Surviving the Side Hustle

In this episode, Rob Tracz recaps his conversation with Bob Martin, a former lawyer turned wellness professor and meditation teacher. Bob shares his journey from the chaotic lifestyle of Miami's criminal courts to a life of mindfulness and wisdom. Takeaways Timing is everything; success comes when you learn to sense the right moment. Retreat isn't a weakness; it's wisdom to recharge and regain cla...

In this episode, Rob Tracz interviews Bob Martin, a former high-powered criminal trial lawyer turned mindfulness mentor. Bob shares his transformative journey from the chaotic world of Miami's cocaine cowboy era to embracing mindfulness and meditation. He discusses the importance of timing in life decisions, the wisdom of the I Ching, and the challenges of maintaining intuition in a modern, techno...

In this episode, Rob Tracz recaps his conversation with Gary Chupik, a mental performance coach with nearly 30 years of experience. They discuss the importance of trusting oneself, the cost of hesitation, and the journey from coping to thriving. Gary shares insights on building confidence through preparation and action, and the concept of whole life excellence. Takeaways Hesitation has a cost in b...

In this episode, Rob Tracz interviews Gary Chupik, a mental performance coach with nearly 30 years of experience. They discuss Gary's journey into coaching, the importance of mindset and mental performance in both sports and business, and the frameworks he uses to help clients achieve excellence. Gary shares insights on overcoming stagnation, making decisions, and building trust and confidence. He...

What if the moment that felt like the end was actually the start of your purpose? We sit down with nutrition coach Maria Garcia, who survived a devastating stroke at 25 that left her paralyzed from the nose down and unable to speak. Years of grueling rehab rebuilt the basics, but her true turning point came much later: a strategic shift in nutrition and hydration that unlocked another 20% of her f...

Send us a text What happens when a devastating stroke at age 25 leaves you completely paralyzed, conscious but unable to communicate for two weeks? For Maria Garcia, it became the first chapter in an extraordinary story of resilience, discovery, and ultimately, transformation. Maria takes us through her harrowing experience of being "locked in" her body after a stroke, communicating initially only...

Send us a text What if the reason you’re not following through isn’t laziness or poor planning—but a hidden program that takes over under stress? That question drives this solo recap of my conversation with Freeman Beals, where we reconnect after two years to explore how stress tools evolve when life changes and why the subconscious often wins the moment your emotions spike. We dig into the gap be...

Send us a text The moment Freeman Beals became a father, everything he thought he knew about stress management was put to the ultimate test. Despite years of coaching others through emotional regulation, he found himself experiencing unprecedented anger and frustration with his toddler – reactions he never anticipated and couldn't seem to control. This humbling revelation led Freeman down a fascin...

Send us a text What if the biggest obstacle to love, success, or fulfillment isn’t the market, your manager, or your past—but the patterns you haven’t named yet? Today we unpack our conversation with transformational coach and TEDx speaker Christian De la Huerta and trace three clear pathways to change: sharpen self-awareness, relate to emotions as energy, and stop outsourcing power to anyone or a...

Send us a text What if finding love isn't about the search, but about removing what blocks us from experiencing it? Christian de la Huerta, transformational coach and award-winning author with 30 years of experience, reveals the internal barriers that prevent us from creating authentic connections. "It's not our job to look for love, but to look within ourselves for the obstacles to love," Christi...

Send us a text What if growth wasn’t about grinding harder but about choosing the right moments to sprint, the right people to trust, and the right systems to make quality automatic? We unpack Chef Ben LaRose’s journey from dishwasher to architect of Fork and Delicious, tracing how his brand evolved from meal prep and small events to chef’s tables, influencer dinners, restaurant takeovers, and a f...

Send us a text Ready to rethink what “hustle” really means? We sit down with Chef Ben LaRose—founder of Fork and Delicious and the force behind a growing chef’s table and consulting brand—to explore how a side hustle can scale without sacrificing standards. Ben breaks down the difference between momentum and forcing outcomes, and why his mantra is simple: accept, adapt, and keep hustling. We dig i...

Send us a text What if the outcome of your next big move has less to do with timing and more to do with how you show up? We revisit our conversation with Ellen Silverman—who left three decades in banking to thrive as a New York City real estate agent—and unpack the habits that make reinvention stick in one of the toughest markets on earth. The story isn’t about listings; it’s about discipline that...

Send us a text What does it take to completely reinvent your career after 30 years in one industry? In this captivating conversation, we meet Ellen Silverman, who made the bold transition from decades in banking and finance to building a successful real estate career in New York City. Ellen's story is particularly fascinating because she describes herself as "an introvert in a sales job." As a sel...

Send us a text Ever feel like you're drowning in tasks while your leadership potential remains untapped? That's exactly what Walter Dusseldorp, the Dutch Mentor, addresses in this powerful conversation about the crucial shift from doing to leading. Walter's story is nothing short of remarkable. Arriving in America with just $500 in his pocket, he transformed from a waiter with one shirt and tie in...

Send us a text What separates successful leaders from those who struggle? According to Walter Dusseldorp, known professionally as "The Dutch Mentor," the answer lies in a fundamental shift from doing to leading—a transition many technically skilled professionals find challenging. Walter's remarkable journey began when he arrived in America at 18 with just $500 in his pocket. Through determination...

Send us a text What if the real success in life isn't climbing ladders but creating something so authentic it feels like art? This question frames my profound conversation with Aisha, a remarkable artist and global nomad who has lived in over 60 countries and even had her artwork sent to space. I first met Aisha years ago at a wellness retreat where I was speaking, and since then, I've watched in...

Send us a text What does it mean to truly live authentically in a world that constantly pushes us toward conformity? Aisha, an artist and world traveler who has visited over 60 countries, joins us to share her extraordinary perspective on embracing life's full spectrum of experiences. Having grown up in an orphanage before becoming a global adventurer and successful artist, Aisha brings a refreshi...

Send us a text Ever wondered why some ideas capture attention while others fall flat? The secret might not be what you're saying, but how you're telling your story. Meet Melinda Jackson, a PR powerhouse whose journey from small-town North Carolina to Emmy and Grammy award-winning campaigns exemplifies what's possible when grit meets strategy. With just $500 in her pocket, Melinda drove to Los Ange...

Send us a text From walking away from the family business with just $500 in her pocket to building a thriving PR firm, Melinda Jackson's journey is a masterclass in charting your own path through the entrepreneurial wilderness. Melinda takes us through her remarkable story of leaving small-town North Carolina for Los Angeles against her parents' wishes, working three unpaid internships simultaneou...

Send us a text Ever wondered why your relationships hit the same frustrating roadblocks despite your best efforts? The answer might lie in what relationship coach Andre Paradise calls the "dance of energy" – the powerful interplay of masculine and feminine energies that shapes every human connection. From his extraordinary journey as a dancer who performed alongside Michael Jackson and Prince to b...

Send us a text Have you ever felt like you're speaking a completely different language from your partner, despite using the same words? There's a reason for that. According to relationship expert Andre, only 7% of our communication comes through words, while the rest is filtered through drastically different masculine and feminine perception systems. In this eye-opening conversation, Andre shares...

Send us a text What if leadership isn't about perfection but vulnerability? In this revealing conversation with Emily Erstad—speech pathologist, hospice leader, and author of "It's Not That Deep"—we explore how the messy, uncomfortable parts of our journeys actually become our greatest strengths. Emily's powerful story traces her path from the Midwest to Montana to Tucson, where each bold move for...

Send us a text What happens when you leave everything familiar behind to discover who you truly are? Emily Erstad, speech language pathologist turned hospice executive director and author, reveals the transformative power of intentionally embracing discomfort. Emily's remarkable journey began with a spontaneous move from the Midwest to Montana during the pandemic, followed by randomly selecting Tu...

Send us a text Ever found yourself wearing burnout as a badge of honor? That was me until a conversation with Garrett Wood changed everything.  Garrett is the founder of Gnosis Therapy, a clinical hypnotherapist and executive coach who helps high achievers transform burnout into sustainable performance. His journey resonates deeply—he wasn't a theorist but someone who lived through managing multip...