Balanced Ambition

Matt Southam

0.0 (0)
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
UPDATED WEEKLY

Balanced Ambition is the podcast for entrepreneurs who want big results without burning out. Host Matt Southam talks to experts and business owners about mindset, healthy habits and sustainable success. Get practical tips on energy, focus and balance so you can grow your business and still enjoy the life you're building.

JAN 21

Cancer Changed My Career – And My Creative Identity

What happens when your voice, your career, your identity, is suddenly under threat? In this episode, Chris shares how a throat cancer diagnosis forced a creative reckoning and a complete professional reinvention. From navigating fatigue and financial fear to reframing ambition and rediscovering joy, this is a deeply honest conversation about creativity, resilience, and learning how to keep yourself in the equation. TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – “I don’t want to go back to where I was”01:55 – From amateur songwriter to live performer03:00 – The subtle signs that something was wrong04:50 – The panic to preserve his voice and songs08:00 – Self-imposed creative pressure vs. health reality11:30 – Navigating the financial unknown as self-employed13:40 – Rebuilding life after diagnosis15:40 – Saying no to say yes – redefining success21:00 – How age and stage shift career decisions25:30 – Why creativity without time for yourself isn’t enough28:00 – Long-term fatigue, new limits, and recovery realities36:00 – Losing access to your creative identity39:30 – Reinventing as a live event MC43:00 – How every past skill found new purpose47:00 – Why he chose to reframe treatment as positive52:00 – The power of gratitude and keeping joy in the equation

55 min
JAN 14

From Rehab to House Fire: Rich's Unbelievable Story of Survival

Rich opens up about the darkest chapter of his life: from battling alcoholism, anxiety, and depression to enduring a terrifying incident in Las Vegas, entering rehab, and then—just 24 hours after leaving—watching his house go up in flames.This is a raw, honest, and inspiring conversation about hitting rock bottom and choosing to fight back. Rich shares how he rebuilt himself from the ground up, found purpose in the gym, and learned to live again—one day at a time.00:00 – "I can't do this anymore…"03:50 – What Vegas took from me12:00 – Drinking to forget and the slow slide down23:30 – The breaking point: anxiety, shame, and isolation30:00 – Rehab: the myth and the reality37:00 – Leaving rehab early… and the call that changed everything39:00 – "Your house is on fire"49:20 – Fighting with insurance while barely holding on58:00 – Why AA didn’t work—and what did1:04:00 – Ice baths, fitness, and building a new life1:08:00 – Losing my mum and learning to carry on1:30:00 – Final reflections and advice for anyone struggling👉 If you’ve ever felt lost, this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

1h 33m
12/23/2025

Christmas Spiraled | Here's What Actually Helped

In this raw and powerful episode, Ria opens up about her journey through cancer, alcohol addiction, ADHD, and the struggle to survive the holiday season. With honesty, humour and heart, she shares what helped her finally enjoy Christmas—sober, self-aware and stronger than ever. If you’ve ever found Christmas overwhelming, or felt like you were just surviving not celebrating, this episode will resonate deeply. 👇 Timestamps:00:00 – “Last Christmas I was in a dark place…”01:10 – A rare cancer diagnosis days after giving birth06:53 – The moment everything changed12:29 – Giving up alcohol after years of self-medication16:49 – Sober, but Christmas brought new challenges20:00 – Living with a noisy ADHD brain22:51 – The hardest Christmas and asking for help36:10 – Coping with dopamine cravings without booze41:35 – Parenting neurodiverse kids during the holidays45:00 – Breaking the cycle: ADHD through generations47:10 – “This is why I’ll always share my story” ❤️ Like, comment and share if Ria’s story resonates – and don’t forget to subscribe for more honest conversations.

50 min
12/19/2025

This Is Why You Keep Attracting the Wrong People

What if everything that triggers you… is actually about you?In this deep and eye-opening conversation, Anita breaks down how the Enneagram can help us understand our true personality – not the one we've adapted to survive. We unpack how childhood shapes our identity, why we mould ourselves to be liked, and how to break free from patterns that no longer serve us.We explore how self-awareness through tools like the Enneagram, shadow work, and emotional intelligence can help us take true responsibility for our lives – and even change the world.This one goes beyond personal growth – it’s about human connection, leadership, and how the systems we build start with who we are.🔔 Subscribe for more podcasts on self-awareness, personal growth and emotional intelligence.⏱ Timestamps00:00 – No one taught us how to be ourselves01:30 – What is the Enneagram & why it’s different03:40 – Childhood experiences shape personality07:00 – Why we mould ourselves to be liked10:00 – The true intention behind our behaviours14:50 – Do we choose our personality or are we born with it?17:00 – How types pair in relationships21:45 – The "Helper" type and toxic dynamics24:30 – Awareness gives you choice – but it’s scary33:00 – Shadow work: why your triggers are about you39:40 – What your job says about your Enneagram type47:00 – DJing, attention & identity: a realisation54:30 – Environment vs internal experience58:10 – The pressure to perform – and how it shifted

1h 2m
10/15/2025

The Hard Truth About Growing Your Business

What does it really take to grow a business — or prepare to exit one? In this episode, we sit down with consultant Maddie Walker, who helps business owners scale sustainably without burning out. From mindset blindspots to strategic misfires, Maddie shares hard-earned insights and analogies (so many good ones!) that will shift how you think about building your business. If you’re growing, struggling, or somewhere in-between — this one’s for you. 👇 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – The problem with how most businesses start01:26 – What does scaling really look like?03:22 – The danger of passion without a plan05:44 – When you should bring someone in to help08:08 – Clarity: your biggest business asset11:02 – Why Maddie becomes “the business’s advocate”13:08 – What mindset assessments reveal in teams16:08 – Shareholder agreements and co-founder friction19:11 – Why DIYing everything can stall your growth22:05 – Maddie’s son wants to start a business (but doesn’t)24:53 – Passion vs profit: the truth about motivation27:02 – Is hustle culture dead? The new wave of realism29:25 – Maddie’s burnout and leap into self-employment32:37 – Being vulnerable before you’ve “made it”35:53 – The Ferrari analogy: building the right business38:24 – The ONE thing every business owner needs to ask40:09 – Final thoughts + where to get help

41 min
10/08/2025

How Talking Saved My Life | Travis on The Men’s Room & Mental Health

Travis joins us to share his raw and powerful journey — from nearly losing everything to alcohol, to becoming a voice for men’s mental health in Hastings with The Men’s Room. We get into why men struggle to talk openly, how sobriety reshaped his life, the importance of community, and why gratitude might just be free therapy. If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying it all alone, this conversation is for you. 00:00 – Why The Men’s Room exists: reducing male suicide02:00 – Travis’s story of sobriety and the turning point05:00 – Breaking the cycle for his kids10:00 – Being honest about struggles while helping others13:45 – Why men talk differently (and why it matters)16:25 – The surprising power of gratitude20:00 – Why men avoid sitting with their own thoughts22:40 – Facing mortality and choosing health25:00 – The baton of hope & national suicide awareness27:20 – “I didn’t want to die, I just wanted the pain to stop”29:15 – Teaching the next generation of men to talk35:00 – Finding common ground beyond ego38:20 – Social media, echo chambers & mental health40:00 – Addiction, gratitude and balance in life41:00 – Dancing through the high street: finding joy again42:00 – Managing highs, lows and emotional pendulums43:30 – Limiting happiness and self-preservation45:00 – The Monday crash: coping after big highs46:30 – Learning to love the boring bits of life48:00 – Redefining what it means to live well50:00 – The Men’s Room message: open the door, inspire change, build bridges53:00 – Closing reflections: talking saves lives

54 min
10/01/2025

The Truth About ADHD (It’s Not a Superpower)

In this episode, ADHD coach and hypnotherapist Italia Moro shares the real story behind ADHD – and why calling it a “superpower” might be doing more harm than good. We unpack emotional dysregulation, time blindness, the myth of laziness, and how you can actually rewire your brain with tools like journaling, mindfulness and self-talk. Whether you're late-diagnosed, feeling overwhelmed or just trying to make sense of your mind – this one’s full of relatable truth bombs and practical hope. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – What ADHD really is01:34 – The emotional side most people miss03:09 – Why adult ADHD often goes unnoticed05:08 – How Italia realised she had ADHD10:19 – “We all do that” – but do we really?12:58 – Masking, self-protection & shame15:50 – ADHD brains love business… until burnout hits19:23 – Rejection sensitivity & imposter syndrome22:49 – Why planners and systems don’t work (yet)27:16 – Rewiring your brain with neuroplasticity32:10 – Maturing the ADHD brain34:18 – Self-talk: the most underrated ADHD tool35:00 – Journaling, meditation & healthy dopamine hits42:26 – Coffee, cortisol & ADHD45:36 – Impulse spending & time blindness47:12 – It’s not about managing symptoms – it’s about managing you 👉 Let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments, and hit subscribe for more real conversations.

54 min
09/24/2025

Why Trying to Please Everyone Is Killing Your Brand

Is your personal brand holding you back without you even realising? In this episode, personal branding coach Ben Stickland explains why trying to please everyone is one of the biggest mistakes you can make — and how being more you is the ultimate growth strategy. We unpack his “Be More YOU” framework, how to attract the right clients without the sales calls, and why your quirks might just be your biggest superpower. 📲 Connect with Ben:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thepersonalbrandingguy/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepersonalbrandingguy/ 🕒 Timestamps:00:00 - What a personal brand actually is01:23 - Why Ben left employment to build his own thing02:12 - Why pleasing everyone is bad for business05:00 - “You’re not an office kettle” explained06:30 - Avoiding nightmare clients08:30 - Corporate hangovers & being ‘palatable’ online11:00 - People-pleasing and holding back opinions13:45 - Branding and… how you eat your KitKat?17:35 - Using AI to be more human, not less20:00 - Visual cues that make you unforgettable22:00 - Moustaches, mullets, and making a statement23:30 - The dating analogy that says it all27:00 - Authenticity as a sales filter32:00 - “Be More YOU” framework explained34:00 - Redefining success on your terms36:00 - Stop bragging about being busy40:00 - Boundaries, payment terms, and knowing your worth42:00 - The power of collaborations43:15 - Final thoughts on being unfiltered

45 min

Balanced Ambition is the podcast for entrepreneurs who want big results without burning out. Host Matt Southam talks to experts and business owners about mindset, healthy habits and sustainable success. Get practical tips on energy, focus and balance so you can grow your business and still enjoy the life you're building.

Creator

Matt Southam
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

122
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Matt Southam
Show Website

Balanced Ambition