Balance & Beyond

Jo Stone
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Weekly

Balance and Beyond is the podcast for ambitious women refusing to accept burnout as the price of success. Here, we’re committed to empowering you with the tools and strategies you need to achieve true balance, where your career, relationships and health all thrive and where you have the power to define success on your own terms.

  1. 6h ago

    The Arguments We’re Really Good at Making (Jo Moment)

    A table full of squishies shouldn’t feel like a mirror, but it does. When I watch my daughter make a passionate, well-researched case for a sparkly purple dumpling, I can’t help noticing the uncomfortable truth: she genuinely believes every word. Then the real question lands, because adults do the same thing, just with better arguments and bigger consequences. We talk about the quiet art of self-justification, how we collect evidence, replay past mistakes, and stack up “perfectly sensible” reasons until our conclusion feels inevitable. In work and leadership, it shows up as “it’s easier if I do it myself”, “I’m too busy to change anything”, or “the timing isn’t right”. At home, it can be the same pattern in different clothes: the mental load we keep, the help we don’t ask for, the boundaries we delay because we’ve built a rock-solid PowerPoint deck in our head. This moment is also a loving call-out for capable women. Our strengths, analysing, anticipating, problem solving, can turn us into expert case builders who protect decisions even when they shrink our options. We dig into confirmation bias, the way we treat one mistake as proof and five successes as “doesn’t count”, and we finish with one grounding prompt: what’s your squishy, the thing you’ve become extremely good at convincing yourself you absolutely need? If you want a mindset shift you can use today, press play, then share it with a friend, subscribe for more Balance and Beyond Moments, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation. Send a text message to Jo FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here. The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process. We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself. If something landed today, there's more where that came from. And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way. 🎙️https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼https://au.linkedin.com/in...

  2. 3d ago

    When Helping Stops Being Helpful

    If you’ve built a life on being capable, reliable, and endlessly helpful, you’ve probably felt the dark side of that “superpower” too: the mental load that never ends, the resentment you don’t want to admit, and the quiet fear that if you stop, everything will fall apart. Jo Stone is joined by Coach Jacqueline for a sharp, honest conversation about the moment helping turns into fixing, and fixing turns into rescuing. We dig into where this pattern shows up most for women, especially in leadership at work and in parenting at home. Why is it so hard to watch a team member fumble or a child struggle, even when that struggle is how they learn? We talk self-awareness, the discomfort trigger that makes us swoop in early, and the control story running underneath: what does it mean about me if they’re struggling? Along the way, we name the signs you’ve crossed the line, including exhaustion, overwhelm, and a to-do list that keeps regenerating. The biggest shift is redefining “helpful” so it includes you. Sometimes the most supportive move is stepping back, holding a boundary, and letting someone rise to the occasion. If you’re ready to protect your energy, rebuild self-respect, and stop being the default rescuer, press play. Subscribe, share with a woman who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find Balance and Beyond. Send a text message to Jo FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here. The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process. We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself. If something landed today, there's more where that came from. And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way. 🎙️https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼https://au.linkedin.com/in...

  3. Oct 30

    Things That Shouldn’t Be This Scary (Jo Moment)

    The scariest part of Halloween isn’t a monster under the bed, it’s the moment you sit on the couch and do absolutely nothing. No phone. No TV. No “productive rest”. Just stillness and your own thoughts, and suddenly it feels… intolerable. We’re exploring why ordinary things can spike real discomfort, even when there’s nothing remotely dangerous happening. We run through three tiny terrors that hit hard for high-achieving women and anyone living in a constant state of “on”: doing nothing, going to bed with dishes in the sink, and seeing a notification you deliberately refuse to open. Teams, Slack, email, texts, and the dreaded “have you got five minutes for a quick chat?” with no context. Each one shines a light on the same hidden wiring: perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the pressure to be useful, finished, and instantly responsive. Along the way, we turn it into a simple mindset experiment you can try tonight. What happens in your body when you don’t clean the kitchen, don’t check the message, and don’t mentally organise tomorrow? Those reactions are clues to your boundaries, your burnout risk, and how much your nervous system has learnt to treat “ordinary” as urgent. If this sparked a reaction, share it with a friend who lives by their notifications, and leave us a quick review so more people can find the show. Subscribe to Balance and Beyond and tell us: what totally normal thing gives you the heebie jeebies far more than it should? Send a text message to Jo FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here. The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process. We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself. If something landed today, there's more where that came from. And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way. 🎙️https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼https://au.linkedin.com/in...

  4. Oct 27

    The Martyrdom Loop: Why You’re Secretly Pissed Off at Everyone

    FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here. You know that feeling when you’ve been flat out all day and then you see your partner relaxing and something in you snaps? I had one of those Saturdays where I realised I was genuinely furious, not because anyone demanded more from me, but because I never gave myself permission to stop. That’s the moment we need to talk about, because it’s where the martyrdom trap quietly takes over. I walk through how a day full of reasonable, even loving choices can tip into resentment, scorekeeping, and the hope that someone will finally notice our sacrifice and reward it. We dig into the fear sitting underneath it all: being labelled “selfish”. For so many women, especially mums, needs can feel like a zero-sum game, as if your rest steals from your family, your spending takes from the household, and your joy is “wasted” energy. With cost of living pressures and tighter budgets, that mindset gets louder, and it often means we cut ourselves first. We also get practical about the difference between giving because you truly choose to and giving with a secret invoice you expect others to pay back with praise, gratitude, or attention. I share how this dynamic shows up at home and at work, why it drains so much energy, and how to start making intentional choices that include you as one of the people who counts. If you’re ready to stop deleting yourself from the calendar and the budget, press play. Subscribe, share it with a friend who’s carrying too much, and leave a review so it reaches the women it’s meant for. Send a text message to Jo FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here. The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process. We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself. If something landed today, there's more where that came from. And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way. 🎙️https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼https://au.linkedin.com/in...

  5. Oct 23

    Who Decided That Was Too Much? (Jo Moment)

    You know that moment when you look at something you love, then put it back because it feels “too much”? Too bright, too bold, too sparkly, too feminine, too visible. Jo Stone brings home a funny, razor-sharp story from a recent retreat that shows how unreliable that inner line can be, and how often it has never been tested in real life.  On an abundance-themed retreat, we try a “too much dinner” dress-up night. The twist: most women arrive thinking they have pushed the boundary, only for the group to be genuinely confused because the outfits look completely normal and gorgeous. That gap between what we fear and what others perceive becomes a powerful lens on confidence, self-worth, and the quiet rules that teach us to self-edit. Jo also shares how she went all in on the brief, and why being willing to get a few looks at Woolies can be strangely freeing.  We then zoom out to the bigger takeaway: the wardrobe is a simple place to spot limiting beliefs in action. If a top makes you feel amazing, why does it only get worn twice a year when an occasion feels “good enough”? We talk through a tiny experiment you can run today to practise taking up space, and we leave you with a question that reaches far beyond clothes: where else have you decided you are too much?  If this lands, subscribe, share it with a friend who keeps saving their best, and leave a review telling us what you wore when you stopped waiting for permission. Send a text message to Jo FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here. The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process. We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself. If something landed today, there's more where that came from. And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way. 🎙️https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼https://au.linkedin.com/in...

  6. Oct 20

    3 Ways to Make the End of the Year Easier

    FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here October hits and suddenly everyone acts like Christmas is a surprise deadline. Work gets louder, home gets busier, and if you’re the woman who’s good at getting things done, you can end up carrying everyone else’s urgency on top of your own. We’re talking straight about the real Q4 squeeze: shifting expectations at work, extra roles you didn’t ask for, family logistics, social pressure, and the mental load of a thousand tiny “micro-extras” that keep your brain running long after you’ve sat down. We walk through three grounded ways to make the end of 2026 easier. First, we stop you from becoming the destination for other people’s unfinished business, because your competence shouldn’t be anyone else’s contingency plan. We give you two simple questions to use in the moment, so you can decide what genuinely needs doing before the holidays and what doesn’t need to be done by you. Then we look at how perfectionism, control, and emotional responsibility quietly add pressure to already demanding tasks, and how “good enough” can be the difference between being present and burning out. Finally, we challenge the myth that January will magically fix everything. Waiting for a fresh start turns October to December into something to endure, but small boundary shifts now can change how the whole season feels.  If this lands with you, hit subscribe, share it with a woman who needs a lighter Q4, and leave a review so it reaches the people it’s meant for. Send a text message to Jo FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here. The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process. We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself. If something landed today, there's more where that came from. And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way. 🎙️https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼https://au.linkedin.com/in...

  7. Oct 16

    Did It Even Count (Jo Moment)

    One tiny mistake messed with my head more than I expected: I went to bed without my Oura Ring, woke up, reached for my phone… and there was no sleep score. What came next was the truly strange part. For a split second I wondered, “How did I sleep then?” as if my own experience didn’t count unless it was measured. That moment opened a bigger conversation about wearable tech, sleep tracking, readiness scores and the way we hand authority to numbers. I love data, and I’ll happily geek out on metrics, but there’s a point where information stops informing our judgement and quietly becomes our judgement. When a device says you’re not ready but you feel great, who do you believe? When the app says you slept brilliantly but you feel awful, do you start rewriting how you feel to match the score? We also zoom out to the other places this shows up: scales, salary, bonuses, performance reviews, revenue, and even likes and followers. Numbers can be useful feedback, but they’re not the final word on your health, your progress, or your worth. The practical takeaway is simple and powerful: decide what you think before you look at the score. Ask how you feel first, then use the data as extra context. If this hit home, share it with a mate who needs the reminder, subscribe to Balance and Beyond, and leave a review so more people can find these bite-sized breakthroughs. Send a text message to Jo FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here. The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process. We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself. If something landed today, there's more where that came from. And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way. 🎙️https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼https://au.linkedin.com/in...

  8. Oct 13

    The Girl Nobody Had to Worry About

    DOORS TO BALANCE & BEYOND ARE NOW OPEN! If you’re ready to change the patterns that keep pulling you back into overthinking, over-functioning and carrying too much, book a call with our team to see if Balance & Beyond is the right fit for you. You can be the most capable person in the room and still feel completely alone. That’s the quiet paradox many high-achieving women live with: we look fine on the outside, we keep things moving, we anticipate problems before they land, and we rarely drop the ball. But what happens when the very traits that built your success start limiting what you can carry, what you can build, and how deeply you can connect? We talk through self-reliance as more than independence or confidence. When it becomes an identity, it can turn into micromanaging, taking responsibility back, struggling to ask directly for what you want, or feeling exposed when you admit you’re hurt. The adult world rewards competence, so the “responsible girl” becomes the successful woman, then wonders why it feels so heavy and why “it’s lonely at the top” doesn’t quite capture the real ache underneath. We also dig into where this pattern often begins. Even without a dramatic backstory, many of us learnt early that being low-maintenance, mature, and self-sufficient was the safest option. Over time we get skilled at “controlling the mess”, sharing only the struggles that feel acceptable while hiding the ones that might change how people judge us. The catch is that support requires visibility, and exposure comes before support. If you’re navigating midlife pressures like teenagers, ageing parents, relationship strain, health uncertainty, or the sense that your old strategies no longer work, this conversation offers a gentler question to sit with: what are you afraid people might see differently about you if you let them? If it lands, subscribe, share it with a woman who needs it, and leave a review to help it reach the people it’s meant for. Send a text message to Jo FREE LIVE WORKSHOP: THE YEAR-END ADVANTAGE What if you could make the busiest weeks of 2026 work for you, not against you? Join me for a free live workshop kicking off 5 November, where I'll show you how to stop overdoing, overthinking and taking on too much, so you can finish the year with more energy, patience and sanity, and a head start on a very different 2027. Save your free spot here. The Balance & Beyond Podcast Hosted by Jo Stone, founder of The Balance Institute For women who are already succeeding, but beginning to wonder if they're willing to keep losing themselves in the process. We know high achievers, because we are one. This podcast draws on Jo's 20 years in global leadership and thousands of hours coaching executives and ambitious women: the patterns she sees, how to untangle them, and what it actually takes to keep your success without paying for it with yourself. If something landed today, there's more where that came from. And if you know a woman this would resonate with, send it her way. 🎙️https://www.balanceinstitute.com/podcast 🔗 www.balanceinstitute.com 💼https://au.linkedin.com/in...

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Balance and Beyond is the podcast for ambitious women refusing to accept burnout as the price of success. Here, we’re committed to empowering you with the tools and strategies you need to achieve true balance, where your career, relationships and health all thrive and where you have the power to define success on your own terms.

Information

  • Creator
    Jo Stone
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    260
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Balance & Beyond
  • Show Website
    Balance & Beyond

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