What happens when you say yes to everything, and then realise the cost was higher than you imagined?

In this reflective episode of Diary of the Search Queen, I look back on the last six months, a season filled with massive wins, sacred lessons, and a pace that nearly swallowed me whole. From launching my book and podcast, to being named a 40 Under 40 award winner, to raising two little girls alongside it all. It looked unstoppable on the outside. But behind the scenes, it told a very different story.

This isn’t an episode about achievement.

It’s an episode about alignment.

Because success doesn’t come from doing it all.

It comes from doing what matters most, in the season you’re in.

In this episode, I share:

• The truth behind the highlight reel of the last six months
• Why chasing every “yes” came at a cost
• The power of asking for, and receiving, help
• What it means to choose the right season for your big goals
• A journal prompt to help you reflect on where you’re saying yes out of habit instead of alignment

This episode is for you if:

• You’ve been carrying the weight of “doing it all” and it’s starting to feel unsustainable
• You find yourself saying yes out of guilt, pressure, or fear of missing out
• You’re craving more spaciousness, grounding, and presence in your life and business
• You’re ready to stop chasing momentum, and start choosing alignment

Want more?

• Buy The Search for Resilience: Amazon Link
• Download the free Google Ads & SEO Checklist
• Follow me on Instagram: @sonjathesearchqueen
• Visit: sonjathesearchqueen.com

Love this episode?

Tag me @sonjathesearchqueen with your biggest takeaway.

And if this episode moved you, please leave a 5-star review so we can reach more hearts who need it.

What happens when your biggest wounds become your greatest work?

In this powerful episode, I am joined by brand photographer and creative mentor Belle Verdiglione for a soul-stirring conversation about truth, trauma, and building a business that feels like home.

Belle shares her personal story of birth trauma, resilience, navigating fear in foreign lands, and the moment she reclaimed her voice, not just for herself, but for her daughter.

This isn’t about the highlight reel.

It’s about the power of being witnessed in your wholeness.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or unsure, let this conversation be your reminder: you are not alone. And your story matters.

In this episode:

• Motherhood, business, and not losing yourself to either
• The truth behind Belle’s creative path and pivots
• How trauma can shape, but not define, our lives
• And the beautiful, brave journey of being seen

Connect with Belle:

• Follow Belle on Instagram
• Belle's website

Want more?

• Buy The Search for Resilience: Amazon Link
• Download the free Google Ads & SEO Checklist
• Follow me on Instagram: @sonjathesearchqueen
• Visit: sonjathesearchqueen.com

Love this episode?

Tag me @sonjathesearchqueen with your biggest takeaway.

And if this episode moved you, please leave a 5-star review so we can reach more hearts who need it.

There’s a lot of noise out there about SEO being “dead” but that’s not the full story....

In this episode of Diary of the Search Queen, I’m breaking down what’s actually happening inside Google, why your clients are turning to AI for answers, and how to future-proof your brand for this new era of search.

Because here’s the truth:

• Google isn’t going anywhere
• But the way we use it has changed
• And if your business isn’t showing up in AI-generated answers, you’re already invisible to the people searching for what you offer

This episode is for the legacy-led entrepreneurs, marketers, and brands ready to evolve with the platforms not get left behind by them.

In this episode, we cover:

• The difference between SEO and AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation)
• How platforms like ChatGPT and Google’s SGE are changing user behaviour
• What AI needs from your content to rank, recognise, and recommend you
• Why trust signals, clarity, and context matter more than keywords
• And how to build a visibility strategy that works in both the Google and AI-driven search worlds

This episode is for you if:

• You’ve built your business on Google, but feel uncertain about where it’s heading
• You’re tired of chasing short-term trends and want long-term visibility
• You want to be the go-to answer when your dream client searches anywhere

Want more?

• Buy The Search for Resilience: Amazon Link
• Download the free Google Ads & SEO Checklist
• Follow me on Instagram: @sonjathesearchqueen
• Visit: sonjathesearchqueen.com

Love this episode?

Tag me @sonjathesearchqueen with your biggest takeaway.

And if this episode moved you, please leave a 5-star review so we can reach more hearts who need it.

In this deeply spiritual and heart-led episode, Sonja sits down with Aisha from Waters of Eden, a medicine woman, energy worker, and spiritual guide who has quietly played a pivotal role in Sonja’s personal and fertility healing journey.

Together they explore:

• The untold story of Aisha’s path from corporate life to soul-led healing
• Why trauma lives in the nervous system, and how to gently release it
• The sacredness of integration (and why it’s the missing piece in most healing spaces)
• How motherhood, ceremony, and business are all portals for growth
• Why choosing softness is one of the bravest things a woman can do

This episode is for you if…
You're feeling the pull to come home to yourself.
You're navigating healing, grief, or identity shifts.
You’re tired of pretending and ready to remember who you really are.

About Aisha:
Aisha is a trauma-informed ceremonial facilitator and energy worker who guides people back to the sacred parts of themselves through sound, sacrament, and spirit. She’s studied deeply in Brazil, Mexico, and Europe, and brings both grounded wisdom and divine compassion to every space she holds.

Connect with Aisha:

• Instagram: @alchemyisha
• Retreats & offerings: @watersofeden

Want more?

• Buy The Search for Resilience: Amazon AU
• Follow me on Instagram: @sonjathesearchqueen
• Get the Google Ads & SEO Checklist: Download here
• Explore more at: sonjathesearchqueen.com

Loved this episode?

Tag me @sonjathesearchqueen and Aisha @alchemyisha with your biggest takeaway or aha moment.

And if this convo cracked something open for you, I’d be so grateful if you left a 5-star review. Let’s keep this ripple going.

What if your dream launch didn’t just go to plan…

What if it cracked you wide open in the most expansive way?

In this episode of Diary of the Search Queen, I take you behind the scenes of one of the most powerful seasons of my life, launching my book, The Search for Resilience.

This was so much more than strategy.
It was surrender.
It was vision.
And it was a full-body YES to building something that would last longer than any viral moment.

Inside this episode, I walk you through:

• The soul-led strategy behind launching a #1 bestseller
• The decisions I made from intuition, not ego
• How we sold out the launch party in 48 hours
• Why community, collaboration and legacy anchored every part of this process

This wasn’t just a book release — it was a movement.

And if you’re planning a launch of your own this year — whether it’s a brand, a book, or a braver version of you — I promise this one will spark something inside you.

Because when you build something your daughters can one day point to and say,
“My mum did that…”

That’s when you know it mattered.

Want more?

• Buy The Search for Resilience: Amazon link
• Follow me on Instagram: @sonjathesearchqueen
• Download The Google Ads + SEO Checklist: Click here
• Find out more: sonjathesearchqueen.com

Loved this episode?

Tag me on Instagram @sonjathesearchqueen with your biggest takeaway or aha moment!

And if it landed for you, I’d be so grateful if you left a 5-star review to help the message reach more hearts and homes.

Here’s to honouring your growth in all its forms 🧡

In this deeply moving episode of Diary of the Search Queen, I'm joined by my beautiful friend and fellow fertility warrior, Jacqui Maloney.

Jacqui is a speaker, storytelling coach and communications expert who helps people access the power of their voice and share their message with clarity and confidence.

But today’s episode goes far beyond public speaking, it's about resilience, grief, healing, and the strength that comes from owning your truth.

Jacqui vulnerably shares her journey through pregnancy loss, how she learned to receive support, and the incredible legacy she's building through The Rose Garden project at King Edward Hospital.

This one’s tender, raw, and powerful in all the right ways.

We Talk About:

• Jacqui’s experience with two pregnancy losses and how they reshaped her emotionally and professionally
• Why sharing your story (even if it’s just with one person) can be a radical act of healing
• The cultural conditioning around “doing it all alone” and how Jacqui learned to receive
• How to show up for a friend going through a miscarriage or loss
• The creation of The Rose Garden in WA and Jacqui’s mission to support other grieving families
• How she channels her story into her work as a speaking coach and advocate for women’s voices

About Jacqui Maloney

Jacqui is a communications coach and storytelling mentor helping professionals, thought leaders, and business owners speak with confidence and authenticity. Beyond her business, she’s also Chair of The Rose Garden committee, a sacred space for families navigating pregnancy loss at King Edward Memorial Hospital.

Links Mentioned:

• Follow Jacqui on Instagram: @jacquimaloneycoaching
• Learn more or support The Rose Garden: Visit the Facebook Page
• Jacqui’s Website: www.jacquimaloney.com

Want more?

• Buy The Search for Resilience: Amazon Link
• Download the free Google Ads & SEO Checklist
• Follow me on Instagram: @sonjathesearchqueen
• Visit: sonjathesearchqueen.com

Love this episode?

Tag me @sonjathesearchqueen and Jacqui @jacquimaloneycoaching with your biggest takeaway.

And if this story moved you, please leave a 5-star review so we can reach more hearts who need it.

When I started writing The Search for Resilience, I had no idea how far it would go.

I didn’t have a book deal. I wasn’t signed by a major publisher. And I certainly didn’t expect to walk into a bookstore and see my book beside Mel Robbins.

But here we are.

In this deeply personal episode of Diary of the Search Queen, I’m sharing the full behind-the-scenes story of how my book landed in major bookstores across Australia – and why that’s far more rare than you think.

This episode is for every woman chasing a dream that feels too big, too unlikely, too far out of reach. Because with a little divine timing (and a lot of grit), miracles happen.

In this episode, I share:

• The divine twist that got my book into bookstores – and why that never happens for first-time authors
• What traditional publishers won’t let you include – and the reason I said no to a book deal
• The hard truth about book marketing (it’s a full-time job… that pays in impact, not profit)
• Why this book is a legacy piece – and what happens to it after July 30 if it doesn’t keep selling

Want more?

• Buy the Search for Resilience https://www.amazon.com.au/Search-Resilience-Awaken-Warrior-Business/dp/1925452964
• Follow Sonja on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sonjathesearchqueen/
• Download a copy of The Google Ads and SEO Checklist https://sonjathesearchqueen.com/google-ads-and-seo-checklist/
• Find out more at https://sonjathesearchqueen.com/

Loved this episode?

Tag me on Instagram @sonjathesearchqueen with your biggest takeaway or aha moment!

And if it landed for you, I’d be so grateful if you left a 5-star review. It helps the podcast reach more hearts, ears, and humans who need it most.

Consider this your reminder: no dream is too big – even if it doesn’t come with a book deal.

Running a business while trying to conceive is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done – and I know I’m not alone.

In this episode of Diary Of The Search Queen, Ellie Swift joins me to talk about the messy, beautiful, brutal truth of building a business during fertility treatments.

Because when you’re running a 7-figure business with a full roster of clients, you don’t get to hit pause. You keep holding space for others – even when you’re at rock bottom emotionally.

But this is exactly why Ellie believes her fertility journey made her a stronger, more intuitive business owner.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What it means to live a “double life” when you run a business and personal brand while privately struggling
• How she structured her business to thrive in early motherhood
• The moment she almost gave up – and what happened next
• Why Ellie believes her fertility journey made her a better CEO and mentor

Whether you’re navigating your own fertility journey, showing up in business through grief, or just trying to hold it all together – this episode will remind you you’re not alone.

Connect with Ellie:

• Listen to the Scalable Freedom Podcast at https://ellieswift.com/podcast/
• Follow Ellie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/elliehswift/
• Find out more at https://ellieswift.com/

Want more?

• Buy the Search for Resilience https://www.amazon.com.au/Search-Resilience-Awaken-Warrior-Business/dp/1925452964
• Follow Sonja on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sonjathesearchqueen/
• Download a copy of The Google Ads and SEO Checklist https://sonjathesearchqueen.com/google-ads-and-seo-checklist/
• Find out more at https://sonjathesearchqueen.com/