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What if the reason you can't stick to anything isn't a lack of discipline — it's that your brain was never wired for willpower in the first place?

Dr Gina Cleo — one of Australia's most sought-after habit researchers, author of The Habit Revolution and a dietitian-turned-PhD who built a career translating habit science into practical, everyday steps — sits down with me for the opening episode of the new season.

Gina doesn't hold back: she shares her issues with Atomic Habits and the misinterpreted research behind some of its biggest ideas, debunks the 21-day habit myth, and explains why motivation doesn't work — and what actually does. We get into the dopamine economy engineered to keep you saying "just one more reel," habit mapping and the five triggers behind everything you do on autopilot, and her unpopular opinion that work-life balance doesn't exist.

She also flips the script and interviews me — and I open up about the season that broke me apart and rebuilt me: leaving a safe political career to start Yellow Panda, losing my mum at 35, the COVID freeze, and becoming a bigger, bolder version of myself through motherhood.

If you've ever felt stuck, this is your reminder: you are not stuck with your brain.

Connect with Gina: Instagram: @drginacleo Website: drginacleo.com

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why some of Atomic Habits' most fundamental ideas rest on misinterpreted research
• The 21-day habit myth — and why believing it sets you up to quit
• Why motivation doesn't work, and self-efficacy is the number one predictor of success
• The dopamine economy: why scrolling is now the number one most-reported unwanted habit
• Habit mapping: the five triggers behind everything you do on autopilot
• Why habit tracking makes you two to three times more likely to follow through
• Gina's unpopular opinion that work-life balance doesn't exist
• Self-care as a habit, not a luxury
• The deeper link between habits, addiction and trauma
• Gina flipping the script: my journey from politics to Yellow Panda, losing my mum, and rebuilding myself through motherhood
• Why you're never stuck: your brain is constantly rewiring, and any habit can change

Mentioned in this episode:

• Gina's book: The Habit Revolution
• Your Habit Blueprint — Gina's online course, via her website
• Atomic Habits by James Clear

What do you do when everything you've worked so hard to build comes crashing down — in your business, or in your life?

This week I'm opening up my little black book again to introduce you to one of my favourite people: Sally Branson Dalwood, a crisis and reputation specialist, founder of The Sally Branson Consulting Group, and former Senior Press Secretary to an Australian Prime Minister. Crisis is all she does — for iconic brands, global companies and high-profile individuals, and in this conversation she shows you how to bring those exact same tools home.

We dive deep into the identity crisis of becoming a mother, why the "women can have it all" narrative sets us up to fail, and how the truth is closer to you can have it all, just not all at the same time, and not without the right scaffolding.

In this episode:

✷ Why crisis is actually a great indicator of opportunity — and how to use one to plan your next season✷ The "scaffolding" every ambitious woman needs before things go wrong (not after)✷ How to stakeholder-map your personal life — borrowed straight from corporate crisis management✷ The guilt of getting support, and why outsourcing doesn't make you less of a mum✷ Knowing your values before the sh*t hits the fan — Sally's litmus test for every decision✷ Sally's real-world routine: 4:30am deep work, flexible days, and a non-negotiable annual girls' weekend✷ Raising good men, the mental load, and why comparison is the thief of joy — but also a teacher, if you look at what you don't want

If you've ever been in a crisis , or want to make sure you're ready before the next one, this episode is for you.

Connect with Sally:LinkedIn: Sally Branson DalwoodWebsite: sallybransonconsulting.comInstagram: @thesbcgroup🎁 Grab Sally's free Calm in a Crisis Guide: sallybransonconsulting.com/store

What happens when the woman who holds everything together finally falls apart?

Nadine Muller spent 14 years in the Australian Air Force and 13 as an emergency nurse. She was the athlete, the achiever, the one everyone leaned on — until two hospitalised pregnancies, pregnancy loss, a family in crisis and years of "shoulding herself to death" ended with her asleep at the wheel, metres from oncoming traffic.

In this episode, Nadine — author of A Reason to Rise, and now a life and business mentor — shares the mirror moment that changed everything: the day she stopped being the victim of her own story and demanded a different version of herself.

We talk about:

• The "good girl" conditioning that has women pouring from an empty cup

• The feather, the brick and the Mack truck — how the universe escalates until you listen

• Radical self-accountability (and why the victim stage is still part of the rite of passage)

• Inner child work — including the grown man brought to tears by a rescue puppy

• Untangling past trauma from present triggers

• Life by design: world-schooling, travelling families, and why "that's not available to me" is the most dangerous sentence you can say

If you've ever asked "who am I when I'm not the one who does it all?" — this one's for you.

Connect with Nadine on Instagram [@nadinemuller] | Her book: A Reason to Rise

What happens when you build a business designed to fit your life as a mother — not the other way around? In this episode, systems-and-automation expert Kiah Woling joins Amanda Delosa to reveal how she runs a thriving 10-year business on school hours only, why treating your home like a business is the delegation hack no one talks about, and how to keep the wheels on when life throws cyclones, grief and chaos at you all at once. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “getting a lot done but not actually moving the needle,” this raw, practical conversation will change how you structure your days.

1. Design your business inside-out. Kiah started from a non-negotiable — being present for her kids by engineering every offer, deliverable and boundary around it, rather than squeezing family into her calendar.

2. Time-block with intention (and schedule your “shits and bits”). Protect 2–3 deep-work blocks a day, and give scattered life-admin its own dedicated slot so it stops hijacking your big projects.

3. Treat your home like a business. SOPs, inventory lists and clear systems let you delegate the household load — to a nanny, house manager or au pair — the same way you’d delegate in your business.

4. Master your calendar to master your boundaries. “If it’s not in my calendar, it doesn’t get done.” Communicating the start and end of your deliverables and client contact time is what makes boundaries actually stick.

5. Automate with strategy, not shiny objects. Use the 1-1-1 rule — one hour, one week, one process — and know your true cost rate and hourly fee before you price, so you’re never “too expensive for your own business.”

What they don't show you on Instagram: the reality of building global empires while traveling the world with kids in tow.

Renee Warren - wife to Dan Martell, founder of the Pink Skirt Project, and mother of two - sits down with me to get brutally honest about worldschooling, ambitious marriages, and why "there's a reason not too many people are doing this - it's the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

We dive into the chaos nobody talks about, why travel is the ultimate relationship test, what it's really like being married to high-profile entrepreneurs, and how to design life on your own terms even when everyone thinks you're crazy.

Connect with Renee: Instagram: @renee_warren Podcast: Into The Wild Podcast

In this episode, we discuss:

• The brutal reality behind worldschooling while running global businesses

• Why "most days are so difficult" (the truth behind the travel photos)

• What people don't understand about being married to Dan Martell & Jack Delosa

• How travel became the biggest relationship test they've ever faced

• Real stories of when things went catastrophically wrong on the road

• What kids actually learn through worldschooling vs. traditional education

• Communication, intimacy, and managing conflict in ambitious marriages

• Creating household standards and why nobody owes you anything

• Body confidence and wearing what you want unapologetically

• Trusting your intuition when designing life by your own design

Mentioned in this episode:

• Elena Cardone's "Building an Empire"

• The Pink Skirt Project

• Worldschooling as an alternative to traditional education

Two visibility experts on losing themselves, the 1,000 true fans strategy, and why you don't need millions of followers

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The irony is almost too perfect: two women who built careers teaching others how to be visible completely disappeared when they became mothers.

Amanda Delosa and Carlii Lyon, former international publicist to Miranda Kerr, speaker, and author of "Courage to Be" both know how to build powerful personal brands. They've done it for celebrities, politicians, and business leaders.

But when they stepped away for maternity leave, they experienced what so many ambitious women face: overnight invisibility, disappeared colleagues who they thought were friends, and a complete identity crisis.

The Personal Brand Paradox:

Throughout this conversation, they argue both FOR and AGAINST building big social media followings. Because here's what they've learned through their own journeys and working with clients:

Some of the most powerful people in the world operate in closed networks. You'll only know their names in certain circles. They have immense influence despite having no social media followers.

But also? A lawyer who made 14.5 million views by making a salad at her desk and turned it into a national practice with eight additional lawyers on her team.

So which approach is right?

What you'll discover:

• Why the "1,000 True Fans" strategy often beats having millions of followers

• How to build a powerful personal brand as an introvert who values privacy

• The harsh reality: when invitations stop and everyone disappears during maternity leave

• How two personal brand experts lost themselves completely (and rebuilt)

• The Facebook group challenge that could change your network

The vulnerable truths: Carlii shares her journey from high school dropout to Miranda Kerr's publicist, moving to New York in her mid-20s, then choosing to step away completely when she had two babies 21 months apart. Three years later, she was sitting on the couch, depressed, wondering who she'd become.

Amanda opens up about relocating interstate, having Ariella, and feeling invisible for the first time in her life - despite knowing exactly how to build visibility.

What they learned:

• You don't need to choose between big reach and deep connections

• The power of "making space for grace"

• Why being intentional matters more than being everywhere

• How to add value without burning out

• The cosmic filter of people who disappear (and why it's actually a gift)

This episode isn't about telling you there's one right way to build a personal brand. It's about giving you permission to do it YOUR way - whether that's building a TikTok empire or cultivating a powerful closed network of 1,000 true fans.

Perfect for: Ambitious women navigating maternity leave, career transitions, or anyone trying to figure out how to stay visible without losing themselves in the process. Also, for introverts who hate social media but know they need to build their brand somehow.

It's honest. It's nuanced. And it proves that even the experts struggle with the very thing they teach.

What if your 40s aren't the beginning of decline, but actually your most powerful decade yet?

In this conversation, Amanda sits down with Belle Donaghey, third-generation owner of the American Donut Kitchen - a 75-year-old family legacy business. Belle went from wanting to be a coroner to running a multi-million dollar empire, and she's living proof that midlife is when women truly come into their power.

Belle shares her journey of transforming from someone who used to react quickly and please everyone, to embracing what she calls "midlife permission" - the freedom to stop apologising for who you are and what you want.

You'll discover:

• Why "curious not furious" became her life-changing mantra

• How she went from feeling intimidated as the only woman at business tables to thriving among elite entrepreneurs

• The real reason women don't invest in themselves (and why that needs to change)

• Why brick-and-mortar businesses can actually give you MORE freedom than online ventures

• How to get comfortable being uncomfortable - and why it's essential for growth

• The art of saying "no" as a complete sentence

Key moments include:

• Belle's revelation about why women put themselves at the bottom of their priority list

• Her strategy for tackling 100+ problems by focusing on just the top 3

• Why she believes there's no glass ceiling for female entrepreneurs

• The worst advice she almost took (and why she's glad she didn't listen)

This isn't just about business growth - it's about personal evolution, embracing all parts of who you are, and realising that your most confident, successful self might just be waiting for you in your 40s.

Perfect for ambitious women ready to stop shrinking and start owning their power.

Everyone glorifies extreme discipline. "Trust the process." "Do whatever it takes." "More is better." But what if that mindset is actually destroying your health?

In this eye-opening episode, Amanda sits down with her personal trainer Steph Duque - a 5x gold medal winning bodybuilder and Colombia's Person of the Year in Sport - who learned the hard way that extreme discipline comes with a devastating cost.

After a grueling 26-week competition prep, Steph didn't just win 5 gold medals. She also lost her period for over a year, watched her hair fall out, developed eating disorders, and gained 14kg in just 8 months after her victory. The "stage body" that everyone admired? It lasted just 10-12 weeks before her body crashed and demanded help.

You'll discover:

• The real cost of extreme discipline on your hormones and mental health

• Why "trust the process" can be dangerous (and the red flags every woman must know)

• How to spot coaches who care about your whole life vs. those who just want results

• The aftermath of transformation that Instagram never shows you

• Why 70% of Steph's clients are overwhelmed moms who've forgotten to put themselves first

• How to train and eat for longevity, not just short-term goals

This isn't anti-fitness or anti-goals. It's about finding sustainable ways to achieve what you want without sacrificing your health, relationships, or sanity in the process.

Bonus content: Steph also shares her journey from university lecturer to fitness coach, including the workplace harassment that changed everything and why boundaries are the skill they never taught us.

If you're tired of feeling like you need to be more disciplined, this episode will give you permission to find a better way - one that actually works for the long term.

Perfect for ambitious women who want to achieve their goals without burning out.

In this raw, honest episode, Amanda Delosa sits down with Lauren Dunn, reality TV star, founder of A Bit of Fun podcast, and fierce advocate for survivors, for a conversation about what it really takes to break the silence on abuse and live in your truth when the world wants you quiet.

Together, they share their own stories of navigating toxic relationships, people-pleasing, childhood conditioning, and the cost of speaking up,  especially as women in the public eye.

They unpack the myth of the “perfect victim,” the hidden impact of childhood conditioning, the dark side of “rage bait” reality TV, and the real work it takes to heal, help others, and stay unapologetically bold in a world that wants to keep women quiet.

This episode is a rally cry for anyone who’s ever doubted their strength, and proof that when women share their truth, they set others free too.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER & SUPPORT RESOURCES This episode discusses domestic violence and abuse. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, you are not alone — help is available:

🇦🇺 1800RESPECT (Australia): 1800 737 732 | www.1800respect.org.au 💙

Polished Man: Support the movement to end violence against women and children: www.polishedman.com 🌐 For international listeners: If you are outside Australia, please reach out to your local crisis helpline or emergency services.

If you ever feel unsafe, please call your local emergency number immediately.

What does it really take to rebuild your identity—and your income—after becoming a mum?
In this episode, Amanda chats with UGC creator and mum of two, Dani Slade, who is building a six-figure business working less than 20 hours a week from home. Together, they explore the creative chaos of entrepreneurship, why traditional career paths never fit, and how to design work that lights you up and fits around family.
They also get honest about the pressure of motherhood, the reality behind Instagram highlight reels, and what it means to stay true to yourself when you’re doing it all—without doing it perfectly.