478: Mama Gena: Why Successful Women Lose Their Feminine Fire (And How to Get It Back)

Why is it that the very habits that drive ambitious women to succeed - the hustle, the long hours, the “I can do it all” mindset - are often the same ones that lead to burnout, anxiety, and resentment? In the first episode of our 5-part series with Awaken the Muse - Natalie, Alexi Panos and Emily Gallagher pull back the curtain on what they call the overwhelm loop - the cycle of urgency, overcommitment, and dysregulation that so many high-achieving women mistake for normal. Together, they share raw stories of postpartum identity shifts, hidden resentment in relationships, and the nervous system patterns that keep us chasing more even when we already feel depleted. You’ll learn what “functional freeze” actually looks like, why capacity can be a mask for self-abandonment, and the micro-practices that help you exhale, reset, and build a more sustainable kind of success. If you’ve ever felt like slowing down means falling behind, this episode will prove the opposite - that nervous system regulation is the real key to growth, profit, and fulfillment. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The hidden cost of high-functioning burnout 01:26 From biohacking to balance: how hormones tell the truth before we do 03:35 The LA hustle spell and the pressure to “stay relevant” 05:24 Postpartum wake-up calls: splitting yourself between business and baby 08:49 The identity crisis no one talks about after becoming a mother 11:27 Why your nervous system equates chaos with safety 15:10 How relaxing (not pushing harder) actually expands capacity 16:40 Soft CEO era vs. hustle culture: finding a middle ground 25:36 Functional freeze explained and why high achievers miss the signs 33:37 Resentment as a red flag for self-abandonment 38:23 Simple regulation tools you can use in under a minute 41:34 The myth that transformation has to be hard, and what actually works RESOURCES + LINKS Click Here To Join Soft Success: A Free Masterclass Experience Taking Place On September 24th To End High-Functioning Burnout And Redefine Success On Your Terms. Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter & Get Insights From Natalie Every Single Week On All Things Strategy, Motherhood, Business Growth + More.  Drop Us A Review On The Podcast + Send Us A Screenshot & We’ll Send You Natalie’s 7-Figure Operating System Completely FREE (value $1,997).

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your passion into profit - whether that’s writing a book, building a coaching business, or creating a funnel that actually works - this episode is for you. Ashley went from three years of rejection as an aspiring author to becoming an international bestseller and scaling a $2.5M business. Inside, she shares the exact system she used to finally get published, the framework she now teaches her clients, and the sales engine (built through Freedom Fast Track) that continues to bring in consistent revenue. You’ll walk away with practical insights on building a business that feels aligned, marketing without overwhelm, and structuring your weeks for both creative flow and growth. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - The surprising reason most authors face rejection (and how to avoid it) 02:28 - The step-by-step system to finally get your book finished 06:32 - A wake-up call that changed how Ashley approached business and life 11:53 - What to do if you’re multi-passionate but struggling to find your “thing” 17:13 - Why every business has its own DNA (and how to honor yours) 20:35 - Behind the scenes of a sales engine that brings consistent revenue 26:07 - How to stop guessing and start using data to fuel growth 33:40 - A weekly structure that balances creative flow with profitability 38:49 - The real challenges of building a business as a new mom 44:19 - The nine secrets to writing and publishing a book that actually sells RESOURCES + LINKS Join The Freedom Fast Track Waitlist Here. Grab Ashley’s Book, The Author Success Code Right Here. Ready To Write The Book That Builds Your Brand, Your Business, And Your Legacy? Click Here To Book Your Private Book Breakthrough Call With Ashley. The Book Accelerator Is Back. Early Bird Enrollment Ends August 31st. Click Here To Learn More. Try Kajabi Free Here: www.bossbabe.com/kajabi Follow Ashley On Instagram:@ashleymwrites Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter & Get Insights From Natalie Every Single Week On All Things Strategy, Motherhood, Business Growth + More. Drop Us A Review On The Podcast + Send Us A Screenshot & We’ll Send You Natalie’s 7-Figure Operating System Completely FREE (value $1,997).

Feeling overwhelmed by everything on your plate? From client work to admin to endless content creation, it can feel like there’s never enough time in the day. The logical next step seems to be hiring help, but without a strategy, you can end up with more chaos, more payroll, and not necessarily more freedom. In this episode, Natalie breaks down how to hire like a founder - strategically, intentionally, and for ROI. You’ll learn how to identify the real bottleneck in your business (whether it’s admin, delivery, or sales), when to choose a person versus an AI tool, and how to design roles around outcomes instead of to-do lists. If you’ve been stuck in panic hiring or paralyzed by the fear of building a big team, this conversation will show you how one smart hire (or system) can unlock the next level of growth without adding unnecessary overhead. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Why you don’t need a big team to scale, you just need the right hire 01:13 - The danger of panic hiring and how it keeps you stuck 02:36 - The real question to ask before you ever post a job description 03:27 - Bottleneck #1: Admin and operations (why AI might be your best first hire) 04:49 - Bottleneck #2: Delivery and fulfillment + how to systematize or bring in specialists 06:16 - Bottleneck #3: Sales and traffic: why this requires a different kind of support 07:51 - The simple audit that reveals your true bottleneck 09:14 - How to define roles around results, not tasks 10:36 - Why ownership (not just assistance) creates real ROI 11:47 - Teaching every hire to connect their work to revenue 12:16 - The clarity test before you hire anyone 13:36 - The real goal: leverage, freedom, and growth RESOURCES + LINKS Want to know if your next move should be hiring a person or implementing AI? Download the FREE One Smart Hire AI prompt here and get instant clarity on your biggest business bottleneck. Join The Société: Build Your Freedom-Based Business™ With Systems, Templates, Coaching + Community. Just $97/Month. Imagine Having Natalie As Your CMO, On Call 24/7 To Help You Make The Right Moves In Your Business. That’s Exactly What You Get With Bossbabe AI The Freedom Engine™: AI-Powered Strategy And Systems That Show You What To Sell, How To Sell It, And How To Scale - Without All The Guesswork. Learn More And Unlock It Here. Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter & Get Insights From Natalie Every Single Week On All Things Strategy, Motherhood, Business Growth + More. Drop Us A Review On The Podcast + Send Us A Screenshot & We’ll Send You Natalie’s 7-Figure Operating System Completely FREE (value $1,997).

*Note: At the time of this recording, Simran’s business was called Girls That Invest - it has since been renamed to Friends That Invest. What if your money could give you freedom - not just someday, but starting now? In this episode, Natalie sits down with Simran Kaur, founder of Friends That Invest, to talk about building real financial security in an uncertain economy. They cover how to recession-proof your income, avoid common money traps, and start investing with confidence, even if you’re starting from zero. Simran shares the simple system behind her early retirement plan, why passive income is often misunderstood, and how to create your own trust fund so your money works for you. If you’ve been avoiding your finances or feeling unsure where to start, this episode will help you take your power back. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Simran shares her journey from optometrist to founder of a global investing platform 02:00 - Why she chose a simple business model with one paid offer, and how it changed everything 04:10 - The truth about shiny object syndrome and how to stay focused on what works 06:20 - A real conversation about what’s happening in the economy right now + how to protect yourself 08:30 The two ways to handle your finances during a recession: proactive vs. reactive 11:15 - How to calculate your personal “burn rate” and set up a 6-month emergency fund 13:50 - Avoiding lifestyle creep + how to grow your income without overspending 15:25 - Why the wealthiest people invest more during recessions, and how you can too 18:10 - Simran’s personal plan to retire early and how she’s creating her own trust fund 21:00 - Passive income vs. real passive investing: what actually counts 23:30 - The 4% drawdown rule explained, and why it’s the key to financial independence 25:00 - The mistake 70% of women are making with their money (and how to fix it) 29:50 The easiest way to start investing + Simran’s advice for beginners RESOURCES + LINKS Want to start investing or join the next masterclass? Head to https://friendsthatinvest.com/ to sign up for the newsletter, explore resources, and learn more. Imagine Having Natalie As Your CMO, On Call 24/7 To Help You Make The Right Moves In Your Business. That’s Exactly What You Get With Bossbabe AI The Freedom Engine™: AI-Powered Strategy And Systems That Show You What To Sell, How To Sell It, And How To Scale - Without All The Guesswork. Learn More And Unlock It Here. Join The Société: Build Your Freedom-Based Business™ With Systems, Templates, Coaching + Community. Just $97/Month. Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter & Get Insights From Natalie Every Single Week On All Things Strategy, Motherhood, Business Growth + More. Drop Us A Review On The Podcast + Send Us A Screenshot & We’ll Send You Natalie’s 7-Figure Operating System Completely FREE (value $1,997).

Are you building a business, or did you accidentally create a high-demand job that’s giving you less return than your 9–5 ever did? In this episode, Natalie is breaking down the most important mindset shift you can make as an entrepreneur: thinking like a founder instead of a freelancer. Because even if you're working solo, your business still needs systems, structure, and scalability - otherwise, it’s just a hustle with a new title. If you’re ready to reclaim your time, build something that works for you (not just because of you), and finally stop doing it all alone, this one’s for you. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Are you running a business… or just a really demanding job? 01:10 - Why even solopreneurs need a founder mindset 02:10 - Freelancer vs. founder: what’s the difference, really? 03:51 - How founders design systems that scale their impact 05:12 - The question that reveals if your business is actually free 06:38 - Shift #1: From doing to delegating (even if it’s just 5 hours/week) 07:53 - Shift #2: From selling time to selling outcomes 08:49 - Shift #3: From hustle to systems (and where to start) 10:06 - Shift #4: From income to profit - why revenue is a vanity metric 11:20 - Shift #5: From busyness to leadership 13:42 - What freedom actually looks like when you step into CEO mode 14:38 - How this mindset shift supports ambitious women + mothers 16:03 - What kind of business are you building + is it building you back? RESOURCES + LINKS Get Natalie’s AI-Powered Email Tool For Inbox Delegation Right Here. Join The Société: Build Your Freedom-Based Business™ With Systems, Templates, Coaching + Community. Just $97/Month. Imagine Having Natalie As Your CMO, On Call 24/7 To Help You Make The Right Moves In Your Business. That’s Exactly What You Get With Bossbabe AI The Freedom Engine™: AI-Powered Strategy And Systems That Show You What To Sell, How To Sell It, And How To Scale - Without All The Guesswork. Learn More And Unlock It Here. Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter & Get Insights From Natalie Every Single Week On All Things Strategy, Motherhood, Business Growth + More.  Drop Us A Review On The Podcast + Send Us A Screenshot & We’ll Send You Natalie’s 7-Figure Operating System Completely FREE (value $1,997).