This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil

We’ve been told stress will kill us. That we need to yoga-breathe it away, book a retreat, or stuff it down with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s (using your car key as a spoon… iykyk). But what if stress isn’t the villain? What if it’s actually the fuel for our best work? This week, we’re joined by Dr. Rebecca Heiss — a stress physiologist, researcher, keynote speaker, and author of Springboard: Transform Stress to Work for You. She’s also the creator of the Fearless Stress Formula and has been recognized by the National Science Foundation for her groundbreaking research. Her mission? To help us stop fearing fear, stop fighting stress, and instead transform both into fuel for growth, performance, and purpose. Rebecca brings her science background together with real talk and humor, making the hard stuff (like stress) not only make sense but feel doable. She’s passionate about helping women shift out of survival mode and into a place of clarity, confidence, and community. Together, we dive into why stress isn’t something to eliminate but energy we can reframe, channel, and actually use to show up stronger. We explore: Why your “effortless, overwhelmed” game isn’t working The three steps to stop fighting stress and start using it How to “invite the tiger to tea” (yes, really) Why service and community are the real antidote to overwhelm The competitive advantage women have when it comes to stress Because friend, stress isn’t proof you’re broken. It’s proof you care. And when you learn to use it, it becomes your edge. Connect with Rebecca: Website: www.rebeccaheiss.com Book: https://a.co/d/6ReB5Nr  IG: https://www.instagram.com/drrebeccaheiss/  Related Podcast Episodes The Stress Paradox: Why We Need Stress (and How to Make It Work for Us) with Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist | 294 How to Become Panic Proof with Dr. Nicole Cain | 269 Stress Less and Fear(Less) with Rebecca Heiss | 181 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s talk about your wardrobe — not in a “what’s trendy this season” way, but in a “does this outfit support your goals, your values, and your voice” kind of way. Because when your style reflects who you actually are — instead of who the world expects you to be — you show up stronger, speak more clearly, and leave the kind of impression that opens doors. To help us get intentional with our closets, I’m joined by Marcy Syms — fashion industry veteran, gender justice advocate, former CEO of Syms Corp, and author of Leading with Respect: Adventures of an Off-Price Fashion Pioneer. She’s breaking down the 7 wardrobe essentials every professional woman should own, and how to build a powerful, personal style without blowing your budget. This isn’t about dressing to impress — it’s about dressing to express. So your clothes don’t just look good… they say something good, too. Because showing up with confidence starts before you even speak — and yes, what you wear still matters. Connect with Marcy  Website: https://marcysyms.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Respect-Boardroom-Marcy-Syms/dp/0806544813  Related Podcast Episodes: 143 / The Real Reason You Have Nothing to Wear with Ellie Steinbrink How To Achieve Healthy, Glowing Skin - No Botox Or Fillers Required with Lindsey Holder | 326 How to Turn Job Seeking into Job Shopping with Madeline Mann | 318 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever found yourself glaring at someone sipping champagne in business class while you’re wedged into the back of the plane wondering how they got that upgrade — this episode is your answer. Julia Menez is a points and miles strategist and host of the Geobreeze Travel Podcast. She helps people stop wasting money on full-price flights and hotels and start using the credit card perks and travel rewards they’re already eligible for — with zero shady loopholes or overcomplicated systems. In this episode, we talk about how to make your spending work smarter — how to use your money to create experiences, build in rest and joy, and finally take that luxury trip you keep pushing off. Julia shares actionable strategies, common mistakes to avoid, and how to pick the right card for your goals. Because let’s be honest: you work hard. Your money should work just as hard for you. And because five-star travel isn’t just for the rich, the retired, or the influencers with mysterious “sponsorships.” It’s for you — when you learn how to play the game. This episode will show you how. Connect with Julia  Free intro call: www.geobreezetravel.com/introcall Free points 101 course: www.geobreezetravel.com/freecourse IG: www.instagram.com/geobreezetravel Youtube: www.youtube.com/@geobreezetravel Related Podcast Episodes: Solo Adventures: A Guide for Women Travelers with Megan Grant | 265 How To Take A Sabbatical with Katrina McGhee | 336 062 / Winemaking Under The Tuscan Sun (Literally) with Mary Shea Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all dream. Every night. Whether we remember them or not. And maybe — just maybe — those dreams aren’t random, ridiculous, or irrelevant. Maybe they’re trying to tell us something we’re too distracted, too busy, or too burned out to hear while we’re awake. Here to help us decode the language of dreams is Dr. Bonnie Buckner — founder of the International Institute for Dreaming and Imagery®, executive coach, faculty director at GWU’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, and author of The Secret Mind: Unlock the Power of Your Dreams to Transform Your Life. She’s spent her career teaching people how to use dreaming and imagery for personal growth, leadership, and creative breakthroughs. We explore: Why your dreams are worth paying attention to (even the weird ones) The science and strategy behind using dreams for personal development How feelings and subconscious wisdom can point to answers What to do if you don’t remember your dreams Why slowing down might be the key to speeding up your clarity Because what if the clarity you're chasing isn't out there — it's already in you, waiting for you to slow down, shut off, and tune in? Connect with Bonnie:  Website: https://bonniebuckner.com/ Book:  https://bonniebuckner.com/the-secret-mind/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/dreamwithiidi/ Related Podcast Episodes: How To Rewire Patterns That No Longer Serve You with Judy Wilkins-Smith | 323 The Icelandic Art of Intuition with Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir | 307 The Astrology Advantage with Tali Edut of The AstroTwins | 301 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s talk about taking a break — on purpose. A career break that’s planned, powerful, and maybe even paid. Yep, we’re talking about sabbaticals, and no, they’re not just for burned-out professors or unicorn executives. In this episode, we’re joined by Katrina McGhee, a certified master coach, MBA, sabbatical strategist, and author of Taking a Career Break for Dummies. She’s also the co-founder of BreakSpace, a community for professionals designing intentional time off. After leaving her corporate job in 2013, Katrina traveled the world for 20 months and came back to five job offers in five weeks — so yeah, she knows what she’s talking about. We explore how a sabbatical can be: A strategic move for your career growth A burnout buster with real ROI The reset button you didn’t know you were allowed to hit A radical rejection of hustle culture  The gateway to more joy, clarity, and fulfillment — in work and life If you're constantly on empty, chasing a finish line that never comes, or wondering if there's more to life than back-to-back Zoom calls... this one's for you. Connect with Katrina:  Website: www.kmcgheecoaching.com/blueprint  Breakspace: https://www.gobreakspace.com/  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinamcghee222/  Related Podcast Episodes: 7 Questions For Living A Meaningful Life with Marni Battista | 322 How to Turn Job Seeking into Job Shopping with Madeline Mann | 318 The Ambition Trap with Amina AITai | 309 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re diving headfirst into the chaos that is parental leave in the United States — and debunking the absurd notion that being a mom somehow makes you any less dedicated or productive at work. Here today to help us navigate the murky waters of parental leave is Daphne Delvaux, Esq, also known as The Mamattorney — a legal badass who’s made it her mission to fight pregnancy and postpartum discrimination and help women understand their rights at work. She’s the founder of Delvaux Law, the only firm in the country dedicated exclusively to women’s rights in the workplace. In this episode, Daphne breaks down what the law actually says, what your employer hopes you don’t know, and how to protect yourself — legally, financially, and emotionally — when you’re expecting (or recovering, or parenting, or just trying to stay employed while having a uterus). We cover: What to do if your HR department can’t (or won’t) help How to prep for maternity leave without sacrificing your career Legal protections you already have but probably haven’t been told about The gender double standard of parental expectations at work Why we need to stop treating parenthood like a liability Because here's the truth: being a parent isn’t the problem. The systems that punish you for it are. And if we’re going to ask women to work like men, then it’s time men start parenting like women. Connect with Daphne:  Website: https://www.themamattorney.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/themamattorney/?hl=en Related Podcast Episodes: Wages For Housework with Emily Callici | 325 The Good Mother Myth with Nancy Reddy | 274 Two Can Win (Helping Two-Career Families Move From Chaos To Connection) with Tiffany Sauder | 243 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling scattered, anxious, or like your brain’s been hijacked by push notifications and endless scrolling? You’re not alone.  This week, we’re diving into the digital chaos with anxiety and OCD specialist Jennie Ketcham Crooks, founder of the West Coast Anxiety Clinic, who’s helping us understand what our devices are doing to our minds… and what we can do to reclaim our focus, peace, and power. Jennie brings clinical expertise, research experience, and guest spots on everything from Oprah to The View — and offers a smart, practical path to digital detoxing that doesn’t involve tossing your phone in a lake or moving to a cabin in the woods. We unpack: How your phone is rewiring your brain (yes, really) Signs it’s time for a digital reset — and how to actually do it Why tech isn’t the enemy (but your habits might be) What boundaries actually work — and what makes them stick How to return to you — the you that exists offline This isn’t about demonizing tech. It’s about creating space — space to think clearly, feel deeply, and live intentionally. And if that’s not woman’s work, then what is? Connect with Jennie:  Website: https://westcoastanxiety.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/becomingjennie/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/jennie.ketcham Related Podcast Episodes: Digital Decluttering: How to Make Tech Your Assistant, Not Your Adversary with Amanda Jefferson | 312 Your Guide to a More Organized & Intentional Life with Shira Gill | 304 Women, Addiction and Recovery with Patti Clark | 324 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you know if your truth is really yours? In this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, we’re diving into the murky waters of brainwashing, mind control, and hyper-persuasion—because your thoughts might not be as independent as you think. We're talking psychological manipulation, eerie government-funded experiments, and the sneaky, modern ways we’re influenced every damn day—by our feeds, our leaders, even our well-meaning friends. Our guest is Harvard historian Rebecca Lemov, author of The Instability of Truth. She brings the receipts—tracing the roots of brainwashing, the science (and pseudoscience) behind behavioral control, and why we’re more persuadable than we’d like to admit. From Cold War experiments to TikTok trends, Rebecca helps us understand how easily truth can be distorted—and what to do about it. Because if you’ve ever reposted without thinking, felt weirdly pressured to agree, or just wondered, “wait, is that true?”—this episode is for you. Connect with Rebecca:  Book: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324075264  IG: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccalemov/  X: https://x.com/rlemov?lang=en  Related Podcast Episodes: How To Rewire Patterns That No Longer Serve You with Judy Wilkins-Smith | 323 Unmasking AI with Dr. Joy Buolamwini | 259 Pants On Fire (The Truth About Lying) with Lauren Handel Zander | 219 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maybe women aren’t bad at friendship — maybe we’ve just been handed a model that doesn’t actually work. One that expects perfection, constant connection, and a whole lot of emotional labor... without any room for evolution, conflict, or change. In this episode, we’re questioning that model and taking a deeper look at how friendship has changed — historically, culturally, and personally — with cultural historian Tiffany Watt Smith. Together, we explore how women have been portrayed as bad friends (by the media and by society), and how we’ve quietly been redefining friendship on our own terms. We talk about why friendship dips are normal, why disagreements aren’t deal-breakers, and why being a “bad friend” might actually be a sign that you’re showing up in a real, honest, human way. Because the goal isn’t friendship that looks perfect from the outside. It’s friendship that can bend, stretch, shift, and still hold. This conversation is part history lesson, part gut check, and all about rebuilding our relationships on something real. Connect with Tiffany:  Book: https://celadonbooks.com/book/bad-friend-tiffany-watt-smith/ Substack: https://thefuturefeeling.substack.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanywattsmith/  X: https://x.com/drtiffwattsmith?lang=en  Related Podcast Episodes: Normalize It: Breaking The Silence & Shame That Shape Women’s Lives with Dr. Jessica Zucker | 303 133 / Making Friends As An Adult with Danielle McCombs The Small And The Mighty with Sharon McMahon | 247 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Burnout isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the sneaky saboteur that turns high-achieving women into crispy, joy-depleted zombies. And yes, I’ve been there (ask 2022 me, she was a whole damn dumpster fire). Cait Donovan was the voice of reason I didn’t know I needed then—and she’s BACK. Cait Donovan is one of the few voices in the burnout space who doesn’t just talk the talk—she’s done the deep work, and now helps others do the same. She blends biobehavioral sciences with the ancient wisdom of Chinese Medicine to address burnout at the root, not just slap a self-care bandaid on it. Cait is the host of FRIED. The Burnout Podcast, an in-demand keynote speaker, and the author of The Bouncebackability Factor, and she’s been helping high performers get honest with themselves for years. Whether you’re on the edge, fully engulfed, or just tired of white-knuckling it through your calendar—this one’s for you. Because you deserve to feel lit up... not burned out. Connect with Cait:  Website: https://caitdonovan.com Podcast: https://friedtheburnoutpodcast.com Freebie: https://caitdonovan.com/freebie-web Related Podcast Episodes: 107 / Burnout with Cait Donovan The Ambition Trap with Amina AITai | 309 Perfectionist Burnout with Dr. Tiffany Moon | 306 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever been told to “fake it till you make it” or to “good things come to those who wait” and felt an overwhelming urge to roll your eyes… this one’s for you. In this episode, we’re calling BS on the workplace mantras that sound empowering but actually keep women small, silent, and spinning their wheels. Bonnie Hammer — Vice Chair of NBCUniversal, legendary executive behind hits like Suits and Mr. Robot, and author of 15 Lies Women Are Told At Work — joins us to break down the real cost of these so-called “truths.” From corporate clichés to career gaslighting, we talk about the lies that sound like wisdom, the advice that’s anything but helpful, and the power of rewriting the rules on your own terms. Because the workplace wasn’t built with women in mind — which means following the rules will only take you so far. And sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is unlearn everything you’ve been told. Connect with Bonnie:  Website: www.bonnie-hammer.com Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/15-Lies-Women-Are-Told-at-Work/Bonnie-Hammer/9781668027615 Related Podcast Episodes: The Broken Rung: When The Career Ladder Breaks For Women with Kweilin Ellingrud | 291 The Resilience Myth with Soraya Chemaly | 249 How To Know When It’s Time to Quit with Goli Kalkhoran | 266 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been conditioned to believe that “selfish” is a dirty word—especially if you’re a woman. But what if selfishness isn’t the problem… what if it’s the prescription? In this episode, Nicole is joined by Naketa Ren Thigpen—Balance and Relationship Advisor, psychotherapist, and author of Selfish: Permission to Pause—to unpack the radical (and necessary) idea that choosing yourself isn’t a betrayal of others… it’s a reclamation of you. Naketa brings her signature truth-telling fire as the two discuss boundaries, burnout, guilt, and why being full of yourself might just be the most generous thing you can do. We’re flipping the narrative from self-less to self-fulfilled. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in expectations or trying to pour from an empty cup, this episode is the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed. Connect with Naketa:  Website: www.thigpro.com Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/balance-and-relationships/id6475793180 Book: https://www.amazon.com/Selfish-Permission-Pause-Live-Laugh/dp/1732983801  Related Podcast Episodes: How To Practice Radical Self Care with Shelly Tygielski | 302 How To Get What You Want with Jenny Wood | 293 How To Be You, But Better with Olga Khazan | 288 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s be honest — teamwork is hard. Especially when people have different communication styles, priorities, and let’s just say it... egos. But emotionally intelligent teams don’t just magically fall into place — they’re intentionally built, brick by sweaty brick. Dr. Vanessa Druskat joins us to break it all down. She’s a globally recognized expert on team performance and emotional intelligence, and her new book, The Emotionally Intelligent Team, is basically the manual we all should’ve been handed before our first group project… or leadership role. Vanessa explains why individual emotional intelligence isn’t enough — and why it’s the team’s collective practices that matter most. We talk about what high-performing, collaborative teams actually do differently, how to create group norms that drive trust and accountability, and why "getting along" is way less important than knowing how to navigate conflict. No more crossing fingers and hoping for chemistry. Want a team that performs and actually likes working together? This one’s for you. Connect with Vanessa:  Website: Vanessadruskat.com    LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-druskat-aa7822/ Book: https://www.vanessadruskat.com/books-1 Related Podcast Episodes: How To Build Emotionally Mature Leaders with Dr. Christie Smith | 272 The Sixth Level Of Leadership with Dr. Stacy Feiner | 236 196 / Energizing Your Team Through Radical Empathy with Erin Diehl Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s talk about the three things women are told not to do: negotiate, network unapologetically, and say no like we mean it.  Most of us have been programmed to default to yes—to the point that we feel guilty saying no, even when it’s the most obvious answer. And when we do say no? We often soften it, explain it away, and sugarcoat it so much that it barely sounds like a no at all. Kathryn Valentine—CEO of Worthmore Strategies and corporate badass helping companies retain and promote female talent—is here to flip that script. With experience advising Fortune 100s and dropping knowledge in places like HBR and Fast Company, Kathryn knows exactly how women can claim their worth, own their voice, and not feel bad about it. From salary talks to schedule shifts, from asking for more to turning down what doesn’t serve you, this episode is your reminder: your power doesn't come from being liked. It comes from knowing what matters and having the guts to go after it. Kathryn even drops her epic list of 76 things you can negotiate (yes, SEVENTY-SIX). So if you've ever softened your no or stayed silent in a meeting, this one’s for you. Connect with Kathryn:  Website: www.worthmorestrategies.com 76 Things You Can Negotiate:www.76things.com Related Podcast Episodes: The Hard Truths Of Entrepreneurship with Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon | 313 Toxic Productivity with Israa Nasir | 254 Be A Likeable Badass with Alison Fragale | 230 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re tired of spending a small fortune on skincare that might work, or overwhelmed by 12-step routines that leave you more stressed than glowing, this episode is your skincare reset. Licensed Master Esthetician and spa owner Lindsey Holder joins us to break down exactly how to care for your skin—without Botox, fillers, or Hollywood-level budgets. With over a decade in the beauty industry (including working with celebs in LA), Lindsey is now focused on helping everyday women achieve radiant, healthy skin at home. We get into: Skincare myths (and what’s actually worth your money) Affordable skincare tools and treatments you can do yourself Free ways to support your skin (yes, free!) How to build a routine that works for your skin and your life We also talk about something no serum can give you: confidence. Because skincare should be about taking care of yourself—not chasing perfection or feeding a fear-based industry. If you’re ready for healthy, glowing skin—without the pressure, the guilt, or the injectables—this episode is for you. Connect with Lindsey:  Website: www.lindseyholder.com/guide (free daily skincare guide) Download Lindsey’s FREE skincare app called Lapree Beauty in both IOS or Google Play that gives you skincare tutorial and product review videos! Related Podcast Episodes: How To Feel Good Naked with Chardét Ryel | 212 194 / Key Components of Healthy Living (And It’s Not About How You Look) with Alyse Gaulin 139 / Well-Rested with Jolene Hart Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s talk about the most essential job that no one wants to call a job: the work done inside the home. Parenting. Caregiving. Running a household. It’s all real work — valuable, skilled, and foundational. And yet, it’s often dismissed, devalued, and definitely unpaid. This week, we’re going all in on the fight to change that narrative. Nicole is joined by historian and professor Emily Callaci, whose latest book Wages for Housework: The Feminist Fight Against Unpaid Labor uncovers the radical movement that dared to ask: what if we paid people for domestic labor? What if the backbone of our economy — caregiving and home-making — was finally treated like the work it actually is? We unpack the historical, political, and economic forces that keep unpaid labor invisible, and what it means to truly value the labor that happens in homes across the world. This episode is fiery, informed, and long overdue. Because here’s the truth: without unpaid labor, nothing else works. Connect with Emily:  Book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/emily-callaci/wages-for-housework/9781541603523/?lens=seal-press Audio Book: https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/m0027t58 Related Podcast Episodes: Women’s Role in Defining Masculinity with Moe Carrick | 252 Fair Shake: Women And The Fight To Build A Just Economy with June Carbone | 246 Holding It Together: Women As America's Safety Net with Jessica Calarco | 215 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction doesn’t look the same for everyone — and for women, it often comes with an extra helping of shame, silence, and stigma. In this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, we’re unpacking how addiction and recovery show up differently for women, why the traditional recovery narrative often falls short, and what it actually takes to reclaim your life in a way that feels true, honest, and yours. I’m joined by Patti Clark—award-winning author, speaker, and middle-aged woman in long-term recovery—who knows this road from both the inside and out. In her newest book, Recovery Road Trip: Finding Purpose and Connection on the Journey Home, Patti shares stories and tools that help women not just survive addiction, but heal, grow, and reconnect with themselves. We talk about purpose, connection, creative healing, and why recovery is about so much more than sobriety—it’s about coming home to yourself. Whether you’re on this road or know someone who is, this episode is packed with truth, tenderness, and the reminder that there’s always hope. Connect with Patti:  Website: https://www.patticlark.org/ Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Recovery-Road-Trip/Patti-Clark/9781647427740 FB: https://www.facebook.com/PattiClarkAuthor IG: https://www.instagram.com/patticlarkauthor/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@recoveringwoman YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PattiKClark Substack: https://patticlarkwriter.substack.com/ Related Podcast Episodes: Normalize It: Breaking The Silence & Shame That Shape Women’s Lives with Dr. Jessica Zucker | 303 Sober Curious with Amanda Kuda | 270 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some patterns are inherited. Some are learned. And some are just plain outdated. So how do you figure out which is which—and what the hell to do about it? In this episode, we’re diving deep into how to identify and rewire the invisible patterns that are no longer serving you with the help of Judy Wilkins-Smith. Judy is a world-renowned expert in systemic work and constellations, the author of Decoding Your Emotional Blueprint, and a coach to high-performers and legacy leaders alike. She uses tools like epigenetics and genealogy to help people understand what they’ve inherited—emotionally, behaviorally, and even spiritually—and how to transform it into something that actually works for them. Because newsflash: just because it runs in the family doesn’t mean it gets to run your life. Whether you’re feeling stuck in self-doubt, repeating relationship drama, or carrying old money stories like hand-me-down jeans from the 90s, this episode will help you ask the right questions, uncover the real source, and start rewriting the script. Connect with Judi:  Website: https://judywilkins-smith.com/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/judywilkinssmith/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/judywilkinssmith  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judywilkinssmith/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2deofVCmw7Fxdq866SpJbQ  Related Podcast Episodes: Grown-Up Goals: The 5 Pillars Of Being A Healthy Adult with Michelle Chalfant | 317 Unlocking Your Hidden Genius: How to Harness Your Innate Talents with Betsy Wills & Alex Ellison | Ep. 289 How To Defy Expectations with Dr. Sunita Sah | 271 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really mean to live a meaningful life—and how do you know if you're doing it? In this episode, we're cutting through the noise, pressure, and Pinterest-perfection to get to the heart of it. Because purpose doesn’t have to be loud to be life-changing. It doesn’t have to trend to be true. Meaning is found in the relationships we build, the values we live, and the courage it takes to make choices that align with who we actually are—not who the world told us to be. So let’s talk about how we build a life that, at the end of it—whenever that may be—we know it mattered. Our guest today is Marni Battista—entrepreneur, author, and transformational coach who helps women, especially in midlife, stop chasing the “have it all” myth and start living with radical alignment. Her new book, Your Radical Living Challenge: 7 Questions for a Meaningful Life, offers a framework to help you stop performing and start mattering, on your own terms. Whether your life’s impact is massive or modest, visible or quiet, it still counts. And it’s never too late to ask better questions—and start living more meaningful answers. Connect with Marni:  Website: marnibattista.com  Book:  radicallivingchallenge.com  Quiz: decodeyourdestinyquiz.com  Related Podcast Episodes: Your Guide to a More Organized & Intentional Life with Shira Gill | 304 How To Have A Good Death with Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN | 292 How Is Your Spiritual Health? with Dr. Lisa Miller | 287 Abundance: Secrets to Prosperity and Ease with Cathy Heller | 260 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We live in a world that talks over people instead of listening to them. Debate has replaced understanding. Volume gets rewarded over vulnerability. And somehow, we’ve confused interrupting with intelligence. In this episode, we’re flipping the script. Because deep listening—the kind that transforms relationships, diffuses conflict, and actually builds connection—isn’t soft. It’s a power skill. A leadership skill. A humanity-saving skill. And there’s no one better to guide us through the how than today’s guest… Our guide today is Emily Kasriel, award-winning journalist, former BBC executive, and creator of the Deep Listening approach. With two decades of media experience, a role as Senior Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London, and a new book (Deep Listening: Transform Your Relationships with Family, Friends and Foes), Emily is here to show us how to stop talking... and actually hear each other. Listening—truly listening—isn’t passive. It’s active, intentional, and strong as hell. And in a culture that values being loud over being present, choosing to listen might just be the most rebellious, relationship-healing thing we can do. Connect with Emily:  Website: https://www.emilykasriel.com/  Book: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/deep-listening-transform-your-relationships-with-family-friends-and-foes-emily-kasriel?variant=41459770884174 LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilykasriel/ Related Podcast Episodes: The Icelandic Art of Intuition with Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir | 307 The Power of Conscious Connection with Talia Fox | 263 Gentleness: Cultivating Compassion for Yourself and Others with Courtney Carver | 282 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices