Afleveringen
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Doors are now open for the July 6 intake of Balance & Beyond!
If you've recognised yourself in the patterns we've explored in this episode and you're ready to move beyond awareness into real change, we'd love to support you. Find out more and book a conversation with our team here: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/balance-and-beyond
I share the secret belief that kept me stuck for years: I thought my circumstances made me the exception to change. I unpack the roles I hid behind and the moment I realised the real shift had to happen inside me, not around me.⢠believing change was for everyone else but me
⢠stacking real-life pressures into an airtight âexceptionâ story
⢠using external circumstances to avoid an inward look
⢠over-delivering at work to protect self-worth
⢠guilt and the stories we tell ourselves about family and ambition
⢠optimisation as a way to avoid being human
⢠trying to blow up the outside instead of changing the inside
If this resonated, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today. And don't forget to subscribe to Balance and Beyond for full episodes and more of these bite sized breakthroughs.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Doors are now open for the July 6 intake of Balance & Beyond!
If you've recognised yourself in the patterns we've explored in this episode and you're ready to move beyond awareness into real change, we'd love to support you. Find out more and book a conversation with our team here: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/balance-and-beyond
You can look successful and still feel like youâre carrying a hidden load that never lets you fully exhale. Weâre naming that load for what it often is: years of swallowed anger, grief, resentment and overwhelm that donât disappear, they collect. Jo Stone sits down with coach Jaclyn to unpack âemotional constipationâ and the way unfelt emotions leak out sideways as snappy replies, sudden tears, impatience, numbness, and that brittle sense of holding it all together on thin ice.
We get honest about why high achieving women avoid feelings in the first place: no one modelled how to feel emotions without spraying them on others, and our identity gets tied to doing, productivity and achievement. We talk emotional hygiene, the myth of âIâll deal with it on holidaysâ, and the real cost of emotional suppression on the nervous system, burnout symptoms, sleep issues and the slow loss of aliveness, friendships and joy.
Then we move into what actually helps. Jaclyn explains why somatic work can create safety, how listening to sensation in the body shifts what the mind canât think its way through, and why support matters when blind spots keep the old pattern running. Youâll hear what becomes possible when emotions move: clearer boundaries, more satisfaction at work, and a softer, more present version of you at home. If this lands, subscribe, share it with a woman who needs it, and leave a review so it reaches the people itâs meant for.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Doors are now open for the July 6 intake of Balance & Beyond!
If you've recognised yourself in the patterns we've explored in this episode and you're ready to move beyond awareness into real change, we'd love to support you. Find out more and book a conversation with our team here: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/balance-and-beyondIâve just come off three and a half weeks of single parenting and it shows me exactly where I wobble and what actually helps me stay steady. I share the tools that keep my personal power, cut the guilt, and make life feel lighter even when the load is heavy.
⢠noticing how quickly doomscrolling creeps in under stress
⢠stepping out of the victim story to keep personal power
⢠adjusting the bar so perfectionism doesnât run the week
⢠simplifying food and routines without beating myself up
⢠raising the bar on self-care to stay patient and focused
⢠practising acceptance to reduce suffering and obligation fatigue
⢠investing in yourself as the best support for your kids and your work
If this resonated, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today.
And don't forget to subscribe to Balance and Beyond for full episodes and more of these bite sized breakthroughs.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Doors are now open for the July 6 intake of Balance & Beyond!
If you've recognised yourself in the patterns we've explored in this episode and you're ready to move beyond awareness into real change, we'd love to support you. Find out more and book a conversation with our team here: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/balance-and-beyondYou can be wildly capable and still feel like something unseen is running you. We talk about the kind of fear that doesnât look like panic, it looks like competence: the way you rewrite the email, keep the pace frantic, say yes before you check in with yourself, or soften your truth after you âread the roomâ. If youâre a high-achieving woman who looks fine on the outside but knows the old model of success no longer fits, this conversation puts language to whatâs been happening under the surface.
We unpack four patterns that commonly show up as fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses in modern life, and why theyâre so easy to mistake for personality traits. Urgency can masquerade as being driven and reliable. Busyness can masquerade as productivity while you outrun insecurity and the fear of not being good enough. Over-researching can masquerade as being thorough and intelligent while you avoid committing to a decision. And âemotional intelligenceâ can slide into smoothing, people pleasing, and self-abandonment when you edit yourself to avoid someone elseâs reaction.
The core takeaway is simple but confronting: the problem isnât the behaviour, itâs what the behaviour is protecting you from feeling. Awareness helps you spot the pattern, but lasting change comes from learning to catch it in real time, in the meeting, in the conversation, and in the moment your body starts to rush, freeze, or comply. If youâre ready to stop living on autopilot, listen through and then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so it reaches the women itâs meant for.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Doors are now open for the July 6 intake of Balance & Beyond!
If you've recognised yourself in the patterns we've explored in this episode and you're ready to move beyond awareness into real change, we'd love to support you. Find out more and book a conversation with our team here: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/balance-and-beyondWe talk about the hidden reason smart, capable women stay stuck even when they know exactly what to do. We share a personal story about the moment âresearchâ turned into fear avoidance and the decision that changed everything.
⢠noticing the pattern of waiting for the right time
⢠separating real due diligence from bargaining with fear
⢠the âspreadsheet from hellâ as a sign of avoidance
⢠the question that exposes what weâre truly afraid of
⢠why certainty comes after the decision, not before it
⢠simple everyday examples of decisions we delay
⢠choosing action over endless research
Book the call.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Doors are now open for the July 6 intake of Balance & Beyond!
If you've recognised yourself in the patterns we've explored in this episode and you're ready to move beyond awareness into real change, we'd love to support you. Find out more and book a conversation with our team here: https://www.balanceinstitute.com/balance-and-beyond
You can tick every box and still feel strangely flat. The house, the title, the money, the promotion, the âfinallyâ moment arrives and instead of joy you feel⌠relief. Iâm Jo Stone, and I want to name what so many high achieving women whisper to themselves: the scoreboard version of success is loud, public, and measurable, but it often has very little to do with fulfilment, presence, or feeling at home in your own life.
We dig into the real moments that stop you mid-stride and make you think, yes, this is why Iâm here. Not the new car or the next big goal, but the random Tuesday stuff: the drive home where your head goes quiet, the dinner where you actually see your partner, the meeting where you say the true thing without marinating in it for hours, the night you can relax even if the bench is not clean. We also talk about why ambition isnât the enemy, and how hustle culture teaches us to walk straight past the moments that matter because they donât look âbig enoughâ.
Then we tackle the moving goalposts pattern head-on, including my half marathon moment where I changed the target mid-run and robbed myself of the win. And we land in the story that rewired everything for me: a Disneyland rule about hugs, a timer, and a two and a half minute hug in a hallway that became the clearest definition of success Iâve ever had. If youâve been craving work-life balance, deeper connection, and a calmer nervous system without giving up your drive, this is your reminder that you donât need a new life, you need more of you back in the one youâve already built.
If this resonates, follow or subscribe, share it with a woman whoâs tired of the scoreboard, and leave a review so the Ripple Effect reaches who itâs meant for.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Turning 47 comes with a surprising data point: itâs supposedly the peak age of unhappiness, yet I feel like an outlier. I share the three changes that help me unlock more happiness without needing an easier life.
⢠the research on midlife unhappiness and why it might show up around 47
⢠reframing the traits I used to hide as my zone of genius
⢠dropping the chameleon habit and saying the thing
⢠noticing how over-relying on intellect keeps me stuck in my head
⢠building trust in intuition and body signals as another intelligence
⢠learning presence by understanding the neuroscience first
⢠turning down frantic future-thinking without losing ambition
⢠exploring body wisdom and what kinesiology unlocked for me
If this resonated, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today. And don't forget to subscribe to Balance and Beyond for full episodes and more of these bite sized breakthroughs.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
You can run a team, lead through crisis, and keep a brave face all day then come undone over a lunchbox, socks, or a towel on the floor. We call it the âduck on a pondâ: polished and capable on the surface, frantic paddling underneath. If thatâs you, youâre not failing at life, youâre running on empty, and home is where the mask finally drops.
Joe is joined by coach Sabina to get honest about why high-achieving women so often give work the best of their energy and leave family with the scraps. We dig into the real drivers behind burnout and emotional blow-ups: the split between your professional persona and your personal self, the guilt and shame spiral that follows, and the âproving energyâ that keeps your brain in constant overdrive. Think imposter syndrome, second-guessing, planning for every scenario, and trying to stay on top of everything, even when your actual to-do list hasnât changed.
We also tackle the moment many women hit: âYou donât understand my job, thereâs nothing I can do.â Sabina shares why thatâs the exact cue to stop, not sprint, and how reflection, boundaries, and the right support can help you become calmer, more focused, and more present at home without automatically quitting your role. The payoff is real: better relationships, new memories, and a return to feeling like yourself.
If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend whoâs paddling hard under the water, and leave a review so more women can find a better way forward.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
We realise how often âself-careâ comes with an asterisk, where we only do things for ourselves if we can justify them. We challenge ourselves to find what actually makes us feel alive, not just what keeps us functioning.
⢠asking what weâve done this week just for us
⢠noticing the qualifiers that turn self-care into damage control
⢠spotting guilt, shame, and âinsurance policyâ habits in our routines
⢠sorting habits into draining activities versus nourishing activities
⢠recognising when nourishing only brings us back to baseline
⢠exploring what âfeeling aliveâ can look like in 30 seconds
⢠remembering the version of us outside roles and responsibilities
If this resonated, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today. And don't forget to subscribe to Balance and Beyond for full episodes and more of these bite sized breakthroughs.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Register now for The Overdrive Reset - a free 8-day WhatsApp experience designed for women who are exhausted from constantly carrying, managing, fixing, anticipating, and holding everything together.
Short daily voice notes.
Real pattern recognition.
No wellness fluff.
Starts 29th May.
Join here: www.balanceinstitute.com/reset
Your calendar says ârestâ, but your body treats it like a threat. If youâve ever sat down for a break and stood back up minutes later with no real reason, youâre not broken and youâre not doing self-care wrong. We talk honestly about why so many high-achieving women live in overdrive, where stopping feels more dangerous than continuing, even when burnout is already knocking.
We dig into the sneaky ways productivity hijacks recovery: ârestingâ with the inbox open, turning downtime into life admin, and keeping noise on because silence feels unbearable. We also name the two-speed pattern that traps so many of us, pushing until collapse then getting up the second the worst passes. When the body has to force a stop through exhaustion, illness, or pain, it never feels like a choice, and thatâs where the cycle tightens.
The heart of the conversation is identity. If you grew up learning that being useful equals being good, and being lazy is the worst insult, then rest can feel like youâre becoming someone youâve spent your whole life trying not to be. We unpack how standards, fear of letting people down, and the need to be âthe strong oneâ can keep your nervous system stuck on high alert, no matter how many holidays you book.
If youâre ready to understand what stopping actually means to you, I share why I created The Overdrive Reset and how you can join for free. Subscribe, share this with a woman who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find their way out of burnout and back into real rest.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Register now for The Overdrive Reset - a free 8-day WhatsApp experience designed for women who are exhausted from constantly carrying, managing, fixing, anticipating, and holding everything together.
Short daily voice notes.
Real pattern recognition.
No wellness fluff.
Starts 29th May.
Join here: www.balanceinstitute.com/reset
We rethink goal setting through a simple lens: how we want to feel, not what we want to prove. We share how slowing down, focusing on 1% shifts, and managing inputs brings better results with more joy and less grinding.
⢠setting a goal that matters even if nobody knows
⢠slowing down to speed up through smarter training and better efficiency
⢠using 1% shifts to create compounding progress
⢠managing inputs like schedule, frequency, and connection instead of obsessing over outcomes
⢠noticing the high achiever trap of moving goalposts and earning joy through suffering
⢠stripping out busyness and coping behaviours to find what actually matters
⢠practising self-compassion when you pick the wrong 1% and choosing again today
If this resonated, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today.
And don't forget to subscribe to Balance and Beyond for full episodes and more of these bite sized breakthroughs.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Register now for The Overdrive Reset - a free 8-day WhatsApp experience designed for women who are exhausted from constantly carrying, managing, fixing, anticipating, and holding everything together.
Short daily voice notes.
Real pattern recognition.
No wellness fluff.
Starts 29th May.
Join here: www.balanceinstitute.com/resetWhen was the last time you went to bed with nothing nagging at you, no unfinished loops, no sense that you âshouldâ be doing more? If your gut answer is a tired laugh, youâre not alone, and youâre not failing. Iâm unpacking the uncomfortable truth behind why so many high-achieving women feel permanently behind: weâve been playing a rigged game where feeling okay is conditional on getting on top of everything.
We pull apart the rules of that game, including the never-ending list that has to be ticked off before youâre âallowedâ to rest. The kicker is that a huge chunk of the list sits outside your control: kidsâ moods, bossesâ deadlines, hormones, family expectations, and the general pace of the world right now. When your nervous system is waiting for perfect conditions to relax, it never gets the signal that youâre safe. So we default to what we know: grip tighter, do more, go faster, and call it âcopingâ while our bodies quietly run on fumes.
I also name the three big control strategies I see again and again: the 3 am spiral and doom scroll, overcompensating through perfectionism and over-delivering, and the shutdown that looks like numb scrolling on the couch. Then we talk about the escape fantasy, selling the house and starting again, and why it doesnât fix the internal rules youâve been living by. There is another way out, and it doesnât require burning everything down.
If youâre ready to stop chasing inbox zero as proof youâre worthy of rest, come join me for the Overdrive Reset starting May 29. Hit play, share this with a woman who needs it, and please subscribe and leave a review so it reaches the people itâs meant for.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Register now for The Overdrive Reset - a free 8-day WhatsApp experience designed for women who are exhausted from constantly carrying, managing, fixing, anticipating, and holding everything together.
Short daily voice notes.
Real pattern recognition.
No wellness fluff.
Starts 29th May.
Join here: www.balanceinstitute.com/reset
We uncover a hidden pattern that links being understood with being safe, and how that wiring can keep us living in our heads. We talk through the success it can create, the cost it can carry, and a mantra that helps the body catch up with what the mind already knows.
⢠noticing the habit of showing only what others can understand
⢠growing up in a logic-bound home where feelings have a limit
⢠learning to self-edit emotions to avoid being âtoo muchâ
⢠coping strategies that drive success and also become kryptonite
⢠becoming articulate as protection and adding âone more sentenceâ
⢠how overexplaining and overdoing bleed into work and relationships
⢠using the podcast as practice for saying the edgy thing anyway
⢠holding the mantra that misunderstanding is their filter, not our failure
come and join me. Eight days, WhatsApp. We start 29th of May. Itâs free, and the link is in the show notes.
If this resonated, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today.
And donât forget to subscribe to Balance and Beyond for full episodes and more of these bite sized breakthroughs.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Register now for The Overdrive Reset - a free 8-day WhatsApp experience designed for women who are exhausted from constantly carrying, managing, fixing, anticipating, and holding everything together.
Short daily voice notes.
Real pattern recognition.
No wellness fluff.
Starts 29th May.
Join here: www.balanceinstitute.com/resetYou know that moment where you âwinâ the conversation in the shower, deliver the perfect line in your head at 2am, then smile politely in real life and say nothing? That loop isnât harmless. Itâs conversation debt, and it quietly drains your focus, your sleep, your relationships, and your sense of self.
We talk through why these avoided conversations stack up with your boss, your partner, your team, your friends, and your family and why the weight is never just one chat, itâs the whole pile. We also unpack the shift that changes everything: by the time you finally speak, youâre often not starting an open conversation, youâre prosecuting a case. Your brainâs pattern recognition finds âevidenceâ on command, your words come out loaded with judgement, and the other person feels ambushed and gets defensive.
Then we go to the real core. Under the accusations is usually something tender, vulnerable, and deeply human: Iâm exhausted. I want to be seen. I want to matter. I donât know how to say this without falling apart. When youâre running on fumes, itâs easier to wear armour through overfunctioning, people-pleasing, and mind-reading, but your body keeps the score through tension, 2am ceiling stares, and that low-level simmer that leaks into everything.
If youâre ready to break the rumination loop, I also invite you to join me at the Overdrive Reset, a free eight-day reset starting 28 May (link in the show notes). Subscribe, share this with a woman who needs it, and leave a review so it reaches the people itâs meant for.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Motherâs Day hype can make it feel like becoming a mum should complete you, and we push back on that idea with honesty and grit. We name the script that shames women for wanting more, and we argue that loving your kids and loving yourself can sit side by side.
⢠rejecting the idea that motherhood alone must feel âenoughâ
⢠separating love for our kids from loss of self
⢠telling the truth about ambition, travel, and relief
⢠unpacking judgement and the âBoss Womanâ label
⢠naming the cultural script that rewards disappearing
⢠describing the quiet internal cost of performing âperfect mumâ
⢠choosing a new story where we take up space
If this resonated, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today.
And don't forget to subscribe to Balance and Beyond for full episodes and more of these bite sized breakthroughs.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
The next promotion can be the moment you realise youâre done climbing. Not because youâve lost your edge, but because you can finally see what the next rung will cost your energy, your health, and your sense of self. Iâm hearing this from smart, senior women again and again, and itâs why Iâm sharing what Iâve learned from making the jump from corporate to entrepreneurship after 20 years inside the system.
I break down five lessons that donât come from a quick Google search: how to stop relying on external validation when there are no KPIs or gold stars, how to handle failure and rejection without taking every wobble personally, and how to avoid âshiny new toy syndromeâ when youâre suddenly free to do anything. We also talk about the uncomfortable truth of modern business ownership: whether you sell services, consulting, coaching, or products, you are the product, and personal brand matters more than most corporate high achievers expect.
The biggest takeaway is the one I wish Iâd heard earlier: your business will never outgrow your identity. Money beliefs, worthiness, fear of being seen, and perfectionism show up fast, so the personal development work is part of the business plan. If youâre considering leaving corporate, starting a side hustle, or building something more aligned with your values, this will help you create runway, build resilience, and design a business that works with you instead of against you. Subscribe, share with a woman who needs it, and leave a review so it reaches the people itâs meant for.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
I share what three and a half weeks of single parenting reveals about distraction, time pressure, and the sneaky pull of doomscrolling when youâre craving connection. I also walk through the tools I use to stay present, protect my energy, and keep life lighter without settling or lowering my standards.
⢠noticing the spike in social media use and news consumption under stress
⢠recognising reactive mode and fragmented time as a creativity killer
⢠breaking the doomscrolling loop by moving beyond the brainâs quick rewards
⢠finding fun in everyday moments through presence and real connection
⢠adjusting the bar to match the season and choosing priorities with grace
⢠raising the bar on self-care to avoid depletion and protect integrity
⢠practising acceptance without settling and holding dual truths at once
If this resonated, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today. And don't forget to subscribe to Balance and Beyond for full episodes and more of these bite-sized breakthroughs.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
The world feels like itâs running on rocket fuel and a lot of women are holding it together with white knuckles. I break down whatâs happening underneath the overwhelm using simple neuroscience.
We zoom out to name the macro stressors many of us are swimming in: global and political instability, economic unpredictability, constant corporate restructures, and the creeping question of what AI means for our jobs and identity. Then we go underneath the surface, into nervous system regulation and stress physiology. Your brain is built to keep you alive and conserve energy, so uncertainty lights up an ancient survival system that canât tell the difference between a lion and a notification. Thatâs why doom-scrolling feels irresistible: itâs your brain hunting for information to feel safe, inside a feed that never ends.
From there, we unpack a deceptively simple paradox: we need certainty and we need variety. Chosen variety is fun. Unwanted variety is a problem, and right now many of us are drowning in it. When the gap between the certainty you need and the certainty available gets too wide, old survival strategies come roaring back perfectionism, overworking, people-pleasing, procrastination dressed up as âstrategyâ. Trying harder with new routines and tighter control only adds fuel to chronic nervous system activation.
We finish with three practical steps to help you feel more steady: notice your patterns with curiosity, get ruthless about whatâs actually in your control, and try 24 hours off the feed to stop outsourcing safety to your phone. If this lands, subscribe, share it with a friend whoâs white-knuckling life, and leave a review. What pattern do you notice most in yourself right now?Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
I notice how fast two words, âI have toâ, can flood my body with heaviness and resentment before the day even starts. I use a simple reframe, âI get toâ, to interrupt that loop and take my power back in the middle of real life.
⢠the dog-walk moment that triggers the âhave toâ spiral
⢠why obligation creates shame, guilt, resentment and a victim mindset
⢠how âI get toâ shifts choice and control in seconds
⢠the subconscious mind effect and the captain and engine room metaphor
⢠why state control matters when the world feels chaotic
⢠a practical challenge to swap one phrase today and observe the change
If this resonated, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today. And don't forget to subscribe to Balance and Beyond for full episodes and more of these bite sized breakthroughs.Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone -
Your brain isnât failing you. Itâs doing its best with ancient wiring in a world of endless emails, Slack pings, AI pressure and a culture that rewards output over wellbeing. Iâm joined by Dara Simkin, co-author of Full Stack Human, to reframe what so many high achieving women privately fear: that they canât keep up because something is wrong with them. Daraâs take is both grounded and liberating, we donât need more optimisation, we need an upgrade back to being human.
We unpack the Full Stack Human âtech stackâ, starting with play as a serious, science backed tool for sustainable performance and nervous system health. Dara explains how play fuels the brain with feel good chemistry, why curiosity is an evolutionary advantage, and how hope and intelligent optimism help us move from doom and gloom into practical action. We also explore embodied adaptability, the idea that real flexibility comes from involving the body, not just thinking harder, especially when life feels high stakes and out of control.
Then we name the quieter danger before burnout: Achievement Syndrome. We look at how validation, trophies, promotions and perfectionism can fuse identity to output, and why the next gold star never delivers what we think it will. Dara shares a gentler path forward through tiny micro practices that are easy to repeat, plus one powerful nightly question that shifts the benchmark from performance to presence: âHow was I a human today?âFull Stack Human is available now online and in bookstores.
Take the free assessment at https://www.fullstackhumanbook.com/
To follow Dara's work, connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dara-simkin-culture-hero/
Send a text message to Jo
The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute
For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process.
We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself.
If something landed today, there's more where that came from.
And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way.
đď¸https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast
đ www.balanceinstitute.com
đźhttps://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne
đˇ @therealjostone - Laat meer zien
