Listen on your favorite platform:
What happens when you finally stop pushing through exhaustion and actually listen to what your body, your family, and your instincts have been trying to tell you for years?
In this end-of-year reflection episode of Everyday Ancestral, I sat down with my wife, Margaret Floyd Barry, to unpack one of the most transformational years of our lives. From her taking a full 10-week sabbatical after years of near-burnout, to my intense and unexpected inner journey through Shark Tank, this conversation goes far beyond highlights and headlines.
We talk honestly about what it looks like when high-performing, mission-driven people finally slow down. We share what broke, what healed, and what fundamentally shifted in our health, our marriage, our parenting, and our businesses. If you are craving more clarity, presence, and alignment without burning everything down, this episode will meet you right where you are.
Why This Matters to You
Running on empty but telling yourself you will rest later? That was us. And later kept getting pushed further away while the cost quietly compounded.
Trying to grow a business, stay present with your family, and keep your health from sliding? This episode is for that exact tension, because burnout rarely looks dramatic until it finally does.
Taking “time off” but still checking emails, still half-working, still carrying the mental load? I have learned the hard way that a performative break does not restore you. A real pause does.
Feeling the strain in your household and wondering why everyone’s on edge? One person shifting their rhythm, getting more regulated, and showing up more present can change the entire emotional temperature of the home.
Questioning whether trusting your instincts in business is worth it when the stakes feel public, high-pressure, and out of your control? My Shark Tank journey reinforced this: when you lead from mission instead of ego, you can stay grounded even when the outcome is uncertain.
Actionable Advice
Take a real break. Commit to a true step away from work with no emails, meetings, or check-ins so your nervous system can actually reset.
Delegate what drains you. Hand off tasks that do not require your unique skill set so your energy is focused on what truly moves the needle.
Restructure family rhythms. Shift routines like meal timing and after-school connection to meet real emotional and physical needs instead of forcing outdated schedules.
Remove digital noise. Delete or pause social media and unnecessary apps to reduce distraction and support deeper presence and regulation.
Lead from mission, not ego. Make business decisions based on why you started rather than external approval, especially when outcomes are public or uncertain.
Links and Resources to Explore
Margaret Floyd Barry’s Website
Listen to the Full Episode – Available now on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
As we close out this year, my hope is that this episode gives you permission to take better care of yourself, trust what you feel, and make changes that actually support the life you want to live. Growth does not always come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from finally stopping, listening, and choosing differently. Tune in, take what resonates, and carry it with you into what comes next.
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.