Finding My Voice: How Burnout Became the Birthplace of My Podcast

By Yuliana Francie

Every podcast begins with a spark. For me, it wasn’t just a spark, it was a breaking point. I had spent over two decades managing billion-dollar contracts and scaling businesses to $200K weeks, but somewhere in the midst of the boardrooms, spreadsheets, and bottom lines, I found myself burned out, disconnected, and questioning the very definition of success.

The world had taught me that leadership meant sacrifice—that worth was measured by how much you could hustle, grind, and push through. And yet, despite the achievements, I was exhausted, staring into the mirror and asking: Is this really the life I want to reflect on my deathbed?

That question was the catalyst for transformation. And ultimately, it’s what inspired me to step behind the mic.

Finding My Voice

The truth is, my podcast didn’t begin as a business strategy. It began as an invitation. An invitation to reclaim back the ruptured part of the woman I once was negotiated against herself, silenced her intuition, and believed that worth had to be earned through performance.

I wanted to create a space where high-achieving women could hear a different story. One where power didn’t come from overworking or proving yourself, but from owning your voice, aligning with your intuition, and embracing feminine leadership.

In the beginning, finding my voice felt messy. I was so used to speaking in the language of contracts and KPIs that I had to learn how to speak from a softer, more embodied place. But what surprised me was how natural it felt once I allowed myself to. It wasn’t about creating a voice—it was about remembering the one I’d buried beneath years of people-pleasing, perfectionism, and hustle culture.

The Biggest Lesson

The most powerful lesson I learned when launching The Affluent CEO Show was this: success is not about doing more. It’s about becoming more of who you already are.

When I first started, I thought my podcast had to be perfectly polished, strategically scripted, and backed by flawless execution. But what resonated most with listeners were the raw, unfiltered moments—the times I spoke about imposter syndrome, self-abandonment, and the deep fears we often hide behind our professional achievements.

One listener shared that after hearing my episode on “effortless asking,” she finally asked for—and received—a $50K raise. Not because she worked harder, but because she stopped apologizing for her desires and started owning her worth. That’s when it hit me: my podcast wasn’t about building a brand. It was about building remembrance.

A Sacred Shift

The turning point came during a retreat where I experienced what I now call my “quantum shift.” Guided by my mentor, I wrote out my life story, and for the first time, I saw the throughline.

I saw how much of my journey had been about proving, performing, and seeking validation. And I saw the vision of my younger self, craving love but settling for hustle.

That was the moment I realized: I no longer chase success. I magnetize it by becoming the woman who is already living her next level identity.

That shift became the heartbeat of The Affluent CEO Show.

Where the Spark Has Grown

Today, my podcast is more than just episodes—it’s a movement. Each conversation blends strategy with soul, teaching women how to scale without self-abandonment and lead without losing themselves. We talk about embodied leadership, wealth consciousness, feminine power, and rewriting the subconscious stories that hold us back.

The future of the show is expanding into live podcast experiences where listeners don’t just consume content but experience transformation in real time. Because this is about more than leadership—it’s about liberation.

Closing Reflection

Looking back, the spark that started my podcast wasn’t about having something to say—it was about finally giving myself permission to say it.

Launching The Affluent CEO Show taught me that my voice wasn’t meant to be hidden behind contracts or corporate roles. It was meant to remind women everywhere that true affluence isn’t about money alone. It’s about worth, wisdom, and wealth in all areas of life.

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t about doing more. It’s about unbecoming everything you’re not—and remembering everything you already are.

Connect With Yuliana

www.yulianafrancie.com

IG: yuliana_francie