The Balanced Badass Podcast®

Six months into the season, I stopped to count what I was actually hearing. Across dozens of 1:1s, different jobs, different cities, different titles, the same five patterns kept walking in the door. So this is the episode where I name them, in the order they tend to happen to a person. We start with the work, the kind that has no off switch. Then the person above you, and the Gallup finding that...

This week I'm joined by Courtney Townley, a health and self-leadership coach and author of The Consistency Code. We get into integrity pain, that nagging discomfort when your daily choices don't match what you actually want for your life, why willpower isn't the fix, and the four practices behind her Consistency Code: awareness, organization, follow through, and realignment. If you&...

I'm a burnout coach, and I'm about to tell you why most burnout advice doesn't work. Including some of mine. I'm unpacking the reframe that has changed how I work with every single client. The advice is not failing. The advice is answering a question that is not your question. I'll walk you through the 5 Cs (Conditions, Culture, Convictions, Choices, and Capacity), the fiv...

What happens when the wellness coach burns out? Lisa Shubin knows. She built a career helping people inside corporate and healthcare systems take care of themselves, then had to figure out how to take her own advice. In this episode, we talk about the gap between how organizations talk about wellness and how work actually gets done, the signals your body sends before a breakdown, and how her Ignit...

There's a reason you keep almost quitting but never do, and it has nothing to do with motivation.  In this episode, I apply Kurt Lewin's three-stage Change Model to career change during burnout. You'll learn why unfreezing is harder than the actual move, what job search paralysis really is, and the stage most people skip that sends them straight back into the same burnout with a dif...

A 2025 New York Times piece asked whether women have "ruined the workplace," blaming flexibility and empathy for what's broken. Alison Campbell, founder of unBurnt® and former Chief of Staff turned leadership researcher, joins me to set the record straight. We talk burnout, workplace design, working motherhood, and what her new research with Bentley University is uncovering about ho...

In this episode, we sit down with Alli, founder of Work and Thrive HQ, to talk about how you can get trapped in the Chief Everything Officer role where you’re being the default for everything, saying yes by default, stepping in because it’s faster, and staying constantly available until you burn out. Alli shares how she hit that point as a young director during COVID, working nonstop and realizing...

Most of us built our careers around answers we gave before we really knew ourselves. Elizabeth has a front-row seat to how that plays out. She's an HR pro and founder of Cultivate Growth Co., who works with early career professionals every day. In this conversation, we get into the expectations gap between what young people think work will look like and what it actually demands, why knowing w...

 In this episode, Tara breaks down the neuroscience of why burnout kills your joy, and why "just take a vacation" is some of the worst advice anyone can give. If you've ever sat on a free Saturday feeling nothing, or noticed that you can't stop thinking about work even when you desperately want to, this episode explains what's actually going on in your brain and what the p...

Feeling like you're constantly running on empty? In this episode, registered nurse and nervous system regulation coach Audrey Rose breaks down what it really means to regulate your nervous system—and no, it's not about being zen 24/7 or quitting your job. We dive into Audrey's personal burnout story from her time as a lead nurse during the pandemic, the science behind fight-or-fligh...

Employee engagement just hit a 10-year low, dropping from 36% to 31% since 2020. That’s 8 million workers who’ve checked out. But here’s what the headlines miss: role clarity collapsed, feeling cared about plummeted, and organizations are responding with “practice gratitude” instead of fixing anything. In this episode, we’re breaking down what Gallup’s new data really reveals about systemic workpl...

Back in August, I posted a viral video about workplace mobbing and received overwhelming support from people who could finally put their experiences into words. Recently, another creator copied my content word for word, highlighting the issue of content theft.  This incident made me reflect on how similar situations happen at work, where ideas are stolen without clear attribution. I discuss the im...

Your personal brand is being built right now, whether you're intentional about it or not.  In this episode, media host and brand strategist Corey Andrew Powell joins me to explore how clarity, consistency, and connection shape the way the world sees you. Corey shares why your seemingly ordinary story holds more power than you think, and how to stop shrinking yourself to make others comfortabl...

Think quitting your job will erase burnout? Think again. In this episode, we dig into the lingering effects of burnout even after you’ve left a toxic work environment.  Learn about burnout aftershocks, rebuilding your sense of safety, and the slow, steady path to true recovery.  We’ll explore how to recognize and rewire your burnout DNA, reclaim your value, and design your work-life balance with i...

Ever felt like your boss is unintentionally making your life a living nightmare?  In this episode, we get into how leadership habits and structural systems fuel burnout. Discover why it's not about you being weak, but about navigating and managing the power dynamics at play.  Learn strategies to protect your sanity, communicate effectively, and regain your energy in a chaotic work environment...

Join Tara as she chats with Jesse, aka "Your Unfiltered BFF" on TikTok, who is known for her raw and hilarious takes on corporate life and HR nonsense.  Jesse shares her journey on social media, unexpectedly becoming a voice of reason for many frustrated employees. Discover how small daily injustices and performative HR policies can undermine corporate culture and why unfiltered honesty...

In today's shorter episode, I'm sharing some personal thoughts on dealing with the emotional weight of recent events, including a mass shooting close to home and the constant barrage of political noise.  We get into the concept of emotional spillover, why you're feeling extra stressed at work, and how to create temporary normals to cope. Forget "business as usual"; let’s t...

Ever been dropped into a surprise Monday morning meeting with bad news? In this episode, we're spilling the tea on surviving (and thriving) in a resource-strapped job where budgets are frozen and headcounts are shrinking.  We'll break down practical strategies to stay effective without burning out, including the five Cs framework to diagnose your constraints, how to advocate for what you...

This episode is perfect for those who cringe at the thought of networking!  We talk about authentic relationship building, how to feel more connected in a disconnected world, and Devin's key strategies for keeping relationships warm. Hear how he landed on The Real World thanks to networking and learn practical tips you can implement immediately.  From selfless networking to leveraging LinkedI...

Why are so many women working harder than ever but still underpaid? Career strategist and former recruiter Tessa Grashuis joins me to unpack the hidden world of salary compression — what it is, how it shows up, and why it keeps talented professionals stuck.  We talk about the smartest ways to negotiate at the offer stage, advocate for yourself inside your current role, and push back on outdated sy...

Being a middle manager is tough. You’re stuck between the bosses and your team, trying to keep everyone happy while handling a lot of pressure.  In this episode, we talk about why leading from the middle is so hard, what causes burnout, and why middle managers are so important to every company. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed at work or like your efforts go unnoticed, this episode is for you. Chec...

In this episode, we get into the dangerous cultural norm of equating our worth with our work.  We've become people defined by our job titles and productivity, fostering burnout and identity crises. By exploring the roots of this work-centric ideology, we uncover how to separate who we are from what we do.  Let's find out how to reclaim our identities beyond our resumes and build burnout-...

Feeling overwhelmed at work despite all your efforts? In this episode, we tackle whether your job is setting you up to fail with excessive expectations, lack of support, and unclear roles.  Discover the concept of the "everything job" and learn the 5 Cs driving burnout framework to identify unsustainable work conditions. Plus, get actionable advice on how to advocate for a more sustainab...

Ready to transform your living space into a holistic sanctuary?  In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Rivers, the founder of Brave Heron Studio, to chat about how your environment can impact your mood, mindset, and overall well-being. Nicole shares valuable insights on creating a space that supports healing and growth.  If you're into interior design, wellness, and making your home feel li...

In this episode, we explore the power of reconnecting with yourself to combat stress and burnout.  Jenni, the founder of the School for Mindful Eating and Movement, shares her journey from being a workaholic to finding balance through Yoga Nidra. Discover practical tips, including the 'three Rs' approach (Relaxation, Reconnection, and Reprogramming), to regain control and create a sense...