This episode felt like the natural follow-up to the latest Chronically Automated drop, where I walked everyone through my end-of-year reset and how I rebuilt the backend of my business so I can actually take time off during the holidays without spiraling. And then of course, in true neurodivergent fashion, I admitted that even when the systems are perfect, my brain still gives me the finger and insists on freaking out anyway.

So today, Anthony and I sat down and just… got honest about it. The holidays hit differently when you're a business owner, especially when your brain refuses to shut up. I talked about how I try to automate everything, clean up my workflows, tighten my operations, and prep for rest, and yet somehow still feel the magnetic pull of notifications like I'm missing something catastrophic. Meanwhile, Anthony shared this whole chapter about accidentally giving up drinking and how that one shift changed his energy, his anxiety, his mornings, and honestly his entire baseline. It was such a good moment because you could hear the difference in how he shows up for his business now compared to a year ago.

We went all the way into the reality that no matter how many systems we build, we can’t automate our brains. The panic still shows up. The fear of stepping away still shows up. The “no one is working Christmas week but my brain is convinced the world will implode without me” still shows up. And then we started riffing on hops, gluten, inflammation, processed food, why our bodies riot after 30, and how much your lifestyle actually impacts your ability to run a business without feeling like you're crumbling from the inside out.

And honestly, that was the heart of the episode: the intersection between being a founder, being neurodivergent, trying to rest, trying to be a person, and still showing up for the people and business you love. Nothing polished. Nothing Pinterest-perfect. Just real founders talking about the mess that comes with trying to unplug when your nervous system refuses to do what you tell it.

If you’ve ever prepped for time off and still felt guilty, anxious, wired, or weirdly convinced that five minutes away from your inbox will ruin your entire life, this is the episode you needed.