The Chat Womb (Decibelle Creative)

“Be nice, be kind, share, smile, try to be as pretty as possible and don’t possibly age... This is how we’ve been trained.” – Michelle Minnikin, Psychologist & Author

"When did ‘nice’ ever get us a pay rise?" – Jo Phillips, The Woman Behind The Women

In this episode of The Chat Womb, Jo Phillips is joined by Michelle Minnikin, psychologist, coach, and author of Good Girl Deprogramming, to dismantle the covert rules and expectations that keep women small.

From childhood, women are conditioned to be agreeable, seek approval, and play by the rules, but where does that leave us? Michelle breaks down how society’s invisible coercive control keeps women in line, why so many women feel stuck in their careers, and—most importantly—how to break free from the ‘Good Girl’ mould and reclaim your power.

If you’ve ever felt pressured to play nice, stay quiet, or make yourself smaller, this episode is for you.

Episode Highlights

(02:10) – Introducing Michelle Minnikin: Psychologist, coach & author of Good Girl Deprogramming

(05:00) – The cult of ‘Good Girl Conditioning’—how women are programmed to comply

(07:15) – What society really teaches women: Approval = Worth

(12:30) – The workplace was built for men—how women lose confidence when they enter it (20:10) – The self-worth crisis: Why women lose belief in their own success

(25:00) – How to find your tribe and build a support system that lifts you up

(30:45) – The #1 thing every woman needs to unlearn: Being ‘nice’

(35:20) – Michelle’s advice to her younger self: Be less nice. You don’t need to be liked to succeed.

About Our Guest: Michelle Minnikin

Michelle Minnikin is a psychologist, coach, and author of Good Girl Deprogramming. With a background in organisational psychology, Michelle helps women unlearn the societal expectations that hold them back and rebuild their confidence, boundaries, and self-worth.

Her work shines a light on how women are conditioned to comply from childhood, why so many feel stuck in their careers, and how to break free from the ‘Good Girl’ narrative to claim the success and freedom they deserve.

🔗 Follow Michelle on Instagram: @michelleminnikin / Visit her website: https://www.michelleminnikin.com/ 

About your host: Jo Phillips

Jo coaches ambitious women like you to break through career barriers, own their worth, and finally get the career and salary they deserve. Through 1:1 coaching, Jo helps you identify what’s holding you back, to build an unapologetic strategy for success, cheerleading you every step of the way—because you already have what it takes. It’s time to stop waiting and start moving with audacity…

Connect with Jo:

Website: The Woman Behind The Women

Socials: Linkedin / Instagram: @thewomanbehindthewomen 

'The Chat Womb' is hosted by Jo Phillips and proudly produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative...

From Self-Doubt to Audacity: Transform Your Career and Become the Woman You Were Always Meant to Be

Welcome to The Chat Womb: the space for becoming who we were always supposed to be.

This is the brand new podcast for female professionals who are hungry for more in their careers. If you're tired of playing small, waiting for permission, or questioning your worth, you’re in the right place.

In this trailer episode, host Jo Phillips, founder of The Woman Behind The Women, introduces the raw, no-BS conversations that will define The Chat Womb. This is where we strip away the noise and reclaim the power that has always been ours.

• Why are you still waiting for that pay rise?
• Why does that promotion keep slipping through your fingers?
• Why have you been conditioned to stay small while others stand tall?

This podcast is about:

• Taking a no-nonsense look at the challenges women face in the workplace.
• Recognising allyship as a critical tool for change.
• Sharing real, lived experiences that women everywhere can relate to—because when we tell the truth, we shift the needle toward real change.

This isn’t fluffy nonsense. This isn’t performative empowerment. This is real talk for women ready to take back their power.

So hit subscribe, step into The Chat Womb, and start becoming the woman you were always meant to be.

Join the conversation and connect with Jo:

👉 The Woman Behind The Women

👉 Linkedin / Instagram: @thewomanbehindthewomen 

The Chat Womb is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com 

"Every time ​we ​choose ​compassion ​the ​world ​gets ​a ​bit ​better.” - Lee Chambers, Male Allies UK

"It really hit home for me—if this is what we’re allowing to be revisited, what message are we sending to young boys?" - Jo Phillips, The Woman Behind The Women

In this very first episode of The Chat Womb, Jo Phillips sits down with Lee Chambers, founder of Male Allies UK, for an insightful discussion on male allyship, masculinity, and the challenges men and young boys face today.

They unpack how societal expectations shape masculinity—spoiler alert: it’s more than just action figures and football—and why education is crucial in fostering healthy relationships, consent awareness, and gender equality. Lee shares powerful anecdotes from his work with boys in schools, shedding light on the double-edged nature of online communities in shaping young minds.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about gender equality and the role men play in creating a more inclusive society. Get ready to challenge your perceptions and rethink what it truly means to be a man.

Episode Highlights:

(00:00) – Welcome to The Chat Womb: Tackling the barriers that hold women back

(01:11) – Introducing Lee Chambers from Male Allies UK

(01:45) – Lee’s work with boys in schools: Shaping them into better men

(06:45) – A shocking school performance: Unpacking sexism and misogyny in education

(13:04) – The consent conversation: Why some young boys believe "yes" means forever (19:11) – University and its impact: Personal reflections from Lee

(21:03) – One question Lee wishes people would ask him about University Challenge

(22:42) – The benefits of compassion for men from an inclusion perspective

(24:51) – Lee’s advice to his 21-year-old self

About Our Guest: Lee Chambers

Lee Chambers is an award-winning psychologist, speaker, and the founder of Male Allies UK, an organisation dedicated to challenging outdated gender norms and fostering male allyship in workplaces and schools. With a background in psychology and leadership, Lee works closely with young boys, helping them navigate modern masculinity and build healthier relationships.

🔗 Connect with Lee Chambers

🔗 Male Allies UK Website

Join the conversation! Connect with your...

“We are so aware from such a young age that it might happen and that it could happen… As women, we’re just so normalised into hyper-vigilance constantly.” - Caitlin O’Ryan, Actor, Podcaster & Poet

"This has got nothing to do with saying that every male causes danger. But it’s about, from a societal perspective, understanding … [that] these are just some of the considerations we navigate every single day before we go about our lives." - Jo Phillips, The Woman Behind The Women

*This episode lands just in time for International Women’s Day 2025 (Saturday, March 8th), a day to celebrate women’s achievements and challenge the barriers that still hold us back.

As we mark this occasion, The Chat Womb is bringing you a conversation that speaks to the daily realities women face, from safety and self-worth to the invisible weight - and cost - of societal expectations. Caitlin O’Ryan’s viral poem At What Point struck a chord with millions, and in this episode we explore what it truly means to exist, navigate, and push back against these norms.

International Women’s Day is as much about celebrating progress and women’s achievements as it is about shining a spotlight on the work still to be done…*

Episode Summary:

Taking a seat in The Chat Womb with Jo Phillips today is Caitlin O’Ryan - actor, poet, and podcaster - to discuss the hidden costs of simply existing as a woman.

Caitlin shares the story behind her viral spoken-word poem At What Point, which reached millions online, shedding light on the constant state of hyper-vigilance women live with daily. From assessing risks when walking alone at night to altering schedules, paying for safety, and feeling the weight of social expectations, they explore the gendered realities that shape female experiences.

Episode Highlights:

(02:10) – Introducing Caitlin O’Ryan: Actor, poet, and the woman behind At What Point

(05:00) – The viral poem that struck a chord with millions

(07:15) – The unseen cost of being a woman: Hyper-vigilance as second nature

(12:30) – The paradox of women’s safety: Taxi vs. Walking Home Alone

(15:45) – The fine line between politeness and self-preservation

(20:10) – How women are conditioned to shrink themselves for others' comfort

(25:00) – Caitlin on imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the power of authenticity

(30:45) – Finding freedom in creativity and reclaiming childhood curiosity

(35:20) – Caitlin’s advice to her younger self: Stay weird, stay loud, stay you.

About Our Guest: Caitlin O’Ryan

Caitlin O’Ryan is an actor, poet, and podcaster. Best known for her role as Lizzie Wemyss in Outlander, Caitlin has captivated audiences with her heartfelt performances. However, it was her viral poem At What Point that propelled her into the public eye in a new and powerful way.

Originally performed as a spoken word piece, At What Point struck a chord with audiences worldwide, addressing themes of womanhood, societal expectations, and the female experience with raw honesty...