294: How to Know When It’s Time to Let Go: Sean Hoess on Building Wanderlust, Burning Out, and Starting Over

In this episode, Light Watkins sits down with Sean Hoess, co-founder of Wanderlust—the global wellness festival that once redefined how people experienced yoga, music, and community. Sean shares his winding journey from burnt-out New York City lawyer to record label co-founder, and eventually to the unlikely creator of a worldwide movement focused on mindfulness and well-being.

But what happens when your dream job starts to feel like just another grind?

Sean gets real about the pressures of scaling a purpose-driven company, the quiet warning signs that something’s off, and the emotional toll of watching your creation grow beyond your control. He opens up about the moment he realized success didn’t always equal fulfillment—and how a global pandemic forced him to stop, look around, and ask a question most people avoid: “Why am I actually here?”

The conversation explores how childhood patterns of self-reliance and creativity shaped Sean’s resilience, how deep friendships can evolve into business partnerships, and why it’s so easy to confuse growth with progress. He also shares what it was like navigating a professional split from his best friend and co-founder, and how that pain ultimately became the catalyst for something new: Eudemonia—a wellness summit that brings together scientists, spiritual leaders, and curious seekers in pursuit of a life well-lived.

If you’ve ever wondered what to do when your mission starts to drain you instead of inspire you, or how to realign when your purpose begins to shift, this episode is for you.

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