Balanced Ambition

Hosted by Matt Southam

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Episodes

122

Latest episode

Jan 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

Balanced Ambition is the podcast for entrepreneurs who want big results without burning out. Host Matt Southam talks to experts and business owners about mindset, healthy habits and sustainable success. Get practical tips on energy, focus and balance so you can grow your business and still enjoy the life you're building.

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60 recent

January 21, 202655 min

Cancer Changed My Career – And My Creative Identity

What happens when your voice, your career, your identity, is suddenly under threat? In this episode, Chris shares how a throat cancer diagnosis forced a creative reckoning and a complete professional reinvention. From navigating fatigue and financial fear to reframing ambition and rediscovering joy, this is a deeply honest conversation about creativity, resilience, and learning how to keep yourself in the equation.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – “I don’t want to go back to where I was”01:55 – From amateur songwriter to live performer03:00 – The subtle signs that something was wrong04:50 – The panic to preserve his voice and songs08:00 – Self-imposed creative pressure vs. health reality11:30 – Navigating the financial unknown as self-employed13:40 – Rebuilding life after diagnosis15:40 – Saying no to say yes – redefining success21:00 – How age and stage shift career decisions25:30 – Why creativity without time for yourself isn’t enough28:00 – Long-term fatigue, new limits, and recovery realities36:00 – Losing access to your creative identity39:30 – Reinventing as a live event MC43:00 – How every past skill found new purpose47:00 – Why he chose to reframe treatment as positive52:00 – The power of gratitude and keeping joy in the equation

January 14, 20261 hr 32 min

From Rehab to House Fire: Rich's Unbelievable Story of Survival

Rich opens up about the darkest chapter of his life: from battling alcoholism, anxiety, and depression to enduring a terrifying incident in Las Vegas, entering rehab, and then—just 24 hours after leaving—watching his house go up in flames.This is a raw, honest, and inspiring conversation about hitting rock bottom and choosing to fight back. Rich shares how he rebuilt himself from the ground up, found purpose in the gym, and learned to live again—one day at a time.00:00 – "I can't do this anymore…"03:50 – What Vegas took from me12:00 – Drinking to forget and the slow slide down23:30 – The breaking point: anxiety, shame, and isolation30:00 – Rehab: the myth and the reality37:00 – Leaving rehab early… and the call that changed everything39:00 – "Your house is on fire"49:20 – Fighting with insurance while barely holding on58:00 – Why AA didn’t work—and what did1:04:00 – Ice baths, fitness, and building a new life1:08:00 – Losing my mum and learning to carry on1:30:00 – Final reflections and advice for anyone struggling👉 If you’ve ever felt lost, this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

December 23, 202549 min

Christmas Spiraled | Here's What Actually Helped

In this raw and powerful episode, Ria opens up about her journey through cancer, alcohol addiction, ADHD, and the struggle to survive the holiday season. With honesty, humour and heart, she shares what helped her finally enjoy Christmas—sober, self-aware and stronger than ever.If you’ve ever found Christmas overwhelming, or felt like you were just surviving not celebrating, this episode will resonate deeply.👇 Timestamps:00:00 – “Last Christmas I was in a dark place…”01:10 – A rare cancer diagnosis days after giving birth06:53 – The moment everything changed12:29 – Giving up alcohol after years of self-medication16:49 – Sober, but Christmas brought new challenges20:00 – Living with a noisy ADHD brain22:51 – The hardest Christmas and asking for help36:10 – Coping with dopamine cravings without booze41:35 – Parenting neurodiverse kids during the holidays45:00 – Breaking the cycle: ADHD through generations47:10 – “This is why I’ll always share my story”❤️ Like, comment and share if Ria’s story resonates – and don’t forget to subscribe for more honest conversations.

December 19, 20251 hr 2 min

This Is Why You Keep Attracting the Wrong People

What if everything that triggers you… is actually about you?In this deep and eye-opening conversation, Anita breaks down how the Enneagram can help us understand our true personality – not the one we've adapted to survive. We unpack how childhood shapes our identity, why we mould ourselves to be liked, and how to break free from patterns that no longer serve us.We explore how self-awareness through tools like the Enneagram, shadow work, and emotional intelligence can help us take true responsibility for our lives – and even change the world.This one goes beyond personal growth – it’s about human connection, leadership, and how the systems we build start with who we are.🔔 Subscribe for more podcasts on self-awareness, personal growth and emotional intelligence.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – No one taught us how to be ourselves01:30 – What is the Enneagram & why it’s different03:40 – Childhood experiences shape personality07:00 – Why we mould ourselves to be liked10:00 – The true intention behind our behaviours14:50 – Do we choose our personality or are we born with it?17:00 – How types pair in relationships21:45 – The "Helper" type and toxic dynamics24:30 – Awareness gives you choice – but it’s scary33:00 – Shadow work: why your triggers are about you39:40 – What your job says about your Enneagram type47:00 – DJing, attention & identity: a realisation54:30 – Environment vs internal experience58:10 – The pressure to perform – and how it shifted

October 15, 202540 min

The Hard Truth About Growing Your Business

What does it really take to grow a business — or prepare to exit one?In this episode, we sit down with consultant Maddie Walker, who helps business owners scale sustainably without burning out. From mindset blindspots to strategic misfires, Maddie shares hard-earned insights and analogies (so many good ones!) that will shift how you think about building your business. If you’re growing, struggling, or somewhere in-between — this one’s for you.👇 TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – The problem with how most businesses start01:26 – What does scaling really look like?03:22 – The danger of passion without a plan05:44 – When you should bring someone in to help08:08 – Clarity: your biggest business asset11:02 – Why Maddie becomes “the business’s advocate”13:08 – What mindset assessments reveal in teams16:08 – Shareholder agreements and co-founder friction19:11 – Why DIYing everything can stall your growth22:05 – Maddie’s son wants to start a business (but doesn’t)24:53 – Passion vs profit: the truth about motivation27:02 – Is hustle culture dead? The new wave of realism29:25 – Maddie’s burnout and leap into self-employment32:37 – Being vulnerable before you’ve “made it”35:53 – The Ferrari analogy: building the right business38:24 – The ONE thing every business owner needs to ask40:09 – Final thoughts + where to get help

October 8, 202554 min

How Talking Saved My Life | Travis on The Men’s Room & Mental Health

Travis joins us to share his raw and powerful journey — from nearly losing everything to alcohol, to becoming a voice for men’s mental health in Hastings with The Men’s Room.We get into why men struggle to talk openly, how sobriety reshaped his life, the importance of community, and why gratitude might just be free therapy.If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying it all alone, this conversation is for you.00:00 – Why The Men’s Room exists: reducing male suicide02:00 – Travis’s story of sobriety and the turning point05:00 – Breaking the cycle for his kids10:00 – Being honest about struggles while helping others13:45 – Why men talk differently (and why it matters)16:25 – The surprising power of gratitude20:00 – Why men avoid sitting with their own thoughts22:40 – Facing mortality and choosing health25:00 – The baton of hope & national suicide awareness27:20 – “I didn’t want to die, I just wanted the pain to stop”29:15 – Teaching the next generation of men to talk35:00 – Finding common ground beyond ego38:20 – Social media, echo chambers & mental health40:00 – Addiction, gratitude and balance in life41:00 – Dancing through the high street: finding joy again42:00 – Managing highs, lows and emotional pendulums43:30 – Limiting happiness and self-preservation45:00 – The Monday crash: coping after big highs46:30 – Learning to love the boring bits of life48:00 – Redefining what it means to live well50:00 – The Men’s Room message: open the door, inspire change, build bridges53:00 – Closing reflections: talking saves lives

October 1, 202553 min

The Truth About ADHD (It’s Not a Superpower)

In this episode, ADHD coach and hypnotherapist Italia Moro shares the real story behind ADHD – and why calling it a “superpower” might be doing more harm than good.We unpack emotional dysregulation, time blindness, the myth of laziness, and how you can actually rewire your brain with tools like journaling, mindfulness and self-talk.Whether you're late-diagnosed, feeling overwhelmed or just trying to make sense of your mind – this one’s full of relatable truth bombs and practical hope.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – What ADHD really is01:34 – The emotional side most people miss03:09 – Why adult ADHD often goes unnoticed05:08 – How Italia realised she had ADHD10:19 – “We all do that” – but do we really?12:58 – Masking, self-protection & shame15:50 – ADHD brains love business… until burnout hits19:23 – Rejection sensitivity & imposter syndrome22:49 – Why planners and systems don’t work (yet)27:16 – Rewiring your brain with neuroplasticity32:10 – Maturing the ADHD brain34:18 – Self-talk: the most underrated ADHD tool35:00 – Journaling, meditation & healthy dopamine hits42:26 – Coffee, cortisol & ADHD45:36 – Impulse spending & time blindness47:12 – It’s not about managing symptoms – it’s about managing you👉 Let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments, and hit subscribe for more real conversations.

September 24, 202545 min

Why Trying to Please Everyone Is Killing Your Brand

Is your personal brand holding you back without you even realising?In this episode, personal branding coach Ben Stickland explains why trying to please everyone is one of the biggest mistakes you can make — and how being more you is the ultimate growth strategy.We unpack his “Be More YOU” framework, how to attract the right clients without the sales calls, and why your quirks might just be your biggest superpower.📲 Connect with Ben:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thepersonalbrandingguy/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepersonalbrandingguy/🕒 Timestamps:00:00 - What a personal brand actually is01:23 - Why Ben left employment to build his own thing02:12 - Why pleasing everyone is bad for business05:00 - “You’re not an office kettle” explained06:30 - Avoiding nightmare clients08:30 - Corporate hangovers & being ‘palatable’ online11:00 - People-pleasing and holding back opinions13:45 - Branding and… how you eat your KitKat?17:35 - Using AI to be more human, not less20:00 - Visual cues that make you unforgettable22:00 - Moustaches, mullets, and making a statement23:30 - The dating analogy that says it all27:00 - Authenticity as a sales filter32:00 - “Be More YOU” framework explained34:00 - Redefining success on your terms36:00 - Stop bragging about being busy40:00 - Boundaries, payment terms, and knowing your worth42:00 - The power of collaborations43:15 - Final thoughts on being unfiltered

September 17, 202548 min

I Hit Rock Bottom – Then Rebuilt Everything | Tash’s Story

In this deeply honest and powerful episode, Tash shares her journey from addiction to sobriety. From hiding bottles around the house to smuggling drugs in clubs, and believing she was a “good mum” while passed out drunk — she holds nothing back. Now 7.5 years sober, Tash opens up about what helped her turn her life around, the stigma around addiction, and how she uses her story to help others do the same.If you’ve ever struggled with your relationship to alcohol, or love someone who has — this one’s for you.Timestamps:00:00 – “I thought I was a good mum… but I was passed out every night”01:50 – Meet Tash: rock bottom at 30, and 7.5 years sober04:08 – What addiction looked like: wine, cocaine, and passing out daily08:30 – Drinking from age 13: “I thought everyone drank every day”14:02 – The moment she knew: “I think I’ve got a problem”21:18 – Conversations with her kids now — and then25:27 – What she really thinks about ‘just one drink’30:08 – Sobriety wins: from the worst place to building a business33:05 – Two trips to Ibiza: one drunk, one sober38:27 – What needs to change in how we educate about alcohol46:49 – What’s next: helping others change their story🔗 Follow Tash: https://www.instagram.com/soberhappytash/🎙 Subscribe for more real, honest conversations.

September 10, 202544 min

Why Founders Burn Out (and How to Fix It)

Liam Anderson | Operations Consultant | Balanced Ambition PodcastIn this episode, we dive into the real reason so many business owners feel overwhelmed, stuck, or just plain burnt out. And no — it's not about working harder.Liam Anderson has seen inside dozens of businesses, and the pattern is clear: the ones that scale all have something in common — solid, boring, reliable operations.We talk:Why documenting anything is better than nothingHow to stop everything living in your headThe surprising connection between operations and client retentionWhy your team onboarding process might be costing you thousandsAnd how to finally build a business that doesn't rely on you being in every meetingWhether you're looking to grow, take a break, or one day sell your business, this is the episode for you.👇 TIMESTAMPS BELOW 👇00:00 – “You’re not playing running a business…”01:05 – Liam’s journey from agency to founder03:00 – Why small businesses need operational support05:02 – Why ops isn’t sexy (but it is essential)07:06 – The danger of founder bottlenecks11:30 – Real examples: onboarding gone wrong14:25 – What makes a business truly scalable?17:45 – Managing client relationships long-term21:40 – Why your business can’t live in your head26:45 – The trust problem: letting go as a founder29:56 – Building your own business (as an ops guy)32:20 – The rise of fractional ops (and why it matters)36:36 – Tools and first steps to start documenting38:48 – SOPs explained simply42:24 – Why processes fail if they don’t make life easier44:22 – Final thoughts + wrap-up🕒 TIMESTAMPS