Everything Is Fine, I'll Just Work Harder: Confessions of a Former Badass

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Jan 15, 2026

Dr. Cara Gormally, a professor and cartoonist, shares insights from their graphic memoir about navigating academia and personal trauma. They recount how overwork can mask deeper issues and explore the transformative power of therapy. Cara describes the healing journey using art, emphasizing the importance of community and self-acceptance. They discuss their struggles with chronic busyness and the impact on mental health, advocating for a slower, more mindful approach to life beyond constant productivity.

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INSIGHT

Overwork As Trauma Response

Overwork can be a trauma response: constant productivity and hypervigilance mask internal lack of worth.
External validation of productivity keeps people trapped on an unending, self-reinforcing gerbil wheel.

ADVICE

Keep Searching For The Right Therapist

Persist in finding a good therapist and recognize rapport takes time to build.
Show up for the hard work between sessions and allow yourself to feel difficult emotions rather than quitting early.

INSIGHT

Therapy Changes More Than You

Therapy's effects ripple outward: personal change alters relationships and affects others.
Doing inner work doesn't occur in isolation; it has relational domino effects in your community.

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In Everything Is Fine, I’ll Just Work Harder: Confessions of A Former Badass (Street Noise Books, 2025), Professor Cara Gormally draws us into the familiar academic world of chronic busyness. In panel after panel, Cara brings us into a life numbed by overwork. Then, as this graphic memoir shows us, during an ordinary early-morning run, Cara’s watch dings with a Facebook friend request. Their rapist wants to “friend” them.

Cara always had a long to-do list; always had many projects; always was busy. But as their rapist continued to send friend requests and tried to reconnect with them, they began to lose their grip on their work, projects, and relationships. But then Cara connects with a therapist who guides them through a long but powerful process of healing. And Cara works to desensitize, reprocess, excavate and relive the old wounds in order to move past them and heal.

This episode explores: Cara’s path to academia; how they discovered their love of science; how art and writing can help us heal; the work of going to therapy; what radical self-acceptance is; why overwork can be a sign of a trauma response; the risks and rewards of changing; and the importance of writing communities.

This episode does not discuss sexual assault.

Our guest is: Dr. Cara Gormally (they/them), who is a professor at Gallaudet University, in Washington, D.C. Their interdisciplinary research focuses on questions related to making science relevant and accessible to increase students' belonging in STEM. Their new book is Everything Is Fine, I’ll Just Work Harder: Confessions of a Former Badass.

Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is an academic writing coach and editor. She is the producer and host of the Academic Life podcast.

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