What happens when a career in clinical speech-language pathology leads not to traditional burnout, but to a reimagining of how adults work, connect and play?

In this episode of Longwood GradCast: Beyond the Degree, host Dr. Sarah Tanner-Anderson talks with Acey Holmes (M.S. ’11), a speech-language pathologist, educator and founder of BoredLess, a work design consultancy focused on transforming the way adults experience the workplace.

Acey began her career in clinical speech-language pathology, including work at a Level 1 trauma center, before recognizing that the traditional path was no longer sustainable for her. Her experience with burnout ultimately led her to rethink what healthy, engaging work can look like. Today, she draws on her background in communication sciences and neuroscience to help organizations build workplaces that support cognitive flexibility, resilience and genuine human connection.

Acey reflects on how her Longwood graduate experience shaped her career, from navigating a non-traditional commute to becoming part of a close-knit CSD cohort where collaboration replaced competition. She shares how faculty mentorship and lasting relationships gave her the confidence to pursue a nontraditional career path.

At the heart of Acey’s work is a simple idea: adults never lose their neurological need to play. She explains how play can support cognitive flexibility, stress reduction and connection, while challenging the idea that workplace wellness is simply about perks or individual stress management. She also discusses neurodivergent-affirming workplaces, different forms of burnout and how stepping away from full-time clinical practice ultimately allowed her to return on her own terms.

In this episode, Acey talks about:

• How her Longwood CSD experience shaped her career and relationships
• Transitioning from clinical speech-language pathology to entrepreneurship
• Recognizing different forms of burnout
• The neuroscience behind adult play and cognitive flexibility
• Moving beyond “forced fun” toward meaningful workplace design
• Creating more neurodivergent-affirming, human-centered workplaces
• Navigating career pivots with the support of mentors and collaborators

Listen to hear how one Longwood alumna turned clinical expertise into a new approach to workplace wellness — and discovered that stepping off the traditional career path can open the door to something even more meaningful.

Subscribe to Longwood GradCast: Beyond the Degree to hear more stories of alumni whose lives and careers demonstrate the enduring power of people, curiosity, connection, and opportunity.

Listen now: longwood.edu/gradcast