Coffee, Clients & Naptime

Sarah Maree

A Mama's Guide To Balancing Parenthood & Working From Home Coffee, Clients, and Naptime, the ultimate podcast for ambitious parents ready to build a fulfilling business while raising their families. Hosted by Sarah Maree - mother, entrepreneur, and mentor with 15 years of experience in building successful businesses. Learn how to find your balance between business and your family, creating your dream life during naptime, or in those precious in-between moments when you're a work from home parent. We share practical tools and proven methods to help you transition from overwhelmed to running a successful business on your own terms. If you're a parent looking to replace the 9-to-5 with flexibility, freedom, and purpose, this podcast is for you. This is the support you need to create the life you’ve always dreamed of - for yourself and your family. So, grab your coffee, and let’s make it happen!   Follow along on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/balancedbizmama/  Visit us online: https://balancedbizmama.com.au

  1. 4H AGO

    Ambition, Avoiding Burnout & Why I am not rushing into January

    January often comes with a lot of noise. Pressure to start strong. Pressure to move fast. Pressure to have it all figured out. In this episode, I’m sharing why I’m intentionally not rushing January, and what a slower, more grounded start to the year looks like for me as a mum in business. This conversation isn’t about doing less for the sake of it. It’s about understanding your capacity, honouring your nervous system after a big year, and choosing a pace that actually supports long-term growth, not just January motivation. I talk honestly about the guilt that can come up when you don’t want to “hit the ground running,” the difference between momentum and urgency, and how I’m designing my business rhythm as we move into a new year. If you’re feeling the weight of expectations already, or questioning whether you’re doing January “right,” this episode is a reminder that you get to choose your own way in. In this episode, I cover: Why rushing January often leads to burnout later in the year The impact of nervous system regulation on decision-making and momentum How I’m personally approaching the start of the year differently The difference between ambition and urgency Why slow doesn’t mean stagnant How to design a January that supports your real life, not just your goals There’s no single right way to begin the year, only the way that works for you, your family, and the season you’re in. Links + Resources→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama→ Join The Balanced Biz Mama Circle (monthly coaching + community for mums in business)→ Subscribe to never miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    13 min
  2. 12/28/2025

    The 2025 Awakening, A Year of Becoming & What Comes Next in 2026

    2025 wasn’t just another year for mums in business. It was a year of noticing. Of questioning. Of unlearning what no longer fit and slowly becoming something new. In this final episode for 2025 I’m reflecting on what's being called the Great Awakening of 2025, a collective shift I’ve seen in myself, in the mums I work with, and across the wider business space. This episode isn’t about predictions or trends. It’s about awareness. I talk about: Why so many mums in business felt restless, stretched, or quietly dissatisfied this year The emotional and identity shifts that happen before outer change Why clarity often comes after discomfort, not before And how to approach 2026 with intention instead of pressure If you’ve felt like something has been shifting beneath the surface this year — in your work, your values, or the way you want your business to support your life — this episode is your invitation to pause, reflect, and gently look ahead. Not to rush. Not to force a plan. But to trust what’s already unfolding. ✨ What comes next in 2026 doesn’t require a full reinvention, it simply requires awareness, honesty, and permission to evolve. Links + Resources→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama→ Join The Balanced Biz Mama Circle (monthly coaching + community for mums in business)→ Subscribe to never miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    14 min
  3. 12/21/2025

    Naptime Chats: Marketing in 2026, The Three Cs & the Professional Identity Crisis with Tania Fielding

    This week I’m joined by the brilliant Tania Fielding from Little Luxe Marketing, a mum of two, ex-corporate marketing director, and now a passionate advocate for women using their skills, experience, and stories to build businesses that feel aligned. Tania’s journey into entrepreneurship started like so many of ours do, with that moment of sitting on maternity leave wondering: What do I even do now? Who am I outside of the job I used to have? She talks openly about that professional identity crisis, the imposter syndrome that hits after years away from the workforce, and the tiny courageous moment that changed everything for her. In this conversation we go deep into: What it actually feels like to rebuild your career after kids The confusion, the overwhelm, the “should I even send this email?” moments and how she slowly rebuilt her confidence through small steps. Using your corporate skills in a new way, without starting from scratch Tania shares how everything she thought she left behind in corporate actually became the foundation for her new business. Why work/life balance isn’t 50/50 and what she aims for instead We talk non-negotiables, structuring work around family rhythms, calendar boundaries, and why balance is really about seasons, not percentages. The imposter syndrome spiral and her advice for getting out of it Including her beautiful “confidence → clarity → conquering” framework. The reality of starting from home with little ones underfoot The overwhelm, the comparison, the urge to do everything and why starting small is the real secret. What she sees coming for marketing in 2026 Community, human-first connection, and why personal brand isn’t a scary word. Her one piece of advice for every mum starting out (Be kind to yourself, it’s powerful.) This conversation is grounding, encouraging, and such a beautiful reminder that you don’t need a clean slate to start a business - you already have a wealth of experience that transfers directly into your next chapter. Links + Resources→ Join the Little Luxe Lounge email community→ Connect with Tania on Instagram: @tania.fielding and @little.luxe.marketing→ Connect with Tania on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniafielding001→ Or checkout her website: www.littleluxemarketing.com.au→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama→ Join The Balanced Biz Mama Circle (monthly coaching + community for mums in business)→ Subscribe to never miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min
  4. 12/07/2025

    Naptime Chats: Neurofeedback, Emotional Resilience & Your Nervous System with Carlie Byrom

    In today’s Naptime Chat, I’m sitting down with Carlie Byrom — mum of three, bookkeeper, and founder of Life Brain Training — to talk about something so many of us feel but rarely get practical support for: our nervous system. Before kids, Carlie worked long days in television. When motherhood came along, she knew 12+ hour days on set weren’t compatible with the kind of parent she wanted to be, so she retrained as a bookkeeper to create more flexibility. But it was her experience parenting a highly sensitive daughter — navigating long, intense meltdowns, feeling helpless, and trying everything — that eventually led her to discover NeurOptimal neurofeedback. What started as something to help her own mental health and her daughter’s emotional regulation has now become a business that supports families Australia-wide. In this episode, we chat about: Carlie’s journey from TV to bookkeeping to running a neurofeedback business around her three kids What NeurOptimal neurofeedback actually is, in real-world language (no science degree required) How brain training supports emotional resilience, regulation and capacity for both mums and kids The reality of parenting a child with big emotions, and what changed when her daughter could finally self-regulate How caring for our nervous system changes the way we show up in business — decision making, stress, and those “too much on my plate” days Simple, real-life ways to build tiny moments of presence into busy days (yes, even if you’re juggling multiple businesses and activities) Why looking after yourself isn’t “optional” if you want a sustainable business and a connected family life Carlie’s gentle advice for mums starting out in business: trust the process and loosen your grip on the outcome If you’ve been feeling overloaded, reactive, or like your capacity never quite matches the size of your to-do list, this conversation will give you both language and hope — plus a really interesting peek into a tool you may never have heard of. Links + Resources→ Connect with Carlie on Facebook or learn more about NeurOptimal on Carlie's website→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama→ Join The Balanced Biz Mama Circle (monthly coaching + community for mums in business)→ Subscribe to never miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min
  5. 11/20/2025

    Expectations, Workload & Preparing Your Biz for the Holiday Season

    The end of the year comes with equal parts excitement, chaos, pressure… and a whole lot of “shoulds” from the online business world. You should unplug completely. You should rest. You should hustle. You should launch. But the truth? Your holiday season is yours to design. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real-life reality of navigating the holiday season as a mum in business - not the Pinterest version, not the online-coach version, but the messy, practical, deeply human version. I look at: ✨ The guilt piece — why so many mums feel shame about working (or not working) through December, and what to do with those feelings. ✨ Childcare realities — including why using the care you’re already paying for is not something to feel guilty about. ✨ Client expectations — how to set boundaries now so you’re not hit with a “quick favour” email on December 23rd. ✨ Different holiday models — from full shutdowns to reduced hours to “business as usual”… and how to choose what actually works for your family. ✨ The two-priority rule — why trying to do everything in December guarantees burnout (and what to do instead). ✨ The family side — because being physically present while mentally drowning in your inbox is not the vibe we’re aiming for. ✨ How to set yourself up for a smooth, sane start to January. This episode is your permission slip to build your holiday season around your actual life, not someone else’s version of “balance.” Because there is no “right way” to do the holidays, there’s only the way that works for you. Links + Resources: → Come say hi on Instagram: @balancedbizmama → Join the Balanced Biz Mama Circle → Subscribe so you never miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 min
  6. 11/03/2025

    Naptime Chats: Cycles, Seasons & Finding Flow in Motherhood with Eden Sallenbach

    What if your energy dips, motivation crashes, or creative dry spells weren’t signs of failure… but simply your body asking for rest? In this week’s Naptime Chat, I’m joined by Eden Sallenbach, a fertility awareness educator, yoga and Pilates teacher, and former nurse who helps women understand their cycles and live in alignment with their natural rhythms — in business, motherhood, and life. We talk about the reality of hormones, burnout, and the constant push to “do it all.” Eden shares how understanding your body’s cyclical nature can help you plan your energy, your work, and your family life in a way that feels more balanced — and less like a daily uphill battle. Inside this episode: ✨ How our cycles and hormones impact our energy, emotions, and productivity ✨ Why “superwoman mode” leads to burnout (and what to do instead) ✨ The difference between living cyclically vs. living in survival mode ✨ How to use your natural ebbs and flows to plan your work, launches, and rest ✨ The connection between clarity, calm, and hormonal balance for mums in business ✨ Why giving yourself permission to pause can actually move you forward faster This is such a supportive conversation for any mum who’s been running on empty, wondering why the “go harder” advice just doesn’t work for her. Links + Resources→ Connect with Eden @sincerelyeden or checkout Eden's website→ Get tickets to Eden's online event on the 15th November: Reclaiming Your Cycle→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama→ Join The Balanced Biz Mama Circle (monthly coaching + community for mums in business)→ Subscribe to never miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
  7. 10/29/2025

    Scarcity, Comparison & Choosing Abundance as a Mum in Business

    In today’s episode, I’m talking about something I’ve witnessed far too many times — the scarcity mindset that shows up in mum-led business communities, and the competition-over-collaboration culture that quietly holds us all back. From my very first baby business 15 years ago to the work I do now, I’ve seen how fear and insecurity can make women turn on each other — even when we’re the very ones who should be lifting each other up. I’ve been on the receiving end of that behaviour. I’ve also made the conscious decision to rise above it, and to build businesses that centre connection and abundance instead. In this episode, I share: ✨ Real stories from my own journey — the times I was attacked, excluded, or treated as competition ✨ How scarcity mindset shows up in mum communities (and how to spot it in yourself) ✨ The real cost of operating from fear — to your peace, growth, reputation, and energy ✨ What an abundance mindset actually looks like in practice ✨ And how we can start changing the culture for mums in business Because the world already underestimates mums in business, we don’t need to make it harder for each other. Every time we choose collaboration over competition, we make space for more opportunity — for ourselves and the next mum coming up behind us. If this hits close to home, know this: you don’t have to shrink to make others comfortable. You don’t have to hide your success or apologise for doing well. There’s enough room, enough clients, enough success for all of us. We rise higher when we rise together. Links + Resources: → Come say hi on Instagram: @balancedbizmama → Join the Balanced Biz Mama Circle → Subscribe so you never miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
  8. 10/20/2025

    Naptime Chats: Your Inner Critic, Self Belief & The Power of “And” with Jess Soto-Ramirez

    If you’ve been trying to “think positive” your way through business while juggling motherhood - and it’s not working - this episode is your exhale. I’m joined by mindset and empowerment coach Jess Soto-Ramirez, and we go deep on doing the real inner work: noticing the negative chatter, naming your limiting beliefs, and building self-belief that actually holds on the messy days. Jess shares her story and how business can be a spotlight on every insecurity we haven’t faced yet. We talk about why generic affirmations fall flat, how to reframe identity as a mum in business, and the tiny word that changes everything: and. You can be a devoted mum and an ambitious founder. We cover: The difference between toxic positivity and grounded mindset work Spotting limiting beliefs: persistent thoughts, triggers, and “the backpack of beliefs” A practical tool to separate you from the inner critic (give her a name!) Jess’s “flip it and reverse it” method for reframing thoughts you’re stuck in Identity shifts after kids, and using and to hold multiple truths Defining your version of success so the outside noise gets quieter Things to try this week: Notice 1 persistent thought that keeps looping. Write it down. Ask: What’s this about? Where did it come from? Is it really mine? “Flip & reverse” it into a truer statement you can practice when the chatter starts. Links + Resources→ Connect with Jess @jesssotoramirez or checkout Jess' podcast Ignite with Jess Soto-Ramirez→ Come say hi on Instagram: @‌balancedbizmama→ Join The Balanced Biz Mama Circle (monthly coaching + community for mums in business)→ Subscribe to never miss an episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

About

A Mama's Guide To Balancing Parenthood & Working From Home Coffee, Clients, and Naptime, the ultimate podcast for ambitious parents ready to build a fulfilling business while raising their families. Hosted by Sarah Maree - mother, entrepreneur, and mentor with 15 years of experience in building successful businesses. Learn how to find your balance between business and your family, creating your dream life during naptime, or in those precious in-between moments when you're a work from home parent. We share practical tools and proven methods to help you transition from overwhelmed to running a successful business on your own terms. If you're a parent looking to replace the 9-to-5 with flexibility, freedom, and purpose, this podcast is for you. This is the support you need to create the life you’ve always dreamed of - for yourself and your family. So, grab your coffee, and let’s make it happen!   Follow along on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/balancedbizmama/  Visit us online: https://balancedbizmama.com.au