The Mindful FIRE Podcast

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.
Join the Mindful FIRE Legends community at MindfulFIRE.org/join.
PS: Introducing the… 🔥 FIRE Starter Group Coaching Program
You did the “money” part. You saved, invested, and built real options. But if you’re being honest… FU money alone isn’t enough—and you might still feel stuck in “one more year syndrome,” unclear on what you actually want next.
In 10 weeks or less, we’ll help you get clear on what you want—and start living it now—using envisioning, mindfulness, and practical mini-experiments (not endless overthinking).
Interested? Let’s chat: https://mindfulfire.org/chat
🔥 WHO I’m creating this for
This is for you if you’re at or near FI (Coast FI or full FIRE) and:
You feel stuck after “doing everything right,” but you’re not sure what you’re optimizing for anymore.
You’re caught between freedom and overwhelm (“I could do anything… so I do nothing”).
You want clarity and momentum—but you don’t want someone to tell you what to do.
🔥 WHAT we’ll do together (over 10 weeks)
In a small group (mastermind-style), you’ll:
Get clear on what you actually want (beyond expectations, comparison, and “shoulds”).
Create a big, meaningful vision for your next chapter—one that fits who you are now.
Learn the brain science behind envisioning (why it works, and how to use it).
Turn yo...

In this episode: meeting yourself where you are, mindful check-in, breath awareness, letting go, non-judgmental observation
Episode Summary
In this guided meditation from the Mindful Fire Legends community meeting, Adam Coelho leads a practice of radical self-acceptance - checking in with body and mind exactly as they are, without trying to change anything. Listeners are guided through breath awareness and gentle redirection of a wandering mind.
About the Host
Adam Coelho is the host of the Mindful FIRE Podcast and founder of the Mindful Fire Legends - a weekly community gathering for people on the path to financial independence. He leads guided meditations and conversations to support mindful, intentional living.
Resources & Books Mentioned
mindfulfire.org/join - Join the Mindful Fire Legends community (meets every Wednesday)
Key Takeaways
Meeting yourself where you are means observing your body and mind with curiosity - acknowledging "right now, it's like this" without trying to fix or change anything.
The breath is a reliable anchor: each in-breath is a new beginning, each out-breath a chance to let go.
When the mind wanders, the practice is simply to notice and return — no criticism, just gentle redirection back to the present moment.
A brief check-in at the start and end of practice builds self-awareness and helps you notice subtle shifts in body and mind.
Join the Mindful FIRE Legends community at MindfulFIRE.org/join.
PS: Introducing the… 🔥 FIRE Starter Group Coaching Program
You did the “money” part. You saved, invested, and built real options. But if you’re being honest… FU money alone isn’t enough—and you might still feel stuck in “one more year syndrome,” unclear on what you actually want next.
In 10 weeks or less, we’ll help you get clear on what you want—and start living it now—using envisioning, mindfulness, and practical mini-experiments (not endless overthinking).
Interested? Let’s chat: https://mindfulfire.org/chat
🔥 WHO I’m creating this for
This is for you if you’re at or near FI (Coast FI or full FIRE) and:
You feel stuck after “doing everything right,” but you’re not sure what you’re optimizing for anymore.
You’re caught between freedom and overwhelm (“I could do anything… so I do nothing”).
You want clarity and momentum—but you don’t want someone to tell you what to do.
🔥 WHAT we’ll do together (over 10 weeks)
In a small group (mastermind-style), you’ll:
Get clear on what you actually want (beyond expectations, comparison, and “shoulds”).
Create a big, meaningful vision for your next chapter—one that fits who you are now.
Learn the brain science behind envisioning (why it works, and how to use it).
Turn yo...

In this episode: entrepreneurship, sustainable fashion, following omens, adaptability as a life skill, mindful parenting with Angela Arwady
Episode Summary
Angela Arwady went from flipping secondhand clothes on eBay in 2008 to launching Unpacka (unpacka.com), a subscription-based sustainable fashion business supporting local artists. She and Adam discuss the mindset shifts required to leave corporate life after nearly 15 years at Google and YouTube, the Zelda-inspired "side quest" approach to opportunity, mindful dressing as a daily ritual, and building a business aligned with your values.
Guest Bio
Angela Arwady is the founder of Unpacka, a curated marketplace for secondhand and handmade goods. Before entrepreneurship, she spent over a decade at Google and YouTube across HR, recruiting, and program management for YouTube TV — helping launch the Sports Plus package and primetime channels in multiple countries. She is a mom of three, a Poshmark pioneer with 75,000 followers, and is pursuing a sound healing certification.
Resources & Books Mentioned
Unpacka — Angela's sustainable secondhand and handmade goods business
Poshmark — social resale marketplace where Angela first built her following
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho — Adam's book about following your personal legend and reading life's omens
Dan Arwady on the Mindful FIRE Podcast: Episode 39 and Episode 182
Oakland Collective — Bay Area charity that receives clothing donations from Unpacka (free community popups)
Guest Contact Information
Website: unpacka.com
Instagram: @shopunpacka
Key Takeaways
Follow the omens: Angela's pop-up at Golden Soul café in Pacifica snowballed into regular craft fair appearances — a small yes became the seed of her entire business model.
Adap
Join the Mindful FIRE Legends community at MindfulFIRE.org/join.
PS: Introducing the… 🔥 FIRE Starter Group Coaching Program
You did the “money” part. You saved, invested, and built real options. But if you’re being honest… FU money alone isn’t enough—and you might still feel stuck in “one more year syndrome,” unclear on what you actually want next.
In 10 weeks or less, we’ll help you get clear on what you want—and start living it now—using envisioning, mindfulness, and practical mini-experiments (not endless overthinking).
Interested? Let’s chat: https://mindfulfire.org/chat
🔥 WHO I’m creating this for
This is for you if you’re at or near FI (Coast FI or full FIRE) and:
You feel stuck after “doing everything right,” but you’re not sure what you’re optimizing for anymore.
You’re caught between freedom and overwhelm (“I could do anything… so I do nothing”).
You want clarity and momentum—but you don’t want someone to tell you what to do.
🔥 WHAT we’ll do together (over 10 weeks)
In a small group (mastermind-style), you’ll:
Get clear on what you actually want (beyond expectations, comparison, and “shoulds”).
Create a big, meaningful vision for your next chapter—one that fits who you are now.
Learn the brain science behind envisioning (why it works, and how to use it).
Turn yo...

In this episode: breath awareness, present-moment trust, mindfulness on the FIRE path, releasing urgency, intention setting with Adam Coelho
Episode Summary
A guided meditation from the Mindful Fire Legends community. Adam leads listeners through a breath-anchored practice centered on trusting that you are exactly where you need to be — on the path to financial independence and the life you dream of living.
Guest Bio
Adam Coelho is the host of the Mindful FIRE Podcast and founder of the Mindful Fire Legends community, a space for people pursuing financial independence to support one another and begin living their post-FI life now.
Resources & Books Mentioned
Mindful Fire Legends community
Key Takeaways
The meditation invites listeners to feel in their body what it means to truly trust they are exactly where they need to be — not just think it intellectually.
Rushing, forcing, or striving aren't required on the FIRE path; confidence comes from knowing you're on your path and it's unfolding in right timing.
When the mind wanders, return with "kind, curious awareness" — a reframe that removes self-judgment and makes the practice sustainable.
Close with the smallest possible intention: identify one baby step you can take today toward your dream life, because that life is already available here and now.
Join the Mindful FIRE Legends community at MindfulFIRE.org/join.
PS: Introducing the… 🔥 FIRE Starter Group Coaching Program
You did the “money” part. You saved, invested, and built real options. But if you’re being honest… FU money alone isn’t enough—and you might still feel stuck in “one more year syndrome,” unclear on what you actually want next.
In 10 weeks or less, we’ll help you get clear on what you want—and start living it now—using envisioning, mindfulness, and practical mini-experiments (not endless overthinking).
Interested? Let’s chat: https://mindfulfire.org/chat
🔥 WHO I’m creating this for
This is for you if you’re at or near FI (Coast FI or full FIRE) and:
You feel stuck after “doing everything right,” but you’re not sure what you’re optimizing for anymore.
You’re caught between freedom and overwhelm (“I could do anything… so I do nothing”).
You want clarity and momentum—but you don’t want someone to tell you what to do.
🔥 WHAT we’ll do together (over 10 weeks)
In a small group (mastermind-style), you’ll:
Get clear on what you actually want (beyond expectations, comparison, and “shoulds”).
Create a big, meaningful vision for your next chapter—one that fits who you are now.
Learn the brain science behind envisioning (why it works, and how to use it).
Turn yo...

In this episode: Defining “enough,” FIRE mindset shifts, intentional career design, sabbaticals as low-risk experiments, and taking action to find clarity.
Episode Summary
Susie Ade—mental health and wellbeing program manager at Google and a certified career coach—shares how discovering financial independence changed not just how they spend, but how they make decisions about work, time, and meaning. Susie and Adam explore what it looks like to define “enough” from the inside out: using daily joy, energy, and alignment (not comparison or consumerism) as the measuring stick.
They also dig into Susie’s unconventional path at Google and a three-month sabbatical working at a winery in Australia—an intentional reset that helped clarify what Susie wanted next. A recurring theme: clarity rarely comes from overthinking; it comes from running thoughtful experiments and building a “bias toward action” within safe boundaries.
Guest Bio
Susie Ade is a certified career coach (CPCC) and mental health and wellbeing program manager at Google. Over nearly a decade at Google, Susie has held roles across sales, YouTube’s Intelligence Desk, and people development. Susie coaches employees internally and works with private clients who want more fulfillment, clarity, and alignment in their careers.
Resources & Books Mentioned
Mr. Money Mustache blog
Your Money or Your Life — Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez
The Simple Path to Wealth — JL Collins
Designing Your Life — Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
StrengthsFinder 2.0 — Tom Rath
ChooseFI podcast
Headspace (meditation app)
The Tim Ferriss Show #542: Chris Dixon & Naval Ravikant on Web3
Mindful FIRE ep 14 with Morgan Bria: mindfulfire.org/14
Guest Contact Information
Website: susieade.com
LinkedIn:
PS: Introducing the… 🔥 FIRE Starter Group Coaching Program
You did the “money” part. You saved, invested, and built real options. But if you’re being honest… FU money alone isn’t enough—and you might still feel stuck in “one more year syndrome,” unclear on what you actually want next.
In 10 weeks or less, we’ll help you get clear on what you want—and start living it now—using envisioning, mindfulness, and practical mini-experiments (not endless overthinking).
Interested? Let’s chat: https://mindfulfire.org/chat
🔥 WHO I’m creating this for
This is for you if you’re at or near FI (Coast FI or full FIRE) and:
You feel stuck after “doing everything right,” but you’re not sure what you’re optimizing for anymore.
You’re caught between freedom and overwhelm (“I could do anything… so I do nothing”).
You want clarity and momentum—but you don’t want someone to tell you what to do.
🔥 WHAT we’ll do together (over 10 weeks)
In a small group (mastermind-style), you’ll:
Get clear on what you actually want (beyond expectations, comparison, and “shoulds”).
Create a big, meaningful vision for your next chapter—one that fits who you are now.
Learn the brain science behind envisioning (why it works, and how to use it).
Turn yo...