Struggling to find balance in your life and achieve your goals? Join Erika De Pellegrin on The Balance Theory, a self development podcast packed with actionable strategies to build confidence, crush your goals, unlock the life you want and transform your mindset in the process.
As a lawyer who’s conquered burnout, she shares powerful tips on self-growth, productivity, and unlocking your true potential—without the guilt, overwhelm & stress that comes from trying to juggle different areas of life. The Balance Theory is a powerful approach to reframing life balance, so you can build the life you are dreaming of without compromising what matters most.
Join us weekly for practical and personal tools and insights to help find your unique balance, to be inspired by guests like Kayla Itsines, Kelsey Wells, Steph Claire Smith, Laura Henshaw, KIC Founders, Sarah Davidson, Chontel Duncan, Georgie Stevenson and more.
Tune in to break through barriers and start living the life you deserve!
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Head on over and connect with us on our TikTok, YouTube & Instagram!
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STOP Trying to Do It All and Do THIS Instead | Joey Djia
Sunday, October 25, 2026 • Duration 01:21:03
You’ve been trying to do it all. And somehow you still end up feeling guilty, scattered and not fully present anywhere. The problem isn’t that you want more. It’s the belief that you have to carry all of it at once.
In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Joey Djia, singer-songwriter, content creator, founder of baby and parenting brand Little & Co and mum of two sets of twins, to unpack the reality of being an ambitious working mum who also wants to be a deeply present one. Joey shares what it was like to raise four babies one and under, how motherhood changed her capacity but not her ambition and how she handles mum guilt while building businesses from home. This is not a guide to doing it all perfectly. It is an honest conversation about holding two truths at once.
If you have ever caught yourself thinking:
"Did I even hold them today, just because I wanted to?"
"Why do I feel so guilty taking a day to work?"
"I'm here with my kids, but my brain is on my inbox."
"Will having kids mean putting my dreams on hold?"
"Being a mum is everything to me, but it's not all I am."
Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Joey cover:
• What it was really like finding out she was having twins, twice, and raising four babies one and under
• How Joey went from X Factor and a record deal to forensic science, teaching and building her own businesses
• Why her ambition didn't change after kids but her capacity did, and how she's learning to work with it
• The honest truth about mum guilt, including why taking a day to work can feel like leaving your kids behind
• The part of her pre-mum identity she consciously protects and the fear that drives it
• How she shows up as the version of herself she wants her kids to learn from, even on the chaotic days
• What motherhood triggers taught her about her own childhood and the invisible load
• Why some kinds of help are still hard for her to accept
• What she wishes she knew about C-sections, plus the most unnecessary and most worth it baby items
• How she balances being present with capturing content and her dream working mum set up. You do not have to choose between the mum you want to be and the life you want to build.
Filmed at Pivotal Conversations Studios
@pivotalconversations
Book a session: https://www.pivotalconversations.ai
SPONSORS
Thank you to the sponsors who made today's episode possible:
📚 WALDEN: Take the first step and learn at a pace that works for you. Visit https://www.waldenu.edu/
🧑⚕️ TALK SPACE: Get $80 off your first month with promo code 'SPACE80' at https://www.talkspace.com/
CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST
📸 Instagram - Joey Dija
🛍️ Little&Co
TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Introduction
(03:46) I’ve had 9 lives
(07:14) Is singing still important to you?
(09:17) I had 4 babies 1 and under
(18:08) What I underestimated about going from 2 to 4
(19:55) I wish I knew this about a C-Section before I had one
(23:46) An ordinary day in our house
(26:44) I'm a walking contradiction (to be honest)
(29:03) What motherhood triggers do you have?
(36:58 ) Are you good at asking for help?
(40:13) Truth about mum guilt
(42:14) Switching from work mode to mum mode
(44:44) What part of your pre-mum identity are you protecting?
(45:48) How was your ambition changed by motherhood?
(55:34 ) Why did you start a business?
(57:01) The most unnecessary baby items
(1:00:33) Raising 4 kids not 2 sets of twins
(1:02:50) Unsolicited CRAZY advice I've received
(01:06:26) Balancing being present and capturing content
(01:11:34) Ideal working mum set up
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
📸 My personal IG
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How To DETACH And Become Your Most Secure & Confident Self | Margarita Nazarenko
Sunday, October 18, 2026 • Duration 01:10:36
You do not have to chase what is meant for you. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is step back... and let it come to you.
In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Margarita Nazarenko, author of Unbothered: The Art of Letting Go to Find Yourself and host of the BEING HER podcast, to unpack what it means to detach. Margarita shares how she moved from anxious attachment to feeling secure and why anxious and avoidant attachment styles stem from the same fear. Detachment is not about becoming cold or pretending you do not care. It is about letting go of others' perceptions so you can live as yourself.
If you have ever caught yourself thinking:
"Why hasn't he replied yet?"
"I am doing everything right, so why is nothing working?"
"What did I do wrong?"
"I care so much about what people think of me."
"I am always doing everything for everyone."
Then this episode is for you. Erika and Margarita cover:
• How Margarita went from anxious attachment to feeling secure and confident
• Why chasing approval and validation pushes away what you want
• The 4 steps to stop abandoning yourself, including the 60 minute hack
• How to identify whose approval you are chasing and why
• What being unbothered really means and why it is not being avoidant
• The good girl tax and the cost of always being useful but never happy
• How to reinvent yourself and handle others' reactions
• Friendship circles and family proximity zones that ease relationship pressure
• A writing exercise to separate reality from the story in your head
• Why motherhood brings new challenges and what an unbothered man looks like
When you stop chasing and start choosing yourself, you make room for everything you want to find you.
Filmed at Pivotal Conversations Studios
Book a session here
SPONSORS
Thank you to the sponsors who made today's episode possible:
🤖 GRANOLA: Try Granola for FREE - Go to https://www.granola.ai/BALANCE and try it on your next call.
🍳 CARAWAY: Visit https://www.carawayhome.com/BALANCE or use code 'BALANCE' at checkout to take an additional 10% off your next purchase
🪥 OLLIE: Go to https://olliesmile.com and enter code 'BALANCE' for 10% off your order!
📚 WALDEN: Take the first step and learn at a pace that works for you. Visit https://www.waldenu.edu/
CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST
📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/margarita.nazarenko
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Margarita.Nazarenko
TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Introduction
(05:40) This Is WHY I wasn't getting anything I wanted
(07:55) What did you have to stop doing?
(8:26) 4 steps to stop abandoning yourself
(16:03) Working out whose approval you're chasing
(18:14 ) How to be unbothered
(19:37) Anxious v Avoidant attachment styles
(22:49) Good girl tax
(25:58) How do I change who I've always been?
(33:15) What responsibility do we have to be considerate of others?
(35:25) How do you deal with fall out with others when you change?
(37:50) Try these 'proximity zones' with family
(40:28) 4 zones in your friendships to learn
(42:35) Start here to become unbothered/detached today
(50:05) Why does motherhood bother you?
(52:29) Should you teach kids to be unbothered?
(55:37) This surprised me the most
(57:35) What would an unbothered man look like?
( 1:04:22) Would you use an AI Twin?
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
📸 My personal IG
LET’S BE FRIENDS
🌍 Sign Up to Our Newsletter
📝 Free EPISODE CURATOR QUIZ
⭐ Substack
📸 Instagram
📱Tiktok
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6 Strategies So You'll Never Say "I Don't Have Time" Again
Sunday, October 11, 2026 • Duration 30:59
You finally get a moment to yourself… but you’re too exhausted to do anything with it.
The workout you wanted to do. The book you keep meaning to read. The habit you promised you’d stick to. They get pushed to tomorrow, and somehow tomorrow keeps looking exactly the same.
If you’ve been thinking, “I have no time for myself,” “Why can’t I stay consistent?” or “How does everyone else manage to do it all?” this episode is for you.
I know what it feels like to finish the day with nothing left for yourself. To be busy all day, but still feel like you haven’t made time for the things that matter to you.
In this solo episode, I’m sharing six simple strategies that helped me break that cycle—and could help you feel more energised, use your time more intentionally, and finally make room for yourself.
If you’re struggling with time management, building habits, staying consistent, or finding the motivation to exercise and work towards your goals, this is a practical place to start. You don’t need a perfect routine or a complete life overhaul. You need a starting point that fits your actual life.
You deserve more than getting through the day and hoping you’ll have energy left over.
Download the free workbook HERE to follow along
Newsletter sign up HERE
SPONSORS
🏃♀️ FABLETICS: Shop now at Fabletics.com/BALANCE to get 70- 80% off everything when you sign up as a new VIP (be sure to select 'BALANCE' when prompted to unlock this offer)!
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TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Introduction
(02:07) Strategy 1
(04:40) Strategy 2
(09:32) Strategy 3
(16:56) Strategy 4
(20:18) Strategy 5
(25:02) Strategy 6
(27:07) BONUS Tip (life changing)
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
📸 My personal IG
LET’S BE FRIENDS
🌍 Sign Up to Our Newsletter
📝 Free EPISODE CURATOR QUIZ
⭐ Substack
📸 Instagram
📱Tiktok
🧡 This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sammy Robinson on Taking Risks, Burning Out and Backing Yourself
Sunday, October 4, 2026 • Duration 01:12:54
She built a brand from nothing at 22 with no financial backing and an industry full of doubt... and fully backed her self anyway. This kind of confidence is inspirational, so turn the volume up for this one!
In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Sammy Robinson, founder of One Mile and content creator of over a decade, to unpack what it actually takes to build something on your own when the people around you are unsure. This is not a masterclass on starting a fashion brand. It is the honest story of what confidence, risk and burnout look like behind a business that looks like it has it all together.
If you have ever caught yourself thinking:
"Am I crazy for wanting to do this differently"
"Everyone around me is being realistic but it feels wrong to me"
"I don't want to let the people who rely on me down"
Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Sammy cover:
• Why Sammy backed herself at 22 with no financial backing and no one telling her it was a good idea
• The real reason she chose to build a brand instead of buying property in her early twenties
• What it actually felt like to be underestimated as a young founder
• Why she believes staying a little delusional is necessary when you are building something from nothing
• The moment she realised she had completely burnt herself out running the brand and the social side at once
• The health scare that forced her to put herself first for the first time in her career
• The daily boundaries and non negotiables she now protects no matter what
• Why she has almost stopped capturing content and what that says about where she is at in her life
• How she thinks about authenticity, AI and standing out in a saturated creator economy
• What success actually means to her now that she has built the financial freedom she once worked for
Wherever you are in your own journey right now, Sammy's story is proof that you do not need everyone's permission to start and you do not have to lose yourself to build something real.
Filmed at Pivotal Conversations Studios
@pivotalconversations
Book a session: https://www.pivotalconversations.ai
SPONSORS
🤖 Try Granola for FREE - Go to https://www.granola.ai/BALANCE and try it on your next call.
🧴 Go to https://www.Timeline.com/BALANCE20 to shop the full-size Timeline Mitopure Resurfacing Exfoliator and save up to 20%
CONNECT
Instagram - Sammy Robinson
One Mile - Link to One Mile with Code “ERIKA15” for 15%
YouTube
TIME STAMP
(00:00) Introduction(03:35) High school Sammy and her early sense of self(09:47) What it felt like when her early YouTube videos went viral(12:58) Did she ever have to play a character online(14:14) Starting One Mile at 22(10:59) How she landed on the vision for the brand(18:40) Betting her savings on One Mile instead of buying property(20:06) Being underestimated as a 22 year old founder(22:21 ) The reality of the first 12 months running a business(24:10 ) What made her decide to open a bricks and mortar store(26:00) What opening stores unlocked in her as a leader(27:44) Learning to trust her team and let go of control(32:09) Is she naturally more Type A or Type B(33:35) How she actually makes decisions, intuition versus logic(36:50) Her advice for anyone wanting to start a personal brand(39:14) Evolving faster than the business and the cost of carrying it all(42:00) Turning 30 and taking the year to travel(43:20) What success actually means to her now(46:49) The health scare that forced her to slow down(49:22) The boundaries and daily rules she lives by now(51:13) Her one non-negotiable for a good day(57:15) Reflecting on her 20s in one word(59:08) How content creation has changed for her after a decade(1:01:34) How AI is changing the creator economy(1:03:16) How to be authentic online without overthinking it(1:08:20) Was there ever a day she wanted to quit(1:09:05) Her ten-year vision for One Mile(1:11:14) Who inspires her
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
📸 My personal IG
LET’S BE FRIENDS
🌍 Sign Up to Our Newsletter
📝 Free EPISODE CURATOR QUIZ
⭐ Substack
📸 Instagram
📱Tiktok
🧡 This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alexis Fernandez: The Everyday Habits That Build Real Confidence
Sunday, September 27, 2026 • Duration 01:34:50
This is a conversation about confidence like you've never heard before.
In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Alexis Fernandez, a leading performance coach, speaker, and author whose work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, mindset, and high performance. She also is the host of the Do You F*cking Mind podcast. Today they unpack what real self assurance actually looks like once you take away the job title, other people's expectations and how you look.
This is not a pep talk about ignoring everyone and doing whatever you want. It is an honest conversation about where the line sits between healthy care and living through someone else's eyes, and what it takes to move it.
If you have ever caught yourself thinking:
"I know they will be disappointed if I do this."
"Why do I feel like I have to prove I am a good person?"
"I care more about what they think of me than what I think of me."
"Who am I if I take away my job and what I have achieved?"
"I want to feel like myself again."
Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Alexis cover:
- The red flags that your sense of self is not as grounded as you think
- How to know who you are without your job, your achievements or your relationships
- Why becoming more confident often means letting the people you love down and how to do it kindly
- The difference between healthy love and love that only shows up when you meet expectations
- How to build confidence that does not depend on how you look or what people say
- Whether you can accept yourself and still want to change how you look
- How to hold onto the version of you that you became when life changes around you
- Why rock bottom is often where the biggest changes start
- What social media and scrolling are doing to your focus and memory, and how to reverse it
- How to stay ambitious when your capacity changes, including motherhood and burnout
- What actually happens to the brain in pregnancy and postpartum
You do not need anyone's permission to become who you already are.
Filmed at Pivotal Conversations Studios
@pivotalconversations
Book a session
SPONSORS
Thank you to the sponsors who made today's episode possible:
🏠 TUMBLE - Machine Washable Rugs, Made Better. For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off + free shipping tumbleliving.com/BALANCE #Tumble #ad
🍳 CARAWAY - I've loved using Caraway for 2+ years! Visit Carawayhome.com/BALANCE or use code 'BALANCE' at checkout to take an additional 10% off your next purchase.
CONNECT
📸 Instagram
🎙️ Do You F*cking Mind podcast
TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Introduction(02:41) Why Alexis studied neuroscience(06:06) How the DYFM podcast format came to be(07:59) Tough love vs tearing yourself down(11:00) Why people at rock bottom make the biggest changes(17:57) Alexis's worst year and the one way ticket to Paris(21:48) Holding onto who you became when you move home(25:10) The red flags your sense of self is not grounded(28:56) Knowing who you are without your job title(32:46) Why becoming yourself means letting people down(38:53) Can you accept yourself and still change how you look?(46:42) How Alexis feels about ageing(51:45) Motherhood, fertility and finding out about twins(59:28) Has motherhood changed her ambition?(1:01:41) When your capacity changes but your ambition does not(1:08:38) What happens to the brain in pregnancy and postpartum(1:12:21) What social media is doing to your focus(1:17:45) Is the doomscrolling brain reversible?(1:21:11) Kids, screens and self regulation(1:26:43) Would Alexis ever use an AI version of herself?(1:30:44) Can content creators ever be fully present?
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
📸 My personal IG
LET’S BE FRIENDS
🌍 Sign Up to Our Newsletter
📝 Free EPISODE CURATOR QUIZ
⭐ Substack
📸 Instagram
📱Tiktok
🧡 This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Healthiest Version of You Isn't the Most Disciplined (It's THIS) | Dominique Elissa
Sunday, September 20, 2026 • Duration 01:02:17
You are allowed to let go of the rules and routines that no longer fit your healthiest self, and this episode might just be the permission slip and re-evaluation you've been waiting for.
In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Dominique Elissa, founder of Selfdom, for a conversation that moves through pregnancy, body image, grief and gratitude, and keeps landing on the same question: what does it actually mean to be well when your body, your routine and your world are all changing at once? This is not another conversation about doing more, optimising harder or adding one more rule to your routine. It is an honest look at why flexibility, not discipline, is what actually makes you well.
If you have ever caught yourself thinking:
"I am doing all the right things and it still is not enough"
"My body is changing and none of this feels like mine anymore"
"I want to trust what my body is telling me instead of following another rule"
"I know gratitude is supposed to help, but some days it feels impossible to even try"
Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Dominique cover:
- Why being told she wasn't "good enough" for a modelling job changed the way Dominique saw her own body
- The moment Dominique realised her wellness rules were about control, not about actually feeling good
- How pregnancy is reshaping her relationship with discipline, structure and flexibility
- Why rigidity can cap your life experience more than it protects you
- Grieving a parent while building a family of your own
- What Dominique wants her children to know about their Nonna
- Why gratitude only works when it is practised consistently, not just in the hardest moments
- A simple explanation of cycle syncing and why most women are never taught it
- How to stop wellness tracking from becoming another source of pressure
- Whether a content creator can ever really be present, and where Dominique draws the line
Wherever you are in your own version of change, whether that is your body, your habits or your grief, this conversation is proof the flexible path can be the healthiest one too.
SPONSORS:
🤖 Try Granola for FREE - Go to https://www.granola.ai/BALANCE and try it on your next call.
🧑⚕️ Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/BALANCE #rulapod
Filmed at Pivotal Conversations Studios
@pivotalconversations https://www.instagram.com/pivotalconversations
Book a session: https://www.pivotalconversations.ai
CONNECT
📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dominiquelissa/
🌎 Website - https://www.selfdom.au - For 20% off use the code “BALANCETHEORY”
TIMESTAMP
(00:00) Introduction
(07:14) What did you think your future would look like?
(18:09) They cancelled my job because my belly wasn’t “big enough”
(20:31) Having anchors that make you, you
(21:31) Wellness habits that are more about control than a benefit
(25:04) How do you manage your self-talk?
(26:59) How has pregnancy changed the way you grieve your mum?
(30:19) What would you want your kids to know about their Nonna?
(31:16) Everyone should ask their mums this
(36:43) Does gratitude actually work in your hardest moments?
(42:49) Cycle syncing: What you need to know
(51:36) The role of intuition when you’re pregnant
(56:15) Can a content creator ever fully be present?
(58:47) Will you post your child on social media?
(1:00:22) What does wellness mean to you today?
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
📸 My personal IG
LET’S BE FRIENDS
🌍 Sign Up to Our Newsletter
📝 Free EPISODE CURATOR QUIZ
⭐ Substack
📸 Instagram
📱Tiktok
🧡 This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
13 Realisations That Will Instantly Change Your Life (For the Better)
Sunday, September 13, 2026 • Duration 21:47
Some realisations don’t just make you think... they permanently change the way you see your life.
In this episode, I’m sharing 13 powerful realisations, mindset shifts and life lessons that you can’t unhear once you’ve heard them. The kind of ideas that instantly make you question the way you’ve been approaching your goals, relationships, confidence, habits, happiness and the person you’re becoming.
These aren’t complicated self-development theories or another list of things you need to “fix” about yourself.
They’re simple perspective shifts that have genuinely changed the way I think, make decisions, handle difficult seasons and move through life and I know at LEAST one of them will shift something in you too.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, putting pressure on yourself to have everything figured out, or simply want a fresh perspective on your life, this episode is for you.
Because sometimes, changing your life doesn’t require changing everything. Sometimes you just need to SEE something differently.
And welcome back to our solo episodes, I missed these SO much! Let me know if you want to keep seeing more :)
SPONSORS:
Thank you SO MUCH to today's sponsors, you can check them out here:
💪 SUPERPOWER: Take control of your health with Superpower. Head over to Superpower.com and use code 'BALANCE' for $20 off your $199 Superpower membership.
👑 PRIMAL QUEEN: Our listeners get a FREE MONTH of Primal Queen plus FOUR FREE GIFTS at PrimalQueen.com/BALANCE.
#ad #sponsors
EPISODE LINKS:
🎥 Episode with Najwa Zebian
🎥 Episode with Shereen Mitwali
📱 Joe Hudson IG
TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Introduction
(00:42) Realisation 1
(02:20) Realisation 2
(04:43) Realisation 3
(06:16) Realisation 4
(08:34) Realisation 5
(11:15) Realisation 6
(12:14) Realisation 7
(13:46) Realisation 8
(17:13) Realisation 9
(18:16) Realisation 10
(18:27) Realisation 11
(19:08) Realisation 12
(20:18) Realisation 13
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
📸 My personal IG
LET’S BE FRIENDS
🌍 Sign Up to Our Newsletter
📝 Free EPISODE CURATOR QUIZ
⭐ Substack
📸 Instagram
📱Tiktok
🧡 This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr Neeta Bhushan: What Nobody Tells the Woman Who Does Everything Herself
Sunday, September 6, 2026 • Duration 01:00:03
She did everything herself. She carried everyone. She showed up perfectly while quietly paying a cost she never even knew she was paying.
In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Dr Neeta Bhushan, 4x author, host of the top mental health podcast The Brave Table and founder of Chaitionics, for one of the most honest conversations about what it actually costs to be the woman who does it all. This is not a conversation about burnout or boundaries. It is about the moment you realise you have been performing your whole life for everyone else and what it looks like to finally stop.
If you have ever caught yourself thinking:
"It is just easier to do it myself"
"I am done carrying everyone but I do not know how to stop"
"I show up for everyone but nobody shows up for me"
"I did not even realise how much this was costing me"
"I have been the strong one for so long I do not know who I am without it"
Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Dr Neeta cover:
What it costs to be the woman who does everything herself and why nobody talks about it
How performing for everyone else quietly disconnects you from yourself
Why not every yes is worth saying and how to know the difference
What it actually means to be both grounded and ambitious at the same time
How to hold space for big goals without urgency or force
Why your most successful trait might be the thing blocking your creativity
What motherhood reveals about the stories you have been telling yourself
The Fly Forward Framework and how to use it to move forward without burning out
Why being a beginner again is one of the most powerful things you can do
What you would say to the person you lost if you had one more conversation
The cost of doing everything yourself is real. This episode is what nobody told you about it.
SPONSORS:
🍳 CARAWAY: I've loved using Caraway for 2+ years! Visit Carawayhome.com/BALANCE or use code 'BALANCE' at checkout to take an additional 10% off your next purchase
💧AQUATRU - Use the code 'ERIKA' at www.aquatru.com for a 20% off
CONNECT
📸 Instagram
🎤Ted Talk
📚 Books
🌿 Chai Tonics
TIMESTAMP
(00:00) Introduction
(09:20) Mentors, the American Dream and Masking Emotions
(15:11) I'm done carrying everyone!
(21:08) Can you be grounded and ambitious?
(27:26) The Balance Theory
(30:43) Don't say yes to every opportunity
(35:27) This is blocking your creativity
(41:48) Motherhood will humble you
(43:41) Fly Forward Framework
(50:27) I teach this and I still struggle with this
(53:57) What do you want your daughter to learn about success from you?
(57:10) What would you ask your late mum?
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
📸 My personal IG
LET’S BE FRIENDS
🌍 Sign Up to Our Newsletter
📝 Free EPISODE CURATOR QUIZ
⭐ Substack
📸 Instagram
📱Tiktok
RESOURCES
▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon
▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge
▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book
🧡 This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Real Reason You’re Afraid To Put Yourself Out There (And How To Fix It)
Sunday, August 30, 2026 • Duration 01:00:38
You don't need more consistency, clarity or strategy if you are struggling with even putting yourself out there in the first place... and the good news is, working through this is simpler than you think. Whether you work for yourself, someone else, have your own business or are a content creator, then this episode is the kick starter you need to move past all of those fears & uncertainties and CLAIM the opportunities that are waiting for you!
In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Reim, CEO, Executive Producer, Founder, and Content Visibility Expert, to unpack what it actually means to show up online in 2026. This is not another lecture about hustling for followers. It is a real conversation about the fear, the excuses, and the exact shifts that make visibility feel natural instead of forced.
If you have ever caught yourself thinking:
"I don't want to watch myself on camera"
"I don't know what parts of my life I should share"
"Posting online will make me less credible at work"
"I keep starting and stopping and never staying consistent"
"Everyone's watching but nobody's engaging, is this even working"
Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Reim cover:
- Why a resume alone isn't enough to get opportunities in 2026
- The real reason you feel nervous or awkward showing up on camera
- How to figure out what parts of your life you actually want to share online
- Why finding your niche advice is often misleading, and what to focus on instead
- How to build an authentic personal brand without oversharing your private life
- What it really means to be strategic with content without overengineering every post
- Why consistency isn't the metric that actually grows your visibility
- ow to know if your content is working beyond likes and comments
- Why the people who leapfrog you in opportunities are usually just more visible, not more qualified
- What your online legacy says about you, and why it matters more than you think
Visibility is not about being loud, it is about finally being seen for the work you have already done.
SPONSORS:
🏥 KINSYN: Head to kinsyn.com/balancetheory and use promo code “balancetheory” at checkout to save 20% off your first subscription order.
🍃BRANCH BASICS: Get 15% off Branch Basics with the code BALANCE at https://branchbasics.com/BALANCE #branchbasicspod
CONNECT
📸 Instagram
Ted Talk
TIMESTAMP
(00:00) Introduction
(05:51) You're Not Confident Posting Because of THIS
(09:15) Tips If You're Scared of What Other People Think
(16:48) How Do I Decide What Parts of Myself I Want to Share Online?
(20:04) Does EVERYONE Need to be creating content in 2026?
(22:03) Content Can Make You Stand Out as an Employee Like THIS
(29:50) Getting Rid of Your FEAR of Showing Up Online
(33:18) Strategising Without Over-Engineering
(38:16) How to Make Posting Feel Natural
(40:26) Clarity First or Just Getting Started?
(44:12) Should You Post More of What Everyone Likes?
(51:03) What Is Your Online Legacy?
(56:18) Growth You Get From Becoming Visible
(56:48) Today’s Challenge: Try THIS Today
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
📸 My personal IG
LET’S BE FRIENDS
🌍 Sign Up to Our Newsletter
📝 Free EPISODE CURATOR QUIZ
⭐ Substack
📸 Instagram
📱Tiktok
RESOURCES
▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon
▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge
▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book
🧡 This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your Life Not Going to Plan IS The Plan (Here's How To Embrace It)!
Sunday, August 23, 2026 • Duration 01:00:34
Your ambition has not gone anywhere. Life just pulled the handbrake.
In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Nicki Bedford, founder of Founders Official and former Head of Asia Pacific at BuzzFeed, for one of the most honest conversations about what ambition actually looks like when life forces you to slow down. This is not a conversation about giving up or settling. It is about what happens when your drive is bigger than your current capacity and how slowing down might be the very thing that gets you there faster.
If you have ever caught yourself thinking:
"I can't afford to slow down right now"
"I wish I could do more but something keeps holding me back"
"I feel behind no matter how hard I work"
"I know where I am going but I can't move at the pace I want"
"My identity feels tied to my output and I don't know who I am without it"
Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Nicki cover:
- What the forced slowdown actually does to your ambition and why it is not what you think
- Why your identity being tied to your output is keeping you stuck not moving forward
- How to move through inner conflict when your ambition and your capacity are at war
- Why slowing down will catapult your success faster than grinding ever will
- The two questions to ask yourself when your behaviour is contradicting your goals
- What happens right before people make it and how to recognise that season
- How to hold space for big ambition and presence with yourself at the same time
- Why there is no deadline to figuring out your life and what that actually means
- The sales skill everyone needs and how to pitch yourself without feeling pushy
- Where AI is a no-go and why your humanness is your biggest competitive advantage
You do not have to choose between your ambition and your wellbeing. This episode is the proof.
SPONSORS:
⚪ HUEL - Limited Time Offer - Make healthy eating simple. Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code BALANCE at huel.com/BALANCE. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show!
🫧 OAK ESSENTIALS - Use code BALANCE at oakessentials.com to get 15% off your first purchase! #OakEssentials #ad
CONNECT
📸 Instagram
TIMESTAMP
(00:00) Introduction
(06:45) The Forced Slow down
(10:21 ) Moving through your inner conflict
(15:20) Change the 'how' not the 'what'
(18:39) The Balance Theory
(20:13) I used to think 'hustle' culture was a positive
(21:16) 2 questions to ask yourself
(23:34) Your successful trait blocked you doing THIS
(29:05) Give yourself permission to be slower with YOURSELF
(31:44) Are you contradicting your goals?
(36:41) Success then versus now
(38:33) This is most predictable in an entrepreneur's mindset
(41:51) THIS Happens right before people make it
(44:59) How to stop thinking about the 'timeline'
(47:45) You need 3 things to be good at Sales (#1 skill everyone needs)
(51:14) Pitch yourself using these tactics / steps
(56:34) AI is a NO-GO In these areas
WHO AM I?
I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.
📸 My personal IG
LET’S BE FRIENDS
🌍 Sign Up to Our Newsletter
📝 Free EPISODE CURATOR QUIZ
⭐ Substack
📸 Instagram
📱Tiktok
RESOURCES
▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon
▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge
▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book
🧡 This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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