What if the legal industry stopped treating burnout like a rite of passage?

In the second half of this episode of The Wellness Esquire Podcast, Ariella Coleman and Rich Bracken imagine what law could look like if emotional intelligence were taken as seriously as technical skill. They talk about building firms that are psychologically safe, performance-driven in healthy ways, and grounded in self-awareness rather than silent stress.

Rich shares how he connects with audiences through storytelling (and yes — music plays a starring role), and why EQ, empathy, and authentic leadership outperform rigid hierarchy every time. For him, success isn’t measured in titles or hours billed, but in impact, alignment, and the ability to show up fully human.

Ariella reflects on how she approaches self-care — mentally and physically — not as indulgence, but as sustainable performance strategy. They unpack boundaries, burnout prevention, resilience-building, and how small mindset shifts can recalibrate an entire career.

And they laugh. A lot. Because sometimes the best medicine isn’t another productivity hack — it’s connection, perspective, and two friends committed to reshaping the culture from the inside out.

If you’re interested in practicing law with strength, clarity, and emotional intelligence — without losing yourself in the process — this conversation is for you.

Visit Rich's website, connect with Ariella and Rich on LinkedIn, and do something for yourself today.

About The Wellness Esquire
The Wellness Esquire is a podcast, Substack, and concept by Ariella Cohen Coleman exploring well-being, identity, and sustainability in the legal profession. Through honest conversations with lawyers and other professionals, the show examines how we work, why we burn out, and what it looks like to build careers that are both meaningful and humane.

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