Why do so many women immediately question themselves the moment they set a boundary, speak directly, or stop over-explaining? In this unfiltered and unhinged episode, Nicole Kalil digs into the exhausting mental spiral behind asking “Am I being a bitch?” — and why that question might actually be proof that women have been conditioned to prioritize likability over self-respect. Nicole unpacks the difference between being cruel and simply refusing to shrink yourself to make other people comfortable. From boundary-setting and ambition to people-pleasing and over-functioning, this episode challenges the outdated expectation that women must always be agreeable, accommodating, and “nice.” In This Episode, Nicole Talks About: Why women disproportionately question whether they’re “too much” The difference between being powerful and being unkind How guilt shows up when women stop over-giving Why boundaries trigger discomfort — and why that’s not your problem The danger of outsourcing self-worth to other people’s opinions How to stop confusing honesty with cruelty Better questions to ask instead of “Am I being a bitch?” Thank you to our sponsors! Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/WOMAN - and make sure to tell them we sent you! Elevate your summer wardrobe: Go to Quince.com/tiww for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW. Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills! Connect with Nicole: Subscribe to Nicole’s Substack: https://nicolekalil.substack.com/  Related Podcast Episode: On Sabbaticals, Reinvention, and Getting Older | Unfiltered & Unhinged When a One-Star Review Means You’ve Officially Arrived | Unfiltered & Unhinged Am I Being a B**ch? (…or Just Finally in My Power) with Megan Walrod | 349 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women are constantly told to trust their bodies… right up until their bodies start telling them something medicine can’t immediately explain. In this powerful and deeply validating conversation, Nicole sits down with Amy Kurtz — certified health coach, patient advocate, speaker, and author of But You Look Fine: Trapped in the Hell Between Sick and Well and How to Break Free — to unpack the emotional aftermath of chronic illness, medical gaslighting, invisible symptoms, and the complicated grief that comes from losing trust in your own body. Amy shares her experience navigating late-stage Lyme disease, seeing 36 doctors before getting answers, and what she calls “medical trauma brain” — the hypervigilance, anxiety, and identity loss that can remain long after physical symptoms improve. Together, Nicole and Amy explore why so many women feel dismissed in healthcare settings, how chronic illness reshapes relationships and self-trust, and why healing is about far more than just getting a diagnosis. This episode is for every woman who has ever walked out of a doctor’s office feeling unheard, minimized, or crazy — and for every person who’s ever been told, “But you look fine.” We explore: How chronic illness and invisible symptoms impact identity and self-trust The concept of “medical trauma brain” and illness after the illness Why healing isn’t linear — physically or emotionally Practical nervous system regulation tools for anxiety and hypervigilance How to support loved ones dealing with chronic illness or perimenopause The connection between women’s health, appearance, and societal expectations Why rebuilding agency over your body is essential to healing This conversation is equal parts rage, relief, validation, and empowerment — the kind that makes you feel less alone and more equipped to trust yourself again. Thank you to our sponsors! Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/WOMAN - and make sure to tell them we sent you! Elevate your summer wardrobe: Go to Quince.com/tiww for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW. Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills! Connect with Amy: Book: https://www.amazon.com/But-You-Look-Fine-Trapped-ebook/dp/B0FPC9TV2P     Website: https://amykurtz.com/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/_amykurtz/  Publisher: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/amy-kurtz/but-you-look-fine/9781538775301/ Related Podcast Episodes The Biology Of Trauma - And How To Heal It with Dr. Aimie Apigian | 346 Don’t Let Your Doctor Kill You: The New Hormone Solution with Dr. Erika Schwartz | 305 ADHD in Women, Nervous System Regulation & Getting Out of Fight-or-Flight with Jenna Free | 396 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We call grocery workers “essential” — right up until it’s time to pay them. In this episode, Nicole sits down with journalist, activist, and author Ann Larson to unpack the hidden realities of low-wage labor, economic inequality, and the corporate systems keeping millions of workers struggling to survive. Drawing from her experience working as a grocery store cashier during the pandemic, Ann shares what most consumers never see: workers skipping meals, elderly employees unable to retire, women wearing diapers behind registers because breaks are denied, and employees lacking basic healthcare while generating billions for major corporations. Ann Larson is a journalist and activist whose work on education debt and low-wage labor has appeared in The New Republic, The Nation, Fast Company, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. She’s the co-author of Can’t Pay Won’t Pay: The Case for Economic Disobedience and Debt Abolition and author of Clean Up on Aisle Five, a powerful look inside the realities of supermarket labor in America. In this episode, Nicole and Ann discuss: Why there’s no such thing as “unskilled labor” The hidden emotional and technical skills required in grocery work How corporate consolidation impacts wages, communities, and poverty rates The connection between consumer spending and worker treatment Why unionization and antitrust laws matter more than most people realize How economic inequality affects all of us — not just low-wage workers What shoppers can do to support ethical labor practices Why voting with your dollars matters Because if people working full-time jobs still can’t afford food, healthcare, or retirement, the system isn’t broken — it’s working exactly as designed. The question is whether we’re willing to keep funding it. Thank you to our sponsors! Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/WOMAN - and make sure to tell them we sent you! Elevate your summer wardrobe: Go to Quince.com/tiww for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW. Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills! Connect with Ann: Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Cleanup-on-Aisle-Five/Ann-Larson/9781668094501    Website: https://annlarsonwrites.com/  Related Podcast Episodes: 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 Wages For Housework with Emily Callici | 325 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pregnancy and childbirth have somehow become competitive sports — complete with judgment, unsolicited opinions, internet “experts,” and enough mom guilt to last a lifetime before the baby even arrives. In this episode, Nicole sits down with labor and delivery nurse, viral creator, and bestselling author Jen Hamilton to unpack the unrealistic expectations women face around birth, pain management, advocacy, and motherhood itself. Jen shares why rigid birth plans often set women up for disappointment, how “birth vibes” create space for empowerment and adaptability, and what every woman deserves to feel during labor: heard, respected, informed, and safe. From epidurals and medical interventions to maternal mortality and grief after birth trauma, this conversation is equal parts practical, emotional, hilarious, and deeply validating. In This Episode, We Explore: The difference between “birth plans” and “birth vibes” How flexibility and adaptability change the birth experience Why the “perfect birth story” is mostly a myth The truth about epidurals, pain medication, and mom guilt How to advocate for yourself when you feel unheard or dismissed Why women of color face higher risks in maternal healthcare How support people can actually be supportive during labor The importance of feeling respected and emotionally safe during birth What closure and healing can look like after a traumatic birth experience Why giving yourself grace matters more than getting everything “right” A reminder that birth, motherhood, and life rarely go according to plan. Empowerment isn’t about perfection or control — it’s about trusting yourself, adapting when things change, and giving yourself grace when things get messy.  Thank you to our sponsors! Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/WOMAN - and make sure to tell them we sent you! Elevate your summer wardrobe: Go to Quince.com/tiww for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW. Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills! Connect with Jen: Book: https://www.jenhamilton.co/birthvibes  Website: www.jenhamilton.co  IG: https://www.instagram.com/_jen_hamilton_/?hl=en  FB: https://www.facebook.com/jenhamiltonfacebook/  Substack: https://jenhamiltonsub.substack.com/  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/jenhamilton  Related Podcast Episodes: Fertility Myths, IVF & the Pressure Women Carry with Dr. Lucky Sekhon  | 415 A Terrible Strength: How Medical Bias Is Costing Women Their Lives with Dr. Kemi Doll | 408 Endometriosis & Women's Health with Somer Baburek | 238 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most loaded, misunderstood, fear-filled topics women face is fertility. Because apparently we’ve all been sold two completely conflicting messages at the exact same time: “You have plenty of time.” AND “Your eggs are basically turning to dust after 35.” Super helpful. In this episode, Nicole sits down with Dr. Lucky Sekhon — double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, fertility specialist, and author of The Lucky Egg — to separate actual science from internet nonsense, fearmongering, and wellness-industry garbage. This conversation is honest, nuanced, and deeply needed. Because fertility is not a morality test, a personal failure, or something you can hack with enough supplements and a promo code. In This Episode, We Explore: The biggest fertility myths women are still being told Why fertility is not a “cliff” — and what actually happens with age The truth about egg quality, IVF, and “advanced maternal age” Why so many women feel blindsided when trying to get pregnant The dangerous rise of fertility misinformation on social media What actually matters for fertility health (and what absolutely doesn’t) The role of insulin resistance, sleep, exercise, and nutrition in fertility Which supplements may help — and which are mostly expensive hope Why infertility is NOT just a woman’s issue The male fertility conversation we should’ve been having all along How to advocate for yourself without spiraling into fear Because you deserve facts, options, and support — not shame, blame, or another influencer trying to sell you something. Thank you to our sponsors! Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/WOMAN - and make sure to tell them we sent you! Elevate your summer wardrobe: Go to Quince.com/tiww for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW. Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills! Connect with Dr. Lucky: Book: The Lucky Egg: https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/lucky-egg-9781250408716/    Website: https://theluckyegg.com/about-me/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucky.sekhon/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drluckyegg  Related Podcast Episodes: A Terrible Strength: How Medical Bias Is Costing Women Their Lives with Dr. Kemi Doll | 408 152 / The Necessity Of Choice with Jacqueline Ayers Endometriosis & Women's Health with Somer Baburek | 238 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s cut the crap: this isn’t just about screen time. It’s about attention—yours, your kids’, and who (or what) is stealing it. In this brutally honest (and slightly uncomfortable) conversation, Nicole sits down with Catherine Price—award-winning journalist, author of How to Break Up with Your Phone, and co-author of The Amazing Generation—to unpack what screens are actually doing to our brains, our kids, and our relationships. We’re talking about: Why “screen time” is the wrong conversation—and what you should be focusing on instead How constant scrolling is literally rewiring attention spans (for you and your kids) The real cost of distraction: missed memories, weaker relationships, and a life half-lived Why your kids don’t need another app—they need your actual presence The difference between useful tech and attention-sucking garbage How to delay smartphones and social media without turning your house into a war zone What kids really notice about your phone habits (hint: everything) Practical ways to reset boundaries—even if you feel like you’ve already screwed it up This episode isn’t about perfection. It’s about awareness, intention, and making better choices—starting now. Because every time you pick up your phone, you’re choosing what (and who) gets your attention. Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/woman  Connect with Catherine: Substack: https://substack.com/@catherineprice  Website: https://catherineprice.com/  Book: The Amazing Generation, co-authored with Jonathan Haidt. https://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Generation-Guide-Freedom-Screen-Filled/dp/B0F87C5F9G   Book: How to Break Up With Your Phone https://www.amazon.com/How-Break-Up-Your-Phone/dp/039958112X   IG: https://www.instagram.com/catherinepriceofficial/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@catherinepriceofficial  LI: http://linkedin.com/in/catherinepriceofficial  Related Podcast Episodes The Good Mother Myth with Nancy Reddy | 274 FACTS About Raising Emotionally Intelligent Kids with Alyssa Blask Campbell M.Ed | 345 How To Listen with Emily Kasriel | 321 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t another “just drink less” conversation. Because if it were that simple, you would’ve solved it already. In this raw, honest, and slightly uncomfortable episode, Nicole sits down with intuitive drinking coach Colleen Freeland—host of the It’s Not About the Alcohol podcast and a former high-functioning overdrinker herself—to unpack what’s really behind overdrinking, especially for high-achieving women who “have it all together”… on paper.  It’s not about willpower. It’s not about discipline. And it’s definitely not just about alcohol. It’s about what you’re trying to escape. Colleen breaks down why alcohol is often just the symptom—not the problem—and how coping mechanisms like perfectionism, overworking, and even “healthy habits” can be just as numbing if we don’t address the root cause. What We Talk About: Why alcohol isn’t the problem—it’s the signal The real reason high-achieving women overdrink (hint: it’s not lack of discipline) Why removing alcohol doesn’t fix the issue—it just replaces it Nervous system regulation: the skill no one taught you (but you desperately need) How to rebuild self-trust after patterns you’re not proud of Why feeling better starts with admitting you don’t feel okay This conversation flips the script on everything we’ve been taught about drinking, self-control, and “fixing” ourselves. Because the goal may not be to eliminate the coping mechanism… maybe the goal is to build a life you don’t constantly need to escape from. Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/woman  Connect with Colleen: Website: https://www.emotionalsobrietycoaching.com/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/thehangoverwhisperer/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hangoverwhisperer  Podcast: https://www.emotionalsobrietycoaching.com/podcast  Related Podcast Episodes Stop Saying “I’m Fine”: Nervous System Regulation for High-Achieving Women with Michelle Grosser | 372 How Our Dysregulated Nervous Systems Are Impacting Us with Victoria Albina | 244 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 | YouTube This episode breaks down why overdrinking isn’t about alcohol—it’s about emotional regulation, stress, and self-connection, giving high-achieving women a smarter, deeper way to change their habits for good.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk a lot about burnout, overwhelm, and productivity — but not nearly enough about the invisible mental gymnastics happening behind the scenes. The remembering, anticipating, overthinking, emotional labor, and “just handling it” that so many women carry every single day. Not just at home, but at work too. In this episode, Nicole sits down with Dr. Liane Davey — known as the Teamwork Doctor — to unpack the concept of “thought load” and why high-achieving women are especially vulnerable to carrying way too much of it. Liane is a New York Times bestselling author, leadership advisor to Fortune 500 companies, and author of the book Thought Load: Manage the Madness and Free Your Team to Do Great Work. Together, they explore how over-functioning gets rewarded in workplaces, why busyness and productivity can become traps, and how to stop becoming everyone else’s emotional support system and human reminder app. In This Episode, We Explore: What “thought load” actually is — and why it’s draining women at work Why high-achieving women often become the default problem-solvers for everyone else The difference between being busy, productive, and actually impactful How to determine what truly matters instead of trying to do everything Why managing attention matters more than managing time How to stop becoming the go-to person for everyone’s problems Boundary-setting strategies that don’t require becoming cold or unavailable Why letting go is necessary if you want to grow into leadership Because the higher you want to climb, the more willing you have to be to let go of the roles, responsibilities, and expectations that are keeping you stuck. Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/woman  Connect with Liane: Website: https://lianedavey.com/  Book: https://www.amazon.com/Thoughtload-Manage-Madness-Free-Great/dp/1774586517 LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lianedavey/  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/drlianedavey  IG: https://www.instagram.com/lianedavey  Related Podcast Episodes: How To Tame Your Inner Critic (Without Gaslighting Yourself) with Megan Dalla-Camina | 354 VI4P - Head Trash and Giving Grace on the Journey (Chapter 7) 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Somewhere along the way, most of us got completely bamboozled about what doing “great work” actually means. It became about titles, applause, LinkedIn optics, and chasing gold stars from people who don’t even know us. Meanwhile, the work that actually lights us up? The stuff that feels like us? Yeah… that got buried under obligation, expectation, and a never-ending to-do list. In this episode, Nicole sits down with Dr. Amanda Crowell — cognitive psychologist, TEDx speaker, and author of Great Work — to unpack why so many women are stuck doing work that looks good on paper but feels like absolute garbage in real life… and how to get back to work that actually matters. We get into: What “great work” actually means (hint: it has NOTHING to do with external validation) How to identify the difference between true desire vs. insecurity-driven comparison Why your biggest clues might come from… jealousy  The concept of identity saboteurs — and how they keep you playing small Why women especially struggle with choosing themselves (hello, conditioning) Why your great work doesn’t have to be big, public, or profitable to matter And how to finally stop waiting for the “right time” and start doing the damn thing Because here’s the truth: The only way to know if it’s your great work… is to actually do it. Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/woman  Connect with Amanda: Website: https://www.amandacrowell.com/  Book: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Work-2nd-Sacrificing-Everything/dp/B0F8QK73WK/ref  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-amanda-crowell-51188130/  TedEx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWp87GXDvEk  Related Podcast Episodes: All The Ways We Get In Our Own Way with Thais Gibson | 235 Healing Mental And Emotional Wounds with Stephanie Kwong | 234 Your Brain Is a Filthy Liar with Bizzie Gold | 361 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a woman who’s spent her entire life optimizing, producing, planning, and performing… decides to stop? In this unfiltered solo episode, Nicole Kalil shares the real reason behind her 3-month sabbatical across Europe — and it’s about a whole lot more than travel. Nicole opens up about the fear of untethering from productivity, the discomfort of rest, aging as a woman, solo dining anxiety, motherhood, identity, and what it means to leave behind the familiar long enough to uncover who you’re becoming next. Because maybe the things that scare and excite us at the exact same time are the very things pointing us toward the life we actually want. In This Episode, Nicole Talks About: Why she’s taking an 11-week sabbatical through Europe Turning 50 and why aging feels liberating instead of limiting The pressure women face to stay small, young, and polished Why slowing down can feel terrifying The power of doing something “impractical” anyway Rediscovering yourself by leaving the familiar behind What envy and jealousy might actually be trying to tell you Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/woman  Connect with Nicole: Subscribe to Nicole’s Substack: https://nicolekalil.substack.com/  Related Podcast Episode: When a One-Star Review Means You’ve Officially Arrived | Unfiltered & Unhinged How To Take A Sabbatical with Katrina McGhee | 336 Solo Adventures: A Guide for Women Travelers with Megan Grant | 265  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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s get one thing straight: women are not bad at negotiating. They’re doing it just as often—if not more—but getting worse outcomes. So no, the wage gap isn’t because women just need to “ask better.” That’s lazy advice… and frankly, bullshit. In this episode, negotiation expert Attia Qureshi—founder of Atiya Qureshi Consulting, co-author of Never Settle, and trained in FBI-informed negotiation strategies—breaks down the uncomfortable truth: women are playing a game that wasn’t designed for them to win the same way men do. Same words, same ask… wildly different outcomes. And she’s not here with fluff—she’s here with strategies that actually work.  Because here’s the deal: opting out of negotiation doesn’t protect you—it guarantees you get less. What We Cover: Why women are negotiating just as much—but still losing The double bind: too nice = weak, too assertive = “difficult” The internal negotiation happening in your own head Why relationships matter more than you think (yes, it’s annoying, but it’s real) How to use data as your secret weapon without triggering defensiveness The “we strategy” that helps women get better outcomes (even if it feels unfair) Why over-preparing can actually screw you over How to handle rejection and turn a “no” into a “not yet” At the end of the day, negotiation isn’t about becoming someone you’re not. It’s about learning how to advocate for yourself in a system that doesn’t always reward you for it—and doing it anyway. Because you don’t get what you deserve. You get what you’re willing to ask for—and hold your ground on. Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/woman  Connect with Attia: Website: https://www.attiaqureshi.com  Book: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Settle-Persuasion-Negotiation-Skills/dp/1668070375  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/attiaq/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/attiaq/  Substack: https://substack.com/@attiaqureshi  Related Podcast Episodes: The 3 N’s - Negotiation, Networking & No with Kathryn Valentine | 327 Be A Likeable Badass with Alison Fragale | 230 162 / Compensation Myths with Kelli Thompson 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leadership is supposed to be a privilege… so why does it feel like a slow burn to the ground? In this raw, unfiltered continuation of the leadership mental health conversation, Nicole Kalil sits down again with organizational psychologist and workplace mental health expert Melissa Doman to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes of leadership today — and why the good ones are dangerously close to walking away. Because here’s the truth no one wants to admit: we expect leaders to be everything — strong, empathetic, decisive, available, perfect — with no room for human error. And then we wonder why burnout is skyrocketing and leadership pipelines are drying up. This episode goes beyond surface-level advice and into the uncomfortable reality: Leaders are human (shocking, we know) Unrealistic expectations are breaking them And we all play a role in either making it better… or making it worse Melissa brings both expertise and real talk to the table — from leadership archetypes (hello, frustrated martyr) to the “sea otter” model of healthy leadership (yes, it’s a thing and yes, you want it). Together, they challenge the outdated narratives, call out toxic expectations, and offer a radically simple starting point: act like leaders are people. Because if we don’t figure this out? The good leaders won’t stay. And what’s left… is not a future anyone wants. Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/woman  Connect with Melissa: Website:https://www.melissadoman.com/ Book:https://www.amazon.com/Cornered-Office-Leadership-Mental-Health/dp/139435035X  IG: https://www.instagram.com/thewanderingmel/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadoman1/ Related Podcast Episodes: What Happens When Leadership Becomes Unsustainable: Leader Mental Health with Melissa Doman | 403 Leadership Unblocked (The Hidden Beliefs Sabotaging Your Ability To Lead) with Muriel M. Wilkins | 367 What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses with Mita Mallick | 351 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You hit the goal. You check the box. You reach the milestone. And instead of feeling fulfilled… you’re already onto the next thing. Yeah — that’s the problem.  In this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, Nicole sits down with Jess Ekstrom — founder, bestselling author, and reformed anxious achiever — to call out the toxic relationship so many high-achieving women have with motivation, success, and self-worth. And spoiler alert: it’s not a motivation problem. It’s a meaning problem. Because somewhere along the way, ambition got tangled up with anxiety, productivity got confused with purpose, and we decided we’d finally feel good enough… later. After the next goal. The next milestone. The next arbitrary number. Sound familiar? We cover: The difference between anxious ambition vs. inspired ambition How to redefine success so it actually feels like success (not just looks good on paper) The “purpose test” that will instantly expose if you’re chasing approval or impact Why you keep moving the goalpost — and how it’s burning you out How comparison can either crush you… or prove what’s possible Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: if you keep tying your worth to what’s next, you will never feel like enough — no matter how much you accomplish. Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/woman  Connect with Jess: Website: https://jessekstrom.com/  Book:https://jessekstrom.com/makingit/  Workshop: https://micdropworkshop.com/  IG: www.instagram.com/jess_ekstrom  FB: www.facebook.com/jessekstrom  X: www.twitter.com/jess_ekstrom  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessekstrom  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-ekstrom-59160342/  Related Podcast Episodes 206 / A Better Way to Define Success with Stella Grizont 7 Keys To Unlock Your Dynamic Drive with Molly Fletcher | 229 160 / Motivation with Kate Tracy  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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s get something straight: women’s healthcare is broken. But not equally broken. In this unapologetically raw and necessary conversation, Nicole Kalil sits down with Dr. Kemi Doll — physician, gynecologic oncologist, researcher, and author of A Terrible Strength — to expose the systemic failures in gynecological care, especially for Black women. This isn’t a “wellness trends” conversation. This is about health inequity, medical bias, reproductive injustice, and the dangerous normalization of women’s pain. Because here’s the truth: when one group of women is dismissed, denied care, and dying at higher rates… it’s not just their problem. It’s a system-wide failure that impacts all of us. They break down: The systemic crisis in gynecology and why womb health is massively underfunded and under-researched Why conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, and uterine cancer are ignored  The dangerous myth of the “strong Black woman” and how that “strength” is costing lives How medical bias and racism show up in real diagnoses, treatment delays, and mortality rates The difference between real health education vs. wellness industry BS How ALL women play a role in demanding better care  This episode will challenge you. It might piss you off. Good. It should. Because we don’t get to claim progress for women while some of us are still being ignored, misdiagnosed, and dying from treatable conditions. And we don’t get to call it “woman’s work” until it works for all of us. Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/woman  Connect with Kemi: Website: https://kemidoll.com/  Book: https://kemidoll.com/book/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/kemidoll  Related Podcast Episodes Perimenopause, HRT, and Why Women Are Being Gaslit Into Thinking It’s “Just Aging” with Dr. Sarah Daccarett | 381 Endometriosis & Women's Health with Somer Baburek | 238 Floored - Why Our Pelvic Floor Health Matters with Dr. Sara Reardon | 314 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicole Kalil just hit a milestone most people secretly dread… her very first one-star podcast review — and instead of spiraling, she celebrated it. Yep, you read that right. In this unfiltered, unhinged episode, Nicole breaks down why negative feedback, criticism, and even haters might actually be the clearest sign that you’re doing something right. Because if everyone likes you? You’re probably playing it way too safe. This episode is a masterclass in confidence, self-trust, and not shrinking yourself to make other people comfortable. It’s about choosing what opinions matter, letting the noise sort itself out, and continuing to show up boldly — even when it makes people uncomfortable. In this episode, she explores: Why negative reviews and criticism can actually validate your impact How to separate useful feedback from irrelevant noise The psychology behind why people project their opinions Why being disliked is often the cost of being authentic How to stop seeking approval and start trusting yourself And the kicker? Even the haters help boost the algorithm. So technically… they’re part of the marketing team now. Thank you to our sponsors! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/woman  Connect with Nicole: Subscribe to Nicole’s Substack: https://nicolekalil.substack.com/  Join the Inner Circle: https://nicolekalil.myflodesk.com/newsletter  Related Podcast Episodes: Sequins, Miscommunication, and Marriage | Unfiltered & Unhinged Women Are Tired — Stop Pointing It Out | Unfiltered & Unhinged The Episode About Balls | Unfiltered & Unhinged 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s get one thing straight: the fitness industry has sold us a lie that if you’re not drenched in sweat, tracking every step, optimizing every metric, and borderline hating your life… it “doesn’t count.”  We’re calling bullshit. In this episode, Nicole sits down with Dr. Milica McDowell — doctor of physical therapy, human performance expert, and co-author of Walk — to dismantle everything we’ve been taught about exercise, movement, and what it actually means to take care of our bodies. Because walking? The thing you’ve been dismissing as “not real exercise”? It might be the most powerful, accessible, and science-backed tool for your health, longevity, and mental clarity. In this episode, we cover: Why walking is one of the most underrated forms of exercise for women’s health The truth about the 10,000-step myth (and what actually matters) How walking improves mood, creativity, and cognitive function The shocking connection between foot health, balance, and longevity Why your shoes might be sabotaging your body (yes, really) The concept of “movement snacks” and how to fit walking into real life Treadmill vs outdoor walking — what actually counts How to build a walking habit without adding more to your already full plate Because maybe the goal isn’t to do more, harder, faster. Maybe the goal is to finally do what works. And that might be as simple as going for a walk. Thank you to our sponsors! Gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TIWW, and get three months free when you run your first payroll. Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince.com/TIWW for free shipping and 365-day returns! Shopify has everything all in one place, making your life easier and your business operations smoother. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/tiww  Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Connect with Milica: Website: https://www.milicamcdowell.com/  Book: https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Rediscover-Natural-Health-Longevity_One/dp/0306837536 LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-milica-mcdowell/  Related Podcast Episodes The Connection Cure: Social Prescribing, Loneliness, and Why Belonging Is Medicine with Julia Hotz | 373 154 / Affirmation Roulette with Peloton’s Kirsten Ferguson Lift Heavy, Live Long: Reclaiming Your Strength with Anne-Marie Chaker | 368 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s just say the quiet part out loud: work is broken. Burnout is everywhere. People are disengaged. Leaders feel like they can’t win. Employees feel invisible. And somewhere along the way, work became more about transactions than human connection. In this episode, Nicole Kalil sits down with Nidhi Tewari — licensed clinical social worker, Harvard Business Review Advisory Council member, Thinkers50 Radar Award recipient, and author of Working Well — to unpack what’s really going wrong at work… and what actually fixes it. Thank god, it’s not another productivity hack. It’s attunement. In this episode, we cover: Why modern work culture is failing (and why it’s not entirely new) The real reason burnout and disengagement are skyrocketing What “attunement” is — and why it goes deeper than emotional intelligence The 4 core skills of attunement: flexibility, reading cues, self-regulation, and collaboration Simple ways to practice attunement at work — without adding more to your plate Why asking instead of assuming is a leadership superpower How workplace connection directly impacts performance, retention, and fulfillment Because maybe the goal isn’t to care more. Maybe the goal is to show it — consistently, clearly, and in a way people can actually feel. Thank you to our sponsors! Gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TIWW, and get three months free when you run your first payroll. Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince.com/TIWW for free shipping and 365-day returns! Shopify has everything all in one place, making your life easier and your business operations smoother. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/tiww  Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Families are better when they’re working together… go to myskylight.com/WOMANSWORK for $30 off your Skylight Calendar. Connect with Nidhi: Website: https://www.nidhitewari.com/   Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/788782/working-well-by-nidhi-tewari Related Podcast Episodes What Good Leaders Can Learn from Bad Bosses with Mita Mallick | 351 Leading From The Inside Out with Dana Maor | 278 What Happens When Leadership Becomes Unsustainable: Leader Mental Health with Melissa Doman | 403 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us aren’t running billion-dollar corporations… we’re just trying to survive our inbox. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: whether we like it or not, we are all participants in corporate systems — where we work, what we buy, and who we support. In this episode, Nicole Kalil sits down with Sarah Federman, author of Corporate Reckoning, to unpack what happens when companies are forced to confront their past — from ties to slavery and genocide to modern-day scandals and ethical failures. Spoiler: ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. This conversation dives into the real work of accountability — not the PR-polished version, but the messy, necessary kind that actually builds trust, integrity, and long-term impact. Because reckoning isn’t about guilt. It’s about responsibility. And whether you're leading a company, part of one, or just spending your hard-earned money with one… you have more power than you think. In this episode, they cover: What “corporate reckoning” actually means (and why it matters now more than ever) Why “leave the past in the past” is a convenient lie How companies benefit from confronting — not hiding — their history The 5-step framework for meaningful accountability (and why most companies screw it up) The role women play in driving corporate change through spending power and how to use your voice, your dollars, and your decisions to influence change This isn’t about cancel culture. It’s about conscious participation. Because the question isn’t “Was this my fault?” — it’s “Now that I know… what am I going to do about it?” Thank you to our sponsors! Gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TIWW, and get three months free when you run your first payroll. Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince.com/TIWW for free shipping and 365-day returns! Shopify has everything all in one place, making your life easier and your business operations smoother. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/tiww  Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Connect with Sarah: Website: https://sarahfederman.com/ Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/814363/corporate-reckoning-by-sarah-federman/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-federman-phd/ Related Podcast Episodes: Holding It Together: Women As America's Safety Net with Jessica Calarco | 215 Diversity Isn’t a Strategy - It’s a Leadership Result with Aiko Bethea | 378 How To Build An Emotionally Intelligent Team with Dr. Vanessa Druskat | 328 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grief is not neat, linear, inspiring, or cured by a casserole dish and a “take your time” platitude. In this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, Nicole Kalil sits down with author, podcaster, and storyteller Liz Deacle—author of You Won’t Just Cry When They Die—for an honest conversation about grief, loss, healing, identity, and the brutal reality of what happens when someone you love dies. Liz shares what losing both of her parents taught her about the physical and emotional reality of grief—experiences she writes about in You Won’t Just Cry When They Die—including how it can dismantle identity, disrupt the body, and leave a person wondering who they even are now.  Together, they unpack why grief does not follow a timeline, why healing is not about getting back to who someone used to be, and why being “strong” often has a whole lot less to do with holding it together and a whole lot more to do with telling the truth. They also explore the complicated overlap between grief and midlife, especially for women navigating perimenopause, parenting, caregiving, work, and all the other crap life keeps throwing on the pile. Liz offers deeply human insight into what it means to be held, heard, and supported through loss, and why sometimes the most powerful thing anyone can say is simply, “I’m here.” This episode is for anyone grieving, anyone loving someone through grief, or anyone who needs the reminder that there is no right way to fall apart and no clean, polished way to stitch yourself back together. Thank you to our sponsors! Gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TIWW, and get three months free when you run your first payroll. Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince.com/TIWW for free shipping and 365-day returns! Shopify has everything all in one place, making your life easier and your business operations smoother. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/tiww  Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Connect with Liz: Website/Book:https://elizabethdeacle.com Free Meditation: https://elizabethdeacle.com/justforyou Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/its-a-drama-podcast/id1448200711 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsaDrama Related Podcast Episodes: How To Have A Good Death with Suzanne B. O’Brien, RN | 292 099 / Grief Is Love with Marisa Renee Lee How Is Your Spiritual Health? with Dr. Lisa Miller | 287 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this unfiltered and unhinged solo episode, Nicole Kalil shares a story she is absolutely still not over: The Great Sequin Debacle of 2016. What started as a simple request — “what’s the dress code?” — turned into a full-blown miscommunication, a gold sequin gown moment, and a night she’d very much like to erase from public memory… except now it’s a podcast episode. Because what seems obvious to you might not be obvious to someone else. And when you’re building a life, a relationship, or even just packing for a trip, assumptions can lead to some very uncomfortable (and very sparkly) consequences. But beyond the story, this episode gets into something way more important: why miscommunication happens in relationships — and how to fix it. This episode is equal parts relatable, hilarious, and actually useful! Nicole shares the simple tool she and her husband now use to actually get on the same page: Family Forecasting. Nicole breaks down how to: Stop relying on assumptions in your relationship Get aligned on schedules, priorities, and decisions (and dress codes) Use family forecasting to avoid unnecessary conflict Strengthen connection through intentional conversations Because the goal isn’t to avoid every misunderstanding — it’s to stop creating the ones you could have prevented. And if you can avoid a sequin-level crisis in the process? Even better. Thank you to our sponsors! Shopify has everything all in one place, making your life easier and your business operations smoother. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/tiww  Gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TIWW, and get three months free when you run your first payroll. Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince.com/TIWW for free shipping and 365-day returns! Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Connect with Nicole: Subscribe to Nicole’s Substack: https://nicolekalil.substack.com/  Join the Inner Circle: https://nicolekalil.myflodesk.com/newsletter  Download the Family Forecasting Agenda: https://nicolekalil.com/resources  Related Podcast Episode Women Are Tired — Stop Pointing It Out | Unfiltered & Unhinged The Episode About Balls | Unfiltered & Unhinged Yell for Help | Unfiltered & Unhinged 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 | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices