Ep. 226 - Navigating Different Energy Levels As Husband and Wife
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Release Date: 09/22/2025
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
In this powerful episode, Robert and Kay Lee sit down with 17-year-old entrepreneur and leukemia survivor Keira Chang, founder of Heroko Shop and author of The Second Race: The Turtle and the Puppy, A Story About Money. Diagnosed with leukemia the week before her 13th birthday, Keira spent years in treatment and isolation—but emerged with a renewed appreciation for life, community, and the importance of using your gifts to help others. Her story is raw, inspiring, and a needed reset for entrepreneurs who get caught up in the grind. Keira shares how Heroko Shop was born at the end of her...
info_outlineThriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our (audio) book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. Download the 5 Daily Habits to Thrive in Tandem Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. As the year winds down (or whenever you’re listening), Robert and Kay Lee invite married entrepreneurs to pause and audit what’s working—and what’s quietly piling onto your calendar “just because.” The danger isn’t always failure… it’s drift. When you...
info_outlineThriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our (audio) book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. Download the 5 Daily Habits to Thrive in Tandem Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. What happens when a career shake-up, a calling to entrepreneurship, and a surprise pregnancy all collide at once? In this episode, Robert sits down with Robbie and Nicole Harper—co-founders of Blue Ridge PR—to talk about what it really looks like to build a business while...
info_outlineThriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our (audio) book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. FREE Marriage and Business Assessment Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. As married entrepreneurs, it’s easy to fall into traps that seem harmless but quietly eat away at your profits, your time, and even your marriage. In this episode, Robert and Kay Lee uncover five hidden growth traps that keep business owners stuck working harder instead of...
info_outlineThriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
When big ideas stall, it’s rarely because the idea is bad—it’s because people get stuck. In this week’s conversation, we welcome strategist and author Susan Schramm (chair of Nehemiah Project; founder of Go To Market Impact) to unpack how married entrepreneurs can de-risk decisions at work and at home—without killing momentum or connection. Susan introduces her De-Risk System for Impact, a simple, people-first way to move initiatives forward: clarify why and why now, name who must take action, surface assumptions, and explore both upside and downside risk—including the risk of...
info_outlineThriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Cracker Barrel’s attempted rebrand lit up the internet—but the logo was only the tip of the iceberg. In this episode, Robert and Kay Lee unpack what really happened: rapid, sweeping changes to brand visuals, menu staples, and in-store experience that left loyal customers feeling ignored. Robert draws on his Coca-Cola days to connect the dots to “New Coke” and other big-brand missteps. The lesson for married entrepreneurs? Expansion is great—if you bring your core with you. We talk about how to modernize without losing the soul of your brand, why you must weight research toward your...
info_outlineThriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Live Life Rich Book Website: Instagram: @marissanehlsen Facebook: Twitter:@MarissaNehlsen LinkedIn: Eight-figure founder and wealth strategist Marissa Nehlsen returns to share how married entrepreneurs can build real wealth and protect what matters most at home. From her North Dakota roots to stewarding multiple Costa Rica retreat properties, Marissa unpacks the mindset shifts that moved her from hustle to harmony—where profit funds purpose, family, and freedom. She reveals why “keeping moving” doesn’t mean doing more; it means making better, braver...
info_outlineThriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
After a jam-packed few weeks onboarding clients and juggling a major project, Robert & Kay Lee get real about a message every married entrepreneur needs to hear: “Hustle now, rest later” is a myth that steals joy, strains marriages, and sabotages long-term business value. In this candid conversation, they unpack why constant grind doesn’t equal greater achievement—and how to build a business that grows and lets you enjoy life with your spouse now, not “someday.” You’ll hear how choosing family over finance actually creates a stronger company: better culture, lower turnover,...
info_outlineThriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Every married entrepreneur knows mistakes come with the territory—but they don’t have to derail your marriage or business. In this episode, Robert and Kay Lee pull back the curtain on the top five mistakes they’ve made as married entrepreneurs—and the lessons learned along the way. From overlooking the “Chief Feelings Officer” to chasing shiny objects, they share candid stories that cost them time, money, and peace (sometimes six figures!). You’ll hear how “hiring for convenience” created unnecessary conflict, why building real friendships beats pouring money into funnels,...
info_outlineThriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
With over 10,000 AI tools at our fingertips, it’s tempting to think technology will be our golden ticket to efficiency, profits, and free time. The problem? All that “help” can actually lead to tech creep—where one more tool, one more subscription, and one more DIY task sneak onto your plate until your calendar is full and your marriage is on the back burner. Bottom line: Tech can absolutely help you grow your business and free up more time for your marriage—if you use it in moderation and keep your focus on the high-level work only you can do. 🎧 Listen now to learn how to put...
info_outlineGet on the waitlist for a Thriving in Tandem event near you. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/marriage-and-business-events
Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our (audio) book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/
Download the 5 Daily Habits to Thrive in Tandem https://marriedentrepreneur.co/5-daily-habits-download
Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk
Every married entrepreneur knows the challenge of managing different energy levels—especially when one spouse is ready to go full throttle and the other needs to pace themselves. In this episode, Robert and Kay Lee get real about how this dynamic plays out in their own relationship, from social events and vacations to business strategy sessions and conferences. They reflect on their early frustrations and how intentional communication helped them transform energy differences from a source of conflict into a strength.
They share practical tips for managing expectations, planning ahead, and respecting each other’s rhythms—whether you're attending a networking event, hosting a retreat, or simply planning your weekend. From code words to separate cars, from downtime gaps on vacation to avoiding heavy convos at bedtime, this episode offers insight into how married couples can honor each other's needs while still pursuing shared goals.
Plus, they announce new in-person events—like their upcoming wine pairing dinner, concerts in the park, and even a ski trip in 2026. If you’ve ever wished your spouse could just keep up (or slow down), this is the episode that will help you find peace, pace, and partnership.
Key Takeaways:
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Don’t assume your spouse should match your energy—discuss your needs and make a plan ahead of time.
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Rest isn’t always about sleep; it can also mean freedom from rigid schedules or overstimulation.
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Schedule important conversations when you’re both alert—avoid conflict-heavy talks late at night or during busy moments.
Protect the bedroom as a place of intimacy and peace, not stress or business talk. -
Even high-energy spouses benefit from margin; intentional rest improves clarity, focus, and connection.