Meetings don’t need more sticky notes; they need better thinking. We sit down with Cate Sefton to explore how structured play — especially Lego Serious Play — turns flat brainstorms into 3D strategy, elevates quiet voices, and surfaces ideas that actually move teams forward. Kate breaks down why hands-on metaphors matter, how great facilitation changes the questions we ask, and why joy is not a luxury but a performance edge.

From there, we zoom out to the tectonic shift happening with AI. Brand isn’t fading; it’s becoming the filter that gets you found and remembered. We unpack how emotional connection helps a brand cut through algorithmic sameness, and what that means for personal branding on LinkedIn when fewer than one percent post. AI can prime the pump, but your specifics, tone and lived evidence do the heavy lifting. We talk practical ways to sound like yourself, not a template, and how to keep showing up with clarity and conviction.

Cate also shares the human side of a big career: being the breadwinner across countries, the power of a supportive partner, and the boundaries that protect what matters — from Friday night no-call rules to small rituals that reset you from corporate mode to present parent. We confront judgement around non-traditional roles, the sting when it comes from other women, and the antidote of solidarity. Finally, we tackle ageism, confidence dips and the tendency to discount decades of experience because of a new tool. The reminder is simple and strong: you’re not alone. Find your wing women, name your value, and ask for help.

If the conversation sparked something for you, follow the show, share it with a woman who’d benefit, and leave a quick review so these stories reach more ears. Ready to shape a braver 2026? Visit balanceinstitute.com and let’s build it together.

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
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Ever felt the sting of doing everything “right” only to be told you’re too direct, not ready, or simply invisible? We dig into how good girl conditioning collides with workplace reality, why women are penalised more for risk, and how to speak up without burning bridges. With leadership strategist and author Dr Jodi Vandenberg-Daves, we trade vague advice for a concrete playbook built on values, allies, and smart timing.

We start by naming the bias: men are often rewarded for potential and maverick moves; women are measured on flawless performance and punished harder when bets go sideways. Instead of pretending the game isn’t rigged, Jodi offers a practical reset—anchor in your values to choose the battles that matter, craft asks that serve your mission, and enlist an amplification crew who backs your ideas in the room. We share tactics like pre-meeting side conversations, planned support from someone with clout, and post-meeting recovery if things go off-script. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s impact with less collateral damage.

From there, we widen the lens. Younger cohorts—Millennials and Gen Z—bring autonomy, purpose, and an insistence on mental health that many of us were never allowed to name. Rather than dismissing them as soft, we ask what can be learned: how clear values fuel motivation, why questions drive better systems, and how two-way mentoring turns friction into progress. We also confront midlife ageism, where seasoned women are asked to lift more without authority or are sidelined altogether. Jodi’s counsel: move from heavy lifting to leverage, protect your energy, keep mentors at every age, and stop downgrading yourself because you’re not the most tech fluent person in the room. Your edge is systems thinking, ethics, relationships, and results.

This conversation is a guide for values-led women who want to change their corner of the world without sacrificing themselves to it. Expect research-backed insight, field-tested strategies, and real examples of structural wins—from lactation spaces to transparent advancement—that prove culture can move.

To follow Dr Jodi's work, visit https://www.jodivandenberg-daves.com/

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: jo@balanceinstitute.com
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Bullying often hides in plain sight, wrapped in polished charm and shifting rules that leave you doubting your memory. Author, executive and consultant, Jane Phipps joins me to pull the mask off toxic and narcissistic leadership and get practical about how to spot the patterns, protect your energy, and keep your team safe without sacrificing your career.

We start by naming the behaviours that erode confidence: gaslighting disguised as “feedback,” image management that crumbles under stress, and mood-driven standards that keep everyone on edge. Jane shares how early life dynamics can prime high-performing women to normalise dysfunction, then walks through simple, effective tools: short confirmation emails that anchor facts, body cues that signal a line has been crossed, and candid check-ins with trusted peers to counter isolation. We dig into gendered nuances—overt versus covert tactics—and why hybrid work can amplify manipulation when there are fewer witnesses and weak feedback loops.

From there, we pivot to solutions at two levels. Individually, we use the umbrella test to decide when loyalty becomes self-harm and how to exit with clarity. Organisationally, we challenge the promotion of high-image, low-empathy operators and argue for better screening for emotional intelligence, 360 feedback, and leadership coaching that builds genuine relational skill. The alternative isn’t soft; it’s heart-centred leadership: showing up as a real human, setting firm boundaries, assuming positive intent, and creating psychological safety so people can do their best work.

If you’ve ever left a meeting second-guessing your reality, this conversation offers language, tools, and courage. Subscribe for more candid, research-informed conversations about work, leadership, and wellbeing, share this with someone who needs backup today, and leave a quick review to help these stories reach more women.

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: jo@balanceinstitute.com
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

When your calendar looks perfect but your body says no, something deeper is going on. Jo sits down with women’s transition coach and transformation specialist Nicole Adey to trace how high achievement, grief, and people pleasing quietly drain energy until the body forces a reckoning. Nicole’s story moves from Asia-Pacific executive life to divorce, loss, a health scare, and the surprising discovery that leaving the job didn’t fix the fatigue. What did? Learning to feel again, practising somatic tools, and rebuilding energy through small, repeatable choices.

We explore energy as life’s real currency and introduce a simple 100‑unit daily audit that makes hidden leaks obvious. Think background apps: rumination, guilt, perfectionism, future-tripping. Nicole shares her two-for-two practice—two minutes, twice a day—to replace numbing habits with quick refuels: light and air instead of scrolling, water over late coffee, a sparkling mocktail over wine, a walk or a call to someone you love. The goal isn’t a spa day; it’s everyday stability that compounds. Along the way, we talk about the hardest boundaries to hold—often with our kids—and how saying no at night can make you a more patient, present parent in the morning.

If you’re craving clarity, steadier focus, and the confidence to make career and money moves without burning out, this conversation gives you the map and the micro steps. You’ll leave with a kinder framework, language for the real drains, and practices you can start today that build momentum all week. Nicole also points to free resources to help you set boundaries and track your energy with ease. Explore more at https://www.achangeofseasons.com.au/

Like what you heard? Follow the show, share it with a woman who needs it, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find these tools. To go deeper into your 2026 vision, head to balanceinstitute.com and start building a life you actually love.

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: jo@balanceinstitute.com
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Ready to stop waiting for permission and start leading with intention? We sit down with Khiara Cureton—VP in healthcare and executive career and money coach—to unpack how motherhood can sharpen ambition, not dull it, and how to turn quiet excellence into visible impact. From fifteen-minute daily resets to rethinking success around fulfilment and time, this conversation gives you practical ways to protect your energy, raise your voice, and build a life you actually love.

We dig into the shift from self-doubt to self-data, including how to build a brag book that tracks hard results like cost savings, retention, and delivery wins. Khiara breaks down why sponsorship matters, how to craft a visibility plan that gets you into the right rooms, and the mindset move that changes everything: don’t wait for confidence to act—act your way into confidence. You’ll learn how to set non-negotiables, prepare with personal and industry data, and use a “community of mirrors” to keep momentum when the work gets noisy.

Money talk gets real and specific. We map the compounding cost of delaying a raise, share scripts for market-based salary conversations, and outline creative levers when cash is capped—flexibility, development, travel limits, loan repayment, and more. Khiara also reclaims the label “too much,” showing how owning your ambition signals authority and sets a powerful example at home. Walk away with one bold step to take this week, whether it’s buying a notebook for your wins, booking a mentor chat, or emailing for that meeting you’ve been avoiding.

And follow Khiara's journey on Instagram @theancherco

If this resonated, follow and share with a woman who needs it. Leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show, and subscribe so you never miss a story that fuels your ambition.

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: jo@balanceinstitute.com
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

We share a simple, identity-first practice to end the year with clarity and begin 2026 on purpose. Two questions help you release what no longer fits and choose the version of yourself that your habits and calendar will support.

• shifting from self-judgement to curiosity and compassion
• leaving behind old labels, guilt and unhelpful stories
• choosing identity before goals and outcomes
• translating beliefs into small, aligned behaviours
• creating space to reflect and feel the truth
• reducing noise and clarifying your why
• turning declarations into daily evidence
• previewing upcoming conversations with women who rebuilt

Go grab whatever it is you need, make that space, and see what you're leaving behind and what you're taking away

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: jo@balanceinstitute.com
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

The holidays can be noisy, busy, and strangely empty all at once. We wanted to create a quiet pocket in your feed to say a sincere thank you, share a few of our own rituals, and invite you to make space for rest without apology. From the notes you send to the stories you trust us with, your courage and honesty shape everything we do, and we reflect on how that shared momentum helps ambitious women lead with more ease and less burnout.

We talk about gratitude as a practical tool, not a platitude, and how naming what’s working can reset a frantic mind. You’ll hear about our simple family traditions—alternating Christmas Day, familiar plates from childhood, a cheeky cheer for every popped cork in honour of Grandma—and why these small, steady rituals regulate the nervous system and restore presence. We touch on a year coloured by health challenges and what it means to hold close the people and habits that make time feel meaningful.

Looking ahead, we offer a gentle frame for a lighter, fuller, more you 2026: schedule rest first, trim low-value demands, and choose rituals that anchor you to your values. If you’re navigating career pressure, leadership expectations, and the unseen load at home, this conversation is a permission slip to breathe, to celebrate what you’ve built, and to define success on your terms. Share this with a friend who needs a soft landing, leave a quick review if it helped, and explore our toolkit at balanceinstitute.com to keep building a life of balance and beyond. Subscribe, share, and tell us: what joy will you protect this season?

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: jo@balanceinstitute.com
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!

Tired of the part-time trap? You're not alone. While dropping to four days seems like the perfect burnout solution, many women find themselves cramming five days of work into four – making stress worse, not better.

Debbie Bailey, co-CEO of Four Day Week Global, reveals the startling truth: it's not about working less, but working differently. Drawing from global trials involving thousands of employees, she shares how organizations implementing a four-day work week saw burnout drop by an astonishing 71%, while sick leave decreased by 65% and resignations fell by 57%.

The secret lies in the 100-80-100 principle: maintain 100% of your wage and 100% of your outputs while working 80% of your hours. It sounds impossible until you realize how much time gets wasted in pointless meetings, inefficient processes, and scattered focus. When Debbie explains that 50 minutes of true focus equals 2-3 hours of normal work, you'll start seeing your workday differently.

Unlike individual part-time arrangements that often fail, the four-day week works because entire organizations reimagine productivity together. Leaders must walk the talk by respecting boundaries and embracing new ways of working. The result isn't just reduced hours – it's a fundamental shift in how we approach work itself.

Whether you're considering part-time work, already feeling stretched thin in reduced hours, or simply seeking ways to work smarter, this conversation will transform how you think about time, productivity, and what's truly possible in your career. From Lamborghini's factory floor to police services, organizations across sectors are proving that when we work smarter rather than longer, everyone wins.

Ready to move beyond burnout without sacrificing success? This episode provides the roadmap you've been searching for.

Thank you for joining us today on the Balance and Beyond Podcast. We're so glad you carved out this time for yourself!

If you’re keen to dive deeper into our world, here are our socials where you can discover more about the toolkit that has helped thousands of women create a life of balance.

Website: www.balanceinstitute.com
Podcast Website: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
Email: jo@balanceinstitute.com
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterbalanceinstitute/
Instagram: @betterbalanceinstitute

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on the Balance & Beyond Podcast!