What happens when ambition collides with burnout?

In this powerful episode of Possibilities with Monique de Maio, I sit down with Katie McDonald, founder of b.nourished, professional speaker, and creator of the b.nourished Planner, to get real about why self-care is the most radical (and responsible) leadership act you can take.

We talk about:

→ Katie’s crash-and-burn journey from corporate exec to wellness entrepreneur

→ Why “overwhelm” is a habit, not a badge of honor

→ How to replace numbing behaviors with nourishing ones

→ The unapologetic power of saying “no” (and meaning it)

→ Why leaders must model self-care if they expect their teams to thrive

Katie doesn’t sugarcoat it: neglecting yourself isn’t sustainable. This is a tough-love, truth-telling roadmap for high achievers who are done sacrificing their wellbeing for success.

Special offer:

Katie is generously offering listeners 15% off her b.nourished Planner with promo code MONIQUE15 at checkout. (No affiliate cut—just a gift for our community.)

About Our GuestKatie McDonald is the founder of b.nourished, a concierge coaching company for high-achieving women who take care of business at the expense of taking care of themselves. A professional speaker, author, and “recovering perfectionist,” Katie has been trusted by Harvard University, Fidelity Investments, Facebook, the Women Presidents’ Organization, Stanley Black & Decker, and more.

Her obsession with daily planners since age six eventually led to the creation of the b.nourished Planner in 2020, now used by doers worldwide to reclaim their time, energy, and sanity.

Katie has been featured in HuffPost, Dwell, Apartment Therapy, and is the author of an upcoming Audible Originals course (Jan 2026). She survived an IRA bombing, the San Francisco earthquake, and even a ferry rescue, but it was a Zen meditation retreat that finally stopped her in her tracks and set her on the path of radical self-care.

Learn more at b.nourished.com and connect with Katie on LinkedIn.

Chapters

00:00 - Meet Katie McDonald

02:18 - From corporate success to rock-bottom crash

04:44 - The difference between numbing and self-soothing

07:00 - Perfectionism as a survival strategy

09:50 - Why “overwhelm” is a habit

13:30 - Micro-decisions, compound effects & daily rituals

21:51 - Boundaries: “No” is a complete sentence

32:52 - Making integrity-based decisions

36:44 - Repairing your relationship with food

39:57 - The one question to ask daily: “What do I need?”

44:19 - Career advice & speaking to your 30-year-old self

Follow Monique for More:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniquedemaio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquedemaio

Newsletter: https://www.moniquedemaio.com/newsletter-sign-up

Book Monique as a speaker for your next event: https://www.moniquedemaio.com/contact

Grab her bestselling book: https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Creating-Life-You-Love/dp/B0CLHV526G