Leaving the 80-Hour Grind for a Life You Actually Want

Episode 045 of the Badass Leaders Podcast with Ed Morgan

Edward “Bean” Morgan went from burning out in the restaurant world—working 80–90 hour weeks with zero recognition—to building a thriving beekeeping business from the ground up. In this episode, Ed breaks down how he walked away from a career that crushed his values, reclaimed his time, and rebuilt a life centered on purpose, community, and sustainable leadership. Today, Ed manages 100+ hives across Atlanta, teaches hands-on beekeeping classes, and mentors new beekeepers and entrepreneurs. We dig into the real story behind his pivot: the burnout, the identity shift, the fear of starting over, and the leadership lessons that helped him create a business he actually loves.

If you’re standing at a crossroads—questioning your career, craving freedom, or ready to reinvent yourself—this conversation is your roadmap to making a bold pivot and leading on your own terms. This episode dives into hospitality burnout, career transitions at midlife, quitting toxic management, and building a new business after decades in the restaurant industry. Ed Morgan is a Black entrepreneur based in Atlanta, building one of the city’s fastest-growing beekeeping and honey businesses.

The discussion also tackles questions such as:

• What is the difference between a leader and a manager?
• How do you recognize burnout before it derails your wellbeing?
• How do you pivot careers when you have a mortgage, a family, and no safety net?
• What can beekeeping teach us about leadership, communication, and teamwork?
• How do you navigate toxic work environments and advocate for yourself?
• What does conflict resolution look like when you’re responsible for people, operations, and outcomes?

Learn More About Ed Morgan:

• Facebook: Edward “Bean” Morgan,
• Instagram: Atlanta Bee Company
• LinkedIn: Edward Morgan
• Website: Beansbeesandhoney.com
• Airbnb experience: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/279263

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Don “The Fat Bee Man”: https://www.youtube.com/@fineshooter 
• Georgia Beekeepers Association: https://gabeekeeping.com/ 
• Metro Atlanta Beekeepers: https://metroatlantabeekeepers.org/ 

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@angelagillnelms.com.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts from, or watch now on YouTube:

Themes: Leadership vs. management, Career reinvention, Burnout and well-being, Entrepreneurship and business building, Authenticity and self-advocacy, Mentorship and community, Beekeeping as a leadership model, Conflict resolution and communication, Diversity, identity, and navigating an inequitable work environment

• black entrepreneurs
• Atlanta entrepreneur stories
• Atlanta beekeeping
• Atlanta small business
• how to start beekeeping
• beekeeping for beginners
• urban beekeeping Atlanta
• earning money from beekeeping
• how to start a beekeeping business
• swarm catching basics
• queen rearing beginners

Topics:

• career pivot
• burnout recovery
• quitting toxic jobs
• starting a business
• beekeeping for beginners
• urban beekeeping
• entrepreneurship story
• leadership lessons
• resilience stories
• personal transformation