry?
3) Resource Flow: Am I resourced enough (time, energy, executive function) to do this well today?

Connect with Dr. Heather Clark:

Website: vibrantagain.com

Instagram

LinkedIn

If this episode landed for you, share it with someone who looks fine on the outside—but is quietly running on fumes. And if you’re ready to close the identity gap and rebuild capacity from the inside out… this one is for you.

Subscribe, rate & review Growing Tall Poppies on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it helps more people find these conversations.

If this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen

Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound.

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

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In this latest powerful and moving episode Kellie Burns is back — and this conversation goes deeper than ever. In Episode 12, Kellie shared her powerful trauma story and the loss of her beloved brother, Sean. Today, we pick up from the next moment that changed everything: a major back injury, the fear of a three-level spinal fusion, and the wake-up call that became a turning point.

Together, Dr Nat and Kellie explore the real relationship between physical pain and mental health, why midlife can feel like an identity earthquake (hello empty nest + perimenopause), and what it actually takes to rebuild yourself when life forces you to evolve.

This is a raw and empowering conversation about reclaiming agency, choosing what matters, letting go of old identities, and creating sustainable wellbeing through movement, nourishment, nervous system support, and community.

In this episode, we cover:

• Kellie’s update since Episode 12 — and why life demanded a new chapter
• Postnatal depression, the “radical” advice that helped, and why movement matters
• Grief, trauma, and the long shadow of losing a sibling to suicide
• Chronic pain and mental health: why your physiology shapes your mindset
• The moment before surgery: fear, despair, and the line between coping and breaking
• What it means to stop trying to “get back to who you were” — and evolve instead
• Psychological flexibility as a key predictor of peace and future happiness
• Midlife identity shifts: empty nesting, menopause, agency, and reinvention
• “Grey divorce,” relationship re-negotiation, and the courage to choose yourself
• Muscle, bone density, and why strength is protective as we age
• The hidden mental health signal: screen time, numbing, and nervous system overload
• Community as medicine: “In order to have a village, you need to be a villager”

Guest spotlight: Kellie Burns
Kellie Burns is a successful real estate agent and business owner, mum of two young adults, and a fully qualified health coach. She holds a Diploma of Counselling, Certificate III in Fitness, and Certificate IV in Nutrition, and has a special interest in the powerful connection between emotional wellbeing, physical health, movement, and nutrition — especially for midlife women.

How to work with Kellie:

• Instagram: @kellieburnscoach
• Website:

This episode may include a short message from Dr Nat about her upcoming live masterclass:

Why You Keep Hitting An Invisible Ceiling — Even After All The Work

🗓 Friday 27 February 🕚 11:00am AEDT (Sydney, Australia)

This 90-minute live session is for those who've done the work but still feel like something is holding them back. You can find registration details via this link Masterclass Signup

If this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen

Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound.

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

Send us a Message to connect

What if the animals in our lives are more than companions?
What if they are part of our healing?

In this deeply moving and thought-provoking episode of Growing Tall Poppies, Dr. Nat Green is joined by animal communicator and psychosomatic practitioner Katherine Luna Sol, whose life journey bridges trauma, intuition, science, and the profound connection between humans and animals.

Katherine shares how early childhood trauma, sensitivity, and survival shaped her path — and how an extraordinary bond with her first horse became the catalyst for healing, identity discovery, and ultimately her life’s work.

Through loss, grief, and relentless searching for answers, Katherine immersed herself in multiple healing modalities, blending traditional animal care, somatic awareness, and energy-based approaches to support both animals and their humans.

This conversation explores the powerful ways animals can:

• Reflect our emotional world
• Support nervous system healing
• Help us reconnect with identity after trauma
• Walk beside us as we move from survival into growth

Whether you’re an animal lover, trauma survivor, or someone navigating your own healing journey, this episode invites you to consider connection, hope, and healing from a completely new perspective.

🌿 In This Episode, We Explore:

✔ How trauma can shape identity — and how healing can reshape it
✔ The deep emotional bonds between humans and animals during times of adversity
✔ Why animals often become anchors of safety, regulation, and connection
✔ Katherine’s journey from pre-veterinary training to psychosomatic and intuitive healing work
✔ The role of somatic healing, emotional release, and inner work in post-traumatic growth
✔ How grief, loss, and resilience can open unexpected pathways to purpose
✔ The importance of hope, tenacity, and following even the smallest spark forward
✔ Moving from codependency to what Katherine calls “sovereignty and union” in relationships — with animals and ourselves

🌟 Key Takeaways

- Healing doesn’t always arrive logically.
- Sometimes it begins with connection.
- Sometimes it begins with loss.
- And sometimes, it begins with the quiet presence of an animal who helps us feel safe enough to come back to ourselves.

🔗 Connect with Katherine Luna Sol

Instagram

This episode may include a short message from Dr Nat about her upcoming live masterclass:

Why You Keep Hitting An Invisible Ceiling — Even After All The Work

🗓 Friday 27 February 🕚 11:00am AEDT (Sydney, Australia)

This 90-minute live session is for those who've done the work but still feel like something is holding them back. You can find registration details via this link Masterclass Signup

If this episode resonates with you then I'd love for you to hit SUBSCRIBE so you can keep updated with each new episode as soon as it's released and we'd be most grateful if you would give us a RATING as well. You can also find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drnatgreen/ or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrNatalieGreen

Intro and Outro music: Inspired Ambient by Playsound.

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.