The Mindset and Self-Mastery Show Podcast Interview

The Truth About Burnout — And Why I Almost Died Trying to Prove Myself

Most people don’t want to talk about burnout until it’s too late.

I learned that the hard way.

In this interview, I lay it all bare — not the polished version, not the LinkedIn headline, but the real behind-the-scenes of what happens when you tie your identity to your career, chase the status, and grind until your body gives out.

We covered a lot. Here’s where to lean in:

[02:00] From the South Bronx to Silicon Valley
I take you all the way back. Public housing in the Bronx. Planes flying over my window. First-gen everything. No safety net. No blueprint. Just hustle, curiosity, and a little stubborn magic that pulled me into rooms I never dreamed I’d be in.

[06:30] Writing My Own Script
How coming out early, growing up queer, and not having a pre-written roadmap gave me permission to build my life completely on my own terms.

[14:20] When Trauma Happens For You, Not To You
The mindset shift that helped me reframe every painful moment into preparation. If you’re stuck in it right now, listen to this part.

[22:10] The Career Ladder That Almost Killed Me
The story of how I went from “dream job at Google” to flat on my back in an emergency room with IVs in both arms. High-status titles don’t mean a damn thing if you lose yourself getting there.

[29:40] The Illusion of Success
Why chasing promotions, perks, and approval nearly cost me my health — and how corporate culture subtly reinforces burnout by keeping you so “grateful” for your paycheck that you stop questioning the cost.

[36:00] Relationships, Work, and the Trap of Justification
We talk about how easy it is to stay too long — in jobs, in relationships, in patterns — by constantly finding new ways to rationalize what you already know isn’t right.

[42:10] Why I Teach Now
The real reason I coach: not to give people theory, but to help them avoid the exact mistakes that nearly took me out. This is why I wake up every day to do this work.

[48:30] You Only Get What You Ask For
The brutal but beautiful truth: nobody’s coming to rescue you. The career, the money, the freedom, the life you want — you have to ask for it, move toward it, and stop making excuses.

[54:10] The Line I Tell Myself When I Start Slipping
Excuses are the tools of idiots. And I’m too smart to be fucking around with excuses. Period.

If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I’m doing everything I’m supposed to, but this doesn’t feel right…” — this conversation will hit home.