In this episode of the 301 Podcast, Marcus Engel sits down with Mathias Deceuninck, founder of 8Hours, a sleep and performance supplement company built around one core principle: recovery is not a luxury, it’s the foundation.

Mathias shares his journey of walking away from a promising career in corporate law to build something radically different, a wellness brand that’s reshaping how ambitious people think about sleep, burnout, and balance.

If you’ve ever felt trapped in the wrong career or questioned what “success” really means, this one’s for you. It’s a story of unlearning, rebuilding, and creating something meaningful from the ground up.

In this brutally honest and inspiring conversation, you’ll hear how Mathias traded late nights in law firms for late nights bootstrapping a wellness brand and why he believes sleep is the next cultural shift we all need.

You'll hear about:

• Why becoming a corporate lawyer didn’t deliver the dream


• The quiet collapse that sparked a radical identity shift


• How therapy, community, and sleep became his pillars


• The early wins and failures of launching 8 Hours


• Building a brand that stands for more than just supplements


• Why great startups begin with delusional but actionable belief


• What he learned from two co-founders leaving and doing it anyway

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Meet Mathias

02:00 – Corporate Law & Early Expectations

09:30 – Burnout, Identity & Letting Go

15:30 – Transition Period & Rebuilding

21:00 – Sleep, Health & Finding Purpose

27:00 – Starting 8 Hours (Round One)

35:00 – Supplements, Product Development & Brand Strategy

45:00 – Co-founder Departures & Going Solo

52:00 – Growth, Revenue & Behind the Scenes

1:01:00 – Community, Content & Building in Public

1:09:00 – Reflections on Success, Ego & Letting Go

Connect with Mathias Deceunick:

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

Sleeptomove: https://www.instagram.com/sleeptomove/?hl=en

Website: https://www.8-hours.com/

Follow the 301 Podcast:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/301podcast

Marcus: https://www.instagram.com/themarcusengel

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💌 Business inquiries: studiobooking@weare301.com