Coffee, Clients & Naptime

What if the way to grow your business wasn’t through hustle, but through softness, strategy, and systems that honour your life?

In this episode of Nap Time Chats, I’m joined by the incredible Lauren Hogan of Hey Lauren, who shares her honest and powerful journey from postnatal depression and business burnout to building a calm, sustainable business that fits around her life - not the other way around.

Lauren isn’t a coach or a VA. She’s a creative Online Business Manager and strategist who supports mums to grow their businesses in ways that actually work for them. No bro marketing. No 10-step funnel formulas. Just real systems, boundaries, and support that respect your season of motherhood.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Lauren’s journey from rock bottom to running a values-aligned OBM business

• Why building a team isn’t always the answer - and where support outside your biz matters most

• How to release guilt around outsourcing household help and redefine your idea of a “village”

• The concept of systems with softness and how backend strategy can actually give you more breathing room

• Setting boundaries (and sticking to them!) in a way that serves you and your clients

• Letting go of the pressure to scale fast and embracing slow, sustainable growth

Episode Highlights

✔ From product biz burnout to aligned service-based success
✔ Why help doesn’t have to come from inside your business
✔ Boundaries that actually hold (even when it’s hard)
✔ Why sustainable growth is the real flex

Links + Resources
→ Connect with Lauren at @hey.lauren or visit http://heylauren.com.au
→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama and let me know: what part of Lauren’s story resonated most with you?
→ Join The Balanced Business Mama Circle
→ Subscribe to never miss an episode!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feeling like everyone else is racing ahead while you’re barely staying afloat? You’re not behind - you’re just building something real, and you’re doing it your way.

In this episode of Coffee, Clients & Naptime, we’re unpacking that “I’m falling behind” feeling - the one that creeps in when you scroll through Instagram, see someone’s highlight reel, and instantly feel like you’re not doing enough.

This isn’t a strategy session. It’s a permission slip.

I’m sharing:

• My early biz story and why I still felt behind (even when things were growing)

• Why social media messes with our perception of success

• A powerful reframe that will help you stop running a race you never meant to enter

• A journaling prompt to reconnect with what success actually looks like for you

• A simple mindset practice I call the “Proof List” to track your growth

This episode is for the mamas growing slowly, intentionally, and with their whole hearts.

Episode Highlights

The myth of overnight success (and what’s really behind it)
Why slow growth isn’t failure, it’s sustainability
What success looks like for you, not the algorithm
The one question that always brings me back to centre

Links + Resources
→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama
→ Join The Balanced Business Mama Circle
→ Subscribe to never miss an episode!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being the default parent doesn’t just mean doing more, it means you are carrying more, and I see you.

In this raw and honest solo episode of Coffee, Clients & Naptime, I’m sharing what it actually feels like when the weight of motherhood, business, and the mental load all crash into each other, and it’s you left holding the pieces.

This isn’t a productivity episode. There’s no plan to follow.
Just truth. Real life. And a reminder that if you’re stretched right now, it’s not because you’re doing it wrong - it’s because you’re carrying a lot.

Inside this episode, I talk about:

• The invisible weight default parents carry (and why it’s exhausting)

• The guilt of “not coping” when you should know how to manage it all

• The quiet resentment that sometimes creeps in, and why it’s a signal, not a shame

• Micro moments of control that help me move through the mess

• Letting go of the “hero complex” so we can ask for what we need

Whether you’re hiding in the laundry or sitting in the car before pick-up, this episode is your permission slip to stop holding it all together and start holding space for yourself.

Episode Highlights

When systems still don’t feel like enough
Why being capable doesn’t mean you’re not overwhelmed
What I remind myself when I feel like I’m dropping the ball 
A gentle, powerful reminder: You’re not alone. You’re doing enough.

Links + Resources
→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama
→ Join The Balanced Business Mama Circle
→ Subscribe to never miss an episode!
And don’t forget to share this with a biz mama who needs the reminder today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Nap Time Chats – the guest series inside Coffee, Clients, and Naptime where I sit down with brilliant business mamas doing things their way. This week I’m chatting with Bec Alison, marketing consultant, mum of two, and the queen of simplifying strategy for time-poor women in business.

Inside this episode:

• Bec’s journey into business after walking away from a corporate role that didn’t support motherhood

• Why automations and lead magnets kept her business growing while she was on maternity leave

• How to actually make your marketing fit your season of life

• The myth of perfection and why real > curated, every single time

This is a must-listen if you’ve ever:
✔️ Felt overwhelmed by marketing advice
✔️ Wondered if it’s okay to love your business and your babies
✔️ Needed permission to keep it simple

My favourite quote from Bec:
"My business isn’t just my business. It’s how I’ve found myself."

Links + Resources
→ Get Bec’s free Lead Generation Blueprint: https://lead-generation-blueprint.becalison.com.au/fun003-1-7369-4194
→ Link up with Bec: @‌becallisonau or https://www.becallison.com.au/
→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama
→ Join The Balanced Business Mama Circle
→ Subscribe to never miss an episode!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’re not failing - you’re just carrying a lie that was never yours to begin with.

In this episode of Coffee, Clients, and Naptime, I’m breaking down The Mum Guilt Lie - that voice in your head telling you you’re not doing enough in business or motherhood.

It’s a lie that keeps so many of us stuck, stretched thin, and questioning whether we’re cut out for this.

Here’s the truth:
You don’t have to choose between being a present mum and building a business that lights you up. And you’re allowed to do both without guilt.

Inside this episode, I’ll walk you through:

• What mum guilt really is (and why it’s not your fault)

• The 3-step shift I use to move through it instead of getting stuck in it

• The 4 systems that help me balance business, motherhood, and mental load - without burning out

• Affirmations and questions to reframe the guilt and give yourself more grace

This is your reminder that you’re not behind, broken, or failing. You’re navigating something hard - and you’re doing better than you think.

Episode Highlights
Letting go of unrealistic expectations
Creating systems that work in your season of life
Reframing guilt into compassion and clarity
Why grace gets you further than hustle ever will

Links + Resources
→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama
→ Join The Balanced Business Mama Circle
→ Subscribe to never miss an episode!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Nap Time Chats - the guest episode series inside Coffee, Clients, and Naptime!

This week, I’m joined by AI & automation expert Brooke Wright from Wright Way Virtual Solutions. We’re talking all things smarter systems, time-saving tools, and how to use AI without sounding like a robot (or burning out completely).

Brooke shares her journey as a neurodivergent mama in business, how AI helps lighten the mental load, and why automations should be every mum’s business bestie.

Whether you’re totally new to AI or already in a situationship with ChatGPT, this episode will help you work smarter not harder.

Inside this episode:

Brooke’s journey from burnout to building a biz that fits her brain
Why AI is a powerful tool for neurodivergent mums (and kids)
Automations every mama needs in her business toolbox
How to stay human while using AI
Favourite apps that actually make a difference (hello, time freedom!)

Mentioned Tools:

• ChatGPT: ChatGPT | OpenAI

• Get Brooke’s “BrainBuddy” Bot: https://wrightwayvs.myflodesk.com/brainbuddy

• Gamma.app: http://www.gamma.app/

• Fathom AI: https://fathom.partnerlinks.io/WrightwayVS

• Zapier: https://zapier.com/

• Notion: Your connected workspace for wiki, docs & projects | Notion

• If anyone loves FloDesk like Brooke, you can get 50% off your first year:
  https://partners.flodesk.com/Wrightwayvs

Links + Resources
→ Get Brooke’s “BrainBuddy” Bot: https://wrightwayvs.myflodesk.com/brainbuddy
→ Link up with Brooke: @‌wrightwayvs or www.wrightwayvs.com
→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama
→ Join The Balanced Business Mama Circle
→ Subscribe to never miss an episode!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is hustle culture keeping you stuck in burnout mode? You’re not alone.
In this episode of Coffee, Clients & Naptime, I’m breaking down exactly why the glorified “grind harder” mentality doesn’t work for mums - and how to build something better.

We’ll talk about:

• Why hustle culture is especially harmful for mums in business

• What burnout really looks like (and why it’s not your fault)

• My S.A.F.E. Success System - the sustainable way to grow your business and stay present as a parent

If you’re craving a business that works around your life, not the other way around, then this one’s for you.

Inside this episode, I share:
How to protect your mental load and energy
The power of defining your own version of success
How to build flexibility into your week
Tools + tips to work more efficiently (without adding more hours)

Links + Resources
→ Come say hi on Instagram: @balancedbizmama
→ Want support building your S.A.F.E. biz? DM me “BALANCE” to chat.
→ Join The Balanced Business Mama Circle
→ Subscribe to never miss an episode!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the very first episode of Coffee, Clients, and Naptime!
In this intro episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my journey from sleep-deprived side hustler to full-blown business mama - all while raising babies, navigating self-doubt, and choosing a life that works for me. If you’ve ever wondered whether you really can grow a biz during nap time, this one’s for you.

I share:

• How I started my first business prior to having kids

• What led me to leave corporate and go all-in on my VA/OBM biz

• Why I launched The Balanced Business Mama - and this podcast

• The real talk I wish more mums in biz would share

Whether you're just starting out or deep in the juggle, this episode is your permission slip to chase big dreams without burning out.

Links + Resources
→ Join The Balanced Business Mama Circle: https://balancedbizmama.com.au/bbm-circle
→ Work with me 1:1: https://balancedbizmama.com.au/mama-momentum
→ Come say hi on Instagram: @balancedbizmama
→ Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to a Mama's Guide To Balancing Parenthood & Working From Home!

The Coffee, Clients, and Nap-time podcast is for you! Ambitious parents ready to build a fulfilling business while raising their families.

Hosted by Sarah Maree—mother, entrepreneur, and mentor with 15 years of experience in building successful businesses.

In this podcast you will learn how to attract clients during nap-time, after school drop-off, or in those precious in-between moments of parenting meeting your business dreams.

We will share practical tools and proven methods to help you transition from corporate life to running a successful business on your own terms.

If you're a parent looking to replace the 9-to-5 with flexibility, freedom, and purpose, this podcast is for you. This is the support you need to create the life you’ve always dreamed of—for yourself and your family.

So, grab your coffee, and let’s make it happen!

BRAND NEW EPISODES COMING SOON. HIT SUBSCRIBE TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW.

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Follow along on Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/balancedbizmama/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.