Balanced Ambition

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 performer
03:00 – The subtle signs that something was wrong
04:50 – The panic to preserve his voice and songs
08:00 – Self-imposed creative pressure vs. health reality
11:30 – Navigating the financial unknown as self-employed
13:40 – Rebuilding life after diagnosis
15:40 – Saying no to say yes – redefining success
21:00 – How age and stage shift career decisions
25:30 – Why creativity without time for yourself isn’t enough
28:00 – Long-term fatigue, new limits, and recovery realities
36:00 – Losing access to your creative identity
39:30 – Reinventing as a live event MC
43:00 – How every past skill found new purpose
47:00 – Why he chose to reframe treatment as positive
52:00 – The power of gratitude and keeping joy in the equation

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.

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 birth
06:53 – The moment everything changed
12:29 – Giving up alcohol after years of self-medication
16:49 – Sober, but Christmas brought new challenges
20:00 – Living with a noisy ADHD brain
22:51 – The hardest Christmas and asking for help
36:10 – Coping with dopamine cravings without booze
41:35 – Parenting neurodiverse kids during the holidays
45:00 – Breaking the cycle: ADHD through generations
47:10 – “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.

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

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 start
01:26 – What does scaling really look like?
03:22 – The danger of passion without a plan
05:44 – When you should bring someone in to help
08:08 – Clarity: your biggest business asset
11:02 – Why Maddie becomes “the business’s advocate”
13:08 – What mindset assessments reveal in teams
16:08 – Shareholder agreements and co-founder friction
19:11 – Why DIYing everything can stall your growth
22:05 – Maddie’s son wants to start a business (but doesn’t)
24:53 – Passion vs profit: the truth about motivation
27:02 – Is hustle culture dead? The new wave of realism
29:25 – Maddie’s burnout and leap into self-employment
32:37 – Being vulnerable before you’ve “made it”
35:53 – The Ferrari analogy: building the right business
38:24 – The ONE thing every business owner needs to ask
40:09 – Final thoughts + where to get help

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 suicide
02:00 – Travis’s story of sobriety and the turning point
05:00 – Breaking the cycle for his kids
10:00 – Being honest about struggles while helping others
13:45 – Why men talk differently (and why it matters)
16:25 – The surprising power of gratitude
20:00 – Why men avoid sitting with their own thoughts
22:40 – Facing mortality and choosing health
25:00 – The baton of hope & national suicide awareness
27:20 – “I didn’t want to die, I just wanted the pain to stop”
29:15 – Teaching the next generation of men to talk
35:00 – Finding common ground beyond ego
38:20 – Social media, echo chambers & mental health
40:00 – Addiction, gratitude and balance in life
41:00 – Dancing through the high street: finding joy again
42:00 – Managing highs, lows and emotional pendulums
43:30 – Limiting happiness and self-preservation
45:00 – The Monday crash: coping after big highs
46:30 – Learning to love the boring bits of life
48:00 – Redefining what it means to live well
50:00 – The Men’s Room message: open the door, inspire change, build bridges
53:00 – Closing reflections: talking saves lives

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 is
01:34 – The emotional side most people miss
03:09 – Why adult ADHD often goes unnoticed
05:08 – How Italia realised she had ADHD
10:19 – “We all do that” – but do we really?
12:58 – Masking, self-protection & shame
15:50 – ADHD brains love business… until burnout hits
19:23 – Rejection sensitivity & imposter syndrome
22:49 – Why planners and systems don’t work (yet)
27:16 – Rewiring your brain with neuroplasticity
32:10 – Maturing the ADHD brain
34:18 – Self-talk: the most underrated ADHD tool
35:00 – Journaling, meditation & healthy dopamine hits
42:26 – Coffee, cortisol & ADHD
45:36 – Impulse spending & time blindness
47:12 – 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.

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 is
01:23 - Why Ben left employment to build his own thing
02:12 - Why pleasing everyone is bad for business
05:00 - “You’re not an office kettle” explained
06:30 - Avoiding nightmare clients
08:30 - Corporate hangovers & being ‘palatable’ online
11:00 - People-pleasing and holding back opinions
13:45 - Branding and… how you eat your KitKat?
17:35 - Using AI to be more human, not less
20:00 - Visual cues that make you unforgettable
22:00 - Moustaches, mullets, and making a statement
23:30 - The dating analogy that says it all
27:00 - Authenticity as a sales filter
32:00 - “Be More YOU” framework explained
34:00 - Redefining success on your terms
36:00 - Stop bragging about being busy
40:00 - Boundaries, payment terms, and knowing your worth
42:00 - The power of collaborations
43:15 - Final thoughts on being unfiltered

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 sober
04:08 – What addiction looked like: wine, cocaine, and passing out daily
08:30 – 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 then
25:27 – What she really thinks about ‘just one drink’
30:08 – Sobriety wins: from the worst place to building a business
33:05 – Two trips to Ibiza: one drunk, one sober
38:27 – What needs to change in how we educate about alcohol
46:49 – What’s next: helping others change their story

🔗 Follow Tash: https://www.instagram.com/soberhappytash/
🎙 Subscribe for more real, honest conversations.

Liam Anderson | Operations Consultant | Balanced Ambition Podcast

In 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 nothing

• How to stop everything living in your head

• The surprising connection between operations and client retention

• Why your team onboarding process might be costing you thousands

• And how to finally build a business that doesn't rely on you being in every meeting

Whether 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 founder
03:00 – Why small businesses need operational support
05:02 – Why ops isn’t sexy (but it is essential)
07:06 – The danger of founder bottlenecks
11:30 – Real examples: onboarding gone wrong
14:25 – What makes a business truly scalable?
17:45 – Managing client relationships long-term
21:40 – Why your business can’t live in your head
26:45 – The trust problem: letting go as a founder
29:56 – 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 documenting
38:48 – SOPs explained simply
42:24 – Why processes fail if they don’t make life easier
44:22 – Final thoughts + wrap-up

🕒 TIMESTAMPS