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

    E147 - Top 5 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

  2. 5D AGO

    E146 - Lessons from Dr. Moe: You Can’t Hustle Your Way Out of Poor Health

    Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “I’m doing everything right… so why does it feel so heavy?” You’re productive. Responsible. Capable. But beneath it all, you’re exhausted — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. That’s exactly what this week’s conversation with Dr. Maureen “Mo” Gibbons cracked wide open. Here’s the truth she dropped that stuck with me:You cannot hustle your way out of poor health — and no amount of success can compensate for a fried nervous system. Dr. Mo isn’t speaking from theory. She lived it.15 years in emergency medicine. Night shifts. High-stakes decisions. Ironman races. Credentials for days. And despite “doing everything right,” she was trapped in a system slowly draining her bandwidth, health, and joy. Her mission now is simple but powerful:Create a space for adults to be — and to grow. 🧠 What Makes Dr. Mo DifferentDr. Mo runs AMS Lifestyle Medicine, a telehealth practice focused on weight management, energy, men’s performance, and functional/lifestyle medicine. But what stood out most to me is this:👉 She doesn’t just treat symptoms — she treats capacity. Mental bandwidth.Biological energy.Emotional clarity. She helps people stop surviving their lives and start directing them. 🔑 Top Takeaways from the Episode1️⃣ Burnout Isn’t Always ObviousOne of the most powerful moments was when Dr. Mo said:“I didn’t think I was burned out.” She was sleeping. Exercising. Productive. High-functioning.Yet her system was overloaded. Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse.Sometimes it looks like sustained over-functioning, where everything costs more than it should. 2️⃣ Bandwidth Is the Real CurrencyDr. Mo kept coming back to this idea of bandwidth — mental space, emotional capacity, nervous system regulation. Most people don’t need more motivation.They need fewer invisible drains. Bandwidth is what allows better decisions, better leadership, better health.Without it, even “good habits” stop working. 3️⃣ Systems Either Save You or Suffocate YouDr. Mo scaled fast — replacing her ER income in six months — but without the right systems. Eventually, she had to do the hardest thing imaginable:She blew it up and rebuilt from scratch. Because broken systems don’t scale — they multiply chaos. This applies to life too.If your calendar, routines, and environment aren’t supporting you, they’re quietly draining you. 📘 About the Book: Freedom to ShiftThis book is for the person who says:“I can’t work any harder… and I can’t imagine doing this for 20 more years.” It’s the first of a trilogy: Freedom to Shift → Permission to changeFreedom to Spend → Intentional use of time & moneyFreedom to Shine → Becoming a lighthouse, not a tugboatYou don’t retire from growth.You evolve into relevance. 🎁 Free Gift from Dr. MoDM “REBOOT” to @drmogibbons on Instagram for her 7-Day RebootLearn more at ShiftWithDrMo.com 🎯 Your Challenge This WeekAsk yourself: Where is my bandwidth leaking?What am I tolerating that’s quietly draining me?Where do I need to give myself permission to shift?Then audit your calendar — not to cram more in, but to create white space.

    13 min

  3. DEC 23

    E145 - Freedom to Shift: How Dr. Moe Helps High Achievers Escape Overload & Reclaim Their Health

    In this episode of Surviving the Side Hustle, Rob sits down with Dr. Maureen “Moe” Gibbons — physician, entrepreneur, lifestyle medicine expert, and author of the new book Freedom to Shift. Dr. Moe specializes in helping high achievers trade burnout for bandwidth through systems, biology, boundaries, and intentional living. After spending 15 years in emergency medicine, completing seven Ironmans, and battling long-term weight and health challenges, she discovered the hard truth: You can’t hustle your way out of poor health. Now she’s on a mission to help people create time, income, and health freedom so they can build what’s next without sacrificing themselves in the process. This is one of those conversations that makes you rethink performance, redefine success, and get honest about what “stress” is really costing you. 💡 Key Takeaways1. Her Mission Was Born Through Action, Not PlanningThe phrase Freedom to Shift didn’t come from an idea — it came from lived experience. After decades of pushing through exhaustion, her mission became clear only after she created the space to heal. 2. The Hidden Weight We Don’t Know We CarryDr. Moe didn’t believe she was burned out until she stopped working. Only then did she recognize how much stress, adrenaline, and internal noise had become “normal.”🔗 Relates directly to Prime Principle #1: Resilience through proper recovery. 3. Health Is the Doorway to FreedomWhether it's weight, energy, anxiety, or sleep — you cannot build a business, family, or future on a dysregulated system.She teaches clients to protect sleep, simplify nutrition, and eliminate stress-inducing inputs — a foundational requirement before scaling anything. 4. Systems Determine Your SuccessHer telehealth practice grew so fast she had to fire 90% of her team and rebuild everything.Lesson: you can’t scale chaos.🔗 Echoes Prime Principle #4: Optimization. 5. Calendars Reveal the TruthOne of the first exercises she does with clients is organizing their calendar.If the calendar is packed with noise, so is the mind.If there’s no white space, there’s no bandwidth.If everything is “busy,” nothing is strategic. 6. Freedom Comes From Intentional Choices, Not More EffortShe helps clients stop trading time and start creating scalable value through health, systems, and aligned work.🔗 Ties into Prime Principle #3: Clarity & Reflection. 7. Retirement Is a Myth — Relevance Is the GoalShe envisions a future of book meetups, AMS lifestyle communities, and continuous growth. Success isn’t stopping — it’s shining. 🔗 Connect With Dr. MoeInstagram: @drmoegibbonsDM the word “reboot” for her free 7-day health resetWork with her: shiftwithdrmoe.com 🚀 Want More Energy, Clarity, and Momentum?Join Prime Performance Momentum Mastermind — every Monday, live.👉 survivingthesidehustle.com/mastermind 🎯 Weekly ChallengeAudit your calendar.Create one pocket of true white space this week — no work, no phone, no expectation.See how your body responds when you finally give it room to breathe. 🔥 Closing ThoughtYou can’t build a meaningful life on a burned-out foundation. Freedom begins with the shift you give yourself permission to make.

    47 min

  4. DEC 19

    E144 - Lessons from Mo Salami: How to Redefine Success

    What happens when you do everything right your whole life — follow the path your family and culture laid out — and still feel like something is missing? That’s where this week’s guest, Mo Salami, found himself. On paper, Mo was the blueprint of success: multiple science degrees, a respected healthcare career, six-figure income, the nice neighborhood, the nice car, the title that makes people nod. But internally? His life was one long loop of work, fatigue, and the quiet fear that this couldn’t be all there was. Then one day, he walks into a bookstore in central London and sees a simple sign: “How to Be Successful.”A sign pointing directly at a book he didn’t think he needed… but somehow had to pick up. That book — The Success Principles — became the spark for a complete identity shift. He didn’t just read it. He bought every book recommended inside it. He started studying personal growth, sales, communication, mindset, public speaking — deeply. He traveled, trained, mentored, sold, spoke, failed, rebuilt, and eventually left the traditional path to build a life on his terms. This recap breaks down the biggest lessons from that conversation — because Mo’s story is the exact story so many side hustlers silently live. 1️⃣ Apparent Success vs. Actual SuccessMo realized he had apparent success — the external markers that impress people. Actual success is different.Actual success includes: FulfillmentFreedomImpactJoyAlignmentIt’s when your internal experience matches your external story. So here’s your first question this week: 👉 Whose definition of success have you been chasing?👉 And which parts of your current life are yours — and which were inherited? 2️⃣ The Three Steps to Purpose-Driven SuccessMo shared a framework I loved: 1. World-Class MindsetYour mindset drives 80–90% of your results.Not positive thinking — pattern recognition and emotional regulation. 2. World-Class Skill SetTreat your craft like a profession, not a hobby.Study the game. Get feedback. Practice deliberately. 3. Move Toward the Result Before You See ItMost people procrastinate behind preparation.Mo reminded us:👉 We only get about 4,000 weeks on this planet. You cannot wait for certainty to start. 3️⃣ Prepare → Perform → PolishThis is the practicality every side hustler needs: Prepare:Get to 80%. Past that, you’re procrastinating. Perform:Launch messy. Do it unprepared. Act before confident. Polish:Then reflect, refine, repeat. You don’t get polished by hiding behind your laptop.Want to Connect with Mo? Website: mosalami.comFree Strategy Call: mosalami.com/freecallKeynote Speaking: blend of science, personal development, and practical application.

    27 min

  5. DEC 16

    E143 - From Science to Stage: How Mo Salami Redefined Success

    In this episode of Surviving the Side Hustle, Rob sits down with Mo Salami — a scientist turned global speaker who walked away from a high-paying pharmaceutical career to pursue a life of purpose, service, and personal development. Mo’s story begins in a world where academic achievement defined success. After earning multiple science degrees and securing a prestigious role, he found himself working 16-hour days, exhausted and unfulfilled. Everything changed in a London bookstore when he stumbled upon The Success Principles by Jack Canfield — a single moment that became his catalyst into mindset work, personal development, and eventually, speaking on stages around the world. Mo shares the turning points, the identity shifts, the lessons learned from world-class mentors (including Tony Robbins), and the frameworks that guide his coaching today. For anyone considering a career change, craving more meaning, or looking to level up their skillset and mindset, Mo provides a playbook for purposeful success. 💡 Key Takeaways1. Actual Success Beats Apparent SuccessMo realized that the world’s definition of success didn’t match his own. True success includes fulfillment, not just income or titles.🔗 This echoes Prime Principle #3 Clarity — identifying what matters before chasing what doesn’t. 2. The Three Pillars of Purpose-Driven AchievementMo reveals his three-part approach to becoming world-class in anything: Mindset: 80–90% of results come from how you think.Skillset: Master your craft at a level that genuinely serves others.Movement: Always move toward the result you want before you see it.🔗 Aligns beautifully with Prime Principle #1 Resilience and #4 Optimization.3. Identity Shifts Are Required for Big LeapsLeaving pharmacy wasn’t just a career change — it required redefining who he was. Mo reminds listeners that you don’t start from zero; you transfer your competencies into a new arena. 4. Don’t Attempt the Journey AloneFrom Tony Robbins to global mentors, Mo accelerated his growth by learning directly from the best. Coaches collapse decades into days — and keep you accountable to the identity you want to step into. 5. The Three P’s of Polished PerformanceMo’s simple yet powerful performance framework: Prepare: Get to 80% and stop.Perform: Step into the arena.Polish: Iterate, refine, repeat.A reminder that sloppy reps are a requirement, not a setback.🔗 Connect With MoWebsite: mosalami.comFree Strategy Call: mosalami.com/freecall If you're building a coaching business or want structured guidance for online growth and mindset mastery, Mo is a phenomenal resource. 🚀 Join the Momentum MastermindIf Mo’s message lit a fire in you, imagine what happens when you surround yourself with people like him every Monday night.👉 survivingthesidehustle.com/mastermind 🎯 Weekly ChallengePick one skill you want to master and apply Mo’s Three P’s:Prepare → Perform → PolishTag @RobTracz and share your first rep — messy or not. 🔥 Closing ThoughtSuccess isn’t a destination. It’s a mindset, a process, and a willingness to move before you feel ready.

    50 min

  6. DEC 12

    E142 - Lessons from Meredith & Craig: Relationship Advantages for Side Hustlers

    In this recap of Surviving the Side Hustle, Rob dives into the key lessons from his conversation with Meredith & Craig — a husband-and-wife duo who turned their marriage into the foundation for a thriving coaching business. After leaving corporate careers, stumbling through real estate, and facing financial stress, they discovered their true gift wasn’t in properties — it was in people, connection, and partnership. Today they help couples strengthen communication, deepen trust, and build unstoppable momentum together. This episode explores how aligned relationships fuel growth, energy, clarity, and confidence — not just at home, but in business too. 💡 Key Takeaways1. Challenge Creates ClarityWhen life forced them out of corporate roles, they didn’t just change jobs — they changed direction. The breakdown forced bigger questions:Who are we? What life do we actually want to build?Hard moments often reveal your real path.🔗 Prime Principle #1: Resilience 2. Vulnerability Builds ConnectionTheir coaching journey didn’t begin with expertise — it began with honesty. Sharing their relationship struggles on stage showed people they weren’t alone. Vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s leadership.🔗 Prime Principle #5: Social Support & Influence 3. Presence Protects PartnershipsGreat relationships aren’t built on hours together — they’re built on attention.Twenty minutes of full presence beats four hours of half-distracted time. When your energy is drained, nothing in your life or business gets your best.🔗 Prime Principle #2: Intentional Consumption 💞 Why This Matters for Side HustlersYour relationships set the tone for your creativity, discipline, clarity, and emotional bandwidth. When your partnership is aligned, your business has more momentum. When it’s not, everything feels heavier. This conversation reinforces a simple truth:Your business will only grow as strong as the relationships supporting it. 🔗 Connect with Meredith & CraigInstagram: @meredithandcraigWebsite: roadoflifecoaching.comFree 30-Day Email Challenge: Small hinges swing big doors. 🚀 Join the Momentum MastermindIf you want to build resilience, intentionality, and momentum in every area of your life, join Rob every Monday for live coaching.👉 survivingthesidehustle.com/mastermindJust $25/month or $250/year. 🎯 Weekly ChallengeSchedule one 20-minute, distraction-free connection with someone who matters.No phones. No multitasking. Just presence. Share how it felt by tagging @RobTracz, or DM your insight and Rob may feature your story. 🔥 Closing ThoughtLove better. Protect your presence. Build your momentum.Success grows where your relationships grow.

    11 min

  7. DEC 9

    E141 - How to Build a Marriage That Fuels Momentum with Meredith & Craig

    In this episode of Surviving the Side Hustle, Rob and Greg sit down with Meredith and Craig, a couple from Prince Edward Island who walked away from comfortable corporate careers to build a life and business together. After being asked to move across the country, facing a serious illness in the family and stumbling through a real estate venture that drained their energy, they realized something important: They were great at the corporate game, but completely out of alignment with the life they actually wanted. Through personal growth, hard conversations and a lot of trial and error, they discovered that their real gift was the way they built and protected their relationship. That became the foundation for their coaching, mastermind and community work, helping couples build marriages that support both life and business. 💡 Key TakeawaysDefault Success Is Not Real SuccessMeredith and Craig were winning by traditional standards, but deeply unfulfilled. Losing an office, facing illness and questioning the old “go to school, get a job, retire” script pushed them to ask what they actually wanted their life to look like.Your Relationship Is a Team, Not a Tug-of-WarThey see their marriage as a third entity: you, me and the team. When you agree on the destination, you can disagree on the route without becoming enemies. You are on the same side of the problem, not fighting each other.Know Which Hat You Are WearingWhen you work with your partner, you need to know if you are speaking as a spouse or as a business partner. Mixing those roles causes friction. They use timing, clear boundaries and daily rituals like end-of-day walks to switch gears with intention.Vulnerability Is a Relationship SuperpowerIn their Infinite Relationship Mastermind, they have created a space where members can be honest about what they are struggling with. One member admitted he could not write a love letter to himself. Another read his own three-page letter out loud to help him. That kind of vulnerability builds trust fast.Small Intentional Moments Beat Big Occasional GesturesEspecially for side hustlers, it is easy to let work consume everything. They teach couples to protect short, fully present windows of time. Twenty distraction-free minutes often does more for connection than four hours on the couch with phones out.If It Is Not Fun, Something Is OffOne of their core beliefs is that relationships and business are meant to include joy. If everything feels heavy all the time, that is a signal you are out of alignment and need to adjust, not a sign that you should just grind harder.🔗 Connect with Meredith & CraigWebsite: roadoflifecoaching.comInstagram: @meredithandcraigFree 33 Day Email Challenge: Daily micro actions to strengthen connection (link in their IG bio)🚀 Want More Weekly Support?Join Rob’s Momentum Mastermind, where strategy meets community for side hustlers and driven professionals. 👉 survivingthesidehustle.com/mastermind 🎯 Listener ChallengeThis week, schedule one 20 to 30 minute block with your partner or someone important to you. No phones, no TV, no multitasking. Just be present and talk. After you do it, share your biggest insight and tag @RobTracz and @MeredithandCraig.

    47 min

  8. DEC 5

    E140 - Lessons from Quinn Magnuson: Unlocking Sustainable Success

    In this episode of "Surviving the Side Hustle," host Rob Tracz sits down with Quinn Magnuson, a former professional football player turned leadership and performance coach. They explore the transformative power of focusing on effort over results. Quinn shares his journey from the CFL to the boardroom, emphasizing the importance of resilience, grit, and creating environments that prioritize psychological safety. Discover how shifting your focus from outcomes to effort can ignite motivation, build resilience, and sustain long-term performance. Tune in to learn how to control the controllables and thrive in any environment.

    12 min
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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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    148
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Rob Tracz
  • Show Website
    Surviving the Side Hustle