Podcast Summary

The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

Episode 582: [Solo] 3 Lessons I’ve Learned From Interviewing 100+ Billionaires
Host: Nathan Chan
Date: August 26, 2025
Duration: ~10 minutes

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Foundr Podcast, host Nathan Chan shares a candid, personal story about reaching the brink of burnout while building Foundr. Drawing from his experience and insights gained from interviewing over 100 billionaire founders, Nathan outlines three key lessons that helped him recover and reshape his approach to entrepreneurship. This solo episode is especially focused on mental health, sustainable productivity, and the importance of self-care for founders. Nathan’s tone is open, honest, and supportive—aimed at helping listeners avoid the mistakes he made and build a more balanced entrepreneurial journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality of Burnout ([01:45])

• Nathan describes the intense period following Covid, after seven years of relentless work building Foundr, during which he hit severe burnout.
• Despite outward business success, he began experiencing nighttime anxiety and a sense of dread, ultimately realizing he was burned out.
• Emphasizes that burnout "doesn't just hit you overnight. It's something that builds up over time. And if you think of it like a cup, if you don't refill your cup, it'll just eventually take a toll on you." (Nathan Chan, [04:45])

2. Major Warning Signs ([03:30] - [04:10])

• Nathan recalls waking up in the middle of the night with a racing heartbeat and feeling overwhelming anxiety.
• He mentions for the first time ever not wanting to go to work, which was a clear warning sign.
• Shares a vulnerable moment: "I've never shared this publicly. Like, I remember we had a company strategy day, and I was just feeling terrible. Like I didn't even want to be there." (Nathan Chan, [05:28])

3. Three Core Recovery Strategies

A. Hire and Delegate ([06:00])

• Nathan realized he was micromanaging and responsible for everything, which fueled his constant stress.
• Action: Started letting go, trusting his team, and sharing responsibility.
• "I started to let go more. That was a massive one... that didn't force me to just continually work around the clock all day, every day." (Nathan Chan, [06:23])

B. Create and Enforce Balance ([07:05])

• He set strict boundaries, such as not working on weekends and clocking off at a set time on Fridays.
• Introduced 'non-negotiables' for personal time and activities: weekly family dinners, playing pickleball, leaving his phone at the front of the house to be present with family.
• Began seeing a therapist, likening it to "training your mind" at the mental gym.
• Used float tanks for forced disconnection and introspection. His first session was uncomfortable, underscoring the need for these routines.
• "The fact that I couldn't sit there or lie there in float for 60 minutes and struggle, that meant that I had to do it." (Nathan Chan, [08:11])

C. Take Real Breaks & Prioritize Wellbeing ([08:30])

• Nathan realized he hadn’t taken a holiday in 18 months due to Covid, so he took a two-week break to fully recharge.
• Regular habits included journaling, daily 10,000 steps, and scheduling time for relaxation.
• Uses the racehorse metaphor: "You don't have a racehorse running around the track, constantly racing, you know, for 12 months, for 18 months. They get spelled... It's the same for you." (Nathan Chan, [09:07])

4. Embracing the Non-Work Side of Life ([09:40])

• Urges listeners to release guilt around needing breaks and boundaries: "It's okay to feel this way. It's okay. But you have to look after yourself. You're not good to anyone if you are working yourself into the ground."
• Reminds entrepreneurs their journey is ultimately about freedom—time freedom, financial freedom, and a life of meaning—and all three are necessary for genuine success.

5. Actionable Takeaways ([10:20])

• Delegation, self-care practices, and boundaries are as essential for success as strategy or hustle.
• Encourages listeners to journal, move daily, get help, and protect non-negotiable “you time.”
• Suggests these routines as “a reward… It will make things so much better and will give you more clarity and you’ll be a better founder for it.” (Nathan Chan, [11:46])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mental Health vs. Success:

  • "You can have all the success in the world, all the accolades, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have your mental health." (Nathan Chan, [03:05])

• On Leadership:

  • "I had to let go. I had to stop being so ingrained in every fine little detail and back my team, back the people, and share more responsibility." (Nathan Chan, [06:18])

• On Boundaries:

  • "Once it hits Friday, 6pm, 6:30pm, I clocked off and on weekends, that was my sacred time." (Nathan Chan, [07:15])

• On Therapy:

  • "When you go to gym, you're lifting weights for your muscles... I see going to therapy as training your mind." (Nathan Chan, [07:52])

• On Breaks:

  • "Every single person needs a break. They need a holiday... It's the same for you. And that's what you need to be doing." (Nathan Chan, [09:12])

• On Freedom:

  • "There’s three types of freedom. There’s time freedom, financial freedom, and a life of meaning. And you can’t have true freedom if you don’t have all these three things." (Nathan Chan, [10:38])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:45] — Introduction: The Moment Nathan Almost Quit Foundr
• [03:00] — Recognizing Burnout & Its Gradual Onset
• [05:28] — Deepest Low: Avoiding Work & Being Called Out by His Assistant
• [06:00] — Lesson 1: Hiring & Delegating to Trust the Team
• [07:05] — Lesson 2: Balance Through Routines, Non-Negotiables, Therapy, and Float Tanks
• [08:30] — Lesson 3: The Power of Taking Breaks and Real Time Off
• [09:40] — Guilt, Vulnerability & the True Meaning of Freedom
• [10:20] — Practical Strategies and Encouragement for Listeners

Summary & Tone

Nathan’s tone throughout is deeply honest, friendly, and encouraging. He normalizes feelings of burnout and anxiety, shares actionable steps from his personal journey, and urges listeners to focus on long-term sustainability over short-term hustle. This episode is a powerful reminder that true entrepreneurial achievement includes protecting your mental health and sense of freedom, not just business milestones.

For more strategies and support, Nathan invites listeners to join Foundr’s coaching and mentorship programs and reach out via Instagram for feedback and questions.