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

    E201 - How Podcasting Became a Media Business Built Like a Factory with Adam Torres

    In this episode, Adam Torres shares how a career in finance, a reluctant first book, and a co-founder who wouldn't take no for an answer led him to accidentally build one of the largest podcasting operations in the world. He has conducted nearly 7,000 interviews, launched over 250 shows, and written a book on why podcasting is still in its early stages. Adam walks through the unlikely path from financial advisor to media company founder, including why he ignored every good idea until he couldn't anymore. The conversation covers how he built the production infrastructure before he ever focused on becoming a better host, and why he believes the host's genuine engagement matters far more than format, gear, or trends. He also gets into the systems thinking that allowed him to scale to over 1,500 interviews a year without losing his mind. What we cover: - How handing out a self-published book as a business card led to speaking tours and eventually a media company - The early Periscope streaming show called the Gratitude Show, and why growing an audience scared him into stopping - Why his first 300 podcast episodes were unedited phone call recordings and still built an audience - Building the production side like a factory, tracking cost per episode down to the quarter, before ever focusing on being a better host - How systems and obligations to guests, rather than personal discipline, are what keep him showing up consistently - The difference between quantity-first and quality-guest podcast strategies, and how to choose the right model - Why format, AI tools, and production trends matter far less than whether the host genuinely enjoys what they are doing - Reading nearly 10,000 pages of entertainment biographies to study the patterns behind great hosts - What his book One Billion Podcasts argues about where podcasting is headed and why the window is still open Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Adam Torres 01:20 Starting in finance at 16 and managing $200 million 02:30 Writing a book he did not want to write 03:49 Handing out the book as a business card and landing speaking tours in China 04:26 The shift toward publishing and the anthology book model 06:49 Publishing Barry Sanders and building a full book company 07:03 How the co-founder pushed him into podcasting against his will 07:33 First 300 episodes: unedited phone call recordings 09:03 The Gratitude Show on Periscope and the moment that scared him 11:47 What kept him going through the early episodes 12:26 Systems over discipline: designing a company around the host 15:56 Building the production factory with a finance mindset 17:20 Posting episodes within two hours of recording 18:46 Spending 95 percent of early time on production, 5 percent on hosting 20:03 Reading 10,000 pages of entertainment biographies to study great hosts 22:05 Interviewing anyone with a pulse: the quantity-first strategy 23:11 What actually matters in podcasting, regardless of trends 24:07 Why the host's genuine engagement is the only thing that never changes 25:27 Choosing audio only for the right audience and niche Links: One Billion Podcasts book and website: https://onebillionpodcasts.com If this episode got you thinking about your own story and how to use it, follow Surviving the Side Hustle and catch every new episode at SurvivingtheSideHustle.com.

    46 min

  2. 5d ago

    E200 - Lessons from Ohan Kayikchyan: Stop Waiting for Someday to Live Your Life

    In this solo recap, Rob revisits his conversation with Ohan Kayikchyan, Ph.D., founder of Alohana Financial and returning guest on the show. Rob unpacks the lessons that hit hardest, including a personal story about his father that shapes everything he believes about time, money, and what it means to actually live. The episode centers on a deceptively simple idea: money is a tool, not a destination. Rob walks through the psychology behind financial behavior, the trap of lifestyle creep, and why high earners so often stay stuck. He also shares a deeply personal loss that turned the abstract danger of deferring life into something concrete and urgent. What we cover: - Why Ohan argues financial planning is 80% behavior and psychology and only 20% math, and what that ratio means for entrepreneurs - The want versus need distinction: how confusing the two drives financial stress and blurs business decision-making - Lifestyle creep and the Henry trap: why earning more without widening the gap between income and spending changes nothing - How Ohan shifted from handing clients answers to listening without judgment, and why the insight people discover themselves is far more powerful than advice - The honeymoon effect in retirement and why waiting until 67 to live your dream life carries real physical and logistical costs - Mini-retirements as an intentional, planned alternative to the grind-now, live-later model - Rob's story of his father, who died before collecting his first retirement check after a lifetime of building toward someday - The midlife awakening reframe: choosing to live on purpose now rather than waiting for a crisis to force the shift Links: Alohana Financial: https://www.alohanafinancial.com If this episode made you think twice about what you are waiting for, follow Surviving the Side Hustle so you never miss a conversation. Find every episode and more at SurvivingtheSideHustle.com.

    18 min

  3. Jun 30

    E199 - Why Financial Planning Should Help You Live Now with Ohan Kayikchyan

    In this episode, Ohan Kayikchyan returns to share how nearly two decades in finance taught him that the numbers are only 20 percent of the work. The other 80 percent is behavior, belief, and knowing what you actually want from life. Ohan walks through the shift in his practice from pure financial optimization to life planning, explaining why listening to clients matters more than presenting solutions. The conversation covers his EVOKE process, the psychology behind wants versus needs, and the case for experiencing life before retirement rather than after. Rob also shares a personal story about his father that puts the cost of waiting in sharp relief. What we cover: - How Ohan immigrated through the Diversity Visa Lottery and built a financial career from bank teller upward - Why he says AI will soon handle the optimization side of finance, and what that leaves for human advisors - The distinction between wants and needs, and why even native English speakers confuse the two when managing money - His EVOKE process: Exploration, Vision, Obstacles, Knowledge, and Execution across five client meetings - Why the first three meetings with clients involve no numbers at all, and what that reveals - The concept of mini-retirements and sabbaticals as an alternative to waiting until 67 - The honeymoon effect in retirement and why deferred living often leads to regret - Who benefits most from life planning: immigrants, and high earners who are not rich yet (HENRYs) - The difference between YOLO spending and intentional early enjoyment backed by a real financial plan Chapters: 00:01 Welcome back and Ohan's background 01:49 Growing up in a post-Soviet country and learning English 04:05 Starting as a bank teller and breaking through the language barrier 06:22 Realizing financial planning is 80 percent psychology 07:57 From CFP to registered life planner, and the book that changed everything 10:47 Listening without judgment and creating a guilt-free space for clients 13:45 The EVOKE process explained 15:36 Tackling obstacles and when money is not actually the problem 17:51 Why the first meetings have no numbers 18:25 The honeymoon effect and the cost of waiting until retirement 20:25 Mini-retirements and the case for living sooner 22:46 Rob's story about his father and the real risk of deferring life 24:09 Inheritance, permission, and enjoying money while alive 26:58 How society embeds the nine-to-five mindset and how to challenge it 28:28 Who Ohan works with: immigrants and HENRYs 30:27 Lifestyle creep, student loans, and the HENRY trap Links: Alohana Financial: https://www.alohanafinancial.comSeven Stages of Money Maturity by George Kinder: https://www.georgekinderbooks.com If this conversation made you think differently about money and time, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle and find every episode at SurvivingtheSideHustle.com.

    39 min

  4. Jun 26

    E198 - Lessons from Anthony Cutno: Building on Faith When Everything Falls Apart

    In this Friday recap episode, Rob revisits his conversation with Anthony Cutno, a marine veteran, speaker, publisher, and branding coach who built a business while navigating homelessness, health crises, and circumstances that would stop most people cold. Rob breaks down what made Anthony's story land so hard, tracing the through-line from a late-night conversation with God and an unexpected phone call to an unplanned stage moment that started a business. The recap connects Anthony's experience to two core principles in the prime performance process: resilience in its rawest form, and clarity about identity before anything else gets built. The common thread in Anthony's story was never his conditions. It was his character. What we cover: - How Anthony's business was born from a single unplanned stage moment, not a business plan - Building Divine Warriors Dimension organically by showing up for each need that found him - Navigating homelessness, being shot and stabbed, seizures, and brain damage while keeping the business moving - Why Anthony's authenticity is not a branding strategy but the only way he knows how to survive - The role of faith and self-honesty as the two things he refused to let go when everything else was stripped away - How clarity about identity, not perfect conditions, created momentum in the prime performance process - The distinction between the motivational poster version of resilience and the real version Anthony lives Chapters: 00:01 Introduction and who Anthony Cutno is 00:45 Anthony did not plan to build a business 01:10 The night outside his dad's house and the call from his sergeant major 01:40 The He-Man speaking event and the stage moment that started everything 02:14 How the business grew organically through each person who found him 02:30 The reality: building while homeless, shot, stabbed, and having seizures 03:20 Anthony's secret: radical authenticity anchored in faith 04:00 Performing vs. actually being yourself everywhere you go 04:41 Resilience in the prime performance process, the real version 05:00 Clarity as the principle people miss in a story like Anthony's 05:30 Awareness before action as the through-line of the prime performance process 06:05 How to find Anthony and follow what he is building 06:45 The one thing to sit with going into the weekend 07:02 Where to hear the full conversation and how to follow the show Links: Anthony Cutno on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=Anthony%20Cutno Anthony Cutno on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonycutno Anthony Cutno on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anthonycutno Hear the full conversation with Anthony at SurvivingtheSideHustle.com, and hit follow while you're there so you never miss an episode.

    9 min

  5. Jun 23

    E197 - From Homelessness to Leadership: How Faith and Authenticity Drive Success w/ Anthony Cutno

    In this episode, Anthony Cutnow shares his powerful story of overcoming homelessness, embracing faith, and building a multifaceted business rooted in authenticity, purpose, and community. His journey illustrates how resilience, faith, and staying true to oneself can lead to impactful success, especially for veterans and purpose-driven entrepreneurs. Key topicsAnthony's transition from homelessness to entrepreneurship and leadershipThe role of faith and divine purpose in his journeyBuilding a diversified business in coaching, publishing, and community developmentThe importance of authenticity and integrity in business practicesLessons learned from living in different cities: New Orleans, Dallas, CaliforniaThe significance of mentorship and community supportThe whole-person approach: spiritual, mental, and physical resilienceChallenges in structuring and scaling a purpose-driven businessThe collective vision of Divine Warrior's Dimension: impacting next-generation entrepreneursHow authenticity influences marketing, branding, and client relationshipsTimestamps00:00 - Introduction and episode overview 00:30 - Anthony’s background: from homelessness to community leader 01:40 - Key turning points and divine interventions 03:00 - The role of mentorship, especially Jose Escobar 04:30 - How the business evolved from casual research to a multifaceted enterprise 06:00 - Living in New Orleans, Dallas, and California — lessons learned 07:50 - Faith, purpose, and overcoming health challenges 09:00 - The importance of authenticity in business 10:36 - Why Anthony is motivated to serve and share his story 11:50 - The significance of spiritual purpose in his work 13:10 - Challenges in pricing and business expansion 15:43 - Balancing humility with business growth 17:41 - Impact of authenticity on marketing and personal branding 20:03 - Building community through mentorship and shared values 23:46 - The importance of structured mentorship vs. trial-and-error learning 26:34 - Connecting the various facets of his business: publishing, coaching, and community 30:42 - The vision behind Divine Warrior’s Dimension and the collective 33:09 - How to connect with Anthony and future plans 34:00 - Final message: authenticity as a core value Resources & LinksDivine Warrior's Dimension - Official website (future launch)Anthony’s Facebook - Social media profileAnthony’s Instagram - Social media profileAnthony’s TikTok - Social media profileThis episode highlights the power of perseverance, faith, and authenticity in transforming adversity into impactful leadership. Whether you're a veteran, entrepreneur, or someone seeking purpose, Anthony’s story offers inspiration and practical insights for your own journey.

    38 min

  6. Jun 19

    E196 - Lessons from Eric Dingler: The Ultimate System Change That Frees Entrepreneurs Doing It All

    Discover actionable strategies to create a self-sustaining business, even when you're completely off the grid. In this episode, we explore leadership, systems, and how to scale without burning out, all grounded in real-world examples from entrepreneur Eric Dingler's journey. Key Topics Covered:Why most entrepreneurs are trapped in their own jobs and how to break freeThe importance of developing your leadership capacity before building a teamHow to buy back your time through strategic hiring and what Eric calls the "101080" ruleTransitioning from technician to leader — avoiding the bottleneck of doing all the workBuilding systems and SOPs to transfer knowledge and delegate effectivelyPractical steps for turning knowledge into systems and automating your operationsThe significance of leading yourself first to lead others effectivelyTimestamps:01:38 - Why entrepreneurs are often imprisoned by their own business 02:06 - Building a business that operates without you — Eric Dingler’s story 03:00 - Eric’s background: Leading a mobile family life while running a digital agency 04:20 - The core framework: “Your leadership capacity is the capacity of your business” 04:48 - How personal development lifts business ceilings 05:16 - Leading yourself first—why leadership isn’t a title, but a capacity 06:13 - The importance of developing leadership skills before building a team 07:07 - Leadership as the most transferable skill across all areas of life 08:01 - Buying back your time and guarding it fiercely 08:26 - The "CEO time" concept and the 101080 rule 09:01 - How to allocate the freed-up hours for maximum leverage 09:29 - The real cost of hiring: What you gain from investing in team members 10:20 - Small hires for big impact: reinvesting time into income-generating activities 11:08 - Getting out of the technician’s seat to scale your business 11:33 - Why staying in technical work caps your growth — Eric’s experience 13:06 - Building a system, not just training people — Eric’s SOP approach 13:32 - It’s never a people problem, but a systems problem 14:02 - Transfer knowledge into systems, not just people 14:36 - SOPs as the backbone of scalable, autonomous operations 15:02 - Documenting repeatable tasks to empower delegation 16:24 - Connect with Eric at ericdingler.com for resources and coaching 16:48 - Download resources: First hire checklist and diagnostics call 17:15 - Final wisdom: Lead yourself first, then lead others — unlock your full potential 17:55 - Take action today: Grow your leadership capacity to scale and live better Resources & Links:Eric Dingler’s WebsiteFirst Hire Readiness ChecklistFree 25-Minute Diagnostics CallExample SOPs: How to Make Eric a Cup of Coffee, How to Create SOPs

    19 min

  7. Jun 16

    E195 - How Leadership Transformed a Side Hustle into a Full Business with Eric Dingler

    In this episode, Eric Dingler shares his inspiring journey from running a summer camp and local church ministry to building a successful online marketing agency while traveling the world. He emphasizes the importance of leadership, systems, and intentional hiring for scaling a business without burnout. Main Topics - Key Insights:How Eric turned his web design skills into a fundraiser for international adoption and built a nonprofit.The evolution from side hustle to full-time business, highlighting key moments and mindset shifts.Strategies for creating scalable systems in your business: leadership, lead generation, lead conversion, project management, and money management.How to build effective remote teams using SOPs, gap hiring, and systems thinking.Practical advice on delegation mindset, including transferring knowledge into systems and SOPs to free up your time.The importance of leadership development for entrepreneurs and their teams.Future goals: scaling his coaching business and building a team to support remote entrepreneurs.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Eric Dingler's journey from summer camp to global entrepreneur 01:26 - Origin story of Eric’s web design agency as a fundraiser for adoption 02:34 - Building a nonprofit organization to fund international adoption 03:52 - Transition to traveling with family and how systems enable remote lifestyle 05:20 - Developing core business systems for scalability 09:07 - Leadership as the foundation of business systems 11:53 - The five core systems: leadership, lead gen, conversion, cash flow, project management 12:19 - Managing multiple systems simultaneously 13:41 - How Eric defines true leadership 15:29 - From side hustle to a full-time coaching business 16:25 - Transition from working in the business to working on the business 17:38 - Managing family life while traveling and working remotely 19:47 - The importance of hiring and systems in scaling 22:09 - Creating shared success through team building and hiring 23:37 - How to approach hiring for the right fit and culture 24:39 - Differentiating gap hires and team hires 26:22 - The importance of taking up to 80% of new hires' time to maximize productivity 28:48 - The cost of not hiring and focusing on revenue-generating activities 30:57 - Overcoming mindset hurdles around delegation 31:24 - Systems approach to delegation and SOPs 33:20 - Documenting systems with SOPs and creating a culture of continuous improvement 35:31 - Eric’s future goals: coaching full-time and building a larger impact 36:36 - Launching programs and scaling coaching services 38:28 - How to connect with Eric and take the first step in hiring 40:46 - Practical tools: first hire readiness checklist and diagnostics calls 42:31 - Final advice for entrepreneurs feeling stuck: lead yourself first Resources & Links:Eric Dingler’s WebsiteFirst Hire Readiness GuideFirst Hire Readiness Checklist

    43 min

  8. Jun 12

    E194 - Lessons from Cindy Van Eeckhout: Are You Rich on Paper but Poor Inside?

    In this episode, Rob Tracz chats with Cindy Van Eckhout about redefining success beyond financial metrics. They explore how high achievers can feel empty despite outward success, and how to build a life aligned with inner joy and purpose. Key TopicsThe distinction between being rich (money) and wealthy (fulfillment) and why it mattersRecognizing the signals of misalignment before burnout using body awareness and mindfulnessThe importance of listening to your inner "feeling" and how nature can reconnect you with your truthAdopting a growth mindset: "You either win or you learn," especially during challengesJoy as a way of being, not a goal to achieve at the end of the journeyThe four joy blockers: misalignment, overload, emotional suppression, and physical depletionBuilding an aligned, sustainable path where happiness is part of the process—not the rewardPractical advice: Start small, ask what brings you joy, and take consistent steps toward itTimestamps00:00 - Introduction: Rethinking success beyond appearances 02:19 - Would you have the courage to shut down a thriving business? 03:00 - The trap of being rich on paper but poor inside 03:56 - Cindy's bold move to France and building authentic success 04:53 - Difference between being rich and truly wealthy 05:16 - Personal reflection: chasing societal success vs authentic fulfillment 06:11 - Listening to the body's signals of misalignment 07:00 - How nature and silence help reconnect with inner guidance 08:12 - Your internal state as a dashboard for life alignment 09:01 - The growth mindset: challenges are lessons, not losses 09:48 - Embracing difficulty as a catalyst for growth 10:41 - Challenges as opportunities for learning, not failure 11:11 - Resilience as a foundation for sustainable growth 12:33 - Joy is the journey, not the destination 13:32 - The four joy blockers and how to identify them 14:30 - Misalignment is common, but fixable 15:00 - The fallacy of suffering now and happiness later 15:59 - Joy is created on the way up, not at the top 16:50 - The risks of building success based on others’ definitions 17:19 - Connect with Cindy and her resources 18:47 - Small steps toward joy and success, inspired by Denzel Washington Connect with CindyWebsite: allegracoaching.euLinkedIn: Cindy Van Eckhout

    21 min
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4.8
out of 5
22 Ratings

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
    202
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Rob Tracz
  • Show Website
    Surviving the Side Hustle