Running Ahrens
One Couple. Two People. Four Kids. And decades of figuring it out—together.
Running Ahrens is a podcast about the long game of marriage, parenting, business, and personal growth. Hosted by Justin and Sarah Ahrens—a couple married for over 30 years with four kids and decades of entrepreneurial experience—this show is about the lessons learned through successes, failures, and everything in between.
With a focus on mindset, honesty, accountability, and kindness, Justin and Sarah dive into real conversations about building a family, running businesses, navigating faith, friendships, and growing through the hard stuff. Still learning, still laughing, still running together—they share what they’ve figured out (and what they haven’t) with humor, humility, and heart.
Along the way, they’re joined by friends, guests, and even their kids for open, often funny, and always heartfelt conversations about what really matters: relationships, resilience, and the lessons that come with time. You’ll also hear about the books, tools, and resources that have helped them along the way—so you can take what resonates and apply it to your own life.
If you’re looking for honest stories, practical wisdom, and a reminder that no one’s running this race perfectly, you’re in the right place.
Running Ahrens
25 Years, 1 Business, and a Whole Lot of Life, Our Story of Building Rule29 Together
In this special episode of Running Ahrens, Justin and Sarah open up about the wild, wonderful, and sometimes chaotic story of building a business and a marriage, together.
From the early days of paychecks that didn’t always cash to growing a nationally recognized creative agency out of their unfinished basement, they share what it really looked like to raise a family, run a business, and somehow stay married through all of it. With honesty, humor, and a few deeply relatable moments, they reflect on everything from business pivots and burnout to parenting, power struggles, and even employee work attire standards.
It’s the kind of conversation you’ll laugh through, nod along with, and maybe even feel a little less alone after hearing.
Takeaways & Talking Points:
Starting Something With Nothing
The (un)romantic truth about launching Rule29 while pregnant, broke, and living with family
Paychecks, Pivots & The Basement Office
How Sarah took over the books, Justin rebuilt the business from scratch, and their unfinished basement became the birthplace of a creative agency
Rules We Made for Each Other
Why they signed a literal contract before rebuilding the business, and what it taught them about boundaries, expectations, and shared goals
When Everything Changed
Business challenges, financial pressures, and the hard decisions that shaped their next chapter
The Collaboration Contract
Learning to divide responsibilities (and not kill each other), grow a team, and raise four kids while running the show
The Exit That Hurt
Why Sarah ultimately stepped away from Rule29, what it cost them, and how it made space for her to step into her own story
Love, Regret & What They’d Do Differently
The honest truth about ego, burnout, creativity, and how they’d build something together now, if they ever did it again
Things We’re Learning (and Unlearning)
- You can love someone deeply and still feel unseen in the business you built together
- Contracts aren’t just for clients, they can save your marriage
- There’s no such thing as “enough” for a driven creative… unless you define it together
- Even the best partnerships have seasons of resentment, reinvention, and release
- Sometimes, letting go is the bravest (and kindest) move you can make
Stats Worth Knowing
- Only 3% of businesses make it 25 years
- 60% of married co-founders eventually part ways professionally
- 75% of couples in business together admit they argue over who does what
- 45+ interns and countless team members have launched careers through Rule29
- 1 contract, 4 babies, and two rebuilt careers later… the story continues
This one’s for anyone who's ever tried to build something without losing everything else. For the dreamers, the doers, the co-founders, and the couples working side by side (or trying to).
You’re not alone. And you’re not crazy. This is what building something real looks like.
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