Balm in the Burnout, Episode 9: Scaling Without Sacrificing Yourself, with Tina Rexing of T-Rex Cookie

Show Notes:

Welcome to Balm in the Burnout, the podcast for cross-sector humans navigating personal and systemic burnout. In this episode, host Megan Hadley talks with entrepreneur Tina Rexing, founder of the nationally recognized women-owned business T-Rex Cookie, about burnout in the food industry, entrepreneurship as an immigrant daughter, and what it takes to grow something big without losing yourself.

In This Conversation:

• Tina’s leap from corporate life to launching T-Rex Cookie, and how a business plan (and a lot of grit) helped her land her first investment
• The evolution of T-Rex Cookie—from farmers’ markets to national features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, TimeOut Magazine, and more
• Why Tina says “no” to opportunities that compromise her values or brand identity—even when the world wants smaller cookies
• Honest talk about entrepreneurship burnout, toxic kitchen culture, and why asking for help and setting boundaries are essential
• How Tina’s parents and sons became part of the business, and the emotional labor of mixing family and legacy
• Navigating growth and funding while staying in control—choosing investors who believe in your mission instead of diluting your values
• Lessons on separating work and identity, protecting joy, and not turning every passion into a job

Key Takeaways:

• “Do what you love—but be careful what you turn into work.”
• Scaling a business doesn’t have to mean self-sacrifice
• Burnout in entrepreneurship is real—and rest, boundaries, and community are non-negotiable
• Immigrant hustle, family dynamics, and funding all shape the burnout experience differently than in other sectors

Guest Links:

T-Rex Cookie: Website

Tina Rexing: LinkedIn

• Find T-Rex Cookie their shop in Eagan, at MSP Airport, Terminal 1, at retailers across Minnesota, and local direct shipping via their website.

Connect with Host Megan Hadley:

Support the Show: Balm in the Burnout is listener-supported. Contribute to our community scholarship or leave a tip on Venmo @HHW-LLC.

Visit Harvest Health and Wellbeing for coaching, workshops, and mindfulness-based burnout support.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to Balm in the Burnout

00:37 – Meet Tina Rexing: From corporate to cookie entrepreneur

01:57 – T-Rex Cookie’s rise: National features and business milestones

03:29 – Staying grounded: Yoga, physicality, presence practices

05:46 – The leap: Business planning, farmers' markets, early growth

09:45 – Grit, family values, and the immigrant work ethic

11:36 – Saying “no” and protecting your brand identity

14:05 – Burnout in entrepreneurship and the food industry

17:14 – Family labor, legacy, and sacrifice in small business

20:35 – Growth, investment, and choosing aligned funders

24:20 – Takeaways: What happens when hobbies become jobs