Mindful FIRE : Life Design for Financial Independence
The Mindful FIRE Podcast helps you craft a life you love and make work optional using the tools of mindfulness, envisioning and financial independence. Each episode of the mindful fire podcast explores these three tools through teachings, guided meditations and inspiring interviews with people actually living them to craft a life they love. Listen & subscribe on your favorite podcast player.
Mindful FIRE : Life Design for Financial Independence
228 : From Google Burnout to Intentional Big Tech Exit with Jason Amarante
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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: jasonamarante@gmail.com
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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