The Balanced Badass Podcast
The Balanced Badass Podcast is the show for high-achieving professionals who want to prevent burnout, master work-life balance, and stay badass without losing their sanity.
Each week, we’re not just tackling your overflowing calendar and keeping your household on track; we’re getting into burnout prevention and recovery strategies so that you have time to breathe, laugh, and savor that much-needed glass of wine at the end of the day.
Think of this podcast as your weekly dose of practical advice, a touch of humor, and a little tough love, like catching up with a friend who just gets it. Whether you’re navigating burnout, balancing meetings and meal prep, or carving out moments of self-care, this is the space where we figure it out together.
Disclaimer: My content is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. For serious concerns, please consult a qualified provider.
Episodes
28 episodes
Should You Stay or Should You Go? The 3-Question Burnout Test for Leaders
It's the Season 2 finale, folks! We're talking about burnout and how to really figure out if it's time to leave your job. And we'll jump right in with a three-question burnout test that'll help you see if you're stuck in a toxic work environmen...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 26
•
27:17
Is Your Work Persona the Real You?
In this episode, we're getting into the exhausting performance of the work persona that many of us feel compelled to maintain. Tara shares a heartfelt message about the cost of constantly performing professionalism at the expense of ou...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 25
•
21:08
Breaking Up With Guilt: Why You Shouldn't Feel Bad About Saying No
In this episode, we tackle the manipulative voice of guilt that wreaks havoc on your energy, decision-making, and sustainable leadership. Specifically, we discuss boundary guilt—the kind that makes you feel bad for protecting your own time and ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 24
•
29:06
Understanding Hypnotherapy's Role in Healing with Andrea Ramírez
In this insightful episode, we're joined by Andrea Ramírez to explore the incredible power of the subconscious mind. We discuss Andrea's personal journey through trauma, burnout, and how hypnotherapy became a transformative tool for lasting cha...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 23
•
50:47
The Energetic Side of Burnout with Amanda Marek
In this episode of the Balance Badass Podcast, we explore burnout recovery from an energetic perspective with Amanda, a former nurse turned Reiki master and owner of Heart in Harmony Healing. Amanda shares her personal experience wi...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 22
•
35:19
Your First 90 Days After a Layoff – What No One Tells You About Moving On
In this episode, we're getting into the harsh realities of the current job market and the emotional turmoil that follows a layoff. Whether you've been hit by corporate budget cuts, the tech industry shake-up, or the federal government downsizin...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 21
•
26:54
Running on Empty: Recognizing When Your Energy Reserves Are Dangerously Low
Always feeling tired no matter how much coffee you chug? Let's get into why high achievers push through the exhaustion and often miss the signs of burnout. Discover the sneaky ways burnout creeps in, how stress messes with your brain, and most ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 20
•
18:24
When Your Workplace is a Ticking Time Bomb: Handling a Culture Where Everyone’s Burned Out
Feeling the burnout at work? This episode breaks down the pervasive culture of workplace burnout, examining the systemic issues like unrealistic expectations, lack of support, and glorification of overwork. We’ll explore how these f...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 19
•
28:31
The HR Playbook for Balanced and Equitable Workplaces with Kirsten Zeigler
In this episode, Tara chats with Kirsten Zeigler, founder of KDZ HR Consulting. The discussion focuses on strategies to keep burnout at bay while building equitable workplaces. Kirsten gets into her HR expertise, offering practical ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 18
•
49:15
When "Good Enough" Isn't Good Enough: How Perfectionism Feeds Burnout
In this episode, we tackle the paradox of perfectionism and the value of "good enough." Discover how the relentless pursuit of flawlessness may be the root cause of your exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout. Learn about the origins of p...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 17
•
21:28
The Dark Side of Company Culture: What "Always-On" Really Costs You
In this episode, Tara discusses the toxic "always on" culture requiring constant availability, which impacts mental and physical health. She examines its origins, driven by technology, hustle culture, the pandemic, and capitalism, and provides ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 16
•
17:42
Why Vacations and Self-Care Won't Cure Burnout (And What Will) with Kelsea Warren
In this episode, Tara welcomes Kelsea, The Seamless Coach, who specializes in burnout prevention. They discuss Kelsea's personal experiences with burnout and how they inform her current work. The conversation highlights the inadequ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 15
•
49:41
The Journey to Self-Discovery with Dr. Lanecha Conner
In this episode of the Balanced Badass Podcast, Tara welcomes the first-ever guest, Dr. Lanecha, known as The ConnectHER. They discuss the importance of reconnecting with oneself amidst burnout, particularly for ambitious millennial wo...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 14
•
50:20
How to Use What You’re Good At to Hit Your Goals
In this second season kickoff of the Balanced Badass Podcast, Tara shares her holiday adventure that unexpectedly landed her in the hospital with blood clots. Reflecting on her experience, she encourages listeners to focus on their strengths to...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 13
•
13:18
New Year, New Focus: How to Close Out the Old Year and Gear Up for the New One
We made it, friend—the season one finale of The Balanced Badass Podcast™! Can you believe we're already wrapping up 2024? This episode is gonna get into the highs, the lows, and the "what the hell was I even thinking?" moments from this year.
•
Season 1
•
Episode 12
•
26:14
Why You’ll Never Find Balance–And That’s a Good Thing
Feel like you're always chasing balance but never quite catching it? Here’s the truth: balance isn’t some perfect, static state—it’s a messy, ever-changing process, and anyone telling you otherwise is selling a pipe dream.In this episode...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 11
•
20:32
Who’s Got Your Back? The 5 People You Need for a Burnout-Resistant Life
In this episode of the Balance Badass podcast, Tara emphasizes the importance of building a strong support system to combat burnout. She discusses five key types of people essential for creating a burnout-resistant life: role models, mentors, c...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 10
•
36:29
Burnout, Red Tape, and Trust Issues (Oh My!): The Case for Workplace Autonomy
Are you stuck in a job where every decision feels like it needs five levels of approval? Do constant status updates and micromanagement have you feeling more like a robot than a real contributor? You’re not alone—and it’s time to talk about why...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 9
•
14:01
Are You in the Danger Zone? Recognizing Burnout Triggers
Ever feel like your laptop’s overheating? That’s you teetering on the brink of burnout. In this episode, we dig into recognizing burnout triggers and the essential warning signs of burnout that too many of us ignore. From mental exhaustion and ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 8
•
25:29
Keeping It Together When Everything Feels Like It's Falling Apart
In this episode, Tara tackles the challenge of how to keep it together when life feels like it’s falling apart. She shares a personal story about managing chaos during a flea infestation with her five dogs (surprise twist, there’s a lot of dog ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 7
•
23:57
What Burnout Really Is (And What It’s Not)
In this episode, Tara tackles the topic of burnout and what it really means. She breaks down the signs and symptoms that indicate you might be sliding into burnout territory, like constant exhaustion, emotional drain, and feeling detached from ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 6
•
29:09
Grieving What I Hoped For: A Post-Election Reflection
It's the day after the 2024 U.S. election, and I'm off my regular content schedule to unpack the whirlwind of emotions I'm feeling: disappointment, shock, and even despair. This isn't about politics but about the deeper values of compassion, fa...
•
Season 1
•
7:08
Stress Less Every Day: Simple Tricks for Quick Relief
In this episode, Tara shares practical stress management strategies tailored for high-achieving professionals. She recounts her own experiences at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating the chaos and stress that ensued. Tara introduce...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 5
•
37:06
Setting Goals That Make You Want to Jump Out of Bed
Tara discusses how most people either don't set goals or fail at them because they're uninspiring and based on external expectations. She encourages listeners to toss out these 'should' goals and instead find goals that truly excite them. Tara ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 4
•
22:09
.png)
How to Reframe Your Mindset and Build Real Confidence
In this episode, Tara talks about building confidence by doing things that scare you. She shares her experience of managing her first professional staff member and explains that confidence comes from taking action, not from feeling ready. Tara ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 3
•
17:54
