What if the reason positive thinking hasn’t worked for you… isn’t because you’re doing it wrong, but because no one ever showed you how your mind actually listens? In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Marisa Peer, and we go far beyond motivation or feel-good affirmations. This is a practical, step-by-step breakdown of how the words you use, especially the ones you say to yourself, directly shape your self-worth, confidence, and the reality you experience. We talk about why so many people know what they should think, yet still feel stuck… why saying “I’m trying” quietly reinforces failure… and how subtle language patterns can either work with your brain or cause it to push back entirely. If you’ve ever: * Felt like you’re “doing the work” but nothing is changing * Struggled with feeling not enough, even when life looks good on paper * Tried affirmations that felt fake or forced * Wondered whether you can really have it all, career, health, relationships, fulfilment …this conversation will land. Marisa shares the exact phrases, sentence structures, and mindset shifts that actually create change, including one powerful sentence you can start using today to rebuild self-worth and self-trust. This is an episode you may want to listen to twice, not because it’s complex, but because it’s precise.

LINKS

💆‍♀️ COZY EARTH - Use code “ERIKA” to get 20% off HERE (I’m currently loving their comforters to enhance deep sleep)!

📸 I⁠nstagram⁠

Marisa Peer's I am Enough Book - ⁠https://marisapeer.com/marisa-peer-books/⁠

Marisa Peer's Free Gifts - ⁠https://marisapeer.com/free-gifts/⁠

TIME STAMPS

(03:17) Can we have it all? (06:21) Did you always believe you could have it all? (10:26) How do we actually use our thinking to change our reality (12:25) Surviving Cancer (14:02) Crafting your phrases for success (17:34) How to like yourself more (24:13) Are you making someone else’s story, yours? (27:07) Tools for kids to instil skills (27:15) Is work-life balance a myth? (35:24) Is AI being used as therapy a bad thing? (39:51) Start saying this one sentence to yourself TODAY

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 ⁠Connect with me on IG!⁠

RESOURCES

▶︎⁠ 25 Day Self Development Marathon⁠

▶︎ ⁠21 Day Self Growth Challenge⁠

▶︎ ⁠Goal Setting System E-Book⁠

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 ⁠Instagram⁠

📱⁠Tiktok⁠

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - ⁠Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

In this episode, we explore what self-respect actually means, beyond confidence, beyond success, beyond applause. For years, today’s guest chased respect externally, having thoughts like: If you liked me, I liked me. If you approved, I felt safe. But as she shares, that way of living slowly disconnects you from yourself. I’m joined by Dr Katherine Iscoe to unpack: • Why people-pleasing is often rooted in the “fawn” trauma response

• How you might be subtly trading yourself away in everyday moments

• The restaurant “steak” example that reveals more than you think

• How to audit your calendar to see if you truly respect yourself

• Why boundaries aren’t just with other people, they’re with yourself

• How overthinking steals years of your life

• The difference between chasing happiness and building self-respect

• What it actually looks like to make decisions from self-respect Self-respect isn’t loud.It isn’t aggressive.It isn’t about becoming selfish. It’s about choosing yourself in small, daily ways, even when it feels uncomfortable. Because the truth is, confidence might get you in the room... but self-respect is what keeps you standing tall. If you’ve ever felt like: * You say yes too often * You overthink simple decisions * You care more about others’ opinions than your own * You don’t feel fully like yourself anymore This episode is for you. The life you want doesn’t start with more discipline. It starts with self-respect.

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST

📸 Instagram

Dr Katherine Iscoe's book - https://www.drkatherine.com/self-respect-playbook

Dr Katherine Iscoe Website - https://www.drkatherine.com

TIME STAMPS

(01:50) Introduction (05:40) Taking back ownership over your life (09:29) Obvious Ways you are trading yourself away (14:43) First time you felt proud of yourself (17:37) Self Respect Zones (21:49) Does your calendar show you respect yourself? (25:58) Top Skills for Mastering your Self Respect (29:11) Advice for people to move into self respect (31:57) Resilience vs Abandon ship (36:25) Leaving CEO Role (39:27) How do I make decisions with self respect? (44:19) Why do we lose momentum? (49:17) Define Self Respect

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!

RESOURCES

▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon

▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge

▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 Instagram

📱Tiktok

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

If you’re serious about podcast growth and creator growth, this episode will change how you think about building content that actually scales.

In this behind-the-scenes conversation, I sit down with Grace Miller, Head of Experimentation & Failure at The Diary of a CEO, to unpack how one of the world’s biggest podcasts thinks about growth, testing, and long-term success.

We go inside how elite creators experiment and how small, intentional decisions compound into massive audience growth. From YouTube analytics and thumbnail testing to failing fast without losing confidence, this episode is a masterclass for anyone building a podcast, YouTube channel, or personal brand in 2026 and beyond.

You’ll learn:


• How the world’s biggest podcasts approach growth and experimentation


• What actually matters in the YouTube backend for podcast growth
• How to test thumbnails, titles, and formats 


• How to build momentum through experimentation


• How to fail fast, learn faster, and grow with clarity


• Practical creator growth strategies you can implement immediately

This episode isn’t about hacks or virality. It’s about systems, curiosity, and sustainable growth, the foundations behind long-term success as a creator.

Whether you’re a podcaster, YouTuber, or creative entrepreneur, this conversation will help you stop guessing and start growing with intention.

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 📸 Instagram

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction

(01:20) How did you become Head of Experimentation for Steven Bartlett & Diary of a CEO?

(07:03) What does a typical day in DOAC office look like?

(10:54) Who should podcasters hire?

(16:59) Exactly what to look at in the YouTube backend

(19:00) Thumbnail testing strategy

(20:13) How do you Experiment at DOAC?

(25:30) How do you fail fast?

(27:22) Two things to test on each platform: YT, IG and Spotify

(30:10) How do we experiment in our own personal lives?

(34:19) Practical experiment for personal life to start TODAY

(38:14) Most uncomfortable thing you’re doing this year?

(40:48) Are podcasts over saturated?

WHO AM I? My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel!

📸 Connect with me on IG! RESOURCES ▶︎ My FREE Work Life Balance Workshop ▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon ▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge ▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book LET’S BE FRIENDS ⭐ Substack 📸 Instagram 📱Tiktok 🌍 My website 🧡 This description may contain affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Today, we break down the science of confidence, why self-doubt isn’t always the enemy, and how understanding your specific doubt pattern can unlock lasting self-trust, without becoming someone you’re not.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr Shadé Zahrai, behavioural researcher, award-winning peak performance educator, and one of the leading voices on confidence, self-image, and self-doubt.

This is not about hype or surface-level confidence. It’s about rewiring how you see yourself.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

* Why confidence is trainable, not fixed

* The role self-doubt actually plays in growth and performance

* The 4 Self-Doubt Types and how they show up in behaviour

* How to diagnose your own self-doubt profile (including mine, live)

* The everyday habit that quietly erodes confidence

* How posture, environment, and physicality shape self-belief

* How to tell the difference between useful self-doubt and self-sabotage

* Why your self-image is the blueprint for your entire life

* Practical tools to build confidence in real time

* How to set boundaries with negative people without losing yourself

When you change how you see yourself, your behaviour follows.

Confidence isn’t something you chase, it’s something you build.

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST

📸 Instagram

Link to free quiz online

Link to BIG TRUST

TIME STAMPS

(01:43) Introduction / Background

(12:06) What is the role of self-doubt?

(17:26) Self Doubt Profiles

(25:48) Diagnosing Erika’s doubt profile

(30:22) Tools for improving self doubt

(47:49) This everyday habit is ruining your confidence

(53:28) Do you need to change your environment to achieve?

(57:53) Setting boundaries for loved ones who are negative

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!

RESOURCES

▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon

▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge

▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 Instagram

📱Tiktok

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Confidence today feels different.

We’re navigating a world where AI can outperform humans, social media is increasingly curated (and often fake), and comparison is no longer occasional, it’s constant. Even the most grounded, capable people are quietly questioning themselves.

In this episode, we explore how to stay confident when nothing online feels real anymore and how to use social media without losing yourself.

Joining me is journalist, speaker, and mother Danae Mercer, who has worked at the highest levels of media and still found her confidence shaken by the online world. Together, we unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface of confidence in 2026, and what actually helps.

This isn’t about deleting social media or fearing AI. It’s about learning the new confidence skill this era demands.

💭 If You’ve Been Thinking…

“I don’t feel as confident as I used to”

“Everyone online seems ahead of me”

“I know better, but I still feel affected”

“I want my confidence back”

then this conversation is for you!

And if this episode resonates, share it with someone who might be quietly feeling the same way.

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST

📸 Instagram

TIME STAMPS

(01:20) Introduction

(06:40) How do we remain confident in the age of AI content?

(18:23) Tools to find confidence

(23:32) Do things you’re bad at

(26:20) What's the line between being sucked in by social media and enjoying it?

(29:26) The Proteus Effect

(44:01) Consequences of phone use and emotions

(47:01) Why did you start posting content?

(51:14) What would you immediately change on social media

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!

RESOURCES

▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon

▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge

▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 Instagram

📱Tiktok

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do so many relationships fail, even if there’s love?

In this episode, I sit down with Mo Gawdat to unpack the logic, equations, and skills behind relationships and why love itself is actually the easy part.

Mo is the bestselling author of Solve for Happy and a former Google X executive, known for applying engineering and systems thinking to life’s hardest problems. In this conversation, we explore why 96.8% of relationships fail, what most people were never taught about love, and how relationships can be learned, trained, and improved, just like any other skill.

This episode isn’t about romantic clichés or surface-level advice. It’s about understanding:

* why love is logical, not irrational

* how we unknowingly block love

* why relationships fail when seasons change

* and how to become good at relationships, without settling or second-guessing yourself

Whether you’re single and looking for love, dating, or already in a long-term relationship, this conversation will change the way you think about connection.

We of course also get to know Mo, from his way of thinking all the way through to his current project - EMMA.

If this conversation resonates, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

💬 What part of relationships do you feel you were never taught?

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST

📸 Instagram

TIME STAMPS

(01:25) Introduction

(03:03) How to be more than your job

(08:04) Giving yourself permission

(13:03) 3 Questions to Align Your Life Choices

(15:20) Is Love Is Illogical?

(25:40) Is there “THE ONE”

(35:42) PPRFCTS - the 7 things we want from a relationship

(43:57) Is AI the best place to help with relationships?

(52:48) Managing or lowering expectations?

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!

RESOURCES

▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon

▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge

▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 Instagram

📱Tiktok

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you feel like there’s a gap between the person you are and the person you know you could be, this episode is for you.

In this conversation with Karen Mattar, we explore what really keeps people stuck in the same patterns year after year and why motivation, willpower, and “trying harder” so often fail.

This episode is about outgrowing a life that no longer fits, rebuilding confidence through self-respect, and becoming someone who actually follows through on the promises they make to themselves. Not through pressure or self-control, but through identity, leadership, and alignment.

If you’ve ever thought “I know I’m meant for more” but struggled to close the gap between intention and action, this conversation will help you understand why, and what needs to change.

This episode is for the person who:

• Feels like they’ve outgrown their current life

• They’re tired of starting over every year

• They struggle with consistency and follow-through

• They want habits that last, not another motivation spike

• They’re ready to become the person they keep visualising

Trust this episode will find you when it’s meant to!

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST

📸 Instagram

TIME STAMPS

(01:17) Introduction

(4:50) How do you follow big intuitive moves?

(08:12) Changing habits based on self respect

(11:29) How do your habits shape your identity?

(16:26) Self Control to Self Leadership

(22:58) Your environment is silently shaping you

(27:01) Negative people you love

(32:41) People respect you more when you’re in shape

(34:29) Diary of CEO Episode thoughts

(42:30) Who is the modern woman

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!

RESOURCES

▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon

▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge

▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 Instagram

📱Tiktok

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This will find you right before you're about to make a big move, life change or pivot. 3 min of pure straight talk and motivation to get you inspired to move ahead.

🎥 If you loved this episode, you'll love the full podcast here.

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!

RESOURCES

▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon

▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge

▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 Instagram

📱Tiktok

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re waking up feeling unmotivated, overwhelmed, or stuck… start your day with this.

These 5 minutes are designed to reset your mindset, shift your energy, and remind you who you are before the world tells you otherwise.

Save this.

Play it every morning.

Let it become your ritual.

This compilation includes some of the most powerful moments from The Balance Theory Podcast, conversations about identity, clarity, confidence, and taking ownership of your life. Put your headphones in, breathe, and let these 5 minutes set the tone for your day.

✨ Watch These Featured Motivational Episodes Next

1️⃣ Make Yourself Irreplaceable

2️⃣ You Know There's More For You

3️⃣ Why People Get Motivation Wrong

4️⃣ How to Be More Confident

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!

RESOURCES

▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon

▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge

▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 Instagram

📱Tiktok

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever worried about staying relevant, being replaced, or falling behind in a world where AI is evolving faster than job titles… this clip is your wake-up call.

In this conversation, global communications strategist Maha Abouelenein, who has worked with Gary Vee, Google, Netflix, Red Bull, and even the Prime Minister of Egypt, breaks down what actually makes someone valuable, memorable, and irreplaceable in 2026 and beyond.

Whether you’re building your career, growing your personal brand, or just trying to stand out in a crowded world, these insights will help you protect your edge and elevate your opportunities.

🎥 Watch the full episode with Maha Abouelenein here

The full conversation goes deeper into confidence, communication, networking, staying relevant in the age of AI, and exactly how to build a powerful personal brand.

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!

RESOURCES

▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon

▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge

▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 Instagram

📱Tiktok

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wondering how to be more disciplined?

If you keep telling yourself you’ll “be more disciplined tomorrow” but nothing changes… this clip is for you.

In this powerful conversation, Tracy Harmoush breaks down the real reason people struggle with discipline and why most of what you’ve been told about building willpower and consistency simply doesn’t work.

Tracy shares the mindset shifts, identity upgrades, and practical steps you need to finally stick to what you say you’ll do in 2026. If you’ve ever felt frustrated, ashamed, or confused about why discipline never seems to last, this video will give you the clarity and momentum you’ve been missing.

🎥 Watch the full episode with Tracy Harmoush here

You’ll hear the full breakdown on discipline, identity work, self-trust, and what it really takes to build a life you’re proud of.

WHO AM I?

My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!

RESOURCES

▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon

▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge

▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book

LET’S BE FRIENDS

📸 Instagram

📱Tiktok

MY FAVOURITE STUFF

💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.