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Candid startup conversations for founders building with intention.

Growthwell is a podcast for early-stage founders hosted by Josh Byrd, focused on building ventures with clarity and intention rather than hype. Conversations go deep on the decisions, failures, and frameworks that shape startup trajectories. The channel gives B2B founders and investors a grounded resource for navigating early company growth.

23 episodes
Channel Brief·Growthwell · 23 episodes
Updated Mar 18, 2025

Balance beats burnout: how leaders sustain growth without sacrifice

Growthwell argues that intentional boundary-setting, purposeful routines, and resilience practices enable executives to achieve professional success while protecting personal wellbeing. The show grounds this in data on burnout prevalence and guest stories of tangible life redesign.

Growthwell's core argument is that burnout is not inevitable, but the outcome of unexamined choices about time, boundaries, and purpose. The channel demonstrates this by pairing burnout statistics with guest interviews who reveal the specific practices, decision frameworks, and support systems that allowed them to escape the trap. The thesis runs across all 23 episodes: thriving requires intentionality.

Drawn from About the GrowthWell Podcast and 4 more →

“Empathetic leaders are more likely to have employees who are innovative and engaged.”

Healthcare leadership research cited in Episode 1

By the numbers

77%

of professionals experience burnout at some point

52%

of US workers report feeling burned out at least sometimes

57%

of workers report negative effects from work-related stress

70%

of professionals report burnout affects them

What the channel argues

DataResearch shows 77% of professionals experience burnout, emphasizing the need for intentional living practices.→
DataRemote leaders report 57% experience negative effects from work stress, including emotional exhaustion.→
Data72% of startup founders report mental health impacts like stress, anxiety, and burnout.→
DataDeloitte research found 30% of executives feel isolated in their roles, driving loneliness-related dysfunction.→
Data75% of workers plan job transitions within 12 months, with 70% prioritizing work-life balance above advancement.→
Data80% of people experience negative self-talk, which measurably affects mental health and productivity.→

What you'll learn

•How to say no strategically without guilt, using boundary-setting as a tool for personal peace and professional clarity.
•Why defining non-negotiables (family time, health, purpose) strengthens rather than limits career outcomes.
•How daily rituals, disciplined scheduling, and support networks act as burnout inoculation, not optional add-ons.
•Why resilience means reshaping what remains after adversity, not trying to recover the past unchanged.
•How purpose-driven work and connection over competition lead to more sustainable business legacies than hustle alone.

What to do about it

→Audit your calendar and establish three non-negotiable boundaries (e.g., no meetings after 6 PM, one family dinner weekly, one health ritual daily), then track adherence monthly.
→Define your personal and professional purpose in writing, then evaluate all new opportunities against it before saying yes.
→Build or join a peer support group of 3-5 leaders facing similar balance challenges, meeting monthly to share practices and hold each other accountable.

Who and what shows up

Josh Byrd

Host, Growthwell podcast

Brings 15 years of entrepreneurial experience and frames every episode around the intersection of business success and personal wellbeing.

Kate Van Waes

CEO and founder, Van Waes Consulting

Discusses how 30% of executives experience loneliness in leadership, and provides strategies to build meaningful connections and sustain wellbeing.

Kathryn O'Day

Partner, Atlanta Ventures

Seven-time Ironman finisher and venture capitalist who translates endurance sport discipline into business goal-setting and mental resilience principles.

Tiran Jackson

Resilience expert and inspirational speaker

Demonstrates how transforming grief into meaningful action becomes a pathway to personal and professional growth through reshaping, not recovery.

Arun Mohan

MD, MBA, healthcare entrepreneur and CEO

Reveals the importance of mission transcending business success and shares the balance between professional growth and personal wellbeing in the first episode.

Questions this channel answers

Q

How do leaders prevent burnout while pursuing ambitious goals?

By setting clear boundaries, defining non-negotiables, building daily rituals aligned with purpose, and leaning on support systems. Burnout affects 77% of professionals, but intentional leaders protect their time and energy through discipline, not luck.

Building with Intention with Jake Hadden | Ep. 17 | Grow… →
Q

How do remote and distributed leaders build meaningful connection with teams?

Through intentional practices: scheduled one-on-ones, virtual and in-person rituals, clear communication of expectations, and prioritization of personal health as a visible leadership practice that others mirror.

Thriving as a Remote Leader with Jared Johnson | Ep. 16 … →
Q

Can you balance parenthood, health, and career advancement at the same time?

Yes, through data-driven personal routines, adaptability, and upfront clarity about what matters most. Leaders like Tonni Bennett navigate fast-paced tech careers while raising families by making intentional choices rather than reactive ones.

Harmonizing Ambition and Parenthood with Tonni Bennett |… →
Q

How does self-awareness help leaders navigate setbacks and build resilience?

Self-awareness allows leaders to recognize patterns in how they respond to adversity, understand their strengths and limitations, and reshape what remains after loss rather than chasing recovery of the past.

Resilience in Adversity with Kate Cline | Ep. 13 | →
Q

How do words and self-talk shape professional outcomes?

80% of people experience negative self-talk, which measurably affects mental health and productivity. Leaders who practice positive affirmations and intentional language develop a growth mindset that translates to better decisions and resilience.

Words Shape Reality with Bruce Pulver | Ep. 12 | Growthw… →
Topics:Work-life balance and boundary-settingHealthcare and tech sector leadershipBurnout prevention and resilienceIntentional routines and time managementPurpose-driven decision-making
Themes:Intentionality as a leadership skillResilience through self-awareness and support systemsPurpose over profit as the sustainability lever

Industry context

Employers increasingly struggle to find leaders with self-awareness and resilience, core competencies for navigating workplace complexity and supporting organizational sustainability.

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