The Balance Theory

You’ve been trying to do it all. And somehow you still end up feeling guilty, scattered and not fully present anywhere. The problem isn’t that you want more. It’s the belief that you have to carry all of it at once.

In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Joey Djia, singer-songwriter, content creator, founder of baby and parenting brand Little & Co and mum of two sets of twins, to unpack the reality of being an ambitious working mum who also wants to be a deeply present one. Joey shares what it was like to raise four babies one and under, how motherhood changed her capacity but not her ambition and how she handles mum guilt while building businesses from home. This is not a guide to doing it all perfectly. It is an honest conversation about holding two truths at once.

If you have ever caught yourself thinking:

"Did I even hold them today, just because I wanted to?"

"Why do I feel so guilty taking a day to work?"

"I'm here with my kids, but my brain is on my inbox."

"Will having kids mean putting my dreams on hold?"

"Being a mum is everything to me, but it's not all I am."

Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Joey cover:

• What it was really like finding out she was having twins, twice, and raising four babies one and under

• How Joey went from X Factor and a record deal to forensic science, teaching and building her own businesses

• Why her ambition didn't change after kids but her capacity did, and how she's learning to work with it

• The honest truth about mum guilt, including why taking a day to work can feel like leaving your kids behind

• The part of her pre-mum identity she consciously protects and the fear that drives it

• How she shows up as the version of herself she wants her kids to learn from, even on the chaotic days

• What motherhood triggers taught her about her own childhood and the invisible load

• Why some kinds of help are still hard for her to accept

• What she wishes she knew about C-sections, plus the most unnecessary and most worth it baby items

• How she balances being present with capturing content and her dream working mum set up. You do not have to choose between the mum you want to be and the life you want to build.

Filmed at Pivotal Conversations Studios

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(00:00) Introduction

(03:46) I’ve had 9 lives

(07:14) Is singing still important to you?

(09:17) I had 4 babies 1 and under

(18:08) What I underestimated about going from 2 to 4

(19:55) I wish I knew this about a C-Section before I had one

(23:46) An ordinary day in our house

(26:44) I'm a walking contradiction (to be honest)

(29:03) What motherhood triggers do you have?

(36:58 ) Are you good at asking for help?

(40:13) Truth about mum guilt

(42:14) Switching from work mode to mum mode

(44:44) What part of your pre-mum identity are you protecting?

(45:48) How was your ambition changed by motherhood?

(55:34 ) Why did you start a business?

(57:01) The most unnecessary baby items

(1:00:33) Raising 4 kids not 2 sets of twins

(1:02:50) Unsolicited CRAZY advice I've received

(01:06:26) Balancing being present and capturing content

(01:11:34) Ideal working mum set up

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You do not have to chase what is meant for you. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is step back... and let it come to you.

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You finally get a moment to yourself… but you’re too exhausted to do anything with it.

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She built a brand from nothing at 22 with no financial backing and an industry full of doubt... and fully backed her self anyway. This kind of confidence is inspirational, so turn the volume up for this one!

In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Sammy Robinson, founder of One Mile and content creator of over a decade, to unpack what it actually takes to build something on your own when the people around you are unsure. This is not a masterclass on starting a fashion brand. It is the honest story of what confidence, risk and burnout look like behind a business that looks like it has it all together.

If you have ever caught yourself thinking:

"Am I crazy for wanting to do this differently"

"Everyone around me is being realistic but it feels wrong to me"

"I don't want to let the people who rely on me down"

Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Sammy cover:

• Why Sammy backed herself at 22 with no financial backing and no one telling her it was a good idea

• The real reason she chose to build a brand instead of buying property in her early twenties

• What it actually felt like to be underestimated as a young founder

• Why she believes staying a little delusional is necessary when you are building something from nothing

• The moment she realised she had completely burnt herself out running the brand and the social side at once

• The health scare that forced her to put herself first for the first time in her career

• The daily boundaries and non negotiables she now protects no matter what

• Why she has almost stopped capturing content and what that says about where she is at in her life

• How she thinks about authenticity, AI and standing out in a saturated creator economy

• What success actually means to her now that she has built the financial freedom she once worked for

Wherever you are in your own journey right now, Sammy's story is proof that you do not need everyone's permission to start and you do not have to lose yourself to build something real.

Filmed at Pivotal Conversations Studios

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TIME STAMP

(00:00) Introduction
(03:35) High school Sammy and her early sense of self
(09:47) What it felt like when her early YouTube videos went viral
(12:58) Did she ever have to play a character online
(14:14) Starting One Mile at 22
(10:59) How she landed on the vision for the brand
(18:40) Betting her savings on One Mile instead of buying property
(20:06) Being underestimated as a 22 year old founder
(22:21 ) The reality of the first 12 months running a business
(24:10 ) What made her decide to open a bricks and mortar store
(26:00) What opening stores unlocked in her as a leader
(27:44) Learning to trust her team and let go of control
(32:09) Is she naturally more Type A or Type B
(33:35) How she actually makes decisions, intuition versus logic
(36:50) Her advice for anyone wanting to start a personal brand
(39:14) Evolving faster than the business and the cost of carrying it all
(42:00) Turning 30 and taking the year to travel
(43:20) What success actually means to her now
(46:49) The health scare that forced her to slow down
(49:22) The boundaries and daily rules she lives by now
(51:13) Her one non-negotiable for a good day
(57:15) Reflecting on her 20s in one word
(59:08) How content creation has changed for her after a decade
(1:01:34) How AI is changing the creator economy
(1:03:16) How to be authentic online without overthinking it
(1:08:20) Was there ever a day she wanted to quit
(1:09:05) Her ten-year vision for One Mile
(1:11:14) Who inspires her

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This is a conversation about confidence like you've never heard before.

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You are allowed to let go of the rules and routines that no longer fit your healthiest self, and this episode might just be the permission slip and re-evaluation you've been waiting for.

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Some realisations don’t just make you think... they permanently change the way you see your life.

In this episode, I’m sharing 13 powerful realisations, mindset shifts and life lessons that you can’t unhear once you’ve heard them. The kind of ideas that instantly make you question the way you’ve been approaching your goals, relationships, confidence, habits, happiness and the person you’re becoming.

These aren’t complicated self-development theories or another list of things you need to “fix” about yourself.

They’re simple perspective shifts that have genuinely changed the way I think, make decisions, handle difficult seasons and move through life and I know at LEAST one of them will shift something in you too.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, putting pressure on yourself to have everything figured out, or simply want a fresh perspective on your life, this episode is for you.

Because sometimes, changing your life doesn’t require changing everything. Sometimes you just need to SEE something differently.

And welcome back to our solo episodes, I missed these SO much! Let me know if you want to keep seeing more :)

Thank you SO MUCH to today's sponsors, you can check them out here:

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EPISODE LINKS:

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TIME STAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(00:42) Realisation 1

(02:20) Realisation 2 

(04:43) Realisation 3

(06:16) Realisation 4

(08:34) Realisation 5

(11:15) Realisation 6

(12:14) Realisation 7

(13:46) Realisation 8

(17:13) Realisation 9

(18:16) Realisation 10

(18:27) Realisation 11

(19:08) Realisation 12

(20:18) Realisation 13

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She did everything herself. She carried everyone. She showed up perfectly while quietly paying a cost she never even knew she was paying.

In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Dr Neeta Bhushan, 4x author, host of the top mental health podcast The Brave Table and founder of Chaitionics, for one of the most honest conversations about what it actually costs to be the woman who does it all. This is not a conversation about burnout or boundaries. It is about the moment you realise you have been performing your whole life for everyone else and what it looks like to finally stop.

If you have ever caught yourself thinking:

"It is just easier to do it myself"

"I am done carrying everyone but I do not know how to stop"

"I show up for everyone but nobody shows up for me"

"I did not even realise how much this was costing me"

"I have been the strong one for so long I do not know who I am without it"

Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Dr Neeta cover:

What it costs to be the woman who does everything herself and why nobody talks about it

How performing for everyone else quietly disconnects you from yourself

Why not every yes is worth saying and how to know the difference

What it actually means to be both grounded and ambitious at the same time

How to hold space for big goals without urgency or force

Why your most successful trait might be the thing blocking your creativity

What motherhood reveals about the stories you have been telling yourself

The Fly Forward Framework and how to use it to move forward without burning out

Why being a beginner again is one of the most powerful things you can do

What you would say to the person you lost if you had one more conversation

The cost of doing everything yourself is real. This episode is what nobody told you about it.

SPONSORS:

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TIMESTAMP

(00:00) Introduction

WHO AM I?

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RESOURCES

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You don't need more consistency, clarity or strategy if you are struggling with even putting yourself out there in the first place... and the good news is, working through this is simpler than you think. Whether you work for yourself, someone else, have your own business or are a content creator, then this episode is the kick starter you need to move past all of those fears & uncertainties and CLAIM the opportunities that are waiting for you! 

In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Reim, CEO, Executive Producer, Founder, and Content Visibility Expert, to unpack what it actually means to show up online in 2026. This is not another lecture about hustling for followers. It is a real conversation about the fear, the excuses, and the exact shifts that make visibility feel natural instead of forced.

If you have ever caught yourself thinking:

"I don't want to watch myself on camera"

"I don't know what parts of my life I should share"

"Posting online will make me less credible at work"

"I keep starting and stopping and never staying consistent"

"Everyone's watching but nobody's engaging, is this even working"

Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Reim cover:

- Why a resume alone isn't enough to get opportunities in 2026

- The real reason you feel nervous or awkward showing up on camera

- How to figure out what parts of your life you actually want to share online

- Why finding your niche advice is often misleading, and what to focus on instead

- How to build an authentic personal brand without oversharing your private life

- What it really means to be strategic with content without overengineering every post

- Why consistency isn't the metric that actually grows your visibility

 - ow to know if your content is working beyond likes and comments

- Why the people who leapfrog you in opportunities are usually just more visible, not more qualified

- What your online legacy says about you, and why it matters more than you think

Visibility is not about being loud, it is about finally being seen for the work you have already done.

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CONNECT

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Ted Talk

TIMESTAMP

(00:00) Introduction

(05:51) You're Not Confident Posting Because of THIS

(09:15) Tips If You're Scared of What Other People Think

(16:48) How Do I Decide What Parts of Myself I Want to Share Online?

(20:04) Does EVERYONE Need to be creating content in 2026?

(22:03) Content Can Make You Stand Out as an Employee Like THIS

(29:50) Getting Rid of Your FEAR of Showing Up Online

(33:18) Strategising Without Over-Engineering

(38:16) How to Make Posting Feel Natural

(40:26) Clarity First or Just Getting Started?

(44:12) Should You Post More of What Everyone Likes?

(51:03) What Is Your Online Legacy?

(56:18) Growth You Get From Becoming Visible

(56:48) Today’s Challenge: Try THIS Today

WHO AM I?

I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.

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▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

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Your ambition has not gone anywhere. Life just pulled the handbrake.

In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Nicki Bedford, founder of Founders Official and former Head of Asia Pacific at BuzzFeed, for one of the most honest conversations about what ambition actually looks like when life forces you to slow down. This is not a conversation about giving up or settling. It is about what happens when your drive is bigger than your current capacity and how slowing down might be the very thing that gets you there faster.

If you have ever caught yourself thinking:

"I can't afford to slow down right now"

"I wish I could do more but something keeps holding me back"

"I feel behind no matter how hard I work"

"I know where I am going but I can't move at the pace I want"

"My identity feels tied to my output and I don't know who I am without it"

Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Nicki cover:

- What the forced slowdown actually does to your ambition and why it is not what you think

- Why your identity being tied to your output is keeping you stuck not moving forward

- How to move through inner conflict when your ambition and your capacity are at war

- Why slowing down will catapult your success faster than grinding ever will

- The two questions to ask yourself when your behaviour is contradicting your goals

- What happens right before people make it and how to recognise that season

- How to hold space for big ambition and presence with yourself at the same time

- Why there is no deadline to figuring out your life and what that actually means

- The sales skill everyone needs and how to pitch yourself without feeling pushy

- Where AI is a no-go and why your humanness is your biggest competitive advantage

You do not have to choose between your ambition and your wellbeing. This episode is the proof.

SPONSORS:

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TIMESTAMP

(00:00) Introduction

(06:45) The Forced Slow down

(10:21 ) Moving through your inner conflict

(15:20) Change the 'how' not the 'what'

(18:39) The Balance Theory

(20:13) I used to think 'hustle' culture was a positive

(21:16) 2 questions to ask yourself

(23:34) Your successful trait blocked you doing THIS

(29:05) Give yourself permission to be slower with YOURSELF

(31:44) Are you contradicting your goals?

(36:41) Success then versus now

(38:33) This is most predictable in an entrepreneur's mindset

(41:51) THIS Happens right before people make it

(44:59) How to stop thinking about the 'timeline'

(47:45) You need 3 things to be good at Sales (#1 skill everyone needs)

(51:14) Pitch yourself using these tactics / steps

(56:34) AI is a NO-GO In these areas

WHO AM I?

I’m Erika, an Australian living in Dubai, a mum and the creator and host of this podcast. After almost a decade in law, I’ve stepped into a new chapter centred on what I love - helping people understand themselves, grow and build lives that feel aligned. As someone with big ambitions, I’m passionate about pursuing what matters and to do so, we need to create our own lives intentionally. This channel is a space for honest conversations, curiosity and practical tools to support that journey. Welcome - I’m glad you’re here.

📸 My personal IG

LET’S BE FRIENDS

🌍 Sign Up to Our Newsletter

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⭐ Substack

📸 Instagram

📱Tiktok

RESOURCES

▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon

▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge

▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

🧡 This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices