Best Ilonka Ras Podcasts (2026)

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! If you’ve ever felt like your weekly plans collapse under client emergencies, procrastination, or overwhelm, this episode is for you. I break down the ALIVE Method, the exact weekly planning routine that helps me run two businesses, homeschool two kids, and still only work 4 days a week. Boo…

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#197 Cash Flow Peace: Escape the 30-Day Stress Cycle 6:12

Play Pause

4M ago6:12

6:12

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Learn the simplest way to stop living invoice to invoice and getting out of the 30 day panic cycle so many business owners find themselves stuck in so you can feel some peace around managing the cash flow in your business and also free up headspace to think about the future and not just abou…

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MVP: Your Business Wants You To Take A Vacation 11:29

4M ago11:29

11:29

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Enjoy this Most Valued Podcast episode on why your business needs a vacation from YOU. This episode 2 of a 5 part series. You can listen to the rest of the episodes in this series here: 1/5: ✈️ Take A Vacation Your Laptop Isn't Invited To 2/5: Why Your Business Needs A Vacation 3/5: The 5 Si…

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#196 The Hidden Work That Makes Everything Easier In Your Small Business 7:37

4M ago7:37

7:37

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Most business owners think client work is the most valuable part of their business. But the truth? Design time - the hours you spend improving systems, empowering your team, and setting the future direction - is what makes client delivery easier, faster, and less stressful. In this episode, …

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#195 The Sales Pitch You Don’t Know You’re Making 7:26

5M ago7:26

7:26

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! You can say all the “right” things in your marketing…but if your thoughts underneath are negative - like “clients always pay late” or “I’m not good enough”-that’s what your audience actually hears. In this episode, I’m breaking down how your hidden thoughts shape your marketing, attract the …

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#194 5 Money Habits Sabotaging Your Business Without You Realising It 11:12

5M ago11:12

11:12

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Most South African small businesses don’t fail because of one big mistake...they fail because of small, repeated money habits that quietly drain cash, kill creativity, and keep owners stuck in survival mode. In this episode, I’m sharing five money habits that sabotage small business owners a…

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#193 This Mistake Will Make You Hate Your Business 6:35

5M ago6:35

6:35

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! If you’ve ever changed your policies, pricing, or offers because of one difficult client—this episode is a must-listen. I’m sharing how to shift out of reaction mode and start building for the clients you actually want more of. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business t…

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MVP: The Recapture Exercise 8:13

5M ago8:13

8:13

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Today we're revisiting a most valued podcast - the quickest ways to free up cash in your business (and personal life). Join me on this episode and learn how to recapture money inside your small business. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU. Link …

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#191 The CEO Hour - 1 Hour That Frees Up 10 8:23

5M ago8:23

8:23

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! If you're constantly working but still feel behind, this episode is for you. In this conversation, we're unpacking the real reason time feels so scarce, and it's not what you think. You'll hear why the usual fixes (like waking up earlier or getting a new planner) aren’t working, and what nee…

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#190 The thought loop that's sabotaging your business (and life) 8:16

6M ago8:16

8:16

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Feeling like you're not doing enough, achieving enough, or just not enough? This episode unpacks the thought loop that keeps you stuck in overworking and second-guessing — and shows you how to shift it. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU. Link t…

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#189 This Is What Unlocks Progress in Hours, Not Months 8:11

6M ago8:11

8:11

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! You're stuck...not because they aren’t working hard, but because they’re solving the wrong problem. In this episode, we explore why clarity on the real issue is the fastest way to create momentum, and how chasing surface-level fixes keeps you spinning. If you're feeling overwhelmed, stretche…

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#188 How I prepare for unplugged vacations 10:59

6M ago10:59

10:59

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! If taking time off of your business feels impossible, this episode is for you. I am sharing how to prepare for unplugged vacations so you can leave the laptop and worries at home. Download The Unplugged Vacations Checklist HERE Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business t…

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#187 Why You Can’t Stop Working (Even When You Finally Have the Time) 6:35

6M ago6:35

6:35

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! This episode for every business owner who finally frees up time — only to immediately fill it with more work. You finish your to-do list early. You could rest. But instead, you say, “Let me just get a head start on tomorrow.” Sound familiar? In this episode, I break down what’s really happen…

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#186 What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do 9:06

7M ago9:06

9:06

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode, I’m talking about a pattern I see all the time - not just in my clients, but in myself too. It’s that moment when something in your business isn’t working, maybe a client didn’t sign, revenue is down, or something feels off, and your brain goes straight to: “I don’t know wha…

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#185 From Distress to Success with Business Rescue Practitioner Basson Piek 41:52

7M ago41:52

41:52

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode, I sit down with Basson Piek - business rescue practitioner and COO of Rauch Gertenbach Attorneys - to talk about business rescue. We talk honestly about what it really means when a business is in distress, how to know if you’re heading in that direction, and what options are…

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#184 Get Good With Money 10:19

7M ago10:19

10:19

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! There are three patterns that create cash flow chaos in a business. Learn what they are, why you get stuck in them, and what you can do to build healthy money habits in your business. Register for the 15 Minute CEO Money Routine Workshop Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a …

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#183 Breaking Down The Steps To A Simple, Profitable, Efficient Business 21:57

7M ago21:57

21:57

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode we are breaking down the 6 steps to simplify your business so that it runs more efficiently and generates more profit. You will learn: what stage of business you're in the six steps to a business that is simple, efficient, and easy to troubleshoot the results of getting the r…

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PopUP! Series Part 1/2 Business Owner Burnout: When your business drains you 7:44

8M ago7:44

7:44

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode, we dive into the concept of burnout. Learn how burnout is created for business owners and how to burnout proof your business for good. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU. Link to Music Credits Track: Positive Motivation Author: …

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PopUP! Series Part 2/2 Business Owner Burnout: 5 Shifts to Burnout-Proof Your Business 8:40

8M ago8:40

8:40

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Join me in this episode to learn 5 simple shifts to make to burnout proof your business for good. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU. Link to Music Credits Track: Positive Motivation Author: AShamaluevMusic (ASM) Publisher: CD Baby (IPI 70057028…

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PopUP! Series 🔥 Part 2/2: Rethinking Failure: How to turn every failure into an opportunity 8:44

8M ago8:44

8:44

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode we're diving into a simple, three step process you can use in your business to understand the results you got, create strategic actions plans, and make meaningful progress towards your goals. Ready to scale your business with less effort? Apply to work with me here. Book a co…

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PopUP! Series 🔥 Part 1/2: Rethinking Failure: You're A Scientist 9:16

8M ago9:16

9:16

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Welcome to another series! We are reframing our relationship with failure by adopting a perspective of experimentation and evaluating. Ready to get coached? Apply to work with me here. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU. Link to Music Credits Tr…

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PopUP! Series 💰 Part 1/3: Money Habits - The Money Date 9:33

8M ago9:33

9:33

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode, Ilonka Ras discusses the importance of developing healthy money habits for entrepreneurs. She emphasises the common financial anxieties faced by business owners and introduces three simple money habits that will help you take control of your finances and your life. Ready to …

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PopUP! Series 💰 Part 2/3: Money Habits - Having difficult money conversations 7:23

8M ago7:23

7:23

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode, talk about the importance of having difficult conversations about money, particularly when clients fail to pay on time. Ready to work together? Apply for private coaching here. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU. Link to Music C…

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PopUP! Series 💰 Part 3/3: Money Habits - A buffer to set you free! 7:15

8M ago7:15

7:15

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode, we discusses the importance of financial resilience for business owners, and why every business needs a cash buffer. Ready to work with me? Apply for private coaching here. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU. Link to Music Credi…

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NEW PopUP! Series Part 1/5: ✈️ Take A Vacation Your Laptop Isn't Invited To. 5:24

8M ago5:24

5:24

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! This is the first pop up series of 5 that will be coming your way during the month of May. A new series will drop every week for the entire month on the things I get the most questions about and also the stuff we coach on the most inside my private coaching practice. This first series - Take…

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PopUP! Series ✈️ Part 2/5: Why Your Business Needs A Vacation. 11:29

8M ago11:29

11:29

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Vacations are growth tools in disguise. In this episode, I'm breaking down why you need to prioritise taking a vacation asap if you want to work less, and make more in your business. Ready to work with me? Apply here. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business that works …

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PopUP! Series ✈️ Part 4/5: How to Hire the Right People as You Grow. 8:44

8M ago8:44

8:44

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Save yourself some frustration and learn how to hire and delegate the right way so you have a solid team that supports the goals of your business. Ready to hire the right people for the right roles? Apply to work with me here and let's start designing a business that can run without you. Boo…

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PopUP! Series ✈️ Part 5/5:The One Thing You Must Do if You Want Your Business to Run Independently. 6:42

8M ago6:42

6:42

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Let's finish this series strong and make the one decision that will catapult you towards a business that runs independently of you. Apply to work with me here and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business that works FO…

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PopUP! Series ✈️ Part 3/5: The 5 Simple Systems You Need To Step Away With Confidence. 10:41

8M ago10:41

10:41

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! The gatekeeper to stepping away and finally living the time freedom you craved when you started your business is...you guessed...systems. In this episode we're diving into the 5 simple and essential systems your business needs for you to step away with confidence. Ready to work with me? Appl…

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#170 Don’t Scale Until You’ve Asked Yourself These Questions 14:21

8M ago14:21

14:21

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode, Ilonka dives into what it really takes to grow your business in a way that’s sustainable—without burning out or breaking everything in the process. She shares why having a clear growth plan matters, how to figure out what’s already working (so you can do more of that), and w…

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#169 If I Step Back…Will My Team Think I’m Lazy? 17:25

9M ago17:25

17:25

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Are you afraid of building a business that creates more time freedom for you because you think you're team will think you're lazy? In this episode, we're discussing why your team wants you to step back. Book a consultation here, and let's start designing a business that works FOR YOU. Link t…

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#168 Allowing Help - the path to faster growth. 12:40

9M ago12:40

12:40

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode of the Effortless CEO podcast, Ilonka Ras shares her personal journey of overcoming the challenges of asking for help in business. She emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and seeking guidance from coaches to enhance operational efficiency and personal growth. Through h…

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#167 Your secret weapon for working ONLY with your BEST clients 7:25

10M ago7:25

7:25

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode, Ilonka Ras discusses the importance of identifying and attracting the right clients for your business. She emphasises that the clients you work with can significantly impact your business efficiency and overall enjoyment of your work. By creating a client filter, business ow…

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#166 6 Daily Habits That Create Burnout For Small Business Owners 10:25

10M ago10:25

10:25

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this conversation, Ilonka Ras discusses the pervasive issue of burnout among business owners, emphasising that it often sneaks up on individuals and manifests through various emotional and physical symptoms. She identifies three primary causes of burnout: chronic stress, ineffective plann…

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#165 Rebuilding your business after loss - with Judith Bester 29:26

11M ago29:26

29:26

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Join me in conversation with Judith Bester as we discuss how found her way back to loving and rebuilding business after the loss of her son in 2019. Interested in getting coached by Ilonka? Click here to schedule a complimentary consultation call. Book a consultation here, and let's start de…

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#164 When it feels more like running on fumes than running a business 5:13

11M ago5:13

5:13

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this conversation, Ilonka Ras discusses the common misconceptions surrounding systems in business, particularly the belief that they are only for large companies. She emphasises the importance of having systems in place to improve efficiency and reduce overwhelm for business owners. Ilonk…

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#163 The power of a good question 7:29

12M ago7:29

7:29

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this conversation, Ilonka Ras emphasises the transformative power of asking the right questions in business. She illustrates how a simple question can lead to groundbreaking inventions, using the example of Edwin Land and the Polaroid camera. The discussion highlights the difference betwe…

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REPLAY #150 The Subtle Signs Of A Business That Can Run Without You 10:01

12M ago10:01

10:01

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! I read a post by Ramit Sethi a couple of months ago, and the question he posed to his audience was: What are some subtle signs of wealth? The comments that flooded in were hilarious and so on point. My favorite one was: Using an iPhone without a screen protector or protective casing. It made…

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#162 Independence Opportunities: How Life's Inconveniences Reveal the Next Step for Your Business 7:47

12M ago7:47

7:47

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! If you’ve ever felt like getting sick is a major inconvenience as a business owner. You’re in the right place. I am going to share how you can use these “life happens” moments to dramatically increase your efficiency and make your business more independent from you. Book a consultation here,…

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REPLAY #117 Pressure Is Optional 7:19

1y ago7:19

7:19

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this week's episode of the Wildly Aligned Podcast, we talk about Pressure. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it just part of the experience of being a business owner? Do we have a choice in the matter or should we just make peace with it and accept that feeling pressure is just part of the territ…

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#161 Growing Your Business Doing Only Two Things 10:37

1y ago10:37

10:37

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! If you want to be more present in your life and spend more time doing the things that make you feel alive…not just in your personal life but also in your business…and your current reality is the exact opposite of that…this episode is for you. Book a consultation here, and let's start designi…

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#160 When saying yes hurts your business 8:54

1y ago8:54

8:54

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this week’s episode of The EffortLESS CEO Podcast, I share the story of a client who found herself overwhelmed after agreeing to take on a new client when she literally didn’t have space in her calendar. She thought saying no would hurt her business. Book a consultation here, and let's st…

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#159 Choose Your Hard 4:48

1y ago4:48

4:48

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In Episode #159, Choose Your Hard, we dive into: - Why your brain fights change - The neuroscience behind resistance and how to rewire it. - How staying in the “known hard” holds you back from what’s possible. - Why real growth always comes with discomfort—and how to lean into it. Book a con…

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#158 Love and Own Your Decisions 6:39

1y ago6:39

6:39

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Decisions are a natural part of life and business. We’re constantly choosing things. We’re not necessarily always intentional about the choices we make. Once you’ve made the decision, you need to sell yourself on why you love that decision. Let's dive deeper! Book a consultation here, and le…

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#157 Nobody knows you exist 6:16

1y ago6:16

6:16

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! There are always people who want, need, and are actively searching for your services…they simply need to know that you exist. Join me in today’s episode as I share some insights into why no one knows your business exists and why this is the best news ever! Book a consultation here, and let's…

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#156 If You Don't Enjoy Selling You're Doing It Wrong 7:48

1y ago7:48

7:48

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Welcome to episode 156 of The EffortLESS CEO Podcast! If the thought of pitching your services, getting on a sales call, or making direct offers to potential clients makes you break out in a cold sweat—or if it just feels overwhelmingly uncomfortable to market your business—then this episode…

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#155 Commitment Drift: The Impact Of Not Keeping Your Promises 6:12

1y ago6:12

6:12

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! Did you know that only half of the promises we make are actually kept? That’s a shocking stat—and it’s the reason why trust in leadership often falters. In this episode, we dive into why honoring commitments is non-negotiable in business. We explore how broken promises erode trust, hurt team…

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#154 You Are A Business Owner Part 2 36:11

1y ago36:11

36:11

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode, we dive into the complex, often emotional journey of entrepreneurship, sparking a conversation around what makes a business truly "real." We also share invaluable lessons learned through the challenges of business ownership. Book a consultation here, and let's start designin…

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#153 You Are A Business Owner Part 1 30:36

1y ago30:36

30:36

Did you enjoy this episode? Share you aha moment with us! In this episode, we dive into the complex, often emotional journey of entrepreneurship, sparking a conversation around what makes a business truly "real." We also share invaluable lessons learned through the challenges of business ownership. Book a consultation here, and let's start designin…