Brilliant Balance

By Cherylanne Skolnicki

You deserve a big, full life and the freedom to enjoy it. The Brilliant Balance Podcast helps women in leadership design their next chapter for sustainable success—without burnout.

Every week, host Ch... more

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How many episodes does Brilliant Balance have?

The podcast currently has 467 episodes available.

Best of Brilliant Balance

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: The Week That Works for Everyone — Except You
Have you ever looked at your calendar and realized you've created a week that works for everyone else, but leaves very little space for you? In this episode, I'm exploring how we end up in this pattern and what it takes to create a week that supports the life we actually want. I'm talking about why "life is full" is a more empowering way to think about busy seasons, and why waiting until everything else is done before making time for yourself often means that time never comes. Together, we'll explore how to rethink your priorities, protect what matters most, and create more room for the things that help you feel like yourself. Show Highlights: ● Why full and busy are not the same thing. [04:42] ● How we accidentally create weeks that leave us out. [08:10] ● Why the "work first, play later" mindset stops working. [12:32] ● The hidden costs of constantly putting yourself last. [19:40] ● How losing touch with yourself happens over time. [24:58] ● The power of "crowding out" what doesn't serve you. [29:44] ● How to put the most important things into your week first. [33:22] ● Creating a week that works for you, too. [42:10] Join The Coaching Circle to attend the September masterclass, Run Your Week Your Way, and learn the complete system for designing a week that reflects your priorities. Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: https://brilliant-balance.com/explorecoaching Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki
September 01, 202625min
Number 2: "Breadwinner, Redefined" with Alexis Contos
Nearly 40% of American mothers are now primary earners, but the culture hasn't fully caught up with what that actually requires. In this episode, I'm joined by Alexis Contos, founder of The Breadwinners, a community built around the realities of building a career while raising a family. Alexis shares why she walked away from a 20-year corporate career, how one dinner at South by Southwest turned into a growing movement, and what she's learning about creating a different path for working mothers. We also talk about guilt, ambition, integration, personal agency, and why we need to stop trying to do everything perfectly. Show Highlights: What Alexis was like growing up and how relationships shaped her. [02:30] Why Alexis left her 20-year corporate career without knowing what she'd do next. [07:10] How one dinner at South by Southwest became the beginning of The Breadwinners. [10:05] Why women showed up to the dinner and why they needed that community. [13:05] Why Alexis prefers "integration" over "balance." [19:00] How Alexis defines a breadwinner as someone who brings important things into the home. [25:00] Why ambition is about aligning your time with your values. [27:15] How to replace guilt with confidence, agency, and community. [28:30] How Alexis structures her day to make space for both work and family. [34:00] Why aspiring breadwinners are joining the community and helping write a new playbook for working mothers. [38:00] Resources Mentioned: Find Alexis on Substack (and get a discounted subscription) at: https://wearethebreadwinners.substack.com/738ea8e9 Find Alexis on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/wearethebreadwinners/ Learn more about The Breadwinners: https://thebreadwinners.co To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explorecoaching Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki
September 08, 202646min
Number 3: How Change Really Happens with Kristy Ellmer
Change is hard. But it isn't because people resist it. In this episode, I'm joined by Kristy Ellmer, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group and co-author of How Change Really Works. We explore why so many personal and organizational changes fail, what behavioral science teaches us about making change stick, and the simple shifts that can help us move forward with more confidence. Whether you're leading a team, navigating a career transition, or trying to create new habits at home, this conversation will change the way you think about transformation. Show Highlights: How Kristy's early career shaped her approach to uncertainty and change. [04:15] Why most transformations fail and what "change distance" really means. [10:20] The surprising role agency plays in helping people embrace change. [15:10] Why rituals matter more than willpower when creating lasting change. [23:30] The biggest misconception about how people respond to change. [34:15] How curiosity creates an opportunity for change to succeed. [36:45] What the IKEA Effect teaches us about getting people to buy into change. [42:30] Why a "fresh start" can be the key to rebuilding momentum. [1:05:10] How understanding your emotions can reduce cognitive load during periods of change. [1:16:40] Resources Mentioned: How Change Really Works by Kristy Ellmer, Julia Darr, and Philip Jamieson: https://amzn.to/3S1UZuO Connect with Kristy Ellmer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-r-ellmer-b25b7a23/ Follow Kristy Ellmer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristy_ellmer/ To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: https://brilliant-balance.com/explorecoaching Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki
August 18, 202634min
Number 4: Being a Likeable Badass - with Alison Fragale
Can you be both warm and ambitious? Kind and confident? Supportive and successful? In this episode, I'm joined by organizational psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Alison Fragale to talk about why women often feel like they have to choose between being liked and being respected. We unpack the science behind status, influence, and reciprocity, and why the most successful women learn to build both warmth and confidence at the same time. If you've ever worried about being "too nice" or "too much," this conversation will change the way you think about leadership, relationships, and the way people experience you. Show Highlights: How Alison's childhood shaped her understanding of warmth and assertiveness. [06:10] Why being liked is one of the most overlooked sources of influence. [15:20] The difference between status, power, and respect. [27:45] What it really means to be a "Likeable Badass." [33:30] Why women don't have to choose between confidence and connection. [43:15] The surprising truth behind feedback like "you're too nice" or "you're too aggressive." [53:40] Practical ways to build stronger relationships without feeling transactional. [1:08:10] Simple daily habits that strengthen your network over time. [1:17:20] Alison's favorite status-building practice that anyone can start today. [1:24:40] Order your copy of Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve by Dr. Alison Fragale : Paperback: https://amzn.to/4vgAMQw Hardcover: https://amzn.to/449v9aK Kindle: https://amzn.to/4uCUBjy To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explore Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki
July 14, 202647min
Number 5: The Good Mother Rulebook Nobody Published but Everyone Follows
Do you ever feel like you're measuring yourself against an invisible standard of what a "good mother" should be? In this episode, I'm unpacking the unwritten rulebook so many mothers follow without even realizing it. I'm sharing a personal story from my son's preschool years that triggered a shame spiral over something he doesn't even remember. That moment helped me see how many standards I had absorbed from childhood, culture, comparison, and expectations I never consciously chose. Today, I'm inviting you to look at your own Good Mother Rulebook, decide which rules truly reflect your values, and release the ones creating unnecessary guilt or pressure. Show Highlights: ● The invisible Good Mother Rulebook most of us are following. [00:38] ● My preschool picture day story. [02:38] ● Why one forgotten moment felt like a parenting failure. [07:18] ● The difference between embarrassment and shame. [08:03] ● How motherhood standards become internalized over time. [11:22] ● Why high achievers are especially vulnerable to unwritten rules. [13:58] ● Where our ideas of "good mothering" often come from. [15:28] ● How comparison quietly shapes our personal rulebooks. [18:26] ● Examples of rules you may be carrying without realizing it. [20:04] ● Why most motherhood rules are more negotiable than they feel. [21:18] ● Three steps to uncover and rewrite your own rulebook. [23:48] ● Choosing standards that reflect your values instead of inherited pressure. [28:03] ● The few things in motherhood that are truly non-negotiable. [29:05] To register for the Couples Workshop, click here: https://members.brilliantbalance.net/couplesworkshop Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki
June 16, 202628min