What happens when the life you dreamed of doesn't bring you happiness? This week on the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, we're joined by Katherine Baldwin. Former Reuters political and foreign correspondent who once travelled the world alongside Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and David Cameron. From covering wars, natural disasters, and global crises, Katherine lived a life of adrenaline, success, and status. Yet behind the scenes, she was battling burnout, binge eating, alcohol dependence, and an overwhelming sense of emptiness. In this deeply honest and inspiring conversation, Katherine shares how she transitioned from chasing external validation to finding inner peace and purpose. We discuss the dangers of overachievement, the role of addiction and denial in high-pressure careers, and the courage it takes to step away from an identity built on success. Katherine also reveals the practices and mindset shifts that helped her recover, embrace self-love, and build meaningful relationships. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, or professional striving for balance, this episode will give you tools to pause, reflect, and realign with what truly matters. 👉 If you find value in this episode, please subscribe, share it with others, and leave us a review. It really helps the podcast grow. This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers… Success Doesn't Guarantee Fulfilment: Katherine shares how her dream career reporting from Downing Street and the White House left her feeling empty and unfulfilled despite the outward success. Adrenaline Can Be an Addiction: Katherine describes how her life was fuelled by adrenaline, excessive work, binge eating and drinking, unaware she was using these to avoid unresolved pain. Numbing Isn't Coping: She explains how we often use work, alcohol, exercise or even relationships to numb discomfort, but the feelings always catch up with us. Burnout Is a Wake-Up Call: A personal crisis and grief forced Katherine to face years of denial, leading her to finally seek help and reassess her life's direction. Tell Yourself the Truth First: Recovery starts with self-honesty. Katherine encourages listeners to ask hard questions: What am I avoiding? What's this behaviour really about? Healthy Relationships Start With Self-Love: Katherine talks about how early trauma creates patterns in love, and how self-worth and boundaries are the foundation for meaningful connection. Presence Over Productivity: From sea swims to journaling, Katherine shares the small daily rituals that keep her grounded and help her avoid falling back into old habits. Redefine Success as Inner Peace: Her definition of success has shifted from status and prestige to something simpler and more profound: peace, fulfilment, and joy. Soundbites "I was in Downing Street, the White House, rubbing shoulders with world leaders—and I still felt dead inside." "Externally, it looked like I had it all. Internally, I was crumbling." "I was using food, alcohol, adrenaline, and achievement to numb the pain inside me." "Tell the truth. Start by telling yourself the truth." "If you're numbing out—through alcohol, overwork, relationships, social media—what are you trying to escape?" "Our bodies will keep the score. Burnout, illness, even disease—these are the costs we pay when we don't pause." "We think hustling is the answer. But at what cost? To our peace, our health, our families?" "We care for ourselves not just for us—but so we can care for the business, the team, the people we love." "Presence is a superpower. It's not weakness. It's everything." ⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Katherine's Background 04:30 – Success on the Outside, Struggles Within 10:15 – Burnout, Breakdown & Denial 17:00 – Leaving Reuters & Facing Identity Loss 23:30 – First Steps Toward Healing 30:00 – Daily Practices for Self-Care & Presence 41:00 – Boundaries, Balance & Saying "Enough" 47:00 – Building Healthy Relationships & Her Book 55:00 – Quickfire Round & Defining Success 56:30 – Closing Reflections & Where to Find Katherine
