Burnout Recovery, Nonprofit Leadership & Finding Joy Again with Beckie Irvin

When Manifesting Isn't Enough: Why I'm Going Back to Corporate After 7 Months

Seven months into building a business from scratch, Christy Hughes gets honest about what entrepreneurship in this economy actually looks like — and why the disappointment so many women feel isn't a sign they didn't believe hard enough. In this Sunday Shortie, she shares how a new corporate opportunity found her when she stopped forcing it, what it sounds like when intuition speaks up, and why The THRIVE Collective isn't going anywhere. If you're building something while wondering if you're doing it wrong, this one's for you. ---------------------------------------- What You'll Hear: * Why business disappointment in this economy is normal — not a personal failing * The manifesting myth: why you didn't think your way into struggle * How Christy's new role landed when she listened to her gut instead of pushing harder * What intuition actually sounds like in a job search * Why The THRIVE Collective continues — and why going back to corporate makes it stronger * The case for a life that holds both professional success and personal wholeness Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a woman who's building something and wondering if she's failing. Learn more about The Thrive Collective at thrivewithchristy.com [http://thrivewithchristy.com]

When Pets Come First: Lori Wahl on Reinvention, Animal Advocacy, and Pursuing Nonprofit Passions

In this episode of RTDB, Christy sits down with Lori Wahl — a pet industry veteran with 15+ years in rescue and pet sales — to talk about the unexpected ways those two worlds overlap. Lori went from the corporate pet industry to serving as Development Director for Heidi's Village in Phoenix, one of the most meaningful pivots she's made. Now, after relocating to Charlotte for her husband's career, Lori is navigating yet another reinvention — and she's honest about how hard it is to leave something you love. This one is for anyone who's ever had to close a chapter they weren't ready to close. What You'll Hear: * How Lori and Christy connected through the pet industry (shoutout to the Pet Firm in Phoenix) * The surprising synergies between corporate pet work and animal rescue * What led Lori to leave corporate for nonprofit — and what that transition actually looked like * Her role as Development Director at Heidi's Village and what that work meant to her * Relocating to Charlotte and stepping away from nonprofit life * Why it's okay to change your mind — and how to stop apologizing for it * Starting a new chapter even when the previous one wasn't "finished" * How to find and get involved with your own local rescue — and why it matters more than you think Resources/Links: * Heidi's Village: heidisvillage.org [http://heidisvillage.org] * National Rescue: aspca.org [http://aspca.org] or bestfriends.org [http://bestfriends.org] * Connect with Lori: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-wahl/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-wahl/] ---------------------------------------- Feeling inspired? Find your local rescue and show up — even in a small way. It adds up.

Avoiding Conflict at All Costs: Why Enneagram 9 Needs to Learn to Rock the Damn Boat

In this Sunday Shortie episode of RTDB, Christy explores Enneagram Type 9 — The Peacemaker — and what it really means to keep the peace at your own expense. After testing equal parts Type 2 and Type 9, Christy digs into the 9's core patterns: avoiding conflict, numbing out, and the slow fade of self. She connects the 9's spiritual potential to the eight limbs of yoga as a grounding framework for growth — and gets honest about how the unhealthy 9's pull toward addiction showed up in her own life. Development tips sourced from the Enneagram Institute round out this bite-sized but powerful episode. ---------------------------------------- What You'll Hear in This Episode: * Why Christy tested as both a Type 2 and Type 9 — and what the overlap reveals * Core Type 9 traits: the peacemaker, the conflict-avoider, the one who disappears into the background * What "not rocking the boat" actually costs you * The healthy 9: becoming a spiritual seeker, grounded in contentment * How the eight limbs of yoga support a 9's growth path * The shadow side: how the 9's numbing tendency can fuel addiction (and Christy's personal connection to this) * Growth tips for Type 9s from the Enneagram Institute Resources Mentioned: * Enneagram Institute — Type 9 [https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-9] * The Eight Limbs of Yoga

Burnout Recovery, Nonprofit Leadership & Finding Joy Again with Beckie Irvin

In this episode of RTDB, I sit down with Beckie Irvin to talk about the hidden cost of mission-driven work and why so many nonprofit leaders quietly struggle with burnout. Beckie shares her personal experience navigating exhaustion, overwhelm, and the emotional weight that can come from constantly serving others without the systems and support needed to sustain the work. We discuss how nonprofits often rely on passionate people operating in survival mode — and why proper infrastructure, boundaries, leadership support, and sustainable operations matter just as much as the mission itself. We also explore the healing side of burnout recovery: the small practices that helped Beckie reconnect with herself, the role creativity and photography played in restoring joy, and how building tiny, manageable habits can help people slowly find their footing again after a difficult season. This conversation is a reminder that recovery doesn’t usually happen through dramatic overnight transformation. More often, it begins with small decisions, gentle routines, and giving yourself permission to rebuild one step at a time. If you’re a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, caregiver, helper, or high achiever who feels emotionally exhausted, this episode offers an honest look at burnout, healing, nervous system recovery, and the importance of creating a life that includes joy alongside responsibility. IN THIS EPISODE OF RTDB, WE DISCUSS: * Burnout in nonprofit leadership and mission-driven careers * Why passion alone cannot sustain unhealthy systems * The importance of infrastructure and operational support * Compassion fatigue and emotional exhaustion * Recovering from burnout without shame * Photography, creativity, and hobbies as healing tools * Small daily habits that support mental wellness * Lessons inspired by Atomic Habits by James Clear * How to slowly rebuild motivation, energy, and hope ABOUT BECKIE IRVIN Beckie Irvin is passionate about helping organizations and individuals create more sustainable, healthy ways of working and living. Through her consulting work and creative pursuits, she advocates for balance, intentionality, and finding joy again after burnout. Learn more at beckieirvin.com [http://beckieirvin.com] For more about Christy's work or to apply to be on the show, visit thrivewithchristy.com [http://thrivewithchristy.com]

Enneagram Two: The Helper - Are You Helping Others Because You Need to Feel Loved?

In this episode of RTDB, Christy dives into Enneagram Type 2 — The Helper. If you're a Two (or love one), this episode is your permission slip to stop giving from an empty cup. ---------------------------------------- What You'll Learn in This Episode * Why Type 2s are the ultimate people pleasers — and what's really driving it * The genuine strengths that make Twos magnetic, generous leaders * The unhealthy patterns that can leave Twos burned out, resentful, and invisible to themselves * 5 practical development tips for Type 2s ready to break the people-pleasing cycle ---------------------------------------- Strengths of the Enneagram Type 2 * Deeply empathetic and emotionally intuitive * Natural connectors who make people feel seen and valued * Generous, warm, and fiercely loyal * Motivated by genuine love and care for others Unhealthy Patterns to Watch * Chronic self-sacrifice that leads to burnout * Difficulty saying no — or even knowing what they want * Seeking approval and validation through giving * Resentment when help isn't reciprocated or recognized * Suppressing their own needs to feel worthy of love ---------------------------------------- 5 Personal Development Tips for Type 2s (as shared by the Enneagram Institute) 1. Notice the martyr pattern — Ask yourself if you're giving freely or keeping score unconsciously. 2. Practice receiving — Allow others to help you without deflecting or minimizing. 3. Name your own needs — Daily check-ins: What do I actually need right now? 4. Set boundaries without guilt — A "no" to others is often a "yes" to yourself. 5. Separate worth from helpfulness — You are enough without doing a single thing for anyone today. 👉 Learn more about the Enneagram Type 2 at The Enneagram Institute [https://www.enneagraminstitute.com] ---------------------------------------- Connect with Christy * Join The THRIVE Collective: thrivewithchristy.com [http://thrivewithchristy.com] * Follow on Instagram: @rockthedamnboat * Subscribe & leave a review — it helps more women find the boat 🚤