Can You Burn Out Doing What You Love? Dr. Will Cole’s Story

This is StRest! Kerstin Lindquist sits down with Dr. Will Cole, functional medicine practitioner, author and host of The Art of Being Well, for an honest conversation about burnout, grief, gut health and finding a way forward when doing everything right no longer feels like enough. They explore the personal experiences behind Heal Your Cells, his book with Dr. Josh Axe, and why Will believes caring for your health means making room for your emotional and spiritual life, too. Will shares how his father’s sudden death came during years of nonstop work, a book launch and a wave of public criticism following his podcast conversation with Gwyneth Paltrow. He reflects on the anxiety, digestive symptoms and disrupted sleep that followed, and the difficult realization that loving your work does not protect you from burnout. He and Kerstin discuss what it feels like to be told your labs are normal when you still don’t feel well. Will explains his approach to looking beyond routine results and shares his perspective on the connections between unresolved trauma, the nervous system and physical symptoms. They also discuss food, environmental exposures and why he believes a health plan needs to consider more than diet and exercise. The conversation then turns to the tools Will explored in his own recovery, including nourishing meals, journaling, EMDR, vagus nerve stimulation and peptides. He shares why meeting people where they are matters and why trying to change everything at once can feel overwhelming. Faith is a thread throughout, with a reminder that prayer can be foundational without replacing therapy or professional care. The episode closes with Will’s suggestions for beginning without doing everything: choosing one active and one passive form of support, spending time in nature and taking the next right step. He shares his hope for a return to real human connection, deeper faith and a life grounded in the present. For Will, moving forward means taking the next right step rather than waiting for perfect conditions. MEDICAL NOTE This episode shares personal experiences and opinions about stress, trauma, gut health, fasting, supplements, peptides and other therapies. It is not personal medical advice or a treatment plan. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional before changing your care or trying any therapy discussed. JOIN THE HABIT RESET CIRCLE Become a member: https://kerstin-lindquist.com/join-co... TODAY’S SPONSORS Ancient Nutrition — CODE: STREST20 https://ancientnutrition.com/ CHANGE YOUR MORNING, CHANGE YOUR LIFE Pre-order Kerstin’s new devotional: https://kerstin-lindquist.com/change-... CHAPTERS 00:00 The Gwyneth Paltrow Conversation 00:55 Meet Dr. Will Cole 03:29 Change Your Morning, Change Your Life 04:38 The Story Behind Heal Your Cells 08:58 Burnout, Grief and Public Backlash 16:05 Stress and Health at the Cellular Level 24:10 Ancient Nutrition 24:51 Food, Fasting and Modern Life 29:19 Health Without a Perfect Environment 31:59 Normal Labs, Still Not Feeling Well 36:51 Trauma, Safety and the Nervous System 42:21 Will’s Perspective on Peptides 45:38 What Will Changed During His Recovery 48:32 His Experience with Ozone Therapy 49:38 Inflammation, Blood Work and MTHFR 50:58 Faith, Therapy and Caring for Your Health 55:49 Journaling, Nature and Stress Relief 1:02:27 Hope, AI and Human Connection 1:06:54 Heal Your Cells and Where to Connect 1:07:45 Join the Habit Reset Circle WORK WITH KERSTIN Workshops & Events: https://www.kerstin-lindquist.com/eve... MORE ABOUT KERSTIN Website: https://www.kerstin-lindquist.com/ Instagram:   / kerstin.lindquist   Facebook:   / kerstinlindquist.strest   YouTube:    / @kerstin.lindquist   TikTok:   / kerstin.lindquist   CONNECT WITH DR. WILL COLE Website: https://drwillcole.com/ Podcast — The Art of Being Well: https://drwillcole.com/podcast/ Book — Heal Your Cells: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo... All books: https://drwillcole.com/books-home-page/ Facebook:   / doctorwillcole   Instagram:   / drwillcole   YouTube:    / drwillcole   Production, Distribution, and Marketing by Massif & Kroo Website: https://massifkroo.com/ For inquiries or sponsorships: hello@MassifKroo.com #DrWillCole #GutHealth #StRest Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: XPVF4UJEKJVK71FS