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Taboo Talk with Sarah

Episode 08 From Burnout to Breakthrough: Mike Gostola’s Journey

What happens when success on the outside doesn’t match how you feel on the inside? In this episode, Sarah sits down with Mike Gostola, entrepreneur, TikTok strategist, and mental wellness advocate, to discuss his powerful journey from high-stress business ownership to online freedom. Mike shares how chronic stress, burnout, and gut health issues affected his life, how the gut-brain connection transformed his well-being, and how he now helps others reclaim their health and build online businesses. They also dive into how TikTok is changing the game for entrepreneurs and why mental health needs to be part of the conversation in business. If you’re feeling stuck in survival mode or looking for ways to grow online without burning out, this episode is for you.
Broadcast on:
10 Mar 2025

📌 Key Takeaways:

✔️ Burnout & The Traditional Business Trap – Why making millions didn’t equal financial or personal freedom.

 

✔️ The Shift to Online Entrepreneurship – How Mike transitioned from construction & cabinet manufacturing to online business success.
 

✔️ The Gut-Brain Connection & Mental Health – Why fixing his gut health changed his mindset, stress levels, and relationships.
 

✔️ TikTok & Digital Marketing – How Rock the Tok Academy is helping entrepreneurs grow through short-form content.
 

✔️ Breaking the "Suck It Up" Mentality – How men can shift from ignoring stress to taking charge of their mental wellness.

 

💬 Standout Quotes:

🗣️ “I was running a business that made over $500K a month, but I was so stressed, I couldn’t even enjoy it.”
 

🗣️ “I used to believe stress, anxiety, and gut issues were just part of life—until I learned that they weren’t.”
 

🗣️ “Most of us are walking around in survival mode, thinking it’s normal. It’s not. And we need to talk about it.”

 

⏳ Key Moments in the Episode:

⏱ 00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Mike Gostola
 

⏱ 05:20 – The reality of traditional business: stress, overhead, and financial struggle
 

⏱ 12:45 – Making the leap: How Mike transitioned from traditional business to online entrepreneurship
 

⏱ 18:30 – Discovering the gut-brain connection: The mental & physical impact of stress
 

⏱ 26:15 – The turning point: How fixing gut health improved focus, relationships, and business
 

⏱ 33:40 – The power of TikTok for business owners & why short-form video matters
 

⏱ 40:00 – Breaking the “suck it up” mentality & encouraging men to take control of their wellness
 

⏱ 50:20 – Final thoughts & how listeners can take action

 

🌟 Notable Mentions:

✔️ Rock the Tok Academy – Mike’s TikTok training program for entrepreneurs
 

✔️ Amare Global – The mental wellness company that helped Mike regulate stress & gut health
 

✔️ Gut-Brain Connection – The science behind mental wellness & physical health
 

✔️ The Power of Community – Why who you surround yourself with matters in both business & life

📢 Call to Action:

✨ Feeling stuck in survival mode? This episode is your wake-up call.
✅ Subscribe & leave a review to help us keep these conversations going.
📌 Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it!
💬 Join the conversation—tag Sarah on social media & tell us your biggest takeaway!

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & YouTube!

What happens when success on the outside doesn’t match how you feel on the inside? In this episode, Sarah sits down with Mike Gostola, entrepreneur, TikTok strategist, and mental wellness advocate, to discuss his powerful journey from high-stress business ownership to online freedom. Mike shares how chronic stress, burnout, and gut health issues affected his life, how the gut-brain connection transformed his well-being, and how he now helps others reclaim their health and build online businesses. They also dive into how TikTok is changing the game for entrepreneurs and why mental health needs to be part of the conversation in business. If you’re feeling stuck in survival mode or looking for ways to grow online without burning out, this episode is for you.