Balance & Beyond

Hosted by Jo Stone

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Episodes

240

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-AU

About the show

Balance and Beyond is the podcast for ambitious women refusing to accept burnout as the price of success. Here, we’re committed to empowering you with the tools and strategies you need to achieve true balance, where your career, relationships and health all thrive and where you have the power to define success on your own terms.

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60 recent

October 2, 20264 min

The Magpie That Was Going to Take Her Away Forever (Jo Moment)

A magpie swoop can turn a normal walk into pure panic in seconds, and that’s exactly why it makes such a powerful lesson about fear. I’m sharing a moment with my daughter that started with a scream, escalated into a relentless territorial bird, and ended with both of our bodies in full survival mode. If you’ve ever felt your heart race before you even knew why, you’ll recognise what happens next. We talk about how quickly the nervous system decides “danger, run” and how the rational brain often arrives late, trying to explain what’s already unfolding. I reflect on how my own childhood memory of being swooped came rushing back, and I share my daughter’s brutally honest belief that the magpie was going to pick her up and take her away forever. It sounds absurd, but it captures something real: fear is incredibly convincing when you’re inside it, and perspective can vanish in an instant. From there, we zoom out to the modern versions of swooping: an email from your boss, a look on your partner’s face, a hard conversation, or the feeling that you’ve made a mistake you can’t fix. You’ll walk away with a simple reset question you can use when you’re flooded: is this genuinely dangerous, or am I currently being swooped? If you want practical mindset shifts, emotional regulation tools, and a down-to-earth take on anxiety and stress, press play, then subscribe, share with a mate, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. 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. 🎙️ https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼 https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne 📷 @therealjostone

September 29, 202616 min

When Someone Else Breaks the Rules You’ve Lived By

A single research finding can land like a slap: tens of thousands of responses show Gen Z ranking wellbeing, authenticity, and helping others at the top, while hiring managers still reward achievement, nonstop action, and traditional work-first values. Our initial reactions can be sharp judgement, frustration, even disgust but we slow it down and ask the more uncomfortable question: what does this values mismatch reveal about the way we’ve been taught to succeed? We unpack how the “old model” plays out for high-achieving women, especially women in leadership who have done everything right on paper. When identity and worth get tangled up with external measures like promotions, performance, money, and influence, the bar keeps moving and satisfaction stays out of reach. The costs are real: fatigue, sleep disruption, being less present with family, and the strange irony of reaching seniority while feeling less confident or less excited about work. If you’ve been searching for a sustainable version of ambition, this conversation speaks directly to burnout, work-life balance, and reclaiming a sense of self. The most charged moment is the trigger: watching younger people clock off, say no, or refuse “the rules” we obeyed for decades. We name the rage and the grief underneath it, and we explore a healthier middle ground where growth doesn’t require self-abandonment. We also talk through the wake-up calls that force change, and how to start rewriting your rules now, without waiting for a crisis or a calendar milestone. If it hits home, subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with a woman who needs it, and leave a review to help the Ripple Effect reach the people it’s 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. 🎙️ https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼 https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne 📷 @therealjostone

September 25, 20264 min

The Rule My 13-Year-Old Taught Me (Jo Moment)

My daughter hit me with a finger wag and a line I couldn’t ignore: “We listen and we don’t judge.” It was funny, sharp, and uncomfortably accurate. One raised eyebrow in the car turned into a real-time mirror of how judgement can slip out of us, even when we think we’re being supportive. From there, we pull apart what’s actually happening underneath judgement. We talk about the link between self judgement and judging others, and why so many of us, especially women, can spend decades as our own harshest critic. When someone else speaks up, asks for what they deserve, or shows up boldly authentic, it can trigger us because it highlights a place we’ve stayed small. That doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you human and it gives you a clear path for personal growth. You’ll hear a workplace example that brings this to life, plus a simple mindset shift you can try immediately: practise non judgemental listening with other people and with your own inner voice. If you want better communication, more emotional intelligence, and a calmer relationship with yourself, this short episode is a strong reset. If this lands, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a gentler inner voice, and leave a review so more people can find Balance and Beyond Moments. What’s one place in your life where you could “listen and not judge” today? 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. 🎙️ https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼 https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne 📷 @therealjostone

September 22, 202612 min

Can You Let Something Good Land?

Compliments should feel like a gift, yet for so many high-achieving women they feel like a threat. We have watched it happen again and again: put accomplished, capable women in a circle and invite them to say something lovely about each other, and confidence suddenly turns into squirming, deflection, and self-deprecating humour. If you’ve ever struggled to simply say “thank you” and let the moment land, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. We unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface: how receiving praise challenges the identity built around being useful, competent, and in control. We talk about why some compliments are easier to tolerate than others, especially when they touch parts of you that you have not learned to see as valuable, like being a good mum, being a steady presence, or being deeply caring. We also explore workplace recognition and the fear of owning your leadership, even when two things can be true at once: the team is brilliant and you led them bloody well. From there, we widen the lens to receiving help and support. We dig into the “invisible ledger” many of us carry, where generosity becomes a transaction in our heads, and support is contaminated by guilt, apologising, or the frantic need to repay. We also speak to money mindset and the discomfort that shows up when good things arrive with more ease than our old programming says they should. The big takeaway: receiving is a capacity you can build, like a muscle, by practising staying present long enough for something good to actually land. If this resonates, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share the episode with a woman who needs it, and leave a review to help it reach the people it’s 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. 🎙️ https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼 https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne 📷 @therealjostone

September 18, 20265 min

One Day… But Not Yet (Jo Moment)

You know that feeling when you can see the next chapter so clearly you can almost taste it, yet you’re not ready for what has to end to get there? That’s the head-and-heart tension we sit in today, and it’s far more common than we admit, especially in the thick of parenting teenagers and juggling the mental load at home. We start with a simple moment: my husband says he’s looking forward to the version of our future where we can decide to go away for a few days without checking school schedules, exams, or who needs to be where. Then reality hits. The NFL comes to Melbourne, it’s his bucket-list weekend, and the timing is shocking: Year 11 exams, family logistics, and life doing what it does. We make the call that so many couples make in this season, he goes and I stay home, and the frustration that follows opens up a bigger conversation about fairness, resentment, and missing out. From there, we zoom out to the real takeaway: you can be ready for parts of a season to end without being ready for the season itself to be over. Waiting for “complete freedom” is a trap because every life stage comes with constraints, and later it might be health, energy, or ageing rather than school calendars. We talk about choosing the version that’s available now, taking turns, keeping experiences in your life that make you feel alive, and not letting future dreams steal present-day joy. If you’re navigating a busy family season, a stretched relationship, or that restless itch for more, press play and sit with this duality with me. Subscribe to Balance and Beyond, share this with a mate, and leave a review so more people can find these short mindset shifts. 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. 🎙️ https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼 https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne 📷 @therealjostone

September 15, 202614 min

What if you don't actually need better boundaries?

If switching off from work feels harder than it “should”, it might not be a boundary problem at all. We’re talking about the hidden reason so many high-performing women keep drifting back to email, Teams, and “just one more thing” even after they’ve learned all the right productivity tools: work is often the only part of life we’ve intentionally designed. We dig into why work can feel like intellectual crack, complex problems, clear frameworks, a sense of control, and a steady hit of significance. Then we name the uncomfortable flip side: home can feel like a second shift of logistics, errands, appointments, washing, and mental load. When that’s what waits on the other side, no wonder “work-life balance” sounds good but feels impossible to live. From there, we shift the question from “Where do I draw the boundary?” to “What am I building beyond it?” We explore how to give your personal life the same strategic attention you give your career, including your relationship, health, friendships, sisterhood, creativity, play, and the parts of learning that aren’t monetised. We also call out the trap of turning self-discovery into another optimisation project, and why real change requires space, experimentation, and permission to change your mind. If you’re ready to design a life that pulls you offline instead of a life you escape from, press play. Subscribe to Balance and Beyond, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find the permission to build what they actually want. 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. 🎙️ https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼 https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne 📷 @therealjostone

September 11, 20268 min

How Do You Know When It's Time to Give Up? (Jo Moment)

What if the thing you’re calling perseverance is actually stubbornness in disguise? We unpack the moment where “keep going” stops being brave and starts being a way to avoid admitting a plan isn’t working. If you’ve been pushing hard, second guessing yourself, or feeling whiplash from constant pivots, this one gives you a clean lens for making calmer decisions without trashing your confidence. We talk about why failure can feel so personal for high achievers and perfectionists, and how that emotional sting keeps us locked into proving we were right. When a mistake becomes a verdict on your capability, you either cling to the same approach or bail the second it gets uncomfortable. Instead, we shift to a more useful mindset: failure as feedback. In business, careers, projects, and even relationships, the world is moving faster, information is messier, and experimentation is unavoidable. The aim isn’t the “right” decision; it’s the next best decision based on what you now know. You’ll also hear a practical framework from Seth Godin that helps you decide whether you’re in the dip (the tough middle that leads somewhere better) or stuck in a cul de sac (effort without real movement). We finish with one question you can use today to work out whether to persevere, pivot, or stop pouring good after bad. If you get value from this, subscribe to Balance and Beyond, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find 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. 🎙️ https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼 https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne 📷 @therealjostone

September 8, 202611 min

The Wobble Nobody Warns You About

That wobble you feel when a bigger role lands, the visibility ramps up, or the stakes suddenly feel higher? We’re not convinced it means you’re failing. We think it might mean you’re growing. We talk about the difference between branches and roots: the external markers of success we can all see, and the internal strength that actually holds you steady when the wind blows. If your “old way” of succeeding relied on white knuckling, perfectionism, over-functioning, and proving yourself, it makes sense that those habits come calling the moment things get hard. They worked before. The problem is the price you pay: long hours, broken boundaries, second-guessing, and that 3 am ceiling-stare where you suddenly feel like you need another qualification to be “enough”. We also dig into a tricky dynamic in women’s leadership and corporate culture: when someone successful tells you how to do it, their certainty can overpower your own emerging self-trust. That’s where self-abandonment can masquerade as being strategic or professional. We share practical ways to build internal evidence through real-world reps: letting work go out imperfectly, delegating without rescuing, holding a boundary when breaking it would be easier, and taking feedback while still deciding what belongs to you. If you’re navigating career growth, imposter syndrome, burnout risk, or a shift towards more sustainable success, press play. Then subscribe, share this with a woman who’s levelling up, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation. What’s one “root” you’re building this week? 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. 🎙️ https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼 https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne 📷 @therealjostone

September 4, 20267 min

The Donkey That Died Trying to Have Both (Jo Moment)

You know that moment when two things you care about collide and your chest tightens because either choice feels like proof you’re failing? I had it this week: my child was in tears needing me, and I had an urgent client deadline for an opportunity I genuinely wanted. The pressure wasn’t just the clock, it was the story in my head about what each choice meant about me. I found clarity through a blunt old parable about a donkey stuck between water and a carrot, unable to choose and collapsing in the middle. It sounds dramatic, but it perfectly describes what happens when we believe there must be a “clean” third option where nobody waits and nothing gets neglected. For many of us juggling parenting and career, partners, ageing parents, health, friendships and our own needs, that belief becomes an inherited rule: a good woman never lets anything important drop. The truth is harsher and kinder at the same time, because a full life guarantees uneven priorities. We also talk about the hidden cost of taking the middle with us: being at work while mentally parenting, being with our kids while mentally writing emails, trying to rest while running a silent checklist. That’s where mum guilt and the mental load show up as a constant tax. Guilt doesn’t give more care to what’s waiting, it steals presence from what you chose, which hurts your focus, your connection and your wellbeing. If you’re craving real work life balance strategies, boundaries without shame, and a calmer mindset when everything feels urgent, this bite-sized episode will help. Subscribe to Balance and Beyond, share it with a friend who’s stretched thin, and leave a review. What’s the one thing you need to let wait today so you can truly show up where you are? 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. 🎙️ https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼 https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne 📷 @therealjostone

September 1, 202614 min

When Everyone Has AI, What Makes You Valuable?

AI is getting very good at sounding certain, and that is exactly why we need to talk about the one thing it cannot replace: your judgement. When a tool can produce an impressive argument in seconds, it becomes tempting to hand over your decision making, your confidence, and even your inner voice to whatever sounds most authoritative in the room. For women who have spent years chasing validation, perfectionism, and “doing it right”, that pull can hit hard. We unpack how AI can keep us stuck in our heads, and why the most valuable workplace skill is shifting from knowing more to discerning better. Judgement is the ability to read what is happening under the words, to notice the tiny hesitation, the human signals, the customer impact that is missing from the risk register, and the question nobody is asking yet. That “hang on” moment often arrives before you can explain it, which is why high achievers can talk themselves out of saying anything until it is too late. You’ll hear practical ways to speak up without complete certainty, how to sit in the discomfort when the room does not immediately agree, and how to use AI for cognitive load without letting it override your inner wisdom. We also explore how to marry intuition with data so your gut becomes something you investigate, not something you suppress or blindly follow. If you’ve ever swallowed your words because someone else sounded more sure, press play. Subscribe, share it with a woman who needs to hear it, and leave a review to help the Ripple Effect reach the right listeners. 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. 🎙️ https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼 https://au.linkedin.com/in/stonejoanne 📷 @therealjostone