Real Influence w/ Joey Vaillancourt

Hosted by Joey Vaillancourt

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116

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Real Influence with Joey V, where you'll learn the tools and meet the people who can help you master the art of self-influence – the innate power we all have to transform our thoughts, beliefs, habits, and behaviors and lead more intentional, authentic, and inspired lives. In each episode, Joey Vaillancourt shares personal stories from his journey of radically reinventing his life and invites his guests to reveal the techniques they've used to overcome adversity and create success on their terms. Whether you're looking to grow your business, improve your relationship, or find more fulfillment in your personal life, Real Influence With Joey V is your place to discover how to lead yourself first and, in doing so, create a ripple effect that influences the world around you. If you're ready to stop letting the external forces around you control your reality and start transforming your life from the inside out, you've come to the right place. Check your ego at the door, drop the mask, and prepare to explore what's REAL—because that's where true influence begins.

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June 15, 2026Episode 5025 min

I Was Called A B-Grader And I Didn't Take It Well (How to Receive Feedback)

Why do some comments stay with us for years while others roll right off our backs? In this episode, Joey Vaillancourt explores the hidden reason feedback feels so personal and why criticism often triggers something much deeper than the conversation itself. Using a personal story about receiving difficult workplace feedback, Joey breaks down the beliefs, emotions, and unconscious patterns that shape how we respond when someone points out a weakness, challenge, or blind spot. You'll learn how to receive feedback with a growth mindset, separate facts from stories, and use criticism as a tool for self-leadership rather than self-judgment. If you're a high performer who struggles with criticism, overthinking, or feeling not enough, this episode will give you a practical framework for responding differently. TheGreatLifeExperiment.ca — You built life. You hit the goals. But the pressure never actually left. The Great Life Experiment is a free 30-day challenge with one powerful question each day to help uncover the unconscious patterns driving stress and suffering. Start here → thegreatlifeexperiment.ca 🔗 Take the FREE Pressure Pattern Profile Quiz → https://joeyvaillancourt.com/pressure-pattern-quiz/ Topics Covered • Why feedback feels threatening • Constructive feedback vs personal identity • How to stop taking criticism personally • The beliefs driving emotional reactions • The Real Influence Ladder framework • Emotional regulation during difficult conversations • Receiving feedback with a growth mindset Timestamps 00:00 The Feedback That Haunted Me for Years 01:05 Why Feedback Feels Personal 02:13 The Belief Behind Every Reaction 03:21 Feedback Is a Mirror, Not a Verdict 04:22 The "B Player" Story 06:38 Why Meaning Creates Suffering 09:02 What Feedback Meant Growing Up 10:16 Separating Facts From Stories 11:08 A Real-Life Example at Home 13:20 The Question That Changes Everything 15:03 The Real Influence Ladder 18:56 Feedback as Information, Not Identity 21:18 The Gift Hidden Inside Criticism Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence https://joeyvaillancourt.com/the-30-day-challenge/ Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV. https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence About: Joey Vaillancourt is the host of Real Influence — a show for high performers who can't turn it off. If you've built the life, hit the goals, and still feel the pressure — this is for you. Joey helps entrepreneurs and executives rewire the unconscious patterns driving the need to force, fix, and prove, so they can achieve more by leading with presence instead of pressure.

May 25, 2026Episode 4948 min

116.Live Coaching Session on Overwhelm, Anxiety, and Burnout Recovery

What happens when the person teaching the tools becomes the one struggling to use them? In this episode of the Real Influence podcast, I sit down with my wife, Monika, for a raw and unfiltered live coaching session on overwhelm, anxiety, burnout, and suffering. Instead of speaking from the other side of the breakthrough, I open up in real time about feeling mentally overloaded, emotionally exhausted, disconnected from clarity, and trapped under pressure from multiple areas of life. Together, we unpack: • why high performers get stuck in overwhelm • how nervous system regulation affects the way we think • the hidden identity patterns behind burnout • why suffering comes from meaning, not circumstances • how coaching helps uncover blind spots • what it actually looks like to rewire your brain in real time If you've been carrying pressure silently while trying to hold everything together… this episode is for you. This isn't polished self-help. It's a real conversation in the middle of the struggle. TheGreatLifeExperiment.ca — You built the life. You hit the goals. But the pressure never actually left. The Great Life Experiment is a free 30-day challenge with one powerful question each day to help uncover the unconscious patterns driving stress and suffering. Start here → thegreatlifeexperiment.ca 🔗 Take the FREE Pressure Pattern Profile Quiz → https://joeyvaillancourt.com/pressure-pattern-quiz/ Topics Covered Live coaching through overwhelm and suffering Burnout recovery for entrepreneurs and executives Nervous system regulation and emotional states Anxiety, pressure, and mental overload Reframing failure and emotional meaning Why asking for help changes your state Neuroplasticity and subconscious rewiring Timestamps 00:00 Joey Opens Up About His Own Suffering 01:33 Why Everyone Needs a Coach 03:04 Living in Constant Pressure as a High Performer 05:44 Starting the Coaching Session 07:21 Feeling Scattered and Mentally Overloaded 11:42 The Thoughts Behind Overwhelm 14:27 Where Stress Shows Up in the Body 16:20 Nervous System Regulation Explained 18:44 The Meaning We Attach to Suffering 21:17 Why This Chaos Might Be Necessary 24:56 Reframing Failure and Progress 29:08 Isolation vs Asking for Support 31:19 Shifting Out of a Primal State 34:43 Neuroplasticity and Rewiring Your Brain 38:56 Why Coaching Accelerates Growth 42:30 The Decision Matrix Exercise Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence https://joeyvaillancourt.com/the-30-day-challenge/ Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV. https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence Connect with Monika! Social: https://www.instagram.com/monikavaillancourt/ Coaching: https://joeyvaillancourt.com/coaching/ About: Joey Vaillancourt is the host of Real Influence — a show for high performers who can't turn it off. If you've built the life, hit the goals, and still feel the pressure — this is for you. Joey helps entrepreneurs and executives rewire the unconscious patterns driving the need to force, fix, and prove, so they can achieve more by leading with presence instead of pressure.

May 11, 2026Episode 4825 min

115.Discipline Without Pressure-Driven Sacrifice

Most high performers aren't lacking discipline. They're carrying pressure. In this episode, Joey breaks down the hidden emotional pattern behind pressure-driven discipline — and why success can quietly disconnect you from your life if you're not careful. This conversation explores how many entrepreneurs and high achievers build their identity around sacrifice, proving themselves, and delaying life for "later." The problem is… later never really comes. Joey shares five principles for creating discipline from a healthier place — one rooted in awareness, alignment, nervous system regulation, and intentional living instead of constant internal pressure. If you've achieved success but still feel heavy, restless, or unable to relax… this episode will likely feel very familiar. TheGreatLifeExperiment.ca — You built the life. You hit the goals. But the pressure never actually left. The Great Life Experiment is a free 30-day challenge that helps you see and shift the unconscious patterns keeping you stuck in that loop — one question a day. That's it. Start here → thegreatlifeexperiment.ca 🔗 Take the FREE Pressure Pattern Profile Quiz → https://joeyvaillancourt.com/pressure-pattern-quiz/ Topics covered: Pressure-driven sacrifice Discipline and identity High achiever mindset Nervous system regulation How to be disciplined without burnout Self improvement and personal growth Accountability and coaching Creating success without disconnecting from life Timestamps: 00:00 Discipline Isn't The Real Problem 00:19 The Hidden Cost Of Sacrifice 00:55 Why High Performers Feel Pressure 02:04 When Discipline Starts Feeling Heavy 03:05 Discipline Reflects Identity 04:18 Success Through Self-Deprivation 05:40 Principle 1: Act Like Someone Is Watching 08:00 Principle 2: The "I Don't Know If" Framework 10:12 Principle 3: North Star Goals 13:27 Principle 4: The 4D Version Of You 17:14 Principle 5: Accountability & Coaching 20:56 Discipline Without Pressure 21:44 The Pattern Behind Success & Sacrifice Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV.https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence About Joey: Joey Vaillancourt, host of the Real Influence podcast, helps people overcome apathy, feeling trapped and living a life of resignation by inspiring them to challenge their assumptions and handed down beliefs so they can experience a more purposeful, fulfilled and aligned life

May 4, 2026Episode 4724 min

113.Why High Performers Can't Turn Their Mind Off (And What's Actually Causing It)

Most high performers aren't overwhelmed by life itself. They're overwhelmed by what they think life means about them. In this episode of Real Influence, Joey Vaillancourt breaks down the hidden pattern that creates constant pressure—even when things are going well and why success doesn't feel the way you expected it to. You'll learn the difference between pain and suffering, how subconscious patterns shape your experience, and why your nervous system plays a bigger role than you think. TheGreatLifeExperiment.ca — You built the life. You hit the goals. But the pressure never actually left. The Great Life Experiment is a free 30-day challenge that helps you see and shift the unconscious patterns keeping you stuck in that loop — one question a day. That's it. Start here → thegreatlifeexperiment.ca 🔗 Take the FREE Pressure Pattern Profile Quiz → https://joeyvaillancourt.com/pressure-pattern-quiz/ Topics covered: Why high achievers struggle to relax The difference between pain and identity-based suffering How resistance amplifies pressure The role of subconscious patterns Why awareness alone doesn't create change Timestamps: 00:00 Pain vs Suffering 00:36 Why High Performers Multiply Pressure 01:35 The Pressure Pattern Explained 03:04 Why Missing Goals Feels So Heavy 04:46 Principle 1: Pain vs Identity 06:38 The Formula: Pain × Resistance 07:20 Principle 2: Resistance 09:40 The Echo Effect 12:41 Future Projection 16:47 Awareness Isn't Enough 19:42 Why Pressure Never Leaves 20:41 How to Start Rewiring It Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV.https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence About Joey: Joey Vaillancourt, host of the Real Influence podcast, helps people overcome apathy, feeling trapped and living a life of resignation by inspiring them to challenge their assumptions and handed down beliefs so they can experience a more purposeful, fulfilled and aligned life

April 27, 2026Episode 4620 min

112.The Hidden Cost of Fighting What Already Happened (Reality)

TheGreatLifeExperiment.ca — You built the life. You hit the goals. But the pressure never actually left. The Great Life Experiment is a free 30-day challenge that helps you see and shift the unconscious patterns keeping you stuck in that loop — one question a day. That's it. Start here → thegreatlifeexperiment.ca --- You say you want clarity. You ask for direction. But when life actually gives you an answer… you resist it. That's not a strategy problem. That's a pattern. In this episode, I break down why suffering doesn't come from what happens — it comes from the belief that it shouldn't have. And why high performers, more than anyone, get trapped in that loop. We cover: → Why asking is easy but receiving breaks people → The difference between the event and the story you attach to it → Why acceptance is power, not weakness → How to rewrite the narrative once you stop fighting reality → What alignment actually feels like (hint: it's relief, not effort) If you've been chasing clarity, forcing outcomes, or wondering why nothing clicks even when things look fine on the outside — this one will shift something. Drop a comment with what you're currently resisting. That might be exactly where your answer is waiting. --- CHAPTERS 00:00 Why You Feel Stuck Even When You Want Clarity 00:20 Asking for Answers but Resisting Them 01:05 The Real Source of Suffering 02:06 Personal Story: Asking for a Sign 04:29 Reframing Unexpected Outcomes 09:05 Asking Is Easy — Receiving Is Hard 10:29 Events vs Stories 11:33 Acceptance, Narrative, and Alignment Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV.https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence About Joey: Joey Vaillancourt, host of the Real Influence podcast, helps people overcome apathy, feeling trapped and living a life of resignation by inspiring them to challenge their assumptions and handed down beliefs so they can experience a more purposeful, fulfilled and aligned life

April 6, 2026Episode 11150 min

111.The Health Wake-Up Call Every Man Over 40 Needs to Hear w/ Chris Wilson

TheGreatLifeExperiment.ca - You're chasing success or you've hit it. Either way, you're stuck in the same loop. The Great Life Experiment is $300K of learnings distilled into 30 days that rewire the patterns keeping you running on autopilot so you can reclaim true freedom in how you live and lead. Are you building success… but slowly sacrificing your health in the process? Why do so many men feel strong in business, but tired, drained, and inconsistent in their body? And what if the real issue isn't time… but how you're prioritizing your health? In this episode, we sit down with Chris Wilson to unpack a truth most high performers avoid: most men don't have a health problem… they have a priority problem. If you've ever wondered why successful men sacrifice their health, or why men lose their health in their 30s and 40s, this conversation will hit home in a real way 🤓 As you chase success, build a business, lead a team, and provide for your family, your body often becomes the thing you sacrifice. Over time, that leads to mental burnout, low energy, lack of consistency, and declining performance. And the reality is… you can't catch up on your health later. That's a dangerous mindset many high achievers fall into. We dive into how to stay fit while building a business, how to create a healthy lifestyle that actually works for busy men, and why consistency over intensity is the real key to long-term success. Whether you're trying to break out of the dad bod phase, improve your health habits, or become a stronger, more present leader at home and at work, this episode gives you a practical and honest perspective. Chris also shares simple but powerful strategies like short, effective workouts including the six minute cardio method, and how you can build strength, stamina, and discipline even with limited time. If you've ever thought how to stay fit while being successful, or struggled with how to stay active with a busy lifestyle, this will give you a new way to approach fitness. We also go deeper into identity, discipline, and awareness. Because real transformation doesn't come from random workout routines… it comes from who you become in the process. This is about becoming the kind of man who prioritizes movement, values longevity, and understands that fitness is not separate from success… it fuels it 😄 Another powerful part of this conversation is awareness around habits. From mental health awareness to understanding how small daily choices impact long-term outcomes, this episode challenges you to look at what's actually controlling your behavior. Whether it's lack of movement, inconsistency, or even subtle addictions like overworking or constant stimulation, everything has a cost. If you want to become a fit dad, improve your men's health, and build a life where success and health coexist, this episode will give you both the mindset and the strategy to move forward. If this resonated, drop a comment below and share what you're starting to notice about your own habits. What's one thing you know you need to change but haven't yet? Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this with someone who's chasing success… but might be forgetting to take care of their health along the way. In this, we'll talk about: 00:00 Why Most Men Sacrifice Their Health for Success 00:18 Meet Chris Wilson + Strength Beyond the Gym 04:30 Chris Wilson's Fitness Journey and Early Influences 09:14 What Changes After 40: Health, Awareness, and Priorities 11:14 Why Movement Declines as Life Gets Busy 16:13 The Trap of "I'll Focus on Health Later" 17:11 Simple Workouts for Busy Men (6-Minute Cardio) 30:26 Habits, Discipline, and Long-Term Health Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV.https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence Connect with Chris! https://www.criticalbench.com https://www.criticalnutritionlabs.com https://www.youtube.com/@Criticalbench/videos https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strong-by-design-podcast/id1383270948 About Joey: Joey Vaillancourt, host of the Real Influence podcast, helps people overcome apathy, feeling trapped and living a life of resignation by inspiring them to challenge their assumptions and handed down beliefs so they can experience a more purposeful, fulfilled and aligned life.

March 30, 2026Episode 4429 min

110.The Real Reason You Feel Disrespected in Relationships (And How to Shift It)

TheGreatLifeExperiment.ca - You're chasing success or you've hit it. Either way, you're stuck in the same loop. The Great Life Experiment is $300K of learnings distilled into 30 days that rewire the patterns keeping you running on autopilot so you can reclaim true freedom in how you live and lead. Do you ever feel disrespected by the people closest to you even when you're doing everything right? Why do you give so much, overdeliver, and still feel unappreciated or taken for granted? And what if that feeling isn't actually about them… but about a hidden expectation you didn't even realize you had? In this episode, we break down one of the most common emotional triggers in relationships: feeling unappreciated in relationships despite giving your best. If you've ever wondered why I feel disrespected by people close to me, or why I feel hurt when I'm not recognized, this conversation will hit deeper than you expect 🤓 Many high achievers operate from an unconscious pattern of overdelivering and feeling unappreciated, believing that if they give more, love harder, and show up stronger, they will finally receive the respect and validation they're looking for. But underneath that pattern is something most people never see: hidden expectations in relationships and what we call an invisible contract. This episode explains the concept of invisible contract relationships, where you give with the expectation that others will respond in a certain way… even though they never agreed to that expectation. And when that doesn't happen, it creates resentment, frustration, and the feeling that you're being taken for granted. We also dive into validation seeking behavior, why you might feel like you constantly need recognition, and how that pattern leads to emotional triggers that repeat over and over again. If you've ever thought why I give so much but get nothing back, or struggled with how to stop needing validation from others, this will help you reframe everything. You'll learn how to shift into a giving without expectation mindset, how to build self respect without validation, and how to stop tying your worth to how others respond to you. This is where real freedom starts. Not when people change, but when your internal state changes. We also explore how to move from reaction to awareness using the influence ladder, and how emotional triggers in relationships are often pointing back to a belief that's been running quietly in the background for years. Once you see it, you can change it. One of the most powerful takeaways is this: the goal is not to fix people, control outcomes, or force respect. The goal is to show up grounded, present, and aligned, regardless of how others behave. That's where true influence comes from 😄 If you've been stuck in the cycle of feeling unappreciated, constantly overgiving, or wondering why success in life doesn't translate to fulfillment in relationships, this episode will give you a completely new perspective. If this resonated, share your biggest takeaway in the comments. What's one belief about respect, validation, or relationships that you're starting to question? Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this with someone who gives a lot… but secretly feels unappreciated. In this, we'll talk about: 00:00 Why You Feel Disrespected Even When You Do Everything Right 00:35 Overdelivering and Feeling Unappreciated 01:52 The Hidden Expectation Behind Relationship Triggers 03:29 The Meaning Loop: Why You React the Way You Do 05:40 Invisible Contract Relationships Explained 10:00 The Belief Behind Validation Seeking Behavior 16:50 Holding Space Instead of Trying to Fix People 22:02 How to Stop Feeling Unappreciated and Build Self Respect Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV.https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence About Joey: Joey Vaillancourt, host of the Real Influence podcast, helps people overcome apathy, feeling trapped and living a life of resignation by inspiring them to challenge their assumptions and handed down beliefs so they can experience a more purposeful, fulfilled and aligned life.

March 23, 2026Episode 4326 min

109.Why High Achievers Still Feel Pressure (Even When They're Doing Everything Right)

TheGreatLifeExperiment.ca - You're chasing success or you've hit it. Either way, you're stuck in the same loop. The Great Life Experiment is $300K of learnings distilled into 30 days that rewire the patterns keeping you running on autopilot so you can reclaim true freedom in how you live and lead. Do you ever feel like you're doing everything right… but still feel stressed and on edge? Why does success still feel like pressure, even when you've achieved what you wanted? And why does peace feel uncomfortable, like you should be doing more instead of slowing down? In this episode, we dive deep into high achiever burnout, the hidden patterns behind high achiever stress, and why so many people are quietly white knuckling their way through life even while talking about work life balance. If you've ever felt like you can't turn off your brain, keep thinking about work after hours, or struggle with mental burnout, this conversation will hit close to home 🤓 Most people think the solution is better habits, more discipline, or another productivity system. But the real issue is the identity underneath the hustle. If your subconscious belief is that your worth comes from pressure, productivity, or constant achievement, you will keep recreating hustle culture burnout no matter how many tools you use. We break down the overworking mindset, the internal pressure to succeed, and why even when you slow down, you still feel stressed. If you've ever asked yourself why I feel stressed even when I slow down, or struggled with how to stop overthinking work after hours, this episode will help you understand what's actually going on beneath the surface. You'll learn how to begin an identity shift, how to rewire your brain for success, and how to move from force and pressure into a more aligned way of living. This is not about doing less. It's about removing the internal resistance that makes everything feel heavy. We also explore the difference between looking relaxed and actually being regulated. Because many high performers talk about balance, but internally still feel tension, anxiety, and work stress running in the background. That's what keeps you stuck in hustle culture pressure, even when you're trying to do things differently. If you want productivity without burnout, real work life balance, and the ability to actually be present with your family, your goals, and your life, then this episode will challenge the way you think about success. This is your invitation to stop worrying and start living, not by abandoning ambition, but by changing the belief system that drives it 😄 If this resonated, share your biggest takeaway in the comments. What's one belief about success or productivity you're starting to question? Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this with someone who looks like they have it all together but is secretly feeling the pressure. In this, we'll talk about: 00:00 Why You Still Feel Pressure Even When Doing Everything Right 00:37 Work Life Balance but Still Stressed 02:00 The White Knuckle High Achiever Explained 04:50 High Achiever Burnout and Overthinking Work After Hours 06:00 Why You Feel Stressed Even When You Slow Down 08:22 Identity Shift: The Belief Behind Hustle Culture Pressure 13:18 Productivity Without Burnout and Rewiring Success Beliefs 19:15 Stop Worrying and Start Living Without Pressure Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV.https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence About Joey: Joey Vaillancourt, host of the Real Influence podcast, helps people overcome apathy, feeling trapped and living a life of resignation by inspiring them to challenge their assumptions and handed down beliefs so they can experience a more purposeful, fulfilled and aligned life.

March 16, 2026Episode 4237 min

108.The Identity Trap: Why High Performers Wire Their Nervous System for Pressure Instead of Peace

👉 Can't turn it off or enjoy what you've built? TheGreatLifeExperiment.ca - You're chasing success or you've hit it. Either way, you're stuck in the same loop. The Great Life Experiment is $300K of learnings distilled into 30 days that rewire the patterns keeping you running on autopilot so you can reclaim true freedom in how you live and lead. Are you a high achiever who feels exhausted even when you're winning? Why does success sometimes feel stressful instead of fulfilling? What if the real reason you can't relax isn't your workload, but the belief system behind your success mindset? This episode unpacks a powerful truth that many high performers never question: the belief that success requires suffering. If you're experiencing high achiever burnout, constantly pushing through pressure, and wondering why productivity still feels heavy even when you're succeeding, this conversation will resonate deeply 🤓. Many people in hustle culture unknowingly wire their identity around stress, believing that hard work must always come with sacrifice, exhaustion, and burnout. We dive into the difference between effort vs identity, and how two people can take the exact same actions but experience completely different outcomes. One builds peace and fulfillment, while the other builds pressure, resentment, and hustle culture burnout. If you've ever wondered why high achievers feel exhausted, or why success still feels stressful even after reaching goals, this episode will help you uncover the unconscious programming behind it. You'll learn how identity shifting and rewiring success beliefs can transform the way you approach work, productivity, and achievement. Instead of chasing success through stress and constant pressure, Joey explains how to build productivity without burnout, operate from a healthier productivity mindset, and achieve real success and fulfillment without sacrificing your health, relationships, or peace of mind. We also explore powerful concepts like nervous system regulation, primal state vs powerful state, and the mindset shift between power vs force. Many high achievers operate from a primal state where stress equals productivity, but true high performance actually comes from alignment, clarity, and emotional regulation. Learning how to move out of hustle culture patterns and into a calmer nervous system can dramatically change the way you lead, work, and live. If you've ever struggled with work life balance, felt caught in the trap of constant productivity, or believed that achievement must come at the cost of your personal life, this episode challenges that idea. Joey shares practical insights on how to pursue achieving success without pressure, why family first values can coexist with ambitious goals, and how to redefine success without falling into the trap of self imposed suffering. We also discuss lessons inspired by The Game of Life, how changing your internal language shifts your nervous system, and why labeling challenges differently can unlock creativity and resilience. When you start reframing experiences and practicing new beliefs, you create space for success without suffering and begin building a life that integrates ambition with peace. This episode is for entrepreneurs, leaders, creators, and high performers who want to achieve big goals while protecting what matters most. If you've been chasing success but secretly feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or disconnected from fulfillment, this conversation will help you rethink the identity behind your effort and build a healthier approach to success 😄. If this episode resonated with you, share your thoughts in the comments and tell us what belief about success you're starting to question. Your insight might help someone else break free from hustle culture and rediscover a more sustainable path to achievement. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this with another high achiever who might need to hear that success does not require suffering. In this, we'll talk about: 00:00 Why High Achievers Feel Exhausted Even When Winning 00:35 Effort vs Identity: The Hidden Driver of Burnout 01:16 The Belief That Success Requires Suffering 02:40 How Hustle Culture Wires Your Nervous System for Pressure 06:20 Rewriting Success Beliefs and Identity Shifting 11:16 Seasons of Grind vs Identity of Sacrifice 17:14 The Mindset Shift That Reduces Stress and Burnout 21:04 The Trap of Earned Enjoyment and Success Without Suffering Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV.https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence About Joey: Joey Vaillancourt, host of the Real Influence podcast, helps people overcome apathy, feeling trapped and living a life of resignation by inspiring them to challenge their assumptions and handed down beliefs so they can experience a more purposeful, fulfilled and aligned life.

February 23, 2026Episode 4126 min

107.Escaping the Pressure Prison: 5 Shawshank Principles for High Performers Who Can't Turn It Off

👉 You've chased every win, hit every goal… and still feel restless and unfulfilled. The Great Life Experiment is $300K of learnings distilled into 30 days of reflection that finally show you why. Start Your 30-Day Challenge Now: http://TheGreatlLifeExperiment.ca/ Are you successful on paper but secretly exhausted inside? Do you feel trapped by responsibility at work, even though you worked hard to get here? What if you are not burned out, but carrying success the wrong way? 🤯 In this episode of Real Influence, we explore why high performer burnout is not just about working too much. It is about the identity and patterns behind how you carry responsibility. If you have ever wondered why high achievers feel empty after success, why you cannot seem to escape hustle culture, or why leadership pressure never really turns off, this conversation is for you. We unpack how to stop overthinking, how to stop overworking, and how to escape overdrive mode without quitting your job or abandoning your ambition. The truth is, you are not trapped by work. You are trapped by the patterns that define how you carry it. If you have been feeling trapped by responsibility at work, navigating corporate burnout recovery, or trying to figure out how to regulate stress while maintaining high performance, this episode will help you break the burnout success pattern and shift from force to flow. 🤓 We dive into identity rewiring, breaking stress patterns, calm leadership under pressure, and why success without suffering is possible. You will learn how to stop tying self worth to productivity, how to redefine success beyond hustle culture, and how to build inner freedom without immediately escaping corporate life. This is not about lowering your standards. It is about rewiring the high performer mindset so you can achieve more by forcing less. It is about leadership without self sacrifice. It is about realizing you are not burned out. You are misaligned. If you have ever asked yourself how to stop overworking but stay ambitious, why you feel trapped even after achieving your goals, or how to regulate stress while carrying big responsibility, you will resonate deeply with this episode. It is time to break autopilot thinking, redesign your success patterns, and step into a new way of leading rooted in clarity, vision, and sustainable performance. 😄 If this episode helped you, share it with another high achiever who may be silently carrying too much pressure. Subscribe for more conversations on escaping hustle culture, high performer burnout recovery, and building success without self sacrifice. In this, we'll talk about: 00:00 Successful but Secretly Exhausted? The Hidden Trap 02:13 Extreme Ownership: No One Is Coming to Save You 04:49 Silence Speaks Louder Than Words 07:32 Act As If the Wish Is Fulfilled 11:49 Stay the Course and Have Faith Through Adversity 15:53 Breaking the Hustle and Grind Reflex 16:47 Vision Over Tactics: Your North Star 22:55 Responsibility Without Self-Sacrifice Connect with Joey on your favourite social platforms! https://joeyvaillancourt.com/ https://www.instagram.com/joeyvaillancourt/ https://www.facebook.com/joey.vaillancourt.9/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-vaillancourt/ https://www.youtube.com/@joeyvaillancourt-realinfluence Enhance your mental clarity, focus, and brain wellness with NeuroVizr—get 10% off with code JOEYV.https://neurovizr.com/?ref=rirxqhll Transform your meditation and boost sleep, creativity, and focus with Sens.ai—save $100 with code REALINFLUENCE. https://sens.ai/realinfluence