In this episode: Portuguese-American roots, corporate burnout, Wim Hof winter expedition, achievement-to-process shift, and leaving Big Tech intentionally with Jason Amarante

Episode Summary

After 4,900+ days at Google/YouTube, Jason Amarante hit burnout and used it as the catalyst for an intentional Big Tech exit. Through meditation, eastern philosophy, and a Wim Hof winter expedition, he shifted from achievement chasing to presence. He later built a wellbeing program reaching 700 YouTube Ops employees, then left in April 2025 to pursue DJing, health coaching, and youth development.

Guest Bio

Jason Amarante is a 15-year Google/YouTube veteran, certified health & wellness coach, and DJ entrepreneur. A first-generation Portuguese-American, he left Big Tech in April 2025 to pursue coaching, music, and community-centered youth development.

Resources & Books Mentioned

• Wim Hof Method
• Sam Kabert's Breath Club
• Die With Zero by Bill Perkins
• Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder by Chip Conley - Amazon
• Modern Elder Academy

Guest Contact Information

• LinkedIn: Jason Amarante
• Email: [email protected]

Key Takeaways

• Jason's 2021 ER visits became the doorway to deeper self-awareness - burnout as initiation, not failure.
• Wim Hof's mantra "pain is inevitable, suffering is optional" directly prepared Jason for the grief of leaving Google after 15 years.
• He replaced achievement checklists with one daily question: "Was I present today?" - making work feel effortless and earning new trust from his team.
• Years of growing his DJ business, earning a health coaching certification, and building financial clarity enabled a truly intentional exit from Big Tech.

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