The Balanced Badass Podcast® is the show for high-achieving professionals who want to prevent burnout, master work-life balance, and stay badass without losing their sanity. Each week, we’re not just tackling your overflowing calendar and keeping your household on track; we’re getting into burnout prevention and recovery strategies so that you have time to breathe, laugh, and savor that much-needed glass of wine at the end of the day. Think of this podcast as your weekly dose of practical ad ...
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Cracking Burnout in Helping Roles with Ina Qema
46:23
46:23
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46:23Today's episode gets into burnout in the helping professions with special guest Ina, a therapist and mentor. Ina shares her journey from experiencing burnout to mastering balance and leadership in her field. Learn the importance of self-care, boundary-setting, and focusing on strengths to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Get ready for actionab…
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Welcome back! This episode gets into the concept of Effort-Reward Imbalance to explain why you can be working hard and still feel stuck. If you're tired of useless advice and want to get to the root of your burnout, this episode is for you. We discuss the impact of constant emotional and mental labor, the cognitive load that drains your energy, and…
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Should You Stay or Should You Go? The 3-Question Burnout Test for Leaders
27:17
27:17
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27:17It's the Season 2 finale, folks! We're talking about burnout and how to really figure out if it's time to leave your job. And we'll jump right in with a three-question burnout test that'll help you see if you're stuck in a toxic work environment. This episode is packed with real talk about misalignment, emotional tolls, and actions you can take to …
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In this episode, we're getting into the exhausting performance of the work persona that many of us feel compelled to maintain. Tara shares a heartfelt message about the cost of constantly performing professionalism at the expense of our authentic selves. Learn how this persistent act can lead to burnout, emotional disconnection, and a loss of self-…
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Breaking Up With Guilt: Why You Shouldn't Feel Bad About Saying No
29:06
29:06
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29:06In this episode, we tackle the manipulative voice of guilt that wreaks havoc on your energy, decision-making, and sustainable leadership. Specifically, we discuss boundary guilt—the kind that makes you feel bad for protecting your own time and energy. We explore the roots of this guilt, the societal conditioning that exacerbates it, and its costly …
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Understanding Hypnotherapy's Role in Healing with Andrea Ramírez
50:47
50:47
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50:47In this insightful episode, we're joined by Andrea Ramírez to explore the incredible power of the subconscious mind. We discuss Andrea's personal journey through trauma, burnout, and how hypnotherapy became a transformative tool for lasting change. Discover the nuances of hypnotherapy, understand the deep connection between the subconscious and bur…
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The Energetic Side of Burnout with Amanda Marek
35:19
35:19
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35:19In this episode of the Balance Badass Podcast, we explore burnout recovery from an energetic perspective with Amanda, a former nurse turned Reiki master and owner of Heart in Harmony Healing. Amanda shares her personal experience with burnout and how she discovered the importance of Reiki, boundaries, and rest in her recovery. We discuss how energy…
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Your First 90 Days After a Layoff – What No One Tells You About Moving On
26:54
26:54
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26:54In this episode, we're getting into the harsh realities of the current job market and the emotional turmoil that follows a layoff. Whether you've been hit by corporate budget cuts, the tech industry shake-up, or the federal government downsizing fiasco, you're not alone. We address the grief, identity crisis, and stress associated with losing your …
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Running on Empty: Recognizing When Your Energy Reserves Are Dangerously Low
18:24
18:24
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18:24Always feeling tired no matter how much coffee you chug? Let's get into why high achievers push through the exhaustion and often miss the signs of burnout. Discover the sneaky ways burnout creeps in, how stress messes with your brain, and most importantly, how to actually recover your energy. We're talking about setting real boundaries, making last…
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When Your Workplace is a Ticking Time Bomb: Handling a Culture Where Everyone’s Burned Out
28:31
28:31
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28:31Feeling the burnout at work? This episode breaks down the pervasive culture of workplace burnout, examining the systemic issues like unrealistic expectations, lack of support, and glorification of overwork. We’ll explore how these factors contribute to a toxic environment and offer practical steps for employees to set boundaries, manage workloads, …
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The HR Playbook for Balanced and Equitable Workplaces with Kirsten Zeigler
49:15
49:15
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49:15In this episode, Tara chats with Kirsten Zeigler, founder of KDZ HR Consulting. The discussion focuses on strategies to keep burnout at bay while building equitable workplaces. Kirsten gets into her HR expertise, offering practical advice on managing energy, setting boundaries, and leading with integrity. They also cover the importance of pay trans…
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When "Good Enough" Isn't Good Enough: How Perfectionism Feeds Burnout
21:28
21:28
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21:28In this episode, we tackle the paradox of perfectionism and the value of "good enough." Discover how the relentless pursuit of flawlessness may be the root cause of your exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout. Learn about the origins of perfectionist tendencies, how they play out in adulthood, and the ways they drain your energy and time. More importantl…
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The Dark Side of Company Culture: What "Always-On" Really Costs You
17:42
17:42
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17:42In this episode, Tara discusses the toxic "always on" culture requiring constant availability, which impacts mental and physical health. She examines its origins, driven by technology, hustle culture, the pandemic, and capitalism, and provides practical steps for setting boundaries and challenging urgency without guilt. Tara also addresses the exag…
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Why Vacations and Self-Care Won't Cure Burnout (And What Will) with Kelsea Warren
49:41
49:41
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49:41In this episode, Tara welcomes Kelsea, The Seamless Coach, who specializes in burnout prevention. They discuss Kelsea's personal experiences with burnout and how they inform her current work. The conversation highlights the inadequacy of self-care and vacations as solutions for burnout, emphasizing the importance of addressing root causes. Addition…
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The Journey to Self-Discovery with Dr. Lanecha Conner
50:20
50:20
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50:20In this episode of the Balanced Badass Podcast, Tara welcomes the first-ever guest, Dr. Lanecha, known as The ConnectHER. They discuss the importance of reconnecting with oneself amidst burnout, particularly for ambitious millennial women. Dr. Lanecha shares her journey from losing touch with herself to reclaiming her identity through self-reflecti…
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How to Use What You’re Good At to Hit Your Goals
13:18
13:18
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13:18In this second season kickoff of the Balanced Badass Podcast, Tara shares her holiday adventure that unexpectedly landed her in the hospital with blood clots. Reflecting on her experience, she encourages listeners to focus on their strengths to achieve their goals without burnout. Using relatable examples and research-backed insights, Tara emphasiz…
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New Year, New Focus: How to Close Out the Old Year and Gear Up for the New One
26:14
26:14
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26:14We made it, friend—the season one finale of The Balanced Badass Podcast™! Can you believe we're already wrapping up 2024? This episode is gonna get into the highs, the lows, and the "what the hell was I even thinking?" moments from this year. We're reflecting on what worked, what didn't, and what we need to let go of so we're not dragging the same …
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Why You’ll Never Find Balance–And That’s a Good Thing
20:32
20:32
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20:32Feel like you're always chasing balance but never quite catching it? Here’s the truth: balance isn’t some perfect, static state—it’s a messy, ever-changing process, and anyone telling you otherwise is selling a pipe dream. In this episode, we’re blowing up the myth of “having it all together” and diving into why balance isn’t a destination but a mo…
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Who’s Got Your Back? The 5 People You Need for a Burnout-Resistant Life
36:29
36:29
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36:29In this episode of the Balance Badass podcast, Tara emphasizes the importance of building a strong support system to combat burnout. She discusses five key types of people essential for creating a burnout-resistant life: role models, mentors, coaches, cheerleaders, and sponsors. Tara shares personal stories of her own struggles with burnout and exp…
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Burnout, Red Tape, and Trust Issues (Oh My!): The Case for Workplace Autonomy
14:01
14:01
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14:01Are you stuck in a job where every decision feels like it needs five levels of approval? Do constant status updates and micromanagement have you feeling more like a robot than a real contributor? You’re not alone—and it’s time to talk about why autonomy at work isn’t just a luxury, but a necessity. In this episode, we’re digging into the soul-crush…
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Are You in the Danger Zone? Recognizing Burnout Triggers
25:29
25:29
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25:29Ever feel like your laptop’s overheating? That’s you teetering on the brink of burnout. In this episode, we dig into recognizing burnout triggers and the essential warning signs of burnout that too many of us ignore. From mental exhaustion and physical signs of burnout to setting boundaries and managing work stress, this episode covers it all. Hear…
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Keeping It Together When Everything Feels Like It's Falling Apart
23:57
23:57
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23:57In this episode, Tara tackles the challenge of how to keep it together when life feels like it’s falling apart. She shares a personal story about managing chaos during a flea infestation with her five dogs (surprise twist, there’s a lot of dog pee involved!) and uses it to discuss how to handle stress and overwhelm when everything seems to go wrong…
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What Burnout Really Is (And What It’s Not)
29:09
29:09
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29:09In this episode, Tara tackles the topic of burnout and what it really means. She breaks down the signs and symptoms that indicate you might be sliding into burnout territory, like constant exhaustion, emotional drain, and feeling detached from things that used to bring you joy. Tara also clears up some common misconceptions about burnout—like the i…
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Grieving What I Hoped For: A Post-Election Reflection
7:08
7:08
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7:08It's the day after the 2024 U.S. election, and I'm off my regular content schedule to unpack the whirlwind of emotions I'm feeling: disappointment, shock, and even despair. This isn't about politics but about the deeper values of compassion, fairness, and empathy that feel threatened by the election results. Struggling to reconcile my hopes for a k…
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Stress Less Every Day: Simple Tricks for Quick Relief
37:06
37:06
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37:06In this episode, Tara shares practical stress management strategies tailored for high-achieving professionals. She recounts her own experiences at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating the chaos and stress that ensued. Tara introduces actionable techniques such as deep breathing, creating a low-priority 'f*** it list,' power poses for co…
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Setting Goals That Make You Want to Jump Out of Bed
22:09
22:09
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22:09Tara discusses how most people either don't set goals or fail at them because they're uninspiring and based on external expectations. She encourages listeners to toss out these 'should' goals and instead find goals that truly excite them. Tara provides practical steps for identifying what genuinely matters to you, breaking down goals into small act…
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How to Reframe Your Mindset and Build Real Confidence
17:54
17:54
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17:54In this episode, Tara talks about building confidence by doing things that scare you. She shares her experience of managing her first professional staff member and explains that confidence comes from taking action, not from feeling ready. Tara highlights the importance of changing negative thoughts, focusing on your strengths, and celebrating small…
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Why Overthinking is Costing You More Than You Realize
22:13
22:13
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22:13In this episode, Tara goes headfirst into the annoying habit of overthinking. She opens up about her own brain's antics, like that awkward 'I love you' moment with her boss and those pre-presentation nerves that keep her up at night. Tara shares how overthinking robs us of time, energy, and self-confidence. She reveals some eye-opening stats about …
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Balancing a Demanding Career and Home Life Without Losing Your Mind
26:33
26:33
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26:33In the first episode, Tara opens up about the real challenges of managing work and family demands. She shares her personal story about the struggles and consequences of trying to do it all, including missing a crucial moment with her dad. Tara argues that perfect balance is unattainable and instead offers practical advice on setting boundaries, pri…
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In this introductory episode, personal growth coach Tara welcomes listeners to the 'Balanced Badass Podcast,' aimed at high-achieving professionals feeling overwhelmed and burned out. Sharing her personal journey of stress and burnout, Tara highlights the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing what truly matters. She debunks the myth of …
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