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Overview:
Replaying the most listened to episode. Alicia and George McKenzie share about what “wellness” actually looks like when you're raising five kids, running companies, and still trying to have a conversation that doesn’t involve snack negotiations or Slack notifications.

They dig into cold plunges, ketone shots, and why Alicia only answers emails on Mondays—plus, their take on the California bill that lets workers ignore their boss after hours. Spoiler: boundaries are great, but maybe don't legislate them?

Why this episode is a fan favorite:

• You’ll laugh out loud at George’s Finnish sauna joke (and his very wrong sound effects).
• You’ll walk away with a clearer picture of what wellness actually looks like for two high-performers juggling work, love, and chaos.
• You’ll question what “balance” really means—and maybe stop chasing it entirely.

In this episode:

• Biohacking for real people: cold plunges, red light therapy, ketone IQ shots, and why George doesn’t plunge after leg day.
• The myth of work-life balance and why Alicia calls BS on it.
• Parenting meltdowns, wardrobe wars, and raising emotionally resilient kids—even when they only want to wear long johns under shorts.
• Why boundaries matter more than ever, and how to enforce them without waiting for legislation.
• A brutally honest take on flexible work, Slack culture, and corporate expectations in the era of remote everything.

Quote of the Episode:
“At the end of the day, it’s just deciding the life you want to live—and putting the things in place to support it.” – Alicia McKenzie

Links & Mentions:

• Ketone IQ (not sponsored, just curious)
• You Are What You Eat – Netflix Documentary
• Alicia’s book: Balance is Bullshit (required reading if you’ve ever felt like you’re doing it all… badly)

Enjoyed this episode?
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In this episode, Alicia shares her surprising results using a new anxiety patch that actually lowered her daytime stress levels, backed by data from her Oura Ring. George gives it a try too and opens up about his own high-stress moments managing life solo with the kids. The couple also breaks down what it really means to be "busy" versus just living a full life, and they reflect on techniques like tapping, supplements, and biohacks for managing high performance without burning out.

Then they shift gears into startup strategy, including:

• Why George offered unlimited PTO at his company—and how it played out
• How to handle accrued liabilities when preparing for an acquisition
• Whether mandatory time off is actually a smart idea (spoiler: yes)
• The business case for S-Corps vs LLCs and when to make the switch
• George’s favorite analogy for understanding different types of outside capital

The episode also explores the impact of agentic AI on customer service, the evolution of corporate perks, and why leveraging debt might be smarter than taking VC money.

Highlights

• 03:00: Alicia's unexpected results with Restore Patch and why George is now a believer too
• 08:30: “Busy” as a conversation killer—and how to change the narrative
• 15:45: The logic (and liability) behind unlimited PTO
• 20:00: Mandatory summer PTO and how it’s shaping modern work culture
• 31:00: When to switch from an LLC to an S-Corp (and what George wishes more founders knew)
• 35:00: The best analogy you’ll ever hear about the difference between debt, VC, and private equity

Product Mentioned

• Restore Patch: Alicia’s go-to for anxiety and sleep support. Use code LIFT15 for 15% off. This isn’t sponsored—just a product she genuinely loves.

Takeaways

1. Stress management doesn’t always require massive lifestyle changes—sometimes it’s as small as a patch or a five-minute technique like tapping.
2. “Unlimited PTO” isn’t just a perk; it’s a strategy for reducing liability and staying competitive in hiring.
3. Don’t wait until it's too late to think about entity structure. LLCs work until they don’t.
4. Not all capital is created equal. Learn when to borrow, when to raise, and when to just bootstrap smarter.
5. Corporate culture is shifting, but your business model needs to support those values if you want them to stick.

Resources

• Restore Patch
• Learn more about S-Corp vs LLC: IRS.gov Business Structures

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Follow George and Alicia!

https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother
https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/
www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother
https://www.aliciamckenzie.com/
https://liftlikeamother.com

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In this episode, Alicia and George McKenzie take you inside their latest wellness routines, including peptide injections and biohacking for recovery, cognitive performance, and longevity. They share how tracking health KPIs is just as important as business KPIs, especially when you're running companies, raising kids, and chasing long-term vitality.

The duo also unpacks the story of a six-month-old SaaS startup that was acquired by Wix for $80M in cash—built by a solo founder leveraging AI. Plus, they offer an honest look at what it’s really like to go through a private equity event from the founder’s seat.

What We Talk About:

• Why Alicia uses TB-500 and BPC-157, and George is on Tesamorelin
• How they track improvements using Oura and Whoop wearables
• Peptides, recovery, and the misconception of “miracle shots”
• The CEO mindset applied to your body: KPIs, bloodwork, and strategy
• Rapamycin and Tirzepatide: what worked, what didn’t, and why they microdose
• The Base44 acquisition: how AI is changing the speed and cost of building startups
• Why product vision > coding skills in today’s tech landscape
• What George learned from a real-life PE exit (and what he’d do differently)
• The private equity “shell game” and why lean startups might already be more efficient

Key Takeaways:

• Founders can’t ignore their health. Being the CEO of your body is non-negotiable.
• Peptides can be powerful, but only when combined with smart habits like movement, sleep, and nutrition.
• The rise of AI is accelerating the solo-preneur economy—if you can dream it, you can build it.
• Not all private equity strategies are created equal—alignment, transparency, and realistic expectations matter more than ever.

Resources Mentioned:

• Oura Ring
• Whoop Band
• Base44 acquisition by Wix – TechCrunch
• Learn more about peptides like BPC-157 and Tesamorelin

Connect With Us:
📩 Have a question or topic you want us to cover? DM Alicia @liftlikeamother or @marriedtothestartup
💡 Loved this episode? Please leave us a review—it helps more founders find us.
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Support the show

Follow George and Alicia!

https://www.instagram.com/liftlikeamother
https://www.instagram.com/marriedtothestartup
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemckenzie/
www.linkedin.com/in/liftlikeamother
https://www.aliciamckenzie.com/
https://liftlikeamother.com