Podcast Summary: The Balance Theory – Why High-Performing Women Secretly Struggle With Feminine Energy | Nadia Zaal
Host: Erika De Pellegrin
Guest: Nadia Zaal
Date: October 12, 2025
Episode Theme: Exploring the journey of high-performing women grappling with the tension between masculine drive and feminine energy. Nadia Zaal shares her personal and professional evolution, discussing the challenges of balancing achievement, motherhood, and authenticity. The conversation delves into redefining success, setting boundaries, the role of feminine energy in fertility and productivity, and reimagining education for future generations.
1. Overview: Purpose & Main Theme
This episode explores the hidden struggles faced by high-performing women with feminine energy. Erika and Nadia candidly discuss the societal and internal pressures that drive women to over-identify with masculine "push" energy and the toll that can take on happiness, fertility, career fulfillment, and motherhood. Nadia shares her journey from corporate-driven ambition and burnout to a more integrated, balanced life—emphasizing the essential roles of vulnerability, self-awareness, and redefining both success and balance on personal terms.
2. Key Discussion Points & Insights
A. Redefining Success & the Trap of External Validation
- Early motivations: Nadia describes her younger self as focused on titles, numbers, and external validation, but now seeks internal "congruence"—a sense of harmony and peace between her values and actions.
- Quote: "Who I am, what I believe in, and how I move through life being in harmony... that really feels like peaceful and in flow to me." (02:08, Nadia)
- Connection as happiness: Happiness comes from deep connection—with her team, family, and herself—rather than achievement alone.
B. Living in Polarity: Embracing Both/And Identities
- Nadia highlights that real balance is about holding space for what seem like opposites—being spiritual and ambitious, a committed mom and entrepreneur, playful and disciplined.
- Quote: "I am these crazy opposites. I will rave at a party... and I will do breath work." (04:14, Nadia)
- The need to unlearn either/or thinking, and to accept balance as a fluid, not fixed, state.
C. The Reality of "Balance," Sacrifice, & Guilt
- Both Erika and Nadia admit to the myth of achieving a constant, perfect balance. Instead, balance shifts according to life phase and priorities.
- Quote: "Something’s always got to give, and you’ve got to be okay with that." (09:45, Nadia)
- Nadia emphasizes flexibility and self-compassion: sometimes she’s more present at work, sometimes at home. Social life may ebb during high-focus periods.
D. Letting Go: People Pleasing, Boundaries, and Worth
- Unlearning people-pleasing: Nadia describes how equating being needed/loved with happiness left her depleted.
- Quote: "I remember sitting one day and thinking, oh my God, like a lot of my relationships are depleting me." (11:59, Nadia)
- Building boundaries: Learning to say "no," especially to those she cared about, was crucial—even if it felt unnatural at first.
- Quote: "It was literally like building a muscle...but I definitely have much stronger boundaries now." (13:38, Nadia)
- Productivity ≠ self-worth: She questioned the belief that worth depends on relentless productivity.
E. Feminine Energy, Fertility, and Receiving
- Fertility as a wake-up call: After being told her chances of pregnancy were low, Nadia reevaluated her "masculine," push-driven lifestyle.
- Quote: "You are so in your masculine...you can't even receive a compliment, Nadia. Like, how are you going to receive a baby?" (14:55, Nadia)
- Embodied practices: Nadia focused on receiving, relaxation, and reconnecting to joy as tools for fertility. She journaled, wrote letters to her unborn child, and created space physically and emotionally.
- Quote: "Just receive a compliment...get someone to make you tea. Powerful women summon things into their life. It’s not about push." (15:43, Nadia)
- Success: She became pregnant five months later, crediting the shift in energy and consciousness. She advises others to pay attention to how their lifestyle affects their ability to "receive"—not just a baby, but life’s blessings.
F. Motherhood as Spiritual Growth & Leadership
- Motherhood’s impact: Nadia sees conscious motherhood as deeply transformative, expanding her heart and making her a better, more empathetic leader.
- Quote: "Motherhood cracks you open. That is like, spiritual work...your heart becomes bigger, you’re more accepting, you’re less judgmental." (27:35, Nadia)
- Business leadership: Vulnerability, authenticity, and leading with an open heart helped her build better connections and stronger teams. She stopped hiding her "feminine" qualities at work.
- Quote: "When I showed up more vulnerable...everything just, like, we just got closer as a team." (29:46, Nadia)
G. Authenticity in Professional Spaces
- Both share experiences of adapting or concealing their full selves in corporate settings. Both found that authenticity and vulnerability—being their true selves—led to stronger relationships and better outcomes.
- Quote (Erika): "When I moved into consulting, I just started being who I authentically was...had such beautiful rewards." (32:12, Erika)
H. Rethinking Education: Beyond Employability
- Education system critique: Nadia questions whether schools as we know them are preparing children for a rapidly changing world, focusing too much on academic achievement, standardized tests, and not enough on life skills.
- Quote: "What is the purpose? Okay, employability. 80% of the economy is changing. Like, what are we preparing them for?... Do we even need schools?" (43:22 & 01:01, Nadia)
- Her model: Nadia started a Waldorf-inspired school emphasizing connection, project-based learning, and honoring developmental stages. She values diversity, inclusion, and instilling life skills—like financial literacy and self-awareness—not just rote academics.
- System limitations: She highlights the challenge teachers face: wanting to innovate, but restricted by management’s need for data and test results flowing down from larger systemic priorities.
3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Inner Alignment:
"Now... everything is just, like, who I am, what I say, what I do is all, like, in alignment. That feels really, like, successful. Cause it brings me peace."
(02:08, Nadia) -
On Boundaries:
"I realized, like, a lot of my relationships are depleting me... I had to learn to say no."
(11:59, Nadia) -
On Receiving:
"You are so in your masculine... you can't even receive a compliment, Nadia. Like, how are you going to receive a baby?"
(14:55, Nadia) -
On Redefining Productivity:
"Being productive also equals worth... I had to unlearn that."
(14:35, Nadia) -
On Motherhood:
"Motherhood cracks you open. That is like, spiritual work... your heart becomes bigger, you’re more accepting, you’re less judgmental."
(27:35, Nadia) -
On Education:
"Do we even need schools?... We need community. Yes. We need mentors. Yes."
(41:53, Nadia)
4. Noteworthy Timestamps
- Redefining Success: 02:08
- Polarity and embracing both/and: 04:14
- The myth of balance: 09:45
- Unlearning people-pleasing & building boundaries: 11:59 – 13:38
- Productivity, worth, and shifting from masculine energy: 14:35 – 15:43
- Feminine energy & fertility breakthrough: 14:55, detailed at 18:03 & 19:10
- Pregnancy realization story: 22:13 - 24:18
- Motherhood and conscious leadership: 27:35
- Authenticity in business: 32:12
- Education system critique and her alternative model: 33:13 – 44:41
- Systemic pressures on education: 44:18
5. Takeaways & Actionable Insights
- Balance is dynamic: Forgive yourself for not being "100%" in all areas at all times.
- Set boundaries: Saying no is vital even with loved ones—boundaries create space for authentic living.
- Redefine receiving: Step out of non-stop "doing" into receiving and nurturing your feminine energy.
- Vulnerability is power: Authenticity at home and work fuels deeper connection and more effective leadership.
- Education for the future: Seek models and environments—both for yourself and your children—that support connection, critical thinking, life skills, and adaptability.
This episode is a rich, real, and practical guide for women and anyone seeking to integrate both ambition and nurturing, structure and flow, in all parts of life. Nadia’s story illustrates the challenges and beauty of unlearning old patterns, setting new boundaries, and embracing all facets of the self—while questioning the very systems that shape who we become.