The Balance Theory

Today Dr Shefali, a NYT bestselling author and the world's leading conscious parenting psychologist, joins Erika to unpack the childhood patterns running your adult life, and how to stop them here.
This isn't another conversation about how to be a better parent. It's about understanding the difference between who you became by default and who you actually want to be.

If you've ever caught yourself thinking:

"Why does this keep happening to me no matter what I do?"
"I know my past affected me but I don't know how much"
"I keep reacting in ways I don't understand and I don't know why"
"I've been waiting for someone to say sorry so I can finally move on"
"I don't want to repeat what was done to me but I don't know how to stop"

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

- Why we absorb our parents' patterns without ever choosing to, and how to recognise them in yourself
- At what point your childhood stops being an explanation and starts being a choice
The illusion of closure and why you don't need anyone else to give it to you
- How to give yourself what your parents never did
- What conscious parenting actually means and why it starts with you, not your child
- The live coaching moment where Dr Shefali unpacks Erika's own trigger in real time
- Why the critical voice in your head has your parent's voice, and what to do about it
- How to talk to a parent who isn't conscious without losing yourself
- Why boys and girls need to be raised differently in a world of algorithms and social media
- Where the line is between sharing your child online and using them for content

The patterns stop here. And this conversation is where it starts.
Some things stay with you long after a conversation ends. This is one of them.

CONNECT

📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIME STAMPS

(00:00) Introduction
(04:26) Finding yourself after becoming a mother
(08:50) Dr Shefali on when she became a mother
(11:57) When does our childhood stop becoming insight and start becoming an excuse?
(14:45) How to get closure from your parents (if you can't speak to them)
(16:37) What is Conscious Parenting?
(20:07) Can you speak to your parents about being more conscious?
(24:14) Dr Shefali gives Erika parenting advice on a trigger
(34:04) What do we say and do when we are triggered?
(37:49) Don't recruit your child in your own movie
(39:06) Why do we need to raise sons and daughters differently?
(42:56) The line between sharing your child online and using your child for content

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

🧡 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

You're not bad with money. It's just that nobody ever taught you how to actually relate to it, and this conversation changes that.

In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Carol Glynn, award-winning Finance Coach & Mentor, Chartered Accountant (FCA) and founder of Conscious Finance Coaching, to unpack why so many women feel stuck with money, not because they're doing it wrong, but because they were never given the right tools.

If you've ever caught yourself thinking:
"I know I should look at my bank account, but I just can't bring myself to do it"
"I've tried budgeting a hundred times and it never sticks"
"I'm doing well on paper but it doesn't feel that way inside"
"I feel like everyone else got the money playbook except me"
"I earn decent money, so why does it just disappear?"

Then this episode is for you. In this conversation, Erika and Carol cover:
- What conscious finance means and why it's the missing piece in your money journey
- The signs you're unconscious with money, and why most high-achieving women are
- Why your money mindset, not your spreadsheet, is always the place to start
- The 50-30-20 rule explained simply and how to use it without feeling restricted
- How to find your money values and align every spending decision with them
- What most people dangerously misunderstand about credit card debt
- The hidden cost of being financially uninformed and how it quietly compounds
- How to talk about money in your relationship without it turning into a fight
- What money means differently to men and women, and why it matters
- The one practical thing to do in the next 24 hours to shift your relationship with money

Your relationship with money changes everything. And it starts here.

SPONSORS:

💧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AQUATRU⁠ ⁠- Get 20% off using the code 'ERIKA' at www.aquatru.com

CONNECT

📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠

TIME STAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(2:51) What is conscious finance?

(08:45) Signs you are unconscious with money

(13:37) Start doing this to fix your relationship with money

(17:13) How do you change feeling to money when you don't feel abundant

(19:24) 50-20-30 rule to sort finances

(23:25) How to find money values

(27:55) The most expensive thing you can be is uninformed

(28:25) What most people don't understand about credit cards and debt

(37:12) Do this for the next 24 hours

(39:20) Look at finances in your relationship (by doing this)

(44:01) Surprising client story with money

(50:23) How do you know when it's time to look at money again?

(53:48) REVEAL: What money means to men versus women

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

🧡 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

You've been doing the work. Reading, listening, growing, trying. And yet something keeps feeling off, like the life you're building is quietly being pulled in a direction you didn't choose.

In this episode of The Balance Theory, Erika sits down with Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer at Google X, bestselling author of Solve for Happy and Scary Smart, and one of the most original thinkers on the planet. This isn't a conversation about productivity or optimisation. It's about something deeper: the invisible forces shaping who you are, how you think, and what you believe is possible, and how to take that back.

If you've ever caught yourself thinking:

"I feel like I'm losing time but I don't know where it's going"

"Something feels off but I can't name it"

"I don't feel as in control of my life as I want to be"

"I want to feel more like myself again"

"I'm not sure what's actually true anymore"

WHAT WE COVER:

The unconscious daily decisions quietly costing you years of your life

Why your life is being hijacked and how to see it clearly

How long-form content protects your emotional intelligence

Mo's framework for knowing what is actually true in the news

How to move from passive observer to someone who actually makes change

The flip flop deep technique for consuming information consciously

The difference between a good man and a nice man

A powerful 30-minute brain exercise Mo does every day

Whether AI is a threat or the greatest opportunity humanity has ever had

How to raise conscious humans in an AI world

Why utopia might only be 10 years away

Mo Gawdat doesn't just name the problem. He gives you the tools to reclaim your mind, your time, and who you're becoming.

SPONSORS:


✨ONESKIN⁠ ⁠⁠- Save 15% Off using the code 'BALANCE' by going to www.oneskin.co/BALANCE

💧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AQUATRU ⁠- Get 20% off using the code 'SHERIKA' at www.aquatru.com

🩷 MOMENTUM - Get your free welcome kit and travel collection at www.momentumshake.com/balancetheory

CONNECT

📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠

Mo Gawdat Part 1:

🎥 Watch here.

TIME STAMPS

(00:00) Introduction
(11:21) Decisions that cost you time
(17:19) Your life is being hijacked by this
(26:26) Long form is better for your emotions
(29:31) How do we make sense of what's true in the news?
(40:55) How to actually make change (you matter)
(49:40) Flip flop deep technique for consuming news
(56:17) Good man versus nice man
(59:57) Watch THESE words
(1:03:34) Do this POWERFUL exercise for your mind
(1:15:08) Is AI going to destroy our future?
(1:21:58) Raising Superman
(1:27:29) How do you put in guardrails with AI?
(1:43:59) AI will take over all jobs

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

🧡 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!

how to stress less, decrease stress, how to reduce stress, how to stop overthinking, how to calm your mind, stress management, how to feel less stressed, overthinking and stress, stress advice, how to stop spiralling, emotional overwhelm, future anxiety, how to manage stress, practical stress tips

#HowToStressLess #DecreaseStress #StressManagement #Overthinking #MentalHealth #SelfDevelopment #TheBalanceTheory #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #EmotionalWellbeing
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Feeling stressed, overwhelmed or like your brain just won’t switch off?

In this episode of The Balance Theory Podcast, we sit with Alice Law and unpack the stress advice that can actually change your life , not by pretending stress does not exist or that it’s unavoidable, but by helping you understand what is happening in your brain, body, environment and inner world when stress takes over.

This conversation is for you if you have been wondering how to stress less, how to stop overthinking, how to decrease stress in your everyday life, or how to feel calmer when life feels uncertain.

We explore why stress can feel so hard to manage, what happens when your brain starts spiralling, and why overthinking often feels productive even when it is keeping you stuck. You’ll learn practical tools to calm your mind, reduce stress in the moment, and create more “micro-certainty” when everything around you feels unpredictable.

We also talk about the fine line between planning and overthinking, the signs of stress most people ignore, and how your environment could be quietly increasing your stress threshold every day.

This episode also goes deeper into the idea of spiritual stress: the kind of stress that comes from living out of alignment, ignoring your intuition, saying yes when you mean no, or not knowing who you are beyond the labels you carry.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, mentally exhausted, anxious about the future, or like your thoughts are running your life, this conversation will help you understand stress differently and give you practical ways to decrease stress and feel more in control again.

In this episode, we cover:

* How to stress less when your brain will not switch off

* Why overthinking can make stress worse

* What is happening in your brain when you worry about the future

* The signs of stress most people ignore

* The four different types of stress

* How to stop spiralling when you feel overwhelmed

* The difference between planning and overthinking

* Simple environment hacks to decrease stress

* Why your morning routine and phone habits may be increasing stress

* How to create micro-certainty when life feels uncertain

* How to strengthen your intuition

* The difference between anxiety and intuition

* What spiritual stress is and how to recognise it

* One thing you can do immediately to feel less stressed

This could be the one episode that changes your everyday life.

SPONSORS:


💧 ⁠⁠CURE⁠ HYDRATION ⁠⁠- Save 20% Off using the code 'BALANCETHEORY' by going to www.curehydration.com

🍯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠HONEYLOVE- Get 20% off using the code 'BALANCE' at www.honeylove.com/BALANCE

CONNECT

📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠

TAKE ALICE LAW'S FREE QUIZ

TIME STAMPS

(00:00) Introduction
(07:48) What are we missing about stress?
(10:30) What’s happening when you’re overthinking the future
(15:01) What are the signs people ignore?
(15:45) The 4 types of stress
(20:00) Most people’s stress types
(24:21) What to do when you’re overthinking (practical exercise)
(28:54) What is fine line between planning and overthinking
(34:54) Do this if you feel yourself spiralling
(39:29) Try this (with your brain) to feel more confident
(39:03) Environment hacks to make your life less stressful
(41:40) Spiritual Stress - here’s what to look out for
(52:02) Exercise to try to strengthen your intuition
(52:28) How do we keep growing when so easy to outsource to AI?
(56:36) Final lesson on stress
(57:44) Do this immediately to feel less stress

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

🧡 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!

how to stress less, decrease stress, how to reduce stress, how to stop overthinking, how to calm your mind, stress management, how to feel less stressed, overthinking and stress, stress advice, how to stop spiralling, emotional overwhelm, future anxiety, how to manage stress, practical stress tips

#HowToStressLess #DecreaseStress #StressManagement #Overthinking #MentalHealth #SelfDevelopment #TheBalanceTheory #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #EmotionalWellbeing
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really take to become the version of yourself who can hold the success, business, life and vision you say you want?

In this episode of The Balance Theory Podcast, I sit down with Anam Khalid, co-founder of SQUATWOLF, to talk about the personal evolution behind building a global brand, from leaving the corporate world, to trusting the unknown, to developing the self-belief required before success shows up.

Anam shares her journey from growing up in Pakistan to moving to Dubai and building SQUATWOLF into an international activewear brand. But this conversation goes far beyond business.

We talk about what it means to leave the safe path, how to know when you have outgrown a version of your life that looks good on paper, and why success often requires you to upgrade yourself before your external world can change.

We explore the mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur, how to build belief before you have proof, why naivety and “delusion” can sometimes be a blessing, and the personal growth required to take a business from 0 to 1 and then from 1 to 10.

Anam also opens up about burnout, brain fog, working with her husband as co-founder and co-CEO, navigating boundaries between marriage and business, and why the state of a founder often becomes the state of the business.

If you have ever felt like you are made for more, but you are not sure what that next version of yourself looks like yet, this episode is for you.

CONNECT

📸 ⁠Instagram ⁠

TIME STAMPS

(00:00) Introduction
(07:08) Losing the corporate mindset
(09:44) Thoughts on whether the ‘corporate’ mind will exceed in business
(13:11) Having belief from day 1
(17:55) I didn’t expect to doubt myself in this moment
(22:06) Is the vision what you have now?
(24:10) My personal growth alongside business
(28:55) How do you know when it’s time ot personally level up
(33:41) The Balance theory
(44:28) Bouncing out of brain fog & burn out
(46:06) How do you be husband/wife and Co-CEOs?
(52:06) Work / Life Boundaries
(54:53) Switching into feminine energy after work
(58:20) Who has Dubai given you permission to become?

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