The Balance Theory

What if the reason so many ambitious women feel torn about motherhood isn’t because they have to choose… but because no one has shown them how both can actually work?

In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with psychologist and friend (and her first guest ever on the show) Nancy Sokarno, to unpack the real, unfiltered experience of becoming a working mum - beyond the surface-level advice and societal expectations.

This conversation explores the identity shift that comes with motherhood, the internal conflict high-achieving women often face, and the uncomfortable truths that aren’t spoken about enough: from grief and resentment to guilt and pressure to “do it all.”

But more importantly, it reframes the narrative.

This isn’t about choosing between ambition and family. It’s about understanding what needs to evolve within you to hold both.
Whether you’re planning to become a mum, navigating early motherhood, or trying to build a life that includes both career and family, this episode will give you a deeper perspective on what that actually requires.

💭 What We Cover:

Why motherhood is an identity evolution, not just a new role

The internal pressure to be the “perfect” mother — and how to let it go

Why high-achieving women often struggle more in early motherhood

Grieving your old self while stepping into a new version of you

The truth about resentment, guilt, and relationship shifts after a baby

How to communicate better with your partner before and after becoming parents

Why asking for help is harder than it sounds (and how to shift this)

The reality of becoming a working mum — and why simple things feel harder

What ambition looks like after motherhood — and how it changes

The key mindset shift that allows you to build both a career and a family

You don’t go backwards after becoming a mother, you evolve.

The version of you that’s capable of holding both ambition and motherhood isn’t the old you… it’s the next version of you.

LINKS

💧 CURE HYDRATION - Use code “BALANCETHEORY” to get 20% off

⚪ KINSYN - Use code "BALANCETHEORY" to get 20% off

CONNECT

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

🎥 Original Nancy episode

TIME STAMPS
(01:36) Introduction

(07:47) Motherhood: Role change or identity reconstruction?

(13:10) Work you do before becoming a mother

(17:46) Grieving our old selves

(22:45) Understanding resentment

(27:53) Conversation starters for couples before a baby

(31:14) Asking for help

(36:58) Working Mum

(46:02) What skills in high performing women work against them when becoming mums?

(52:04) One thing all parents should know

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on IG!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

▶︎⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 25 Day Self Development Marathon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶︎ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21 Day Self Growth Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶︎ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goal Setting System E-Book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📱⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐ ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠

🧡 This description may contain 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

What if the reason you’re not living your dream life yet isn’t because you’re not working hard enough… but because you’re focusing on the wrong things?

In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with manifestation expert and entrepreneur Regan Hillyer to break down what actually creates results and why working harder is often the biggest misconception holding you back.

This is not about wishful thinking or surface-level manifestation. It’s about understanding your internal programming, shifting your emotional state, and learning how to align your actions with the life you actually want.If you’ve ever felt like:

“I know I’m capable of more, but I don’t know where to start”

“I’m doing everything right… but nothing is changing”

“I don’t have enough time, money, or resources yet”

this conversation will challenge that and give you a new way to approach creating your dream life.

🔑 What We Cover:

- Why working harder is NOT the answer to building your dream life

- The hidden beliefs that keep you stuck in the same reality

- How to stop living on autopilot and start creating intentionally

- Practical steps to manifest your exact dream life

- The role of emotional state in attracting opportunities

- How successful people actually think differently about growth and success

You don't want to miss this episode. It literally felt like magic sitting in it!

LINKS

💆‍♀️ COZY EARTH - Use code “ERIKA” to get 20% off (I’m currently loving the ankle weight socks)

CONNECT

📸 ⁠Instagram⁠

TIME STAMPS
(01:51) Introduction
(08:44) How do we start to create change in our life?
(13:12) Practical tips to manifest your exact dream life
(14:28) How to change your emotional state to manigest what you want
(18:16) Set Manifestation Alarms
(21:42) How do we manifest with our wounds there?
(26:32) Manifesting $1 million in 8 months
(33:22) Do I need to be patient or course correct?
(40:08) How to deadlines work with manifesting?
(42:55) Whats the most common money block?
(45:14) MUST TRY: Vision beyond Vision
(50:48) Can we borrow from our future self?

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on IG!⁠⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

▶︎⁠⁠⁠⁠ 25 Day Self Development Marathon⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶︎ ⁠⁠⁠⁠21 Day Self Growth Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶︎ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Goal Setting System E-Book⁠⁠⁠⁠

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

📱⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐ ⁠Substack⁠

🧡 This description may contain 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

What if the reason you feel constantly busy, overwhelmed, or pulled in every direction is because you’re saying yes to the wrong things?

In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Christine Assouad - author, serial entrepreneur, investor on Shark Tank Lebanon, and founder behind multiple ventures including Dunkin’ Lebanon and Semsom. She has mentored thousands of women across the Middle East and beyond and recently released her book The Power to Say Yes, which explores how learning to say yes to yourself can transform your life and career.

In this conversation, Christine shares what she has learned from mentoring thousands of women, why so many ambitious people struggle with guilt and overcommitment, and how to become intentional about where your time, energy, and attention go.

This episode dives into the tension between being capable and feeling obliged, why energy management matters more than time management, and how to start designing a life aligned with what actually matters to you.

What We Cover

• Why so many people say yes to everyone except themselves


• The hidden difference between being capable and feeling obligated


• The Wheel of Life exercise to understand what truly matters
• Why many ambitious women feel burnt out despite doing everything “right”


• The importance of energy management, not just time management


• How saying yes to one opportunity can shape an entirely different life path


• Why guilt often holds people back from pursuing what they want


• The smallest “yes” you can start with today to reclaim control of your life

This episode could be the one that powerfully changes your life. Make sure to share it with a friend if someone came to mind during the episode!

CONNECT

📸 Instagram

📚 The Power to Say YES!

TIME STAMPS

(00:34) Introduction

(03:16) Saying Yes to Everyone But Yourself

(04:33) What Foundation Do We Need To Build?

(10:04) Wheel of Life Exercise

(15:49) Hardest YES You’ve Given

(19:58) Being Capable v Obliged

(22:59) Energy Management

(26:43) Being an Entrepreneur v. Careerist

(31:20) Running 3 Iterations of Your Life

(34:35) How to Dream Without Being Ungrateful?

(38:37) Why a Monk Can’t Understand Guilt

(43:02) What’s the Smallest YES Someone Can Start With Today?

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 ⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on IG!⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

▶︎⁠⁠⁠ 25 Day Self Development Marathon⁠⁠⁠

▶︎ ⁠⁠⁠21 Day Self Growth Challenge⁠⁠⁠

▶︎ ⁠⁠⁠Goal Setting System E-Book⁠⁠⁠

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

📱⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠

⭐ Substack

🧡 This description may contain 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

What if the version of you that feels stuck, behind, or embarrassed about your past… is actually standing at the beginning of something powerful?

In this episode, I sit down with Crazy Auntie Ann, who went from alcoholism and rock bottom to 3M+ followers on TikTok, not by trying to go viral, but by finally becoming herself.

We talk about what it really means to stop caring what people think, how to reinvent yourself at any age, and why surrender, not willpower, changed her life forever.

This is a conversation about identity, confidence, sobriety, self-forgiveness, and starting again.

If you’ve ever felt:

* Like you’re behind in life

* Like you wasted years

* Like it’s “too late” to change

* Or like you’ve been living for other people.

💬 One of My Favourite Moments: “It’s not about winning or self-control. It’s about defeat.”

That surrender became the beginning of everything for Ann.

This episode is for you.

LINKS

💆‍♀️ ⁠COZY EARTH⁠ - Use code “ERIKA” to get 20% off ⁠HERE⁠ (I’m currently loving their comforters to enhance deep sleep)!

💨 AIR DOCTOR - Use code “ERIKA” to get $300 off: https://airdoctorpro.com

📸 I⁠⁠nstagram⁠⁠

TIME STAMPS

(01:53) Introduction

(07:41) Why did u start making TikToks?

(11:13) Why did you set your content?

(15:48) What advice would you give to creators?

(17:53) I haven’t always been confident

(18:59) The Cream Bun Theory

(23:44) Alcohol Addiction

(26:53) Rock bottom

(32:10) How did you forgive yourself?

(39:46) What did you become after sobriety?

(44:25) How did your family respond to your growing fame?

(48:14) How did you find your passion so late in life?

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 ⁠⁠Connect with me on IG!⁠⁠

RESOURCES

▶︎⁠⁠ 25 Day Self Development Marathon⁠⁠

▶︎ ⁠⁠21 Day Self Growth Challenge⁠⁠

▶︎ ⁠⁠Goal Setting System E-Book⁠⁠

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

📱⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - ⁠⁠Sunsama for 1 Month free trial
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From making just $300 a day in her early bakery days to raising $25 million in venture capital and expanding from local to global, this growth story is extraordinary. But this conversation isn’t just about numbers.

It’s about what happens when success comes fast.

In this episode of The Balance Theory, I’m joined by Brooki, founder of Brooki Bakehouse, for her first ever podcast interview.

We talk about the identity work that needs to happen before growth, the trade-offs that come with scaling a business publicly, and how to build something big without losing who you are. Because success doesn’t build your character, it reveals it.

In this episode, we unpack:
* How Brooki went from $300 days to raising $25M+
* The single decision that changed the trajectory of her business
* What it really felt like when everything started snowballing
* The reality of building a brand in public
* How she handles scrutiny and criticism
* The trade-offs of growing a global business while raising young children
* Why becoming a mum became her superpower, not a setback
* How to grow without losing yourself
* Why you need to build yourself before you build success

If you’re ambitious, building something, navigating change, or stepping into a new level of life, this episode will shift how you think about growth.

Because the real question isn’t how to succeed.
It’s who you become along the way.

Subscribe for more conversations on ambition, mindset, identity and building a life that feels aligned.

#Brooki #FemaleFounder #EntrepreneurMindset #VentureCapital #WomenInBusiness #PersonalGrowth #TheBalanceTheory #StartupJourney #WorkingMum #BuildingInPublic

LINKS

💆‍♀️ ⁠COZY EARTH⁠ - Use code “ERIKA” to get 20% off ⁠HERE⁠ (I’m currently loving their comforters to enhance deep sleep)!

💧 AQUATRU Use code “ERIKA” to get 20% off at https://www.aquatru.com

📸 I⁠⁠nstagram⁠⁠

TIME STAMPS
(01:54) Introduction
(07:15) How I Got To Know Myself
(16:19) What Made You Start Your First Bakery?
(23:27) How Did You Meet your Husband?
(26:31) When did you Realise It Was going to be Bigger than a Local Bakery?
(30:14) This Single Decision Shaped the Trajectory of My Business
(32:17) What Was your Dream When You Opened The Bakery?
(37:12) What Did You Struggle With Behind the Veil of Success?
(43:54) The Reality of Being a Working Mum
(55:50) Trade Offs You Have To Make in Life
(1:00:57) How do You Stay Confident When Your Integrity Is Questioned Publicly?
(01:09:28) Securing $25 Million in VC Funding
(01:15:19) What Has Been the Biggest Shift For You Being Local to Global

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 ⁠⁠Connect with me on IG!⁠⁠

RESOURCES

▶︎⁠⁠ 25 Day Self Development Marathon⁠⁠

▶︎ ⁠⁠21 Day Self Growth Challenge⁠⁠

▶︎ ⁠⁠Goal Setting System E-Book⁠⁠

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

📱⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - ⁠⁠Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

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