Bossed Up

How do you rest and recharge when the world feels chaotic? After an unexpectedly hectic December, the Bossed Up podcast is back with a look at what recharging really requires—and it’s not quitting everything or carrying on as usual. I’ve come to realize that the sweet spot, at least for me, is somewhere in the middle. This episode breaks down the balance I’m seeking to find this year, and I’d love to hear how it compares to your approach to the New Year. Between seriously scary news cycles and never-ending schedules, it’s all too easy to overlook gratitude in lieu of existential dread and getting everything done. Consider this your invitation to take a beat, drop a ball (or two), and approach 2026 with a healthy dose of self-compassion.Join me in recalibrating for 2026 so we can recharge for real:How we can strike a balance between pushing forward and being present;The role gratitude plays in staying realistic about the future;When and where to decenter social media and lean into the analog;A reminder to give

How can you advocate for yourself when you’re operating in a broken system? We’re gearing up to face even more unprecedented times in 2026. And recent research shows, unsurprisingly, that inclusive and DEIB policies continue to be phased out while hostile work environments expand. Many of us are all too familiar with the lack of resources out there to help us cope with all this, especially options specific to Black women and Women of Color, who face the brunt of this ongoing shift.That’s the landscape that prompted Sarah Boyd to found The Formation, an app that serves up “real talk, real resources, and real tight-knit community” for Black women navigating the realities of corporate America. She joins me to break down her evidence-backed recommendations for how we should protect ourselves while we fight the bigger fight of fixing our broken systems.Start documenting everything and finding your career clarity as we cover:How corporate changes are impacting Black women and Women of Color;Why you need to keep you

What can you do to help turn the widening gender pay gap around? For 20 years, American workers watched as the discrepancy between men’s and women’s incomes slowly lessened. Then, this October, a new report showed that the positive trend is reversing. Women in the U.S. are now making 76 cents for every dollar men make—a difference of around $14,000 a year. In this episode, I’m breaking down why we’re seeing this shift and what we can do about it. Do your part to close the gender wage gap:Learn 3 powerful ways you can make a positive difference in the fight for pay equality;Hear which 36 million households bear the brunt of this impact;And what the data has to say about this shift in momentum.Related Links:National Partnership for Women and Families, “America’s Women and the Wage Gap” - https://nationalpartnership.org/report/americas-women-and-the-wage-gap/Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, “Executive Order 11246” - https://www.eeoc.gov/history/executive-order-no-11246\Bossed Up, “The Definitive Guide to

As managers and employees, how can we ensure that we support equitable disability accommodations for everyone? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offers a wealth of protections, but many workers and leaders are unaware of what these protections entail. Luckily, there are experts like Rachel Shaw out there to shed light on their intricacies and help educate us all.Rachel is a leading strategist in workplace inclusion and disability compliance and the author of “The Disabled Workforce: What the ADA Never Anticipated.” She joins me to add clarity to the laws in place to protect people with disabilities—including mental health and pregnancy—and ensure we have access to an equitable work environment that allows us all to be productive contributors, whatever differences of ability we might experience in our lifetimes. Understand your rights and responsibilities around disability inclusion:The most proactive and effective way to ask for an accommodation;The essential accommodation process every organization n

How do you find contentment in the face of career compromise? So many of us want to “have it all,” but the weight of trying to be it all is crushing - and totally unrealistic. So if you find yourself struggling to keep your head up while navigating necessary trade-offs, today’s episode is for you. In order to even come close to our ultimate career goals, we need to accept that compromises are part of the package. In this episode, I take a look at how we can reframe those tough choices as steps to success, rather than as a failure to measure up. Start to see your career compromises in a new light by learningHow to come to terms with the work–life trade-offs you might need to make;How to ensure you’re not sabotaging yourself when faced with imperfect opportunities;And a practical way to create a container for your ultimate career strategy.Related Links:Episode 504, Girl Power and the Faux Feminism of the 1990s - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode504Episode 523, What Our 2025 Community Survey Reveals About

How would a one-month mini-retirement benefit your mental health? I know I’m not alone in feeling burnt out these days. And while the idea of four weeks away from work—to rest, to recalibrate, to pursue a passion—might feel out of reach, Jillian Johnsrud knows firsthand how to make it happen.Jillian’s book, “Retire Often,” is the culmination of everything she’s learned from her own dozen short sabbaticals and from coaching hundreds of fellow mini-retirees. If you’ve been feeling dragged down by work stress, now is definitely the time to get inspired by Jillian’s philosophy and how it’s changed her life, transforming her into a middle-aged mom of five with the energy to seize every day with creativity and positivity. Start planning your first mini-retirement equipped with Jillian’s advice, includingPractical considerations that make it possible;Why mini-retirements affect women differently than men;How to convince your boss to sign off;Why the American workplace shuns the idea of extended time off.Related Link

How do we advocate for equity amidst federal policy changes that actively widen gender and racial gaps?Since April, a record-low unemployment rate for Black Americans has skyrocketed, surging from below 5% to 7.5%. At the same time, the unemployment rate for white Americans dropped slightly to below 4%. The economic position for Black women in particular was just beginning to get better, and today, slashed public sector jobs and a slew of other factors are causing a rapid backslide.When people of color, and especially Black women, lose ground, it’s a flashing neon warning sign of systemic cracks that, ultimately, impact us all. In this episode, I’m breaking down the of data that highlights just how heavily our current economic problems are impacting American workers, families, and communities.The numbers don’t lie. Here’s what they show:The federal and public sector job cuts are disproportionately impacting Black women;Attacks on DEI programs are stifling improvements that had barely begun;Good leadership tod

We tell women to negotiate harder, lean in, and ask for what they’re worth. But what if the system was designed to make that impossible? Economist Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman calls it the double tax—the compounded price of racism and sexism that drains women of color’s time, money, and energy just to show up and succeed.In this episode, we unpack how that hidden tax shows up at work—from policing what it means to be “presentable” to the unconscious stereotypes women of color navigate before they even get the job —and what it means for the ways women negotiate, lead, and thrive. Anna breaks down the numbers and the stories behind them, revealing why individual fixes aren’t enough and what real equity could look like when we stop asking women to bear the cost alone. Tune in now to learn: Listen in to learn:Just how widespread the “double tax” really is;The deeply ingrained politics of presentability every woman navigates;How biases and stigmas follow women of color throughout their careers;Why building connection

How are you dealing with our nation’s constant onslaught of frightening news? Witnessing democracy itself under attack has me feeling despair more often than I’d like, and I know I’m not alone. To be honest, talking about job search strategies and leadership best practices feels a bit futile while our nation flirts with fascism.  So, on this episode, I’m taking a look at how we can continue to function when we’re faced with crisis after crisis, day after day.Let’s talk about how we can help—ourselves and others who may be feeling despair, too:How the overwhelm campaign is a deliberate strategy designed to shock us into submission;Why we need to start by checking in with our basic needs;The deep damage of doomscrolling;How the combination of finding meaning and taking action can create change.Related Links:American Psychological Association, Stress in America 2024 - https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/stress-in-america/2024Frontline interview with Steve Bannon - https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/interview/steve-

How do you push back against the “overqualified” label in interviews when you’re an experienced leader? The job search is daunting today, to say the least, and when you’re going in with a decade or more of experience, it can be a real confidence-killer, too. Loren Greiff is the founder of PortfolioRocket. She directs her wealth of experience as a recruiter and advertiser to ending “career victimization by elevating, accelerating, and celebrating one executive over 40 at a time.” We talk about how those with significant career experience can reframe and reclaim the job search experience. Shift your job search mindset to rise in the recruitment ranks:How to transition from a passive to an active application approach;Honing in on and clearly explaining your unique unfair advantage;What interviewers actually mean when they say you’re “overqualified”;What to stop doing before and during your interviews to really set yourself apart.Related Links:Episode 523, What Our 2025 Community Survey Reveals About Women, Work,

What’s your biggest work challenge right now? If burnout, job security, or work/life balance are in your top three, you’re definitely not alone. The results of my recent Bossed Up Community Survey are in, and wow; I got so many impactful,thoughtful—and concerning—responses from all of you!Your experiences match up with the wider trends impacting women in the workplace that we’ve been hearing more and more about lately. This episode breaks down some of the biggest things you’re going through with work and how this data will play into the future of the Bossed Up podcast.Find out what the numbers have to say about the future of your career:By far the most common workplace challenge listeners are facing;The ongoing connection between job search statistics and career satisfaction;How working professionals are rethinking burnout, ambition, and fulfillment.Related Links:Episode 521, In a Tight Job Market, Job-Hugging is on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode521Episode 520, Using AI in Your Job Search

What do you do when your career stops captivating you? These days, more and more of us are dragging ourselves through work rather than feeling energized by it. This leads to burnout, disengagement, and, often, an endless job search.My guest today literally wrote the book on a science-backed way to identify the work that naturally suits you and figure out how to shift your career—in a minor or a major way—so that it offers more satisfaction. Betsy Willis is the author of “Your Hidden Genius” and the founder of YouScience, an online aptitude assessment platform designed to help you elevate your innate gifts.Start advocating for a role that fulfills you by understanding:The difference and overlap between aptitudes, interests, and personality;The many factors that cause us to follow unsuitable career paths;Why it’s never too late to explore new career possibilities.Related Links:“Your Hidden Genius”, by Betsy Willis and Alex Ellison - https://www.yourhiddengenius.com/Learn more about YouScience - https://www.yous

Are you staying at your job because you love it or because you don’t believe there’s anything better out there right now? If you’re in the latter camp, you’re not alone. An unprecedented number of workers recently reported they’ll be staying at their jobs for the next six months, not due to overwhelming fulfillment but to the treacherous nature of the job market.In today’s episode, I break down the rising trend known as “job hugging” and what uninspired workers and their managers can do to deal with this indifference. Spoiler alert: it’s not necessarily a negative!Feeling frustrated about the job market? Tune in for a fresh take on  job-hugging, including:The lowdown on the stats that started this trend;Where else you can find fulfillment if your job doesn’t provide it;How to maximize results when you’re managing a team of job huggers.Related Links:Fortune, Great Resignation shows no signs of slowing down: 40% of U.S. workers are considering quitting their jobs—here’s where they’re going - https://fortune.com

How can you leverage AI to help you choose, prepare for, and land your next great job? A lot of you are planning or in the thick of the job search right now, and with the ever-increasing AI involvement in company hiring practices, the landscape looks a lot different than even a few years ago. This conversation with Marlo Lyons, a career coach, author, and HR pro with 20 years of experience, is here to help you navigate these choppy, rapidly changing waters. Marlo and I discuss what’s changed (AI interviewers) and what hasn’t (building real connections is still vital). She shares her expert advice on how AI programs can help you not only prepare for applications and interviews, but also uncover a new career that really aligns with your values. The robots can’t do everything for us, but they definitely belong in your toolbox. Get Marlo’s expert tips on how to (and not to) incorporate AI into your job search:How to find your AI-resistant capabilities;Why networking is still a key piece in an AI-driven work world

How do you let your humanity shine in the job interview when your interviewer isn’t human? Employers have gone beyond tasking AI to scan for buzzwords in resumes and cover letters—agentic AI now conducts screening interviews, too!If video chatting with a black screen makes you nervous—or prompts outright panic—you aren’t alone. But if you implement the interview prep process I outline in this short and sweet episode, you’ll be ready to take on that artificial interrogator with all the personality, warmth, and expertise you bring to your in-person conversations, too.Here’s what you need to know to feel confident in your AI interview:Why you should mimic the incoming interview style when you rehearse;How to more naturally exude the human traits the bots are looking for;Top AI tools to help you tackle the job-seeking process.Related Links:HIRED: a job search accelerator video course - https://www.bossedup.org/hired/The New York Times, “Welcome to Your Job Interview. Your Interviewer Is A.I.” - https://www.nytime

What kinds of changes are you seeing from Gen Z and Millennial leaders? Workforce demographics are shifting these days, as more and more Baby Boomers retire, opening up higher-level management and leadership positions that Millennials and Gen Zers are rushing to fill. This wave of next-gen leaders is bringing a tide of change, ditching old ideas of professionalism and proving that bold and authentic is the new standard.Amanda Litman literally wrote the guidebook for this new and decidedly different generation of leaders. “When We’re in Charge” explores why the old ways are fading out and the fresh approach to authenticity, professionalism, and clear communication is going to revolutionize the workplace. In fact, it’s already started.Amanda is teaching a new generation of leaders to redefine leadership on their terms:How to be an authentic leader while supporting your career goals;The many ways the look, feel, and sound of leadership has changed;How what you wear to work impacts your leadership (spoiler: it’s

When you’re hit with a daunting question in a meeting, how do you reply? In this common situation, it’s normal to panic or blurt out an uninformed answer just to have something to say. Today’s episode dives into the concept of bridging phrases, which can help you pivot professionally. Taking a beat and presenting an honest, if incomplete, response is always going to make you look more competent and confident than mumbling something inaccurate and circling back later to correct yourself. In this quick episode, I share three go-to phrases to help you navigate hard workplace questions with leadership style. It’s time to start bridging—not bluffing—with conviction:What to say when you need to fact-check yourself first;How to respond when you only know part of the answer;The perfect phrase for when you need to phone a friend for help.Related Links:SPEAK UP: an assertive communication course for women in the workplace - https://www.bossedup.org/speakup“Why You Should Pause During Presentations & 7 Ways to Maste

Let’s explore identity and ambition through the lens of caregiving and career.I’ve talked a lot this year about settling into my “baby-making era,” working full-time while raising a toddler and an infant in this tumultuous time of trad wives and girl bosses. There’s a concerning disconnect between what women want and what society thinks of those desires. Joining me to talk about all this is Neha Ruch, founder of The Power Pause and author of the USA Today bestselling book of the same name.Neha is a marketing professional who stepped back from the corporate world to raise her son and become an advocate for women’s autonomy in work and life. We engage in a bold conversation about the problem with binary narratives around motherhood and how a shift in perspective can help us all achieve our goals, both within the home and outside it. Let Neha’s work inspire your career and caregiving journey:What’s wrong with the phrase “stay-at-home mom,”Why the binary choice of being a working or at-home mom is both unrealisti

When inspiration slumps, how do you get it back? On those days (or weeks) where you just aren’t feeling it, you might find yourself considering a total life overhaul—I’ve been there. But before you hit send on that resignation letter, give these three simple, less extreme techniques a try.Tune in to learn how to bounce back when boredom or burnout strikes:Why literally stepping outside is key to jumpstarting your inspiration;How those non-work-related tabs open on your browser could be the answer;Why an energy audit might be the best 30 seconds of your day.Related Links:Episode 511, The Engagement Crisis Impacting Young Workers - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode511Episode 172, The Healing Power of Nature - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode172Gallup, Engagement Recedes for the First Time in Four Years - https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspxStanford Researchers Find Mental Health Prescription: Nature - https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2015/06/hiking-mental-he

How do you transition from team member to team leader without letting the pressure and power turn you into a bad boss? I interact so often with well-meaning new managers suddenly discovering how different it is to lead the team than to be a member of it. Luckily, we have the wisdom of executive coach and author Sabina Nawaz to turn to!Sabina wrote her new book, “You're The Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)” after spending more than 20 years counseling C-level executives and experiencing her own “bad boss” moment. She speaks with me about how to balance the pressure and power of management and use it to bring out the very best in your leadership journey, wherever on the corporate ladder you might be.Fine-tune your leadership with Sabina’s expertise:How to become pressure-proof so you can turn tension into teamwork;The microhabits that can help you be a compassionate leader (and partner, and parent);How to deal with the feedback distortion that occurs when you shift from team member to m