Brilliant Balance

Cherylanne Skolnicki
  • 4.9 (359)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

You deserve a big, full life and the freedom to enjoy it. The Brilliant Balance Podcast helps women in leadership design their next chapter for sustainable success—without burnout. Every week, host Cherylanne Skolnicki, a leading expert in work-life balance, leadership growth, and mindset coaching, shares ideas, inspiration, and insights to help high-achieving women align their ambition with personal fulfillment. Through conversations on leadership mindset, time management, and personal growth, you'll gain the tools to thrive in both your career and personal life. Whether you're considering a career pivot or craving more time for your personal life, you might find yourself asking: How do I advance my career—without working 24/7? Can I achieve my goals while still having time for my family? How do I stop feeling overwhelmed and start feeling in control? What's next for me—and how do I design it intentionally? If you've ever wondered how to fulfill your potential without breaking your life, this podcast is for you. In addition to sharing her own insights, Cherylanne sits down with experts, thought leaders, and ambitious women who reveal their strategies for burnout recovery, productivity for women, and redefining success on their terms. You'll love the Brilliant Balance Podcast if you like podcasts like: Unlocking Us or Dare to Lead with Brene Brown, Women at Work by Harvard Business Review, The Midlife with Reshma Saujani, We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, The Mel Robbins Podcast, HerMoney with Jean Chatzky, So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

  1. What Happens When You Stop Doing Everything Yourself

    16H AGO

    What Happens When You Stop Doing Everything Yourself

    Ever feel like you're carrying the weight of the world on your own shoulders—handling every email, project, and task yourself? I've been there, telling myself it was the smart and responsible way to run my business, until I realized what I was missing out on by not letting go. In this episode, I'm revealing exactly what happens when you stop doing everything yourself and start getting results through others. We'll talk about how this shift can give you precious time back, multiply your impact, and create new opportunities—not just for you, but for everyone on your team and in your life. By leveraging others and learning to trust, we're able to embrace new possibilities. If you're ready for bigger results and a richer life, this episode is for you! Show Highlights: Solo startup narratives of handling all tasks yourself. [00:48] The risk of operating alone becoming a habit and identity. [02:58] My epiphany of A. G. Lafley leading P&G by leveraging others. [04:08] Why delegation is essential in both teams and homes. [07:26] The power of reclaiming specialist time with a client example. [09: 21] How effective leaders delegate and multiply impact. [15:22] Outsourcing tasks in personal life—but which ones? [18:36] Giving others opportunities by delegating meaningful work. [20:11] The transformation of who you become by letting go. [24:20] What are your emotional barriers to delegating and outsourcing? [27:45] Join The Coaching Circle's June master class on delegation. [29:09] Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle  Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

    32 min
  2. What If You Let Them Take the Wheel?

    MAY 19

    What If You Let Them Take the Wheel?

    Do you always end up taking charge of others' problems because you know you can solve them faster or better? I know I do, and if you're a high-achiever, this episode will hit close to home. Today, I'm sharing why so many highly competent women have this pattern of taking the wheel for others. I'm inviting you to consider how our can-do mindset, while celebrated, can quietly drain our energy, stunt others' growth, and even erode our closest connections. Discover the telltale signs of over-helping, the hidden costs, and how to reclaim your time and sanity without sacrificing your drive. Let's learn to let go, let others step up, build true confidence, and create space for everyone—including ourselves—to thrive. Show Highlights: The high-performer's instinct to solve problems. [01:15] Hardwired servant leadership vs. detrimental overhelping. [02:52] When is it right to grab the wheel from your leaner-driver teen? [04:50] Micromanaging at work and how it stifles others' growth. [07:48] How arguing over doing chores your way leads to overload. [10:10] Learning to listen, not solve. [12:30] What to tell a chronic helper to help them step back. [13:41] The importance of letting others build skills and confidence. [14:55] Eroded connection and people avoiding opening up. [17:02] Why habitual problem-solvers rarely get to feel supported. [18:04] The power supportive coaching with The Coaching Circle. [19:19] Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle  Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

    22 min
  3. What Conversation Do You Need to Have?

    MAY 12

    What Conversation Do You Need to Have?

    Are you avoiding that one conversation you know you need to have? I get it, most of us have a tricky topic we're sidestepping at work, at home, or even with a friend. In this episode, I'm sharing why everything you want—whether it's more flexibility, healthier relationships, or a sense of confidence—is often waiting for you on the other side of a courageous conversation. I'll walk you through the emotions that hold us back, reveal my story of asking for something that felt impossible (and actually getting it!), and challenge you to take that first step, even if it's uncomfortable. This is your moment to take a breath, get honest, and watch what happens when you speak up for what you truly want. Let's rewrite your story, one conversation at a time. Show Highlights: Are you avoiding having difficult but necessary conversations? [00:48] The power of courageous, imperfect conversations. [02:31] What chronic problems in life manifest from. [04:30] The emotions, stories, and "crystal ball" view behind avoidance. [05:53] Link desired outcomes to the conversation they need. [09:34] An example of how to ask for more flexibility at work. [10:35] Approaching sensitive topics with your Mom, friend, or teen. [12:29] Discover an effective workplace practice for clearing the air. [15:32] Three key freedoms courageous conversations build up. [17:33] Shift from knowing to doing with The Coaching Circle. [20:27] Take this week's action step and share with us how it went. [22:02] Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle  Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

    24 min
  4. The Hidden Costs of Drive

    MAY 5

    The Hidden Costs of Drive

    Ever feel like the very drive that's building your dreams is running your life instead of serving it? If you're the woman everyone admires for getting it all done, but you secretly wonder what it's costing you, this episode is for you. Today, I'm calling out the hidden costs of unchecked overdrive and allowing drive to become our default operating system: constant urgency, the struggle to pause for what really matters, and the slow fade of relationships we hold dear. But there's a solution for this and I'll explain why it isn't eliminating ambition and how to restore your balance. This conversation is about more than productivity. It's about making sure our ambition actually takes us somewhere we want to go. Let's make every effort and every moment count. Show Highlights: A story about missing out due to drive and what caused it. [00:46] Identifying the line between ambition and overdrive. [03:05] The gift of drive as a tool vs. an operating system. [05:58] How the Coaching Circle resolves deeply wired imbalances. [08:27] The costs of constant internal urgency. [09:07] What's the actual pace of recovery we need? [10:35] The problem of optimizing the wrong problems. [11:56] How overdrive leads to relationship drift. [14:07] The skill of intentional drive modulation. [17:54] Exiting overdrive culture for a setting for retraining healthy drive. [19:32] The value of the Coaching Circle and how to sign up. [21:04] Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle  Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

    24 min

  5. APR 28

    Why Highly Competent Women Still Feel Overwhelmed (And What I Built to Help)

    Have you ever wondered why, despite being wildly competent and organized, you sometimes still feel like everything is just too much? I know that feeling well, and I'm sharing my take on why so many accomplished women live in overwhelm - it's certainly not because we aren't capable! Sometimes we even know what to do but we can't make time to do it. So this week I'm introducing something brand new - The Coaching Circle - to bridge the gap between knowing and doing when it comes to Brilliant Balance practices. If you're ready for more ease, less overwhelm, and a circle of women who truly get it, this one's for you. Show Highlights: When overwhelm hit the tipping point in my personal story. [00:54] How getting coaching provided me with a "map" and ease. [03:21] The undercurrent of pressure in competent women. [06:17] Can an outdated "life OS" manage peak complexity levels? [07:57] The crisis of insight not leading to action and change. [11:03] Introducing The Coaching Circle by Brilliant Balance [14:03] How the Coaching Circle works and its unique benefits. [17:52] Structural challenges women face that aren't personal failures. [20:49] Learn who this is ideal for and see if or sounds like you. [22:15] Discover the three elements that drive real change. [26:57] Details and topic of the first Coaching Circle master class. [28:26] If you're ready to have structure and support to apply the ideas you learn on the podcast, check out The Coaching Circle: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle  Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

    32 min

  6. APR 21

    Functional Freeze: The Hidden Nervous System Pattern Holding Women Back with Beatriz Albina

    This week, I'm joined by Beatriz Albina, a nurse practitioner, somatic coach, and the bestselling author of End Emotional Outsourcing, to discuss a hidden nervous system epidemic among professional women: "functional freeze." Do you look poised and unstoppable on the outside, but often feel disconnected from yourself? Beatriz breaks down the functional freeze phenomenon and "emotional outsourcing," the reason you might be stuck in a pattern of overgiving, perfectionism, and people-pleasing.She explains how chronic disconnection from our bodies is a protective response deeply rooted in our nervous systems. This compassionate and science-backed conversation will illuminate why willpower alone isn't the answer—and how you can begin to reclaim your self-trust and honor your humanness to design an authentic, brilliant next chapter. Don't miss it!  Show Highlights: What is functional freeze? [04:05] Is functional freeze a common problem? [07:18] Emotional outsourcing vs. healthy co-regulation. [09:30] Navigating the self and curiosity vs. external expectations. [12:45] The importance of finding "grown-up" support and a "village." [17:22] Why somatic, body-based nervous system rewiring matters. [18:20] A simple "What am I feeling right now?" awareness self-check. [19:44] Reconnection practices to check in with your body and honor it. [21:43] The need to heal from "I'm fine" conditioning. [28:05] Where to find Beatriz Albina's free resources and her book. [32:29] To find Beatriz Albina's work and the free meditations she's offering: https://beatrizalbina.com/free-meditations/ Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

    35 min

  7. APR 14

    Setting Boundaries That Actually Hold: Listener Questions Answered

    Today, I'm mixing things up a bit by answering YOUR questions all about setting boundaries that actually hold, especially at work. If you've ever found it tough to say no, wondered how to handle tricky power dynamics, or felt overwhelmed by requests after hours, you're in the right place. I'll share five real situations that listeners have asked about, along with practical strategies you can use right away. You'll hear about everything from managing expectations with leaders to finding your voice as the "new person" in the office. My hope is that you'll recognize your own experiences, pick up some actionable tips, and start shaping boundaries that help you shine without burning out.  Show Highlights: Don't miss Kate Northrup's free "Good with Money" workshop. [00:56] What boundaries mean beyond just saying no. [03:52] Boundary setting with senior leaders who ignore preferences. [04:23] Consistency as the key to fostering boundary respect. [07:43] How to make a work increase you can't refuse negotiable. [08:09] Creating clarity without saying no. [11:33] Resetting after-hours etiquette with always-on colleagues. [12:12] Benefits of "beginning as you mean to go on" in a new job. [17:07] Tips for avoiding unpaid work and protecting your time. [20:26] Are you letting others define your boundaries for you? [27:02] To register for Kate Northrup's Good with Money Free Masterclass click here: https://thefreefam.ontraport.net/t?orid=497195&opid=170 Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

    29 min

  8. APR 7

    Life is not linear: If I had known then what I know now about the momentum cycle

    Today, I'm sharing a simple truth that often goes unspoken: life is not linear. We're conditioned to believe that progress should be a steady, upward journey, but what if our lives actually operate in cycles, not straight lines? I'm unpacking the "momentum cycle" and exploring why your energy, creativity, and focus naturally ebb and flow through distinct seasons—surges of expansion, hard stops of crisis, the uncertainty of transitions, and the necessity of recovery—and why striving to always be at your peak can actually hinder your progress. If you're tired of measuring your life against an unfair expectation of nonstop achievement, tune in for fresh insights on honoring your energy, matching your actions to your current season, and finding power, even in the pauses.  Show Highlights: Details of Kate Northrup's upcoming money workshop. [00:59] The fallacy that life is linear vs. the "momentum cycle." [03:44] The highs and gradual low of growth and expansion. [07:31] Navigating crisis periods with focus. [09:40] How transition and change can become accelerators. [12:49] Do you allow yourself time to recover and heal? [16:59] Suffering due to misaligned output and capacity. [21:00] How can you honor your human limits? [24:57] The power and opportunity in pausing. [26:24] Find out whether you're in sync with your phase. [28:53] The joy of trusting the cycle and celebrating others' wins. [30:00] To register for Good with Money click here: https://thefreefam.ontraport.net/t?orid=497195&opid=170 Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

    33 min
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4.9
out of 5
359 Ratings

About

You deserve a big, full life and the freedom to enjoy it. The Brilliant Balance Podcast helps women in leadership design their next chapter for sustainable success—without burnout. Every week, host Cherylanne Skolnicki, a leading expert in work-life balance, leadership growth, and mindset coaching, shares ideas, inspiration, and insights to help high-achieving women align their ambition with personal fulfillment. Through conversations on leadership mindset, time management, and personal growth, you'll gain the tools to thrive in both your career and personal life. Whether you're considering a career pivot or craving more time for your personal life, you might find yourself asking: How do I advance my career—without working 24/7? Can I achieve my goals while still having time for my family? How do I stop feeling overwhelmed and start feeling in control? What's next for me—and how do I design it intentionally? If you've ever wondered how to fulfill your potential without breaking your life, this podcast is for you. In addition to sharing her own insights, Cherylanne sits down with experts, thought leaders, and ambitious women who reveal their strategies for burnout recovery, productivity for women, and redefining success on their terms. You'll love the Brilliant Balance Podcast if you like podcasts like: Unlocking Us or Dare to Lead with Brene Brown, Women at Work by Harvard Business Review, The Midlife with Reshma Saujani, We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, The Mel Robbins Podcast, HerMoney with Jean Chatzky, So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Information

  • Creator
    Cherylanne Skolnicki
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    450
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2017-2026
  • Show Website
    Brilliant Balance

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