88. Parenthood & Mental Health: My Journey Through the Dark As A New Mum! - Chelsea Pottenger

Join us for a raw and powerful conversation with Chelsea Pottenger—mental health ambassador, keynote speaker, and founder of EQ Minds—as she shares her deeply personal journey from corporate burnout and post-natal depression to becoming one of Australia’s leading voices in wellbeing. Through vulnerability, science-backed tools, and a touch of humor, Chelsea reveals what it really means to become a mindful high performer.

In this episode, Chelsea opens up about the rock bottom moment that transformed her life, how she rebuilt her identity from the inside out, and why self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. If you’re navigating burnout, high-functioning anxiety, or struggling to set boundaries in a fast-paced world, this episode offers the insights and inspiration you’ve been looking for.

About our guest:

Chelsea Pottenger is the founder and Managing Director of EQ Minds, a global performance and wellbeing company supporting businesses like eBay, Uber, and Westpac. A psychology student, mindfulness coach, and author of *The Mindful High Performer*, Chelsea’s mission is to equip individuals and organizations with practical, science-backed tools to prevent burnout and build sustainable success. After overcoming severe post-natal depression, Chelsea now uses her platform to help others rise stronger, live with intention, and lead from a place of self-awareness and authenticity.

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Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Episode Trailer

01:19 - From corporate high performer to psychiatric hospital

02:08 - Post-natal depression and the road to recovery

04:12 - Guilt, shame, and reframing mental illness

07:16 - Turning pain into purpose and building EQ Minds

13:26 - From free community workshops to eBay and Uber

18:10 - The business snowball: podcasting, coaching, and keynote speaking

20:36 - Scaling EQ Minds as a family-led mission

24:16 - Authenticity, mistakes, and lessons from the stage

29:24 - Creating real change in the workplace

32:33 - The business case for mental health and prevention

35:15 - Reclaiming time, joy, and your one precious life

38:03 - Physical symptoms that signal burnout

40:24 - The three signs of burnout: exhaustion, cynicism, and disconnection

43:12 - Becoming a mindful high performer

45:06 - Redefining success: clarity, calm, and sustainable impact

48:13 - Chelsea’s daily non-negotiables for wellness and energy

51:06 - Destigmatizing depression and leading with honesty

54:16 - The one thing Chelsea still works on: boundaries

58:15 - Why therapy is part of her high-performance toolkit

01:00:19 - Journaling for clarity, reflection, and self-awareness

01:01:12 - The message Chelsea would put on every office wall