The Truth About Burnout, Dog Parenting, and Still Showing Up

Feeling like you're holding it all together—barely? Wondering if you're the only one building a dream while running on empty?
In this raw, relatable solo episode of Straight Up Dog Talk, Em gets honest about the part of dog mom life no one talks about: the burnout behind the brand, the late-night tears, and the quiet bravery it takes to keep going when you’re not sure it’s even working. Whether you’re an overwhelmed dog parent, entrepreneur, or both—this episode is a deep exhale.
You’ll hear:
• What success looks like behind the scenes (hint: not always pretty)
• The emotional toll of building a business while navigating burnout
• Why exhaustion isn’t failure—it’s feedback
• How to hold space for your dreams and your dogs without burning out
• A powerful reframe for anyone stuck in the “messy middle”
Press play to feel seen, supported, and reminded that dog parenting, passion, and purpose can co-exist with imperfection.

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This podcast explores real-life dog behavior and training, diving into reactivity, barking, dog anxiety, aggression, picky eating, gut health, and dog food—while unpacking enrichment, mental stimulation, supplements, calming aids, and holistic pet wellness. Whether you’re raising a rescue dog, supporting a senior dog, managing a velcro dog, or just navigating life with a dog who’s asking for more, you’ll find practical tools to build trust, strengthen communication, and create a safe, thriving life together.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
People will see the winds, They see the dogs, the podcast, the
videos. They see the plans for the RV,
the cool merch, the moments thatlook like momentum.
But what they don't see is me mopping a stranger's floor after
editing podcast episodes while checking in on my training

(00:21):
clients and completing Zoom consoles, wondering if I am
crazy for holding on to this dream they don't see if the
chronic illness, the migraines, the editing marathons at
midnight because I can't afford to outsource.
If you're chasing something thatmatters and wondering if it's

(00:42):
supposed to be this hard, you'renot alone.
You're not behind. And today, I'm pulling back the
curtain. Welcome to Straight Up Dog Talk
where I share the real, the raw and everything I wish someone

(01:05):
had told me sooner. This episode is your a behind
the scenes pass to what it really takes to build a
business. Support your dogs and stay
afloat mentally and emotionally.When the dream costs more than
anyone actually sees. You'll hear why burnout doesn't
mean you're broken, what people don't see behind the scenes, the

(01:28):
emotional reality of being a petprofessional, and how I keep
going even when it doesn't feel like enough some days, and why
your dream matters even if no one is clapping for you yet.
If you've ever felt like you're doing everything and still
questioning it's working. This episode is for you.
I know that this podcast might look polished.

(01:50):
The clips are captioned, the stories are tight, and it's
totally easy to think that I have it all together and I have
everything figured out, but I don't.
I am still in the thick of it, building a dream that often
feels impossible and incredible at the same time.
And the truth is, the things that keep this dream alive,

(02:13):
they're not glamorous, They're not passive income or viral
fame. They're cleaning jobs, side
hustles, the hours I spend recording and re recording
because I care so deeply about getting it right for you.
Behind every beautiful moment you see online is a version of
me wondering if I am doing enough or if I'm doing too much.

(02:37):
Burnout hit hard when the thing that you're building actually
matters to you. I'm not clocking in and out of a
job that I can leave at the door.
I'm trying to change lives. I'm trying to create the thing I
needed when I was struggling with fits, when I was navigating

(02:59):
grief with Cajun, when I was stuck in a system that made me
feel disposable. That kind of work.
It doesn't stop when the laptop closes.
It follows you into the shower, the car, the late night spiral
where you wonder if you should just give up and go back to

(03:21):
safe. I used to think that burnout
meant I was doing something wrong, like I wasn't managing my
time well enough or prioritizingrest.
But here's what I've learned. Balance is a lie, at least the
way that we've been taught to define it.
My version of balance doesn't look like perfect blocks of time
color-coded in a planner. It used to, but now it looks

(03:45):
more like pausing midday to cry then hopping on a Slack thread
to support a client who's also struggling.
It looks like going all in for two weeks straight and then
crashing for three days with pizza, silence and dock snuggles
and maybe some bad TV. That doesn't mean that I'm

(04:08):
broken. It means that I am human.
It means that I am building something that requires an
emotional investment, and that investment takes a toll.
Let me say this plainly. Cleaning houses doesn't make
make me less of an entrepreneur.It makes me resourceful.

(04:28):
It makes me resilient. It makes me real.
Would I love to never scrub another toilet again?
Yes, absolutely, but I'd rather do that than sell my soul for a
paycheck doing something that doesn't align with who I am.
Because every toilet scrubbed isanother podcast episode

(04:49):
released. Every mop rung out is one step
closer to that RV hitting the road.
I don't have a safety net. I am the net.
And I know that some of you listening are the net too.
If you're in your own version ofthe messy middle, if you're
juggling work and dreams and dogs and doubt and rest and

(05:10):
responsibility, let me offer this.
You're not failing. You're not behind.
You are becoming becoming someone who doesn't give,
becoming someone who dares to build a life that they actually
want. Becoming someone who's okay
being seen in their becoming. The world doesn't need more

(05:34):
perfect people. It needs more people willing to
keep going when nobody is clapping yet.
If you're a dog parent trying tofigure out life and behavior, I
see you and I'd love to support you in a way that actually fits
the life that you're building. You can train virtually with me.
Yes, virtually through a privatechannel in Slack with custom

(05:57):
programs, nutrition consults, and real world tools that work
with your schedule and needs. You can start at straightup.com.
Straight up. You can start at Straight Up
dogtalk.com or the link in the description.
Schedule your free consult today.
There's a path forward waiting for you, and you don't have to

(06:19):
walk it alone. And if this episode hit home,
share it with someone who's chasing their dream to send it
to a friend still showing up despite the burnout.
They might need this reminder just as much as you did.
Thanks for being here and I willsee you next time on Straight Up
Dog.