What happens when purpose driven work pushes the body past its limits, and success comes at the cost of vitality?

In this episode of The Next Mountain Podcast, we sit down with Yancy Wright, leadership retreat facilitator, conscious communication guide, and founder of a retreat center in Puerto Rico. Yancy shares his deeply personal journey from climbing his first mountain of professional success in green construction and sustainability to a life altering collapse that landed him in the ICU.

What followed was a long and very human transition shaped by burnout and risk, with repeated invitations to slow down and listen. That process ultimately led Yancy to reconnect with his purpose and to found a retreat center rooted in presence, vitality, and a more sustainable way of leading.

✨ Key Themes in This Conversation

Why purpose alone isn’t enough when work is fueled by stress and pressure
Burnout as a signal, not a failure, and why high functioning doesn’t mean healthy
The unconscious commitment to struggle that keeps many leaders stuck
Nature as a powerful teacher for presence, intuition, and leadership

Learn More About Yancy

From Burnout to Purpose: Yancy Wright on Leadership, Nature and Listening to the Body