Be The Wolf

Genea Barnes

Ready to stop hiding and playing small … and start living from the TRUTH of who you are? Be the Wolf is for high-achievers who are tired of sacrificing for the sake of others, business, and finances.  They’ve done it “right” their whole life, and they’re still feeling stuck, exhausted, and unfulfilled. If you struggle with burnout, people-pleasing, imposter syndrome, chronic self-doubt, or feeling invisible even though you constantly over-deliver… this show is for you. What does it mean to ‘Be the Wolf?’ When Yellowstone Park removed the wolves to make the park "safe," the entire ecosystem collapsed. The wolves weren't the problem … they were essential.  The same is true for you. When you hide parts of yourself to stay safe or be liked, the system of YOU gets out of balance, stays stuck in survival mode, and eventually collapses.  Being the Wolf means operating from the wholeness of who you are … because that's when the ecosystem of YOU thrives. Host Genea Barnes explores what it means to stop performing for approval and start showing up as your full 100% REAL self. Not just the parts you think are acceptable.  Through deep conversations about self-trust, relationships, worthiness, business, boundaries, money, reclaiming your voice, and learning to feel safe in your own skin, you'll discover how to expand your capacity for a life you actually want … without sacrificing joy, fulfillment, and the light of who you are. Topics include: Overcoming self-sabotage and breaking through plateaus Healing people-pleasing patterns and chronic over-functioning Trusting yourself when you've been gaslit or told your needs aren't real Moving from survival mode to feeling safe, embodied, and free to thrive Reclaiming creativity, visibility, and leadership after years of playing small Building relationships where you don't have to disappear to be loved and accepted Saying no, setting and holding boundaries without guilt or fear of rejection Releasing shame and learning you're not "too much" or "not enough" Saying yes to what you truly want without fear of repercussions  This isn't about fixing yourself. It's about remembering who you are. Because when you stop trying to cram yourself into someone else's tiny box of who you should be, everything changes. Your work and business thrive. Your relationships deepen. Your body relaxes. You finally feel the peace, safety, and freedom you've been chasing. You weren't meant to hide … you weren’t meant to disappear. You were meant to live from the TRUTH of you. Be the Wolf. New episodes weekly. Real stories. Real transformation. Real freedom. ~ When you operate from the TRUTH of who you are, humanity evolves.~

  1. #136 Trust the Spark Before You Have the Plan with CEO, Melissa Perlman

    6D AGO

    #136 Trust the Spark Before You Have the Plan with CEO, Melissa Perlman

    You don't need to know how. You just need to say yes. Melissa Perlman didn't have construction experience, speak Spanish, or a detailed business plan when she moved to Tulum after 9/11. She had a spark. A vision. And the courage to follow breadcrumbs instead of blueprints. That spark became Amansala, one of Tulum's most iconic wellness destinations. Genea and Melissa dive into: 🔹 The moment she negotiated her first hotel on a napkin with a man who couldn't write his own name 🔹 Why she chose to move forward after being forcibly removed from the property she'd rebuilt 🔹 How following the frequency of joy reveals opportunities that control never could 🔹 The practice of trusting small decisions so you can trust the big ones In this conversation, Genea and Melissa explore what it means to build from joy, experience some big losses, but keep trusting yourself anyway.   Connect with Genea: Website: http://bethewolfnow.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geneabarnes/   Connect with Melissa: Website: https://www.amansala.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-glee-perlman/   About Melissa: Melissa Perlman is the founder of Amansala, one of Tulum’s most iconic boutique hotels and wellness retreat destinations. A pioneer in experiential travel, she created Bikini Bootcamp, a signature program that has attracted celebrities, CEOs, and wellness seekers from around the world—and helped put Tulum on the global wellness map. What began as a simple concept—a few beachside rooms and a vision for transformation—grew into a multimillion-dollar hospitality brand rooted in authenticity, community, and conscious living. Melissa built her business from the ground up, navigating real estate challenges, local politics, legal battles, and the unique complexities of building in Mexico—all while staying true to her mission of creating spaces that inspire personal growth and connection. After being pushed out of her original location—a property she developed by hand—Melissa had to decide whether to walk away or rebuild. She chose to stay, and that decision became the turning point. She not only rebuilt Amansala stronger, but expanded its offerings, refined the brand, and emerged as a thought leader in the boutique wellness space. Melissa brings a raw and honest perspective to entrepreneurship—sharing how to overcome setbacks, stay financially independent, build a loyal team, and scale without selling out. Today, Amansala continues to thrive under her leadership, with plans to expand globally.

    52 min
  2. #134 From Smart to Human: Speak So People Actually Listen with Message Design Consultant, Brian Miller

    OCT 22

    #134 From Smart to Human: Speak So People Actually Listen with Message Design Consultant, Brian Miller

    Being smart isn't the problem.  You can be brilliant and still invisible. What may be super clear to you doesn’t always resonate to others.  And as a result, people don’t remember or care about what you have to say. Genea talks with Brian Miller, a message design expert who teaches people how to explain big ideas in ways that actually stick. Brian works with scientists, researchers, and industry leaders, but the lessons here? They're for anyone who needs people to understand them. Entrepreneurs. Leaders. Creatives. Coaches. Experts. And even Parents.   If you've got something to say and people aren't getting it, this episode is for you. This conversation gets real about communication: 🔹 Why people don't ask questions when they're lost (and how you're losing them in silence) 🔹 The survival bias that tricks you into thinking you're landing the conversation when you're not 🔹 How saying yes to uncomfortable opportunities creates unexpected transformation 🔹 The one shift that makes your message spread: Audience First, Always This matters because communication is a major cornerstone to getting what you want out of life and business. Your business only grows when others can talk about what you do. If they don't understand you, they can't share you. And if they can't share you, your message dies with them. Listen and learn how to make your words move people.   Connect with Brian: Website https://clarityupconsulting.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianmillerspeaks/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/brianmillerspeaks Get Access to Brian's Book: https://keynotedesignbook.com About Brian: Brian Miller is a former magician turned international keynote speaker on human connection, whose TEDx talk has been viewed 3.6 million times. Today, he’s the founder of Clarity Up, a boutique messaging firm that teaches experts how to explain their big ideas to the rest of us. His team has served hundreds of clients across five continents and 20+ industries, with 34 TEDx talks earning a combined 13 million views and 4 Editor’s Picks. Brian is the 2025 Cicero Speechwriting Award recipient for Social Justice. He believes everything can be said clearly—and he’s on a mission to restore humanity’s faith in experts.   Connect with Genea: [free guide] Grow Your Business and Love Doing it with the 3 secrets the business gurus NEVER talk about: http://bethewolfgift.com/ Website: http://bethewolfnow.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geneabarnes/

    48 min
  3. #133 Your Decision-Making Mechanism Is Why Your Life (And Business) Still Feels Like a Six

    OCT 15

    #133 Your Decision-Making Mechanism Is Why Your Life (And Business) Still Feels Like a Six

    On the surface, life and business look good. You're checking all the boxes. But something still feels off. In this episode, Genea reveals why most entrepreneurs feel like they're living a "level 6 (ir lower) life" even when they've achieved success on paper.  The issue isn't your strategy, your work ethic, or your talent.  It's your decision-making mechanism … the invisible autopilot system that's been running your life since childhood. Genea walks you through: 🔹 The uncomfortable truth about why your life recreates the same emotional patterns from childhood … and how that's keeping your business at a ceiling 🔹 What happens when you make decisions from obligation instead of alignment … and why that creates more frustration and headaches 🔹 The mindset trap that makes you fail even when you have the BEST coaches, mentors, and strategies 🔹 How to know if you're ready to actually change (hint: you'll feel something, and it won't be comfortable) If you've been working hard, following the rules, and still feeling like something's missing, this episode will help you understand what's really going on beneath the surface. Listen now to discover how to shift from autopilot to intentional decision-making … and finally create the level 10 life you've been chasing.   Connect with Genea:  [free guide] Grow Your Business and Love Doing it with the 3 secrets the business gurus NEVER talk about: http://bethewolfgift.com/ Website: http://bethewolfnow.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geneabarnes/

    31 min
  4. #132 Money Bulimia: Your Revenue is Growing, but You're Losing Profits with Kimberly Spencer

    OCT 8

    #132 Money Bulimia: Your Revenue is Growing, but You're Losing Profits with Kimberly Spencer

    You can grow revenue and still go broke. In this episode, Genea sits down with Kimberly Spencer to unpack a pattern most entrepreneurs don't see coming: money bulimia.  It's the cycle of bringing in more revenue while watching profits vanish, expenses pile up, and cash flow disappear.  Kimberly knows this pattern intimately because she lived it first with food, then with relationships, and finally with business.  She traced it back to childhood chaos, the need to control what felt uncontrollable, and a deep-seated belief that she didn't deserve to keep what she earned. This conversation goes beneath strategy and into the subconscious drivers that keep capable entrepreneurs repeating the same financial patterns over and over. You'll hear: 🔹 Why childhood patterns dictate how you handle money in business 🔹 How bulimia became the blueprint for business self-sabotage 🔹 How Kimberly went from $115 in annual revenue to scaling multiple six figures by addressing the real problem 🔹 What happens when you finally trust yourself instead of repeating what looks good on paper If your business feels like a cycle of progress and loss, this episode will help you see the pattern you've been repeating and what it takes to break it.   Connect with Kimberly: Website: https://www.crownyourself.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crownyourselfnow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberly.spencer      About Kimberly:  Kimberly Spencer is an award-winning high-performance, trauma-informed coach, TEDx speaker, the founder of Crown Yourself® and CEO of Communication Queens, and #1 bestselling author of “Make Every Podcast Want You: How to Become So Radically Interesting You’ll Barely Keep from Interviewing Yourself" which was named one of the "Top Books of 2024 to Change Your Life" by Foureva Media in NYC's Times Square. From her entrepreneurial beginnings on the streets of suburbia selling bags of glitter water at five to her neighbors to becoming an award-winning screenwriter, certified Pilates instructor, Miss Congeniality, and having a successful exit as president of a national e-commerce company, Kimberly is proof that it's better to make your own mold than to conform to someone else's. With 2X  award-nominated top podcasts for her businesses, Crown Yourself® and Communication Queen, Kimberly is elevating the conversation for visionary leaders to get their voices heard, leveraging strategy + spirituality. A warrior for humankind's infinite possibility and an unsinkable optimist, this mom of three is on a quest to revolutionize mindsets from fear to faith so that you can stand in your power.  Her work has been featured on Netflix, The CW, ESPN, Chicken Soup for the Soul, NPR, Thrive Global, CNBC, and Forbes. Connect with Genea:  [free guide] Grow Your Business and Love Doing it with the 3 secrets the business gurus NEVER talk about: http://bethewolfgift.com/ Website: http://bethewolfnow.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geneabarnes/

    52 min
  5. #131 Trauma Is Not Your Truth: Reclaiming Freedom in Life + Business

    SEP 24

    #131 Trauma Is Not Your Truth: Reclaiming Freedom in Life + Business

    Most people live a life defined by trauma … without even knowing it.  In this episode, Genea dismantles the misconceptions around trauma.  She reveals why most people stay trapped in cycles that prevent them from ever getting what they want.  She exposes how unprocessed emotions from overwhelming events create false stories about who we are.  And how these stories end up running our businesses, relationships, and entire lives. Genea gets raw about trauma. And gives you a clear path to not letting it be the excuse as to why your life is not the way you want it to be.   She breaks down what happens to your nervous system when you experience traumatic events. And how it keeps you focused on what you don't want instead of what you want to create. This conversation dives deep into: 🔹 The moment your nervous system decided you couldn't handle something and why it's still protecting you from it  🔹 The difference between trauma emotions and the shame stories we build around them 🔹 Why talking about trauma without identifying and processing the root emotions just reinforces the prison  🔹 The three-stage journey from emotional overwhelm to complete neutrality and freedom If you've ever felt like your past is secretly running your present, this episode will help you reclaim the freedom to be who you actually are.   Connect with Genea:  [free guide] Grow Your Business and Love Doing it with the 3 secrets the business gurus NEVER talk about: http://bethewolfgift.com/ Website: http://bethewolfnow.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geneabarnes/

    35 min
  6. #130 The Dark Side of Rapid Success and How to Avoid It with Nik Agharkar

    SEP 17

    #130 The Dark Side of Rapid Success and How to Avoid It with Nik Agharkar

    Most entrepreneurs dream of the windfall moment when everything takes off.  Nik Agharkar lived it and discovered why it's not always a dream come true. His innovative approach to client acquisition exploded his law practice from nothing to $5M in nine months.  But success without structure became his nightmare.  The very growth he'd fought for forced him to sell his practice and become an employee again.  Now, Nik's playing an entirely different game.  In this honest conversation with Genea, he shares what he's learned about sustainable growth versus unsustainable speed.   The insights that emerged from this conversation: 🔹 The anger and hubris that fueled his first business leap and nearly destroyed it 🔹 Why the dopamine hit of constant growth becomes an addiction that blinds you to problems 🔹 The mindset shift from "I'll show them" to "what do I actually want?"  🔹 How building slowly with intention creates more sustainable freedom than racing to scale Listen, if you've ever wondered whether there's a way to grow that doesn't require sacrificing everything else you care about.   Connect with Nik: email: nik at crownepointtax.com Website: https://www.crownepointtax.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crownepoint_tax/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikagharkar/   Connect with Genea:   [free guide] Grow Your Business and Love Doing it with the 3 secrets the business gurus NEVER talk about: http://bethewolfgift.com/ Website: http://bethewolfnow.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geneabarnes/ About Nik:  Nikhil (Nik) Agharkar, Esq. is a seasoned counselor with nearly two decades of experience guiding individuals, families, and business owners through the complexities of wealth preservation, tax strategy, and legacy planning.  A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with dual degrees in Economics and Public Policy, Nik combines analytical precision with a deep understanding of law, finance, and public systems to deliver tailored, impactful solutions.  Nik is especially known for his ability to uncover powerful, often-overlooked provisions in the tax code to develop creative, compliant strategies that reduce tax burdens and support long-term financial security, particularly when paired with asset protection vehicles. He is an expert in law, economics, finance, and public policy.

    42 min
5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Ready to stop hiding and playing small … and start living from the TRUTH of who you are? Be the Wolf is for high-achievers who are tired of sacrificing for the sake of others, business, and finances.  They’ve done it “right” their whole life, and they’re still feeling stuck, exhausted, and unfulfilled. If you struggle with burnout, people-pleasing, imposter syndrome, chronic self-doubt, or feeling invisible even though you constantly over-deliver… this show is for you. What does it mean to ‘Be the Wolf?’ When Yellowstone Park removed the wolves to make the park "safe," the entire ecosystem collapsed. The wolves weren't the problem … they were essential.  The same is true for you. When you hide parts of yourself to stay safe or be liked, the system of YOU gets out of balance, stays stuck in survival mode, and eventually collapses.  Being the Wolf means operating from the wholeness of who you are … because that's when the ecosystem of YOU thrives. Host Genea Barnes explores what it means to stop performing for approval and start showing up as your full 100% REAL self. Not just the parts you think are acceptable.  Through deep conversations about self-trust, relationships, worthiness, business, boundaries, money, reclaiming your voice, and learning to feel safe in your own skin, you'll discover how to expand your capacity for a life you actually want … without sacrificing joy, fulfillment, and the light of who you are. Topics include: Overcoming self-sabotage and breaking through plateaus Healing people-pleasing patterns and chronic over-functioning Trusting yourself when you've been gaslit or told your needs aren't real Moving from survival mode to feeling safe, embodied, and free to thrive Reclaiming creativity, visibility, and leadership after years of playing small Building relationships where you don't have to disappear to be loved and accepted Saying no, setting and holding boundaries without guilt or fear of rejection Releasing shame and learning you're not "too much" or "not enough" Saying yes to what you truly want without fear of repercussions  This isn't about fixing yourself. It's about remembering who you are. Because when you stop trying to cram yourself into someone else's tiny box of who you should be, everything changes. Your work and business thrive. Your relationships deepen. Your body relaxes. You finally feel the peace, safety, and freedom you've been chasing. You weren't meant to hide … you weren’t meant to disappear. You were meant to live from the TRUTH of you. Be the Wolf. New episodes weekly. Real stories. Real transformation. Real freedom. ~ When you operate from the TRUTH of who you are, humanity evolves.~