Surviving the Side Hustle

Rob Tracz
  • 4.8 (22)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to "Surviving the Side Hustle," the ultimate podcast for balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with maintaining mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Hosted by Coach Rob Tracz, an expert in helping driven professionals achieve 'personal development for professional success,' this show is more than just storytelling—it's a masterclass in thriving amidst the entrepreneurial grind. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders who are rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship, sharing their unique stories, the creative solutions they're offering, and the everyday challenges they’re overcoming. Whether you’re a side hustler looking for your big break or an established entrepreneur seeking fresh perspectives, "Surviving the Side Hustle" provides valuable insights that resonate with the movers, the shakers, and everyone in between. Feeling burnt out and sidelining your own health? This podcast empowers you to overcome stagnation, build resilience, and optimize your life and business. We dive deep into your goals, identify obstacles, and share strategies to boost your energy, improve your strength, and keep the entrepreneurial grind enjoyable. Join us for inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical advice to help you look good, feel good, and do great things at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. Let’s not just survive the side hustle—let's master it.

  1. 1D AGO

    E154 - Lessons from Florian Kemmerich: When Success Isn't Enough

    What happens when you achieve the life you were told to want… and realize it doesn’t actually feel like yours? This week’s conversation with Florian Kemmerich, founder of On Vocation, explores a quiet but powerful truth many high performers face: success doesn’t always equal fulfillment. This episode isn’t about quitting your job or blowing up your life — it’s about choosing your life consciously instead of inheriting it unconsciously. Most high performers aren’t failing — they’re functioning. They’re capable, respected, productive, and doing “everything right.” And that’s exactly why the deeper questions get postponed. Education and career paths teach us how to make a living, but rarely ask: What do I actually care about?What feels meaningful to contribute?What kind of life would I choose if I wasn’t responding to expectations?That gap doesn’t show up immediately. It shows up later as burnout, golden handcuffs, quiet dissatisfaction, or the feeling of being busy all day but disconnected from yourself. As Florian put it: “I had been the absent subject of my own education.” Florian introduces the idea of vocation — not as a title or outcome, but as alignment. A vocation isn’t about status or external validation. It’s about dedicating your skills in service of something greater than yourself. The key distinction he makes: Imagination is externally driven (money, recognition, approval).Intuition is internally driven (service, responsibility, meaning).You don’t have to abandon your experience to follow your vocation.Vocation answers why you care.Your skill set answers how you contribute. Avoiding these questions doesn’t make them disappear — it delays them. The longer you delay conscious choice, the higher the cost: Over-identification with money or statusQuiet regretFeeling like you never really chose your lifeAs Florian said: “Work becomes exhausting when it’s disconnected from who you are.” This episode aligns directly with Prime Principle: Clarity. Clarity isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about asking better questions and acting intentionally instead of reactively. If this episode resonated, this is exactly the work we do inside Prime Performance Coaching and the Momentum Mastermind: Clarifying who you are becomingAligning effort with intentionTurning awareness into momentumDesigning a life and business that actually fits youYou don’t need to abandon your life — you need to author it. To dive deeper into Florian’s work: 📘 Book: On Vocation – Aligning Purpose with Profession🌍 Website: on-vocation.comFlorian also has upcoming books on Purpose & Business and Purpose & Capital, along with future workshops and a gamified platform. Final ThoughtYou don’t need to figure everything out today. But you do need the courage to ask the question honestly: Am I living my life — or just responding to expectations? As always:Reflect honestly. Choose intentionally.And keep surviving the side hustle.

    15 min

  2. 4D AGO

    E153 - From Success to Significance: Discovering Your Vocation with Florian Kemmerich

    What happens when you achieve the life you were told to want… and realize it isn’t yours? In this episode of Surviving the Side Hustle, Rob sits down with Florian Kemmerich — founder of On Vocation, author, investor, and global thought leader — to explore what it truly means to align your work with who you are. At just 33 years old, Florian walked away from a high-level corporate career, a marriage, and a version of “success” that looked good on paper but felt empty in real life. What followed was a deep personal reckoning that led him to ask a question most people avoid: Am I living my life — or just responding to expectations? This conversation is a powerful invitation for anyone who feels successful, capable, and busy… yet quietly disconnected from meaning. 🧭 The Difference Between a Job and a VocationFlorian shares that most education systems teach us how to make a living, not how to live a life. We learn skills, roles, and expectations — but rarely pause to ask what we are actually here to contribute. That gap eventually shows up as: Midlife crisesBurnoutDivorceThe “golden handcuffs” feelingOr the quiet regret of “I was too busy to live.”Despite external success, Florian realized he was hiding behind competence, achievement, and identity. A coaching process helped him see that beneath the armor was an unexpressed inner calling — something ignored since childhood. His realization: “I had been the absent subject of my own education.” ⚖️ Imagination vs. IntuitionOne of the most powerful distinctions in this episode is the difference between: Externally driven imagination (fame, money, approval)Internally driven intuition (service, contribution, meaning)A vocation isn’t about titles or outcomes — it’s about dedicating your skills in service of something greater than yourself. 🧩 Vocation + Skill Set (Not One or the Other)You don’t need to burn your life down or abandon your experience. Florian emphasizes that vocation and skill set must work together. Just like Rob’s transition from strength & conditioning into performance coaching, your skills transfer — the context changes. Vocation answers: Why do I care?Skill set answers:How do I contribute?🛠️ The 7-Step “Vocating” FrameworkFlorian developed a practical, repeatable process to help people: Cut through noiseIdentify their vocationDefine a theory of changeChoose where to apply itBuild stamina & perseveranceMeasure impactDesign a meaningful professional pathThis framework now lives in his book On Vocation, with more books and a gamified platform on the way. 📚 Learn More from Florian🌍 Website & Book: on-vocation.com📖 On Vocation: Aligning Purpose with Profession🔜 Upcoming books on Purpose & Business and Purpose & Capital🔑 Final ReflectionVocation isn’t about quitting everything.It’s about choosing consciously. When your work becomes an expression of who you are, effort feels different.Contribution feels energizing.And success stops feeling hollow. As always — reflect honestly, choose intentionally, and keep surviving the side hustle.

    47 min

  3. JAN 16

    E152 - Lessons from Beth Mielbrecht: Your Body Is Not the Enemy

    Here’s a hard truth most high performers don’t want to hear:Your body isn’t slowing you down — your ignorance of it is. In this Friday Recap, Rob breaks down the biggest lessons from this week’s conversation with Beth Mielbrecht, a health coach with 35 years of experience as a mechanical engineer. Beth doesn’t treat health as mysterious or spiritualized — she treats it as a system. And systems, when understood, can be fixed. This episode is a wake-up call for driven side hustlers, solopreneurs, and high achievers who believe they can outwork the consequences of neglecting their health. It’s not about working less — it’s about stopping the habit of treating your body like it’s disposable. If you’re building something meaningful and pushing through pain, fatigue, or burnout “just a little longer,” this recap will change how you think about performance, recovery, and long-term success. Most people don’t neglect their bodies because they’re lazy — they do it because they’re driven, capable, and under pressure. The lie we tell ourselves is: “Once I hit this milestone, then I’ll take care of myself.”The problem? The goalpost always moves. Beth reframed this perfectly: If you don’t schedule recovery, your body will schedule it for you — and it won’t be convenient. Beth spent 35 years as a mechanical engineer. Engineers don’t accept “there’s nothing you can do.” They assume problems have causes and systems can be understood. She didn’t abandon that identity — she layered it into health. The human body follows logic, patterns, and cause-and-effect just like any other system. Beth offers a short 10-question quiz to help identify where your system is out of balance and what to focus on first. 👉 Visit YourHealthWithBeth.com to take the quiz and access her private podcast. 🔑 Final ReminderYour body isn’t a disposable tool — it’s a business partner you can’t replace. Ask. Listen. Take action.And remember: you don’t hustle your way to freedom — you build capacity for it.

    18 min

  4. JAN 13

    E151 - Engineering Health: The Foundation of Business Performance with Beth Mielbrecht

    What if your biggest business bottleneck isn’t strategy, effort, or execution — but your health? In this episode of Surviving the Side Hustle, Rob sits down with Beth Mielbrecht, a health coach with a surprising background: 35 years as a mechanical engineer. Rather than abandoning her engineering identity, Beth layered it into her work — applying systems thinking, problem-solving, and structure to human health. This conversation explores why entrepreneurs and side hustlers so often ignore their bodies while building something meaningful — and why that tradeoff always shows up later as burnout, pain, poor focus, or declining creativity. Beth breaks down how symptoms are not random, why suppression (coffee, painkillers, cortisone shots) delays real healing, and how learning to ask, listen, and act can radically improve both health and performance. If you’re grinding toward a goal while pushing your body aside, this episode will change how you think about success. 🔧 From Engineering Systems to Human SystemsBeth spent decades as a mechanical engineer — trained to fix what’s broken and understand how systems work. That same mindset now guides her approach to health: Problems have causesSystems can be optimizedThe body is not mysterious or brokenHealth, she explains, isn’t separate from business performance — it’s the foundation of it. 🧠 Why High Performers Ignore Their BodiesEntrepreneurs often believe: “I’ll deal with it after this launch”“I just need to push a little longer”“I don’t have time to slow down”Beth explains why this happens — and why it backfires. Pushing through fatigue, poor sleep, and pain doesn’t disappear the problem; it stores it for later. 🚨 Early Warning Signs Most People MissBeth shares the most common signals that show up before major health issues: Poor or restless sleepStiffness and loss of mobilityChronic tension, headaches, or joint painDeclining focus and creativityThese aren’t isolated problems — they’re connected signals from the body asking for attention. 🔄 Suppression vs. HealingCaffeine, sugar, painkillers, and “pushing through” fall into what Beth calls suppression — not healing. True recovery requires: Adequate sleep and recoveryConsistent movement (especially walking)Nourishing food and hydrationReduced stimulation and stress overloadWhen inputs improve, outputs follow. 🧩 Listening to the Body AgainBeth explains how she helps clients reconnect with their bodies: Notice the symptomAsk what was happening before it showed upConnect emotional and physical stressTake informed actionHealth improves when curiosity replaces avoidance. 📊 A Simple Place to StartBeth offers a 10-question health quiz that helps identify where your system is most out of balance and where to focus first. 👉 Take the quiz at YourHealthWithBeth.com(You’ll also find her newsletter, resources, and ways to connect.) 🎯 Final TakeawayBeth’s core message is simple but powerful: Your body wants to heal. It’s not broken or attacking you.Ask. Listen. Take action. When your health improves, your creativity, clarity, and business performance rise with it.

    46 min

  5. JAN 9

    E150 - Lessons from Stanley Bronstein: The Hidden Cost of Comfort

    Friday Recap – Featuring Stanley Bronstein What if the thing holding you back isn’t a lack of knowledge, motivation, or opportunity — but the stories you’ve been telling yourself for years? That’s the real challenge behind this week’s conversation with Stanley Bronstein. 🧠 Who Is Stanley Bronstein?Stanley is an attorney, CPA, author, and systems thinker with over four decades of experience. One thing he corrected immediately: He’s not a former attorney or CPA — he’s still both.The difference is that now he works by choice, not necessity.Not for money — but for meaning. That alone should make you pause. 🔍 Awareness vs. AvoidanceOne of the most powerful lines from the episode: “I knew I needed to lose weight for 42 years. I acted in year 42.” That’s the difference between knowing and real awareness. Real awareness requires: TruthOwnershipActionKnowing without acting isn’t awareness — it’s avoidance. As Stanley put it: “I changed my life in an instant… but it took me 42 years to be ready for that instant.” ⚡ The Turning PointOn February 1st, 2009 — four months before his 50th birthday — Stanley asked himself a brutal question: “Where will I be in five years if I don’t change?” He didn’t like the answer. So he made a decision, not a wish: He stopped drinking alcohol and sodaHe cut foods that didn’t serve himHe started walking every dayHe took full personal responsibilityNo blame.No drama.Just ownership. 🔁 Identity Beats WillpowerStanley didn’t rely on motivation. He changed his identity. He didn’t ask: “Should I walk today?”“Should I eat better today?”Those decisions were already made. That’s what commitment does — it removes friction. As he reframed it: “Discipline isn’t punishment. Discipline is self-respect in action.” Over 17 years, that identity led to: 70,000+ miles walkedNearly three times around the earthSustainable health and clarity🧠 Long-Term ThinkingShort-term thinking mortgages your future.Long-term thinking invests in it. One of Stanley’s most powerful mindset shifts: “I don’t have to do these things. I get to do them.” That perspective turns effort into privilege — something every entrepreneur and side hustler can relate to. ⚙️ The Way of ExcellenceStanley turned his entire journey into a system called The Way of Excellence — a human operating system built on: AwarenessLong-term thinkingPersonal responsibilityDisciplineCommitmentIntegration of mind, body, and spiritIf you’ve been around the show, you’ll recognize the overlap with Prime Performance: Inputs determine outputsSystems beat motivationIdentity drives behaviorThe wild part?Everything is free — books, videos, frameworks — no paywalls, no opt-ins. 👉 Explore it at thewayofexcellence.com

    16 min

  6. JAN 6

    E149 - Stop Bullsh*tting Yourself: Awareness and the Way of Excellence with Stanley Bronstein

    Some transformations don’t come from motivation, hacks, or quick fixes — they come from radical honesty and long-term commitment. In this episode of Surviving the Side Hustle, I sit down with Stanley Bronstein — an attorney and CPA with over four decades of professional experience — whose story is as powerful as it is grounding. Stanley lost over 220 pounds, kept it off for more than a decade, and built a life where he no longer works for money… but for meaning. This conversation goes far beyond weight loss. It’s about awareness, discipline, identity, responsibility, and truth — and what happens when someone finally stops negotiating with themselves. 🔍 What We Dive IntoStanley shares his journey from childhood trauma and decades of self-destructive habits to building a personal operating system he calls The Way of Excellence — a framework for sustainable change in any area of life. We explore: Why knowing you need to change isn’t the same as being awareHow long-term thinking creates freedom while short-term thinking mortgages your futureThe difference between temporary changes and permanent identity shiftsWhy abstinence is sometimes easier (and healthier) than moderationHow discipline becomes effortless once decisions are removedWhy motivation fades — but systems endureThe power of integrating mind, body, and spirit Stanley also opens up about the emotional roots of his journey — including the loss of his mother at a young age — and how healing those experiences was just as important as changing his habits. 💡 Key Takeaways1️⃣ Awareness Requires ActionYou can “know” something for years and never change. Real awareness begins the moment you act. 2️⃣ Stop Negotiating with YourselfWhen you commit 100%, decisions disappear — and discipline becomes automatic. 3️⃣ You Don’t Have to Change — You Get ToPerspective shifts everything. Health, movement, and growth are privileges, not punishments. 4️⃣ Identity Drives BehaviorWhen you decide who you are, your habits naturally follow. 5️⃣ Sustainable Performance Is Built on SystemsMotivation fades. Systems compound. 🔗 Resources MentionedStanley has made his entire framework — The Way of Excellence — available for free, including: His full systemShort educational videosDigital copies of all five of his books👉 Visit thewayofexcellence.com to explore the resources or connect with Stanley directly. Prime Performance ConnectionThis episode touches nearly every Prime Performance principle: Resilience through responsibility, not toughnessIntentionality through long-term thinkingClarity through radical self-honestyOptimization through systems and routinesSustainability through identity-level changeAs Stanley puts it: “You don’t change the world by fixing everyone else. You change the world by changing yourself.” Final ReflectionIf you take one thing from this episode, let it be this: Stop lying to yourself.Tell the truth.Then act on it.

    1h 2m

  7. JAN 2

    E148 - Top 10 Lessons from Prime Performers on Surviving the Side Hustle (pt. 2)

    This episode picks up Part 2 of the Top 10 Takeaways from Surviving the Side Hustle — pulling lessons from some of the most impactful conversations since the show began. These aren’t tactics or hacks. They’re foundational truths about confidence, awareness, communication, consistency, and alignment — and how Prime Performers actually sustain momentum over time. 6️⃣ If You Don’t Take Yourself Seriously, No One Else WillGuest: Celeste MooreEpisode 82 – February 26, 2025 This conversation centered on confidence, presence, and personal branding — not as aesthetics, but as alignment. Many people want to be taken seriously in their business, career, or side hustle… yet they don’t take themselves seriously first. Key Lesson: Influence starts with presence.Prime Performance Tie-In: Self-investment isn’t ego — it’s leadership. Reflection: Where do others believe in you more than you currently believe in yourself? 7️⃣ Success Without Awareness Is Just Another Form of BurnoutGuest: Bob MartinEpisode 135 – November 18, 2025 This conversation slowed everything down — in the best way. We explored mindfulness, reflection, and how speed without awareness often disguises burnout as progress. Key Lesson: Clarity doesn’t come from speed — it comes from space.Prime Performance Tie-In: Momentum requires regular check-ins, not just checklists. Reflection: When was the last time you paused long enough to ask, “Is this still the right direction?” 8️⃣ People Care More About Being Understood Than Being ImpressedGuest: Danny BrasileEpisode 101 This episode focused on communication, influence, and the difference between talking at people and truly connecting with them. Most professionals focus on sounding smart. The real skill is making others feel understood. Key Lesson: Connection precedes conversion.Prime Performance Tie-In: Prime Performers speak to people — not over them. Reflection: In your conversations, are you focused more on your response… or their reality? 9️⃣ You Can’t Control Outcomes — But You Can Control EffortGuest: Quinn MagnusonEpisode 139 – From Gridiron to Boardroom Quinn shared lessons from athletics, discipline, and long-term consistency. Motivation fluctuates. Conditions change. Results aren’t guaranteed. Effort, preparation, and perspective are. Key Lesson: Momentum isn’t emotional — it’s mechanical.Prime Performance Tie-In: Confidence is built through small, repeatable actions. Reflection: What is one effort you can commit to consistently in 2026 — regardless of how it feels? 🔟 Take Advice Only from People Who’ve Walked the RoadGuest: Adam VoraEpisode 33 – March 20, 2024 This conversation explored purpose, decision-making, and the danger of too many well-meaning voices. Too much input creates confusion. Clarity improves when alignment replaces consensus. Key Lesson: Discernment is a performance skill.Prime Performance Tie-In: Prime Performers choose mentors, inputs, and feedback intentionally. Reflection: Whose voice do you need to turn down in 2026 so you can hear your own more clearly? If even one of these lessons resonated, revisit the full episode — and more importantly, apply one takeaway this week.

    28 min

  8. 12/30/2025

    E147 - Top 10 Lessons from Prime Performers on Surviving the Side Hustle (pt. 1)

    As we close out 2025, reflection matters just as much as goal-setting. In this solo episode, Rob looks back on five of the most impactful conversations from Surviving the Side Hustle so far — not tactical how-tos, but core truths about health, identity, effort, and alignment. Sometimes Life Has to Break You Before It Can Align YouGuest: Holly Porter Holly shared her near-death experience and the health collapse that forced her to stop everything. What stood out most wasn’t just the trauma — it was the clarity that followed. For years, she succeeded on paper while ignoring the signals her body was sending… until they couldn’t be ignored anymore. Reflection: Where have you been ignoring physical, mental, or emotional warning signs because slowing down feels uncomfortable?https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/surviving-the-side-hustle/id1711453767?i=1000713366899 2️⃣ Your Beliefs Quietly Shape Your FutureGuest: Kenny Green This conversation dug deep into identity and belief systems. Most people chase strategies and shortcuts while overlooking the internal narratives driving their decisions. Those beliefs don’t show up immediately — they reveal themselves through repeated patterns. Reflection: What belief about yourself quietly guided your biggest decision this year? Was it empowering or limiting?https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/surviving-the-side-hustle/id1711453767?i=1000712387433 3️⃣ Self-Care Isn’t a Luxury — It’s a RequirementGuest: Zoraida Morales Zoraida’s story of surviving cancer and corporate burnout reframed success entirely. Healing wasn’t just about treatment — it required trust, intuition, and learning to listen again. Reflection: What part of your wellbeing did you sacrifice this year in the name of productivity?https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/surviving-the-side-hustle/id1711453767?i=1000714447262 4️⃣ The Grind Only Works If You Recover From ItGuest: Ben LeRose One of the most popular episodes of the show, this conversation explored ambition, work ethic, and the pride side hustlers take in outworking everyone else — and the cost of doing so without recovery. Reflection: Where could better systems replace brute force in your life or business? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/surviving-the-side-hustle/id1711453767?i=1000639840629 5️⃣ Growth Starts Before You Feel ReadyGuests: Meredith & Craig Meredith and Craig shared the behind-the-scenes story of leaving security, saying yes before certainty, and building a business together without waiting for confidence to show up first. Reflection: What opportunity did you delay this year because you didn’t feel ready? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/surviving-the-side-hustle/id1711453767?i=1000740347869

    29 min
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4.8
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About

Welcome to "Surviving the Side Hustle," the ultimate podcast for balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with maintaining mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Hosted by Coach Rob Tracz, an expert in helping driven professionals achieve 'personal development for professional success,' this show is more than just storytelling—it's a masterclass in thriving amidst the entrepreneurial grind. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders who are rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship, sharing their unique stories, the creative solutions they're offering, and the everyday challenges they’re overcoming. Whether you’re a side hustler looking for your big break or an established entrepreneur seeking fresh perspectives, "Surviving the Side Hustle" provides valuable insights that resonate with the movers, the shakers, and everyone in between. Feeling burnt out and sidelining your own health? This podcast empowers you to overcome stagnation, build resilience, and optimize your life and business. We dive deep into your goals, identify obstacles, and share strategies to boost your energy, improve your strength, and keep the entrepreneurial grind enjoyable. Join us for inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical advice to help you look good, feel good, and do great things at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. Let’s not just survive the side hustle—let's master it.

Information

  • Creator
    Rob Tracz
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    155
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Rob Tracz
  • Show Website
    Surviving the Side Hustle