Hollywood Burnout and Spiritual Awakening with Bob Degus

What happens when the career you've spent years building no longer feels like the life you want?

In this episode of The Holly Hughes Podcast, I sit down with my former mentor, Hollywood producer Bob Degus, whose career included producing Oscar-nominated films and overseeing projects at New Line Cinema. From the outside, he had everything many creatives dream of. But behind the success, Bob was experiencing burnout that no amount of recognition could fix.

Our conversation explores what happens when you're willing to question the life you've created—and trust where your intuition leads next.

After leaving Hollywood, Bob found himself on an unexpected path that included nearly 100 ayahuasca ceremonies in Peru, a spontaneous decision to travel into war-torn Ukraine, and the creation of Yogis of Ukraine, a documentary and companion book that tells the remarkable stories of Ukrainian women practicing Kundalini yoga during the war.

We also revisit our early days working together in Hollywood, what life behind the scenes of the film industry was really like, and the surprising lessons Bob carried from filmmaking into every chapter of his life. He shares why burnout often has roots much deeper than work, the storytelling principle he learned while producing Pleasantville, and the moment self-compassion changed everything after years of searching for answers.

If you've ever questioned your career, felt burned out despite your success, or wondered whether it's too late to reinvent yourself, this conversation offers hope and perspective. Bob's story is proof that the biggest transformation doesn't happen when you achieve your dreams—it happens when you have the courage to redefine them.

Listen now to discover why Hollywood burnout and spiritual awakening rarely happen overnight—and why your next chapter may be waiting on the other side of listening to your inner voice.