The Long Burn
The Long Burn is a strategy-driven podcast for real estate investors, entrepreneurs, and high performers who want to achieve Financial Independence without burning out their health, relationships, or purpose along the way. Hosted by two entrepreneurs within the medical and wellness space, the show sits at the intersection of money, health, performance, and intentional living—breaking down how to build wealth, design leverage, stabilize mental and physical health, and ultimately live life on your own terms. Each episode delivers practical frameworks, candid conversations, and real-world playbooks around investing, healthcare optimization, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. The mission is simple: eliminate blind spots that quietly derail FIRE journeys and give listeners the tools to build sustainable wealth, resilient health, and long-term freedom.
The Long Burn
Episode 4 - Navigating Seasons in Life
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This episode of The Long Burn finds Joel Malin in a state of high-alert "baby watch," with his wife’s due date just hours away. Meanwhile, Jonathan Wade reflects on the shifting seasons at his medical practice, Orchard Health. Using Joel's transition into fatherhood as a backdrop, the two dive into a deep conversation about the "chapters of life" and the mental resilience required to navigate major pivots—whether personal or professional.
The Anatomy of a Pivot
The hosts emphasize that a "loss" is often just a matter of perspective. Jonathan shares a recent real estate deal that fell through; rather than viewing the lost time as a failure, he framed it as a win for avoiding a "money pit." This leads to a discussion on the "Two-Way Door" rule:
- One-Way Doors: Rare, irreversible decisions.
- Two-Way Doors: The majority of business and life decisions. If it’s not working, you can turn around and walk back out.
Key Life Transitions & Hardships
Joel and Jonathan reflect on the defining chapters that shaped them:
- Identity Shifts: Joel discusses the "geriatric pregnancy" label (despite his wife being only 38) and his journey from a music degree to the Army, and eventually to clinical counseling.
- The Reintegration Struggle: Joel highlights the difficulty of transitioning from military to civilian life, noting that growth doesn't happen in "peaceful times" but during the challenge.
- Personal Rebuilding: Both hosts touch on the emotional toll of divorce and the profound realization that "finding yourself" is actually an active process of making yourself through daily choices.
Entrepreneurial Pillars of Success
Jonathan breaks down the three pillars that allowed him to scale Orchard Health:
- Learning to Say No: Protecting your time to ensure your actions align with future goals.
- The 5-10 Year Plan: Having a North Star so you aren't just reacting to "tomorrow."
- The 80/20 Rule of Delegation: Understanding that someone else doing a task 80% as well as you is "100% awesome" because it frees you to be a visionary.
"We don’t grow in the easy times. Those times are for rest. We grow during the challenge." — Joel Malin
The "Game" of Resilience
Joel shares a powerful story from Army basic training where he refused to break eye contact with a drill sergeant during a "smoke session" (punishment exercises). He explains that looking a problem in the face and refusing to be broken is the same mentality required to survive the "head-in-hands" moments of entrepreneurship, like struggling to make payroll or navigating bureaucratic friction.
Given the "Two-Way Door" analogy, is there a decision you’re currently facing that feels like a One-Way Door, but might actually be reversible?