What happens when the life you were supposed to want slowly empties you out? In this episode of the Personal Success Podcast, Ryan Watts sits down with Jake Rieke, co-author of A More Brilliant Life, to explore what it really looks like to wake up from inherited expectations, constant distraction, and the illusion of security.

Jake shares the deeply personal story of walking away from a 150 year Midwestern family farming legacy…running thousands of acres and livestock…while quietly losing his health, presence, and marriage. What followed was not a reckless escape…but a deliberate awakening.

Together, Ryan and Jake unpack:

• The “American Trance”…and why most people cannot see the water they are swimming in
• How distraction keeps high performers numb instead of fulfilled • Why extreme ownership is the first real step toward change
• The cost of inherited roles and unexamined beliefs
• What it actually takes to slow down enough to hear yourself again
• How Jake and his wife Kylie rebuilt their marriage, health, and family life
• The six step framework that helped them move from stuck to aligned
• Why growth is not a phase…but a lifelong practice

This is a conversation for anyone who feels successful on paper…but hollow underneath. Not a hype episode. A grounding one. 

• Midlife crisis vs midlife awakening
• The myth of safety and security
• People pleasing and inherited identity
• Extreme ownership and personal responsibility
• The role of slowing down in real transformation
• Leaving behind what “should” be true
• Redefining success from the inside out
• Living, parenting, and working with intention.

Jake Rieke is the co creator of The Brilliant Life Journey and co author of A More Brilliant Life, written alongside his wife Kylie. After decades in a high pressure farming operation and community leadership roles, Jake and his family chose a radically different path…relocating internationally, rebuilding their lives, and helping others navigate major transitions with clarity, courage, and ownership.

 Check out the book A More Brilliant Life by Jake and Kylie Rieke Available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com

🌍 Learn more about their work The Brilliant Life Journey https://brilliantlifejourney.com

🎧 Listen to Jake’s podcast A More Brilliant Life Podcast available on YouTube and major podcast platforms ▶️ Subscribe to the Personal Success Podcast https://youtube.com/@thepersonalsuccesspodcast