This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil (Nicole Kalil, Bleav)

Today we’re going to talk about our ego (and for the record, we all have an ego), and how to manage our own as we work to become better humans.

I’m joined by Christie Garcia, a Leadership Coach, Speaker, Contributor to Forbes Coaches Council, and Founder of Mindful Choice Leadership Academy. One of Christie’s super-powers is helping her clients identify and manage their Ego in real time. Her clients build authentic confidence (which is my favorite kind) so they can communicate more effectively and maximize their impact within their professional teams and personal relationships.

Even though we use the word ego often to describe the dark side, the reality is there IS a healthy side. Our opportunity lies in understanding and managing it.

And at the end of the day, we all have ownership over our beliefs, actions, words, and decisions. I believe that there are lots of influences and contributing factors, but at the end of the day YOU get to be responsible.

In short, It’s ok to have an ego, your ego just shouldn’t have YOU.

To learn more about Christie and her work go to: www.mindfulchoiceacademy.com. To access her free resource go to: www.mindfulchoiceacademy.com/womanswork 

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com. 

To get your FREE Confidence Building workbook, click here. In today’s episode, we’re covering topics related to pages 9-12 for those of you doing the work to build YOUR confidence! 

Every Monday for the next several weeks (as long as it takes to get through Validation Is For Parking: How Women Can Beat The Confidence Con), I’m going to bring a chapter of the book to life! 

This week we work our way through Chapter 5 (pages 9-12 of the workbook) and discuss the opportunity of Owning Who You’re Not and Embracing Yourself Anyway. Here’s what you can expect:

• Recognizing and honoring your purpose (hint: your purpose is never to be all things to all people)

• How owning what you’re not helps you build internal trust

• We walk thru a powerful exercise that helps you identify what you’re not so you can begin to let go of who and what isn’t meant for you 

• I invite you to embrace all of it, so you can embrace all of you

Like what you heard? Please rate and review

Are you looking or thinking about seeking a new opportunity? Would you like some help in formulating a strategy so you can hit the ground running?

I’ve invited Catherine McLean - Tactical Career Coach and Owner of CM Career Coaching to give us a crash course on what you need, who you should be talking to, and how the COVID 19 pandemic has changed it all.

I hope you are in or find a career that gives you the quality of life you deserve, while also tapping into your talents, unique ability and passion.

But if you’re not there, take some of Catherine’s tips and go find that opportunity. Because doing what you love (although still work) is far better than doing what you don’t.

So get after it ladies! This is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

I am SUPER passionate about women chasing their dreams and living their passion and purpose. One of the ways I’ve seen women do this (and experienced it myself!) is by starting their own business.

In this episode, I welcome my friend and badass business owner Claire Myers Vitale - Founder and Principal Consultant of Claire Myers Consulting. Claire talks to us about the challenges and triumphs she faced early on in her business, and shares some great tips on how to grow and scale your business.

What would it look and feel like to be the decider of your income, how and where you spend your time, your career path, who you get to work with, and the people you get to impact? Being a business owner requires hard work, but if you’re already working hard for someone else, you might as well do it for yourself!

This is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

I’m more than a little excited to bring you the best, the MOST listened to episodes of 2022.

I love doing this each year, as it gives me the opportunity to reflect and to revisit all of our episodes. To see what resonated with you and what didn’t, and to celebrate ALL of the amazing content, guests and learnings that have happened over the past year.

3 years of podcasting, 118 episodes, and I feel like we just keep getting better and better. If you have any ideas for topics you really want to hear, or guests you’d like to hear from, make sure to reach out and let me know. And a massive thank you for joining me on this journey, for listening, for sharing and for supporting and reviewing.

I wish you joy and oh so much confidence in the new year. Let’s all trust ourselves firmly and boldly and then go from there. Let’s both take care of ourselves and get after what matters. Thank you for joining me as we all go out there and do woman’s work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com. And if you haven’t already, please review our podcast here!

Nicole welcomes guest Lynne Sheridan -Transformational Trainer, Coach, Marriage & Family Therapist (because let’s be honest...we could all use a little of this right now) and Author, to help us better understand why we may be struggling in our partnerships, especially during these times of social distancing.

We always have a choice in our thoughts, in our actions, and in our feelings towards our partners. Now is the time to cut each other some slack, to concede and reach towards our partners to better support one another during this difficult time. While we didn’t choose being in solitude, we CAN choose solidarity!

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Women supporting women is a hashtag we see all over the place, but are we really doing it well? In business, I know many women who hesitate to leverage their own communities to grow their businesses. So this episode is for the business owner that’s wondering how to do this. It’s also for the friends, and the loved ones, to learn to be and become women who support women.

It’s not just a hashtag friends, it’s a way of being. It’s an ACTION.

To help us be smart about leveraging and creating a connected community to grow your business, is Kami Guildner, founder of the Extraordinary Women Ignite Conference, host of the award-winning Extraordinary Women Radio™, and best-selling author of Firedancer: Your Spiral Journey to a Life of Passion and Purpose. 

It’s my belief there’s a special place in heaven for what my sister calls “Front Row Friends” – the ones who show up ready to cheer you on, are the first to stand for the ovation, and are screaming support for you and whatever you do at the top of their lungs.

Yeah. Get yourself one of those.

Connect with Kami:

Website: https://www.kamiguildner.com/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/kamiguildner/ 

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamiguildner/ 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1386664118079263/ 

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/extraordinary-women-radio/id1216249277 

Free Trainings: https://www.kamiguildner.com/events/ 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Email podcast@nicolekalil.com to learn more about advertising on the This Is Woman’s Work podcast. Want hundreds of thousands of people to learn about your offering? Let us help you take your business to the next level!

In this episode, we cover a topic that I've been historically bad at. 
Asking for help. 
How do we learn to ask for help? Well, we ask for help. So I’ve invited an expert.
Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer is the co-founder of Zeal of the Heel, a business executive, human capital strategist, author, and executive coach. Cynthia, along with Kimberly Rath, worked together to co-author their book “Now, Near, Next”, an essential guidebook for women to promote their skills to accelerate their careers. I’m sure each of them could have written this alone, but in the spirit of collaboration (which is a nice word we use a lot in business that basically means asking for help) they did it together. And Cynthia is here to help us get better at asking for help!
I’m going to practice the learnings because action builds confidence and practice makes progress. Will you please help me increase the reach and credibility of this podcast by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? YOUR review matters. It contributes to how our podcast gets ranked across the globe, it helps us get bigger and better guests, and it gives us feedback – which is very tough to get in any other way.
Now it’s your turn to practice. Where would you benefit from asking for help, and who will you ask? The people who love and respect you WANT to help… sometimes it’s just figuring out how they can help best and having the courage to ask.

Connect with Cynthia:
Website: www.zealoftheheel.com 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zealoftheheel/ 
FB: https://www.facebook.com/zealoftheheel 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tnbt9zDaZc 
IG: https://www.instagram.com/zealoftheheel/ 
Book: https://www.zealoftheheel.com/book/now-near-next 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 
Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:
Head to https://ouraring.com/tiww - it has been the best wellness and self-discovery tool I’ve invested in. Instead of one-size-fits-all, it offers one-size-fits-YOU solutions and helps track your stress throughout the day (it also tracks your sleep, recovery, detects early signs of sickness, and can help predict your period)!

I could spend HOURS every single day going down the rabbit hole of all the different resources, apps, and tools that are out there and somehow still not know what the best, right answer is. And even if I did figure it out, it would only be a matter of time before something new, shiny, or better came along.

On this episode of This Is Woman’s Work we’re going to talk about the marketing and scaling side of being in business, in hopes that together, we can get out of that rabbit hole and move toward what matters most.

We’re joined by Brittni Schroeder, business coach, social media expert, and marketing strategist. She coaches coaches and other entrepreneurs on how to automate their business, create systems, convert funnels, and scale to 6 figures and beyond. 

Brittni offers all sorts of business resources for entrepreneurs from individual coaching to The Meeting Place membership, a top to bottom framework for entrepreneurs to grow and scale their business, and she’s here to help us ALL work less and make more.

If you’re looking to build your email list and website, or if you’re thinking about rebranding or taking your existing list and website to the next level, this episode is for you!

Connect with Brittni:

Website: www.brittnischroeder.com 

IG: www.instagram.com/brittni.schroeder 

FB: www.facebook.com/groups/redefineyourbiz 

LI: www.linkedin.com/in/brittnischroeder 

P: www.pinterest.com/brittnijo 

To learn more about Brittni’s business membership program, The Meeting Place, visit https://brittnischroeder.com/membership and use promo code: NICOLE for a 15% discount

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Your premier talent partner, Claire Myers Consulting will work with you to source, screen, interview and manage the selection process for any open role in your organization. Go to clairemyersconsulting.com/tiww to get a FREE 15 minute consultation call AND 10% off your first placement!

You’ve probably heard the saying “Do what you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

Well, I call bullshit.

You can have a passion, you do have purpose, and sometimes you find or create a job where they intersect...and that can be awesome! But it’s still work.

In this episode, I welcome Stacey Gardin - Author, Model, Photographer and Business Owner. Listen in to hear us chat about the downsides of making a job out of your passion, and the upsides if your job and passion don’t collide.

Ultimately, your work matters because YOU matter. This is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Many of us have been socialized to believe that our worth and our value is tied up in whether or not we get married. In our quest to get our ‘happily ever afters’, and in our attempt to live up to societal expectations, we often ignore the red flags, and because of this far too many women (and men) find themselves in unfulfilling marriages.

So what do you do? How do you know when to keep fighting for the marriage or when to start fighting for the opportunity for something better? And if you make the decision that divorce is the best choice, how do you get through this extremely tough experience?

I’ve asked Wendy Sterling to be my guest and to share both from her personal experience, and as the creator of the Divorce R.E.H.A.B program, who’s helped thousands of women reclaim their identity, heal and transform their lives. She’s also the host of The Divorced Woman's Guide Podcast and is passionate about helping women get unstuck so that they can design the life they choose.

It will always be true that you are the decider of what’s right for you. But in all choices, I hope that you prioritize the love for yourself as just as important as the love you feel for another. Even if it means going it alone at times, or for as long as it takes to find somebody worthy of holding your hand and being on the journey with you. That is Woman’s Work.

Here's Wendy’s downloadable guide around How To Manifest The Life You Want from the abundance mindset. You can follow Wendy on IG @divorcerehabwithwendy. You can learn more about her work at www.wendysterling.net

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Navigating these uncertain times have proven to be challenging to say the least. And with school starting back up, moms everywhere are struggling to make the best of the school year for their kids.

In this episode, I welcome my MOST special guest. She is an EXPERT on understanding what our kids are going through right now during COVID. She leverages her experience and shares her perspective (and some giggles along the way) as it relates to our kids.

Guaranteed to help set your mind at ease, you don’t want to miss this!

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

To get your FREE Confidence Building workbook, click here. In this episode, we’re covering topics related to pages 6 - 8 for those of you doing the work to build YOUR confidence! 

Every Monday for the next several weeks (as long as it takes to get through Validation Is For Parking: How Women Can Beat The Confidence Con), I’m going to bring a chapter of the book to life! 

This week we work our way through Chapter 4 (and pages 6 - 8 of the workbook) where we explore the opportunity to Know Yourself on a deep and intimate level. Here’s what you can expect:

• You get re-introduced to YOUR inner knowing

• We explore ways to reconnect with yourself because most of us have spent so much time being others-focused that we’ve forgotten who we are!

• I walk you through one of my favorite exercises to build both self-awareness and self-appreciation. 

• Click here to download the “Things I Know To Be True About Me” template. If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide for building your list, you can listen to this episode of This Is Woman’s Work (Episode 40) where I create my list with you.

If you’re interested in taking the Body Confidence quiz, you can use this link: https://rebrand.ly/nicolekalil 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review

To get your FREE Confidence Building workbook, click here. You will be added to our weekly communication for even more confidence building tips! You can unsubscribe at any time… but we hope you’ll stay with us for the confidence building journey.

Every Monday for the next several weeks (as long as it takes to get through Validation Is For Parking: How Women Can Beat The Confidence Con), I’m going to bring a chapter of the book to life! 

This week we work our way through Chapter 2 and talk about How The Confidence Con Plays Out In Our Lives. Here’s what you can expect:

• Well, I start with what can only be considered a rant. It was super fun to write (and lots got edited out), and even more fun to read because you KNOW I love a good rant. It’s like a weight off my shoulders. 

• We explore the confidence gap between the sexes

• Impostor Syndrome and the difference between confidence and competence gets explored

• I lay the groundwork for anger and other “hard” emotions for the next chapter

Like what you heard? Please rate and review

So much is changing in how, when and where we work and do business, and the leaders that stay committed to the way things have always been done are on the fast track to irrelevance.

So what are the leadership skills of tomorrow? How important is the ability to build and lead inclusive teams?

Here to discuss these questions and so much more is Dr. Stefanie Johnson - Associate Professor at the Lead School of Business at CU Boulder, who’s received several millions in grant funding to study leadership. She works with big name companies to implement evidence based practices and increase inclusion, and is the author of the national best seller, “Inclusify - Harnessing the Power of Uniqueness and Belonging to Build Innovative Teams.”

The time has come for leaders (men and women alike) to lead. We can no longer delegate the work of inclusion, invest in one and done type solutions or “kick this can down the road” any further. It will require an investment of time, energy, commitment and money. It will also require leaders to be willing to get uncomfortable, to be willing to say “I don’t know,” and to do an honest accounting of where they’re falling short.

It’s a good thing being a leader requires us to do what is right, not just what is easy.

To learn more about Stefanie and the work she does you can visit her website at: www.drstefjohnson.com

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at www.nicolekalil.com

You’d be hard pressed to find a successful leader, influencer or business guru that would tell you that feedback isn’t important. How else would you know how to improve or grow?

But we don’t get taught how to give or receive it, and I say this with love, but most of us are doing it badly on both ends.

In this episode, I share what I’ve learned the hard way, about both giving and getting feedback. I’ve coached far too many people who have received feedback that was badly delivered, so I’ve seen the impact (and I may get a little feisty about it).

It’s also a great opportunity for me to ask YOU for feedback! Will you please:

• Go on Apple Podcasts and leave a review and/or rating
  
• Let me know which episode of TIWW is your favorite so far… and if you’re willing to share it on social media and tag me I’ll do a happy dance (which oddly involves some strange gyrating for me, so you have that to look forward to)
  

My feedback for YOU is that you matter… you are enough, just as you are. You are here for a reason, so show up every day and do whatever your authentic version of “woman’s work” is for you. Because you are the decider. And that is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

We’re covering a topic that falls into the category of “we’ve covered it before but it’s worth repeating”. Because I know most, if not all, women struggle with setting and communicating boundaries as it flies in the face of our people-pleasing, helpful and perfectionist tendencies.

So we’re going to talk about Boundaries, again, but we’re going to focus more on the actual words and what to say. Amy Green Smith joins us again for her last episode in our 4-part series (if you haven’t listened to our last three episodes, I’d highly encourage you to do that!)

Communicating boundaries in a productive and responsible way is going to require practice. Probably lots and lots of practice, given however many years we’ve spent not communicating them.

Don’t wait for your mic drop moment – don’t expect perfection – don’t spend endless amounts of time worrying about what the other person thinks about your boundary – just start practicing.

Because that’s how you get good at anything.

Connect with Amy:

Grab Amy's FREE-SOURCES at: https://amygreensmith.com/free      

Only 2 spots available in Amy’s Signature Worthy Program! To learn more visit  https://amygreensmith.com/worthy 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

To learn more about Snooze Fest and our other reTREATS hosted by Nicole Kalil, join my community or sign up here to confirm your interest and get additional information: https://forms.gle/NgLvgfVS7B91FUJE6

Ozempic is a hot topic these days. So many podcasts are bringing medical experts on their shows, but on this episode of This Is Woman’s Work I share my very own internal debate about trying Ozempic. 

I have never taken any weight loss medication before, but I am considering it. There are many reasons why I want to, and many reasons why I don’t. 

You’ll have to listen in to hear me share my thought process, the internal dilemma, and some considerations as I make this personal decision for myself.

Because that’s ultimately what this is; a personal decision of what I feel is best for my own body. I’m not taking it lightly and no matter what I decide, it’s time we stop obsessing about the choices people make with their own bodies. 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Book your in depth virtual visit with the menopause and perimenopause medical experts at Midi Health by going to joinmidi.com - they accept most major health insurance plans! 

Did you know there’s an actual science to uncovering your hidden genius? It’s not about filling out a “dream job” worksheet—it’s about understanding how your brain is wired, identifying your natural aptitudes, and using them to thrive.

This isn’t just a self-discovery exercise. It’s a game-changer for your career, your relationships, and how you show up in the world.

Betsy Wills and Alex Ellison are redefining how we approach career discovery, proving that finding the right path isn’t just about landing a job—it’s about creating a life that aligns with who you actually are.

✅ Betsy Wills – Cofounder of YouScience, a groundbreaking psychometric assessment platform reshaping how we understand our talents. She’s also the Director of Marketing & Branding at Diversified Trust and a frequent lecturer at Vanderbilt University and NYU’s Stern School of Business.

✅ Alex Ellison – Founder of Throughline Guidance, a global college and career counseling practice. She’s a sought-after writer, speaker, and expert in college readiness and career development.

✅ Together, they co-authored Your Hidden Genius: The Science-Backed Strategy to Uncovering and Harnessing Your Innate Talents.

Discovering your hidden genius isn’t just about career success—it’s about tapping into what makes you, you.

Connect with Betsy & Alex: 

Website (Free Downloads): www.yourhiddengenius.com

Book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/your-hidden-genius-elizabeth-m-willsalexandra-ellison

Related Podcast Episodes:

• How To Be You, But Better with Olga Khazan | 288

• Finding Purpose Through Human Design with Emma Dunwoody | 228

• 195 / Finding (And Using) Your Voice with Amy Green Smith

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Nicole welcomes back guest Lisa Kalmin, Transformational Trainer, Speaker and Author to help us navigate together and think differently about our new normal during COVID-19.

Now is the time to dig deep, get creative, empower others and transcend the challenges together! (and drink wine and eat cheese… or is that just me??)

Ladies, during these times it’s especially important to give tons of grace and patience to both yourself and those around you. We’re sending you love!

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Are you feeling hopeful as things start to open up and excited to travel, hug people, and have full schedules? Or are you worried, hesitant to go back to your pre-covid way of living/working, and feeling overwhelmed? Wherever you land on the spectrum I promise there are lots of us with you.

I wanted to dive into these conflicting thoughts and emotions, and asked my coach Lisa Kalmin to join me. As a Transformational Speaker, Trainer and Coach, and Author of “The Problem Is How You See The Problem”, Lisa shares with us how best to make yet another transition into what she calls “re-entry”.

It is important that we feel our feelings, honor them and give them space...we’ve earned these feelings over the last year. But we aren’t meant to languish for too long.

You have important work to do. So do what women have done since the beginning of time: honor your emotions, leverage and support your people and your community (and ask for support too!) and when the time is right, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back into action.

This is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about Lisa and her work you can visit her website at: www.lisakalmin.com

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

What does being motivated look like and feel like FOR YOU? Do you know what your internal motivators are? Your external ones? And for those of you who are leaders, managers, business owners, or parents, do you know what motivates your people!? Are you clear about THEIR internal and external motivators?

If you’re not entirely sure, then you’re in for a real treat, because we’re going to talk MOTIVATION!

Kate Tracy is the Global Head of Client Partnerships at Varna Group LLC where she helps companies increase impact, retention, and employee engagement through research-backed educational experiences. Kate’s areas of expertise include building solutions-oriented teams, optimizing performance, and exceeding targets. Like me, she gets a little too excited about creating efficient processes and procedures, she’s going to help us learn more about how to tap into internal motivators so we can maximize engagement in our work.

If you’re clear about what you want, what REALLY matters to you, are connected to your confidence, know who you are and what you’re not, well friends, we need you.

The world needs you, whether your work impacts the world or one person at a time. We need you to set aside all the stuff, and the things, and the distractions and get motivated about what really matters.

Connect with Kate and access resources:

Website: www.varnagroupllc.com 

IG: @kate_consults

Free MAP (Mastery-Autonomy-Purpose) Assessments: www.varnagroupllc.com 

Visit this link and use the promo code below to get your 70% off! https://www.resourcecenter.varnagroupllc.com/courses/from-manager-to-motivator-self-led-course

Promo code: WW2023.

To join Nicole’s pod (to get all the inside scoops, free stuff, and the occasional rant), click here

On this very special episode, guest host Lynn Casaletto takes over the mic and not only interviews Nicole, but also her partner in life, Jay Kalil!

They talk about everything from how they make their marriage work (and some things they do to get back on track when it’s not working), pet peeves, parenting, planning, and more! Questions were collected from Nicole’s community, and Lynn dished them out… listen in to hear their responses and perspectives.

Partnership can be hard, especially when two career-focused, busy, goal-oriented people come together… and partnership can also be the thing that makes it all better, easier, and fun! We know Nicole would never want to send the message that anything in her life is perfect, and this episode is not about offering marriage advice. 

This is two partners sharing how they manage it all, and a glimpse behind the scenes to meet Nicole’s favorite person on the planet, Jay, and hear from his perspective how he supports Woman’s Work.

Here’s access to our Family Planning Agenda as well as the TIWW podcast episode #003 Family Planning where Nicole breaks it down step by step. 

To learn more about Lynn, her team, and her work please visit:

Website: 

https://www.coregrowthconsulting.com/

To join Nicole’s pod (to get all the inside scoops, free stuff, and the occasional rant), click here

This episode is all about reshaping waste management in our lives and our communities, with a focus on changing the disposable culture we live in into one where reuse is the standard.

Get ready to take some notes!

Multi-faceted global CEO & Entrepreneur Jessica Gonzalez, joins us. She has a long history of building and scaling international startups from the ground up, most recently bringing her entrepreneurial spirit and expertise into the world of sustainable waste management as Founder and CEO of Happen Ventures. At Happen Ventures, she’s championing the cause of beneficial reuse, transforming waste into valuable resources, innovating cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions, and reducing landfill waste all while supporting local communities. 

The time has come for action – for all of us to put our money where our mouth is. I don’t mean every single one of us going to zero waste – that’s perfection and as we know, perfection is an unattainable goal. But if all of us reused imperfectly, reduced even minimally, and recycled intentionally – we would ALL be better for it.

And, as most things do, they start with YOU, and me, and us.

Connect with Jessica:

Website: www.happenventures.com 

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessbgonzalez/ 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/i3U-_ANP5jU?si=XB8l2cVx06fU2UWn 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review

From our choices to our looks, biology to identity, marriage to motherhood, careers to caregiving—women are often handed two options: defy or conform. But what if defying expectations isn’t about rebellion for rebellion’s sake? What if it’s about trusting yourself enough to say no when the world demands yes?

In this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, we’re talking about how to defy expectations with the brilliant Dr. Sunita Sah. Dr. Sah is an award-winning professor at Cornell University, an expert in organizational psychology, and a leading researcher on influence, authority, compliance, and defiance. Her new book, DEFY: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes, is a rallying cry for ending submissive behavior and living authentically.

This conversation isn’t about being difficult—it’s about being true to yourself. Whether you’re standing up to societal pressures, breaking free of outdated norms, or simply giving yourself permission to live authentically, this episode will inspire you to rewrite the rules and embrace the power of no.

As women, we’re often taught to conform, but Dr. Sah shows us why defying expectations isn’t just an act of resistance—it’s an act of self-preservation and growth.

Connect with Dr. Sunita Sah:

Website: https://sunitasah.com/ 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Defy-Power-World-That-Demands/dp/0593793714 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drsunitasah/ 

X: https://x.com/ProfSunitaSah 

Related Podcast Episodes:

• 159 / Unapologetically BOLD with Vaneese Johnson

• 201 / How To Find The Right Words When Creating Boundaries with Amy Green Smith

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🔗 Subscribe & Review:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

We’re going to talk about LOVE today, and I think it’s important that I tell you I might be a little jaded. Do I believe in love? YES. Do I want all of us to experience more of it? HELL YES. Do I think love is patient, two become one, it excuses and justifies everything, all decisions should be based on it, and that it needs to be romantic love that results in marriage in order to be considered real love? Absolutely not.

Given that I clearly have some energy about the topic, I’ve brought in an expert for all of our benefits.

Arielle Ford is a celebrated love and relationship expert, author, and speaker whose mission is to help people Find Love, Keep Love, and most importantly, Be Love. An award-winning author of eleven nonfiction books, including the international bestseller, THE SOULMATE SECRET: Manifest the Love of Your Life with The Law of Attraction, Arielle has been called “The Cupid of Consciousness” and “The Fairy Godmother of Love.” Her debut novel, The Love Thief, is a roller-coaster ride of love, betrayal, and unexpected transformation with a juicy revenge sub-plot and a surprise ending. And she’s here to talk with us about love.

I think we’ve received enough messaging about finding love, what love is and what it isn’t, so I’ll say this: Love YOURSELF, so you know what it feels like to love and be loved, and so that nobody can come along and offer you less and trick you into thinking it’s more.

Knowing what it is to BOTH love and be loved. That is woman’s work.

Like what you heard? Please rate and review

Join Nicole’s pod (to get all the inside scoops, free stuff, and the occasional rant)

Connect with Arielle and Resources:

Website: www.arielleford.com

IG: @arielleford44

Twitter: @soulmatesecret 

FB: @soulmatesecret 

Heart Healing Yoga BONUS Video Series: www.thelovethief.com

Free Online Dating Guide:  www.arielleford.com (It’s a pop up) 

Upcoming Retreat: If your heart’s desire is to manifest your soulmate then join Arielle for a fun, empowering, and experiential retreat in Italy dedicated to finding love and keeping love. Using the magic and beauty of Tuscany and Venice, for six days you will immerse yourself in high-level manifestation. To learn more please visit https://globalj.org/arielle-overview/

Feeling stuck in a post-coffee slump? Running on autopilot through your afternoons? Or do you believe you don’t have time for a real lunch? This episode of This Is Woman’s Work is here to change all that.

Our guest, Cheryl K. Johnson, brings us back to basics in the most energizing way possible. Cheryl is a researcher by profession and a long-time food and fitness enthusiast at heart. She knows firsthand the push and pull between career and self-care and how often we sacrifice the latter for the former. When Cheryl realized her own career was no longer feeding her (pun fully intended), she developed a revolutionary approach to reclaiming a mindful lunch break: Box Lunch Lifestyle.

Cheryl’s method isn’t just about eating—it’s about carving out time to fuel your body, reset your mind, and honor your energy. Her book Box Lunch Lifestyle lays out how a simple, intentional lunch can transform your day—and she’s here to teach us how to make it happen.

Key Takeaways:

• Why lunch might be the most impactful change you can make to your day.
• How to reclaim a lunch break that fuels your energy and focus.
• Practical tips for building a lunch routine that works for you.

Connect with Cheryl: 

Website: https://cherylkjohnson.com/ 

Book: www.boxlunchlifestyle.com

Download the free Better Lunch Blueprint: www.boxlunchlifestyle.com/start  

Host a Better Lunch Book Club: www.boxlunchlifestyle.com/bll-for-book-clubs 

IG: www.instagram.com/boxlunchlifestyle/ 

LI: www.linkedin.com/in/cherylkjohnson1/ 

Related Podcast Episodes:

• 194 / Key Components of Healthy Living (And It’s Not About How You Look) with Alyse Gaulin

• 017 / Intuitive Eating...Eat What You Need When You Need It With Alicia Romano

• Why We Brush Off The Idea Of Self-Care with Dr. Christine Coleman | 223

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I don’t know about you but I am f#*!ing tired of the outdated, one sided definition of success that is all wrapped up in position and profit.

On today’s episode I invite you to redefine success on your own terms. Here to help us think through that is Melissa Froehlich - sought after business strategist, mentor and certified mindset coach - who works predominantly with women business owners who are looking to build not only profitable businesses, but ones that bring freedom and fulfillment.

What if income is just one piece of the success puzzle?

What does success mean to you? What does your life look like? How do you feel? Where do you spend your days and who do you spend them with? Only you have the answer, but knowing your answer is necessary.

Listen in here for part 2 of this conversation on Melissa’s podcast, The UpLevel Lounge.

To learn more about Melissa you can visit her website at: melissafroelich.com

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com. Get your copy of Validation Is For Parking.

In this episode, Nicole asks ALL women to raise the bar, and shares what she wishes she could go back and tell her single self.

Do you feel the pressure from society to settle down, find the right person and get married because it’s that next “normal” step? Ladies, marriage is not a requirement and it does not prove your worth.

It is so important in all of our relationships that we do the work, that we know who we are, who we aren’t, and that we show up as our authentic self. If we spend our energy being the very best version of us, we can and will create the exceptional relationships we deserve.

Learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast at NicoleKalil.com

This episode is for the sleep deprived, yet highly motivated Mamas, who are attempting to get more done in their 24 hour days then is probably advisable.

Liz Bayardelle, author of “Clean Your Plate!”, mom of 3, PhD (Dr. Mommy according to her toddler) and executive, shares the importance of using tools like intrinsic motivation to teach our kids to be productive and confident grownups, as opposed to just well behaved kids.

We are showing our children (both our daughters and our sons) what it means to be a woman. We are their first example. I see this as an opportunity to show our children how we live imperfectly… how to love, fail, forgive, live through pain and challenges, set boundaries, let things get messy, trust your instincts, and feel loved, worthy and valuable during and even because of our imperfections.

This is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

We released our 77th episode today, as we celebrate TWO YEARS of the “This Is Woman’s Work” podcast!

In honor of this milestone, we put together our favorite snippets of the Top 5 most listened to episodes of 2021, and are thrilled to share them with you… I also share some of the behind the scenes stories on each episode, and some insights into my journey in podcasting.

Wishing you joy, success, health, and unlimited confidence this holiday season!

To learn more about Nicole and her work please visit: www.nicolekalil.com

We’re going to kick off the year with a first on this show – we’re going to talk about the AMAZING, EXTRAORDINARY value of men.

Joining me to make sure this conversation is grounded in research and celebration, is Alison Armstrong, a sought-after speaker and thought leader whose exploration of human behavior began in 1991, with her decision to study men. Her success in understanding men naturally led to studying women’s behavior and making vital connections between the two. Through her seminars, books, online programs with over a 100 hours of content and media contributions, she has been giving millions of people access to more fulfilling lives, loving relationships, stronger families, and more productive organizations.

If you’re a regular listener you already know that the purpose of this podcast is to redefine what it means to be doing “woman’s work” so that the new definition is whatever is TRUE and RIGHT for you, whatever lights you up from the inside, and whatever it means to live authentically and with purpose. FOR YOU.

And the same goes for defining “a man’s job” – if you identify as a man, you get to be lit up from the inside too. You get to set aside the expectations and the shoulds, the pressures and the opinions, and show up in this world as the fucking magical gift YOU ARE too.

I want this for anyone of any gender!

I am not the decider of what that means. And neither is anyone else.

YOU are the decider.

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Connect with Alison and Resources:

Website: www.alisonarmstrong.com 

IG: @thealisonarmstrong

FB: https://www.facebook.com/understandmen

This topic is about 10-20 years too late for me, but this is the episode I wish I could have heard when I needed it most. And I hope it will find some of you at just the right time, or at the very least will be an episode you can forward to someone you love.

Because letting go is an important lesson for all of us, I’ve invited Dr. Cortney Warren to be our guest. She’s an award-winning Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist, author, and Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at UNLV. She is an expert on self-deception, romantic relationships and love addiction.

Known for her ability to distill complex psychological concepts into easily applicable advice, Dr. Cortney’s latest book, Letting Go of Your Ex: CBT Skills to Heal the Pain of a Breakup and Overcome Love Addiction explores breakups and how to heal from them. 

Let’s not waste any more time pining away and holding on to relationships and people that aren’t meant for us. 

If the choice is letting go of them, or letting go of yourself… if it costs you them or it costs you you – choose you over everything. And everyone. Every single time.

Connect with Cortney:

Website: https://drcortney.com/

Book: https://drcortney.com/published-books-publications/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drcortneywarren/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drcortneywarren

X: https://twitter.com/DrCortneyWarren

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcortney/ 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/CortneySWarren 

TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpEeSa6zBTE

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Bamboo fabric that is perfectly soft, temperature regulating, machine washable and committed to ethical production, Cozy Earth checks all the boxes, and is now on every bed in my house. Get your sheets (and more) by visiting cozyearth.com and use my code NICOLEKALIL to get 40% off!

Who doesn’t love a good movie? Getting lost in a story or having a good cry, disconnecting from everyday life, just to be entertained.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to recognize how our entertainment reinforces stereotypes and gender expectations.

On this episode, I’m joined by Laura Hunter Drago - Award Winning Film Producer, Member of SAG AFTRA and Women In Media, and Assistant Editor in Chief of Ms. In The Biz. Laura co-founded New Girl Pictures, a production company that’s committed to getting women into positions both in front of and behind the camera.

Representation does matter and we need women in key roles that will share our stories honestly and with care. I for one am excited to see women with complex, full and imperfect lives. And for the love of God, more women who go to bed without a full set of makeup on...who does that?!

It’s time we hear the real stories of real women, and I guarantee it will be plenty entertaining.

This Is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about Laura Hunter Drago please visit: laurahunterdrago.com

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Have you been thinking about quitting something—or someone—but can’t decide if it’s the right time? In this episode, Nicole Kalil is joined by Goli Kalkhoran, Master Certified Life Coach and host of the Lessons from a Quitter podcast, to break down the stigma around quitting and show how it can be a path to clarity and fulfillment.

Quitting isn’t about giving up; it’s about recognizing when it’s time to stop pouring energy into things that no longer serve you. Goli shares tools and inspiration to pivot toward something intentional, aligned, and meaningful.

In this episode, we explore:

• How to tell if it’s time to quit or push harder.
• Why quitting isn’t the opposite of perseverance but the companion to clarity.
• Practical steps for trusting yourself in career and life pivots.
• The power of choosing to stop, reset, and realign with what truly matters.

Quitting is brave—it’s not about failure but about prioritizing your time, energy, and happiness. Trust yourself enough to pivot toward the life, career, and relationships you truly deserve. 

Connect with Goli Kalkhoran: 

Website: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com 

Free masterclass on quitting: www.quitterclub.com/class 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessonsfromaquitter 

Related Podcast Episodes:

• 193 / TIWW Classic - People Pleasing & Being Needy with Mara Glatzel

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In this episode, I welcome guest Malika Begin - Owner of Begin Development, where she helps organizations and leaders build strong and healthy cultures. We dive deep into the importance of creating a collaborative environment, identifying culture carriers, building trust, fostering relationships and more.

Collaboration attracts talent, builds teams, creates growth, impacts retention and develops people. Leaders, it’s time to collaborate!

This is Woman’s Work. But P.S., this episode is not just for women...any leader would benefit!

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Over the last few months, we’ve focused on the topic of confidence by releasing chapters of my book, Validation Is For Parking (you can still get the confidence workbook for free by visiting https://nicolekalil.com/). Last week I read the final few pages, but we’re going to stick with that topic, because there’s not much I care more about than YOU connecting to your confidence. 

In the book I share the 5 confidence derailers that are impacting women at the highest level… these are the things that are doing damage, chipping away at, and destroying our confidence. But if I were to write the book over again, People-Pleasing would be the 6th confidence derailer that’s wreaking havoc on most of our lives.

So, we are re-releasing a “classic” episode we did almost a year ago… it is one of my personal favorites and it is definitely worth sharing again.

Mara Glatzel, author, intuitive coach, and host of the “Needy” podcast, helps humans stop abandoning themselves and start reclaiming their humanity through embracing their needs. Because the antidote to people-pleasing is putting forward your own wants and needs

The time has come for you to ask for what you need.

And then expect it, first from yourself and then from others.

Then advocate for it.

Because you’ve always been worth it.

Connect with Mara:

Mara’s Book “Needy”: maraglatzel.com/book

Instagram: instagram.com/maraglatzel

Click here to access her “What Do You Need Right Now” quiz 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review

Codependency is not just happening at home. It’s happening in our professional lives, our work environments and relationships too. But I’m not so sure we’re hearing much about that, so we’re going to dive into the topic of codependency at work on this episode of This Is Woman’s Work.

Amina AlTai is a holistic business and career coach, proud immigrant and chronic illness advocate and our guest on today’s episode. In addition to her one-on-one work with forward thinking and notable leaders, executives and founders, Amina was also a founding coach for Chief (the women’s leadership organization) and led the coaching division for Inspire Justice (which trains entertainment organizations and celebrities). She is an Entrepreneur Magazine expert-in-residence, a Forbes contributor and was named one of Success Magazine’s Women of Influence. Her debut book, The Ambition Trap: A Blueprint for Releasing Hustle, Finding Purpose and Driving Change will launch in Spring 2025. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind so we don’t create codependency in our work lives:

• Our strengths taken too far can easily become our greatest weakness
• There is a difference between empowering people and enabling them
• Being needed is not the same as being valued

Website: https://aminaaltai.com/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/aminaaltai 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/aminaaltai 

Change Your Life Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amina-change-your-life/id1669584137 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Breathe better with AirDoctor, the air purifier that filters out 99.99% of dangerous contaminants (allergens, pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold spores and even bacteria and viruses) so your lungs don’t have to. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use my promo code: TIWW to get up to $300 OFF air purifiers and a free 3 year warranty (and additional $84 value).

On this episode of This Is Woman’s Work we’re going to double down on the topic of confidence… and we’re going to do it from a different perspective, since you’ve already heard a lot about the topic from me.

Meg Burton Tudman is on a mission to support women in honoring their highest selves through coaching, writing and speaking. She does this by encouraging us to align our mind, body and soul, which she believes is directly tied to our confidence, by weaving mindset, meditation, energy work, and yoga into her coaching programs, wellness articles, workshops, and corporate events. And she’s here today to talk about our shared passion from HER perspective.

What would be possible if you lived a life, aligned, mind, body and soul? How would you feel?

If you didn’t let all the noise drown out your inner voice, what would it say? Would you listen?

I hope you do. Because whatever your inner knowing is telling you, I can assure you that it IS woman’s work.

To learn more about Meg and her work go to www.megburtontudman.com or follow her on IG @mindsetmasterywithmeg

Free Reset Your Mindset Toolkit to spark authenticity, empowerment and confidence: www.megburtontudman.com/reset-your-mindset

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com.

In full transparency, I struggled to release this episode, as it was recorded prior to the death of George Floyd. I don’t want this to feel like “business as usual.” But with these recent tragedies I thought this could be a helpful and timely tool as we must all be willing to have difficult conversations, myself included.

In this episode, I welcome guest Lynne Franklin - Author, Coach and Expert on Persuasive Communication. Lynne shares with us the biggest mistakes we make when having difficult conversations and her 6 step process to communicating more effectively.

It is imperative that we put aside biases, curb our assumptions and be open and willing to shift our perspectives. Oftentimes in communicating, we tend to think about what we want to say or the message we want to get across, and rarely do we put ourselves in the other person's shoes. We can all benefit from strategy and tactics in how to have these conversations, and although this podcast was recorded several weeks ago, I can’t think of a more appropriate topic to help guide us through some conversations that are long overdue.

I stand with the Black community at this time, most especially the mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and lovers. This is Woman’s Work… because when women rise, everyone rises.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

What we need to know about raising our children to have a HEALTHY body image – because the more women who are out there with body confidence, the better. 

Our guest, Lauren Magers, is a 5-foot-tall firecracker, who believes a life of happiness starts with mastery of yourself and having a system in place that guides you every day with the skills, habits, and responsibilities to be a successful human. A mother of 4 and a leader of a blended family by the age of 27, she went on a quest to uncover the wisdom to raise extraordinary humans who can thrive and be happy adults in today’s world. Creator of The Happy LifeSystem; the world’s first comprehensive parenting system built on the fundamentals of empowerment and self-mastery in a gamified way, Lauren teaches parents and children how to find joy in all they do, and love the bodies they do it in.

Here’s what I know for sure: The answer does not lie in focusing on how our body looks to others. 

What if we taught our kids (and also ourselves) to focus on how our body feels, what it allows and affords us to do, its health, strength and longevity. What if we practiced treating our bodies the way we want to be treated – prioritized, accepted, listened to, appreciated, and valued at the highest level.

Change always begins with us. It can be no other way.

Connect with Lauren:

Website: www.LaurenMagers.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelaurenmagers/ 

To get 20% off Lauren’s Crack The Parenting Code Course use the promo code: TIWW 

Free ebook: 8 secrets to being a happy parent

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Go to AquaTru.com and enter code TIWW at checkout for 20% off any AquaTru purifier to get yourself, and someone you love, purified water!

“Owners act and think differently than employees.”

While that statement certainly applies to career and business, I want to go on record in saying that it applies to life and relationships too. An ownership mindset has advantages, creates success, and transforms your life – in every aspect of it.

Kerry Siggins, CEO of StoneAge, Inc. a fast-growing manufacturing and technology company, joins me to talk about ownership mindset and personal responsibility. Under Kerry’s leadership, StoneAge has experienced double-digit growth, year over year, while transitioning the company’s ownership structure to an ESOP, ensuring that all employees share in the success of the company through employee ownership. Kerry is ALSO a dynamic, sought-after speaker, a podcast host, an author, blogger, and contributor to Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other major publications.

It starts with you, of course – an ownership mindset couldn’t possibly start with ANYONE else. 

First, you get to model it. And like attracts like, so when you choose responsibility and ownership you’ll attract and be attracted to the people who value it (and probably lose patience for those who don’t).

While there are many important mindsets, an ownership mindset tops the list!

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Connect with Kerry Siggins:

Website: https://kerrysiggins.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerry.siggins/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kpsiggins

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsors:

Head to zenimals.com/NICOLEMKALIL and use my code NICOLEMKALIL to save 10% off your Zenimal!  Whether you’re looking for yourself, your kid(s)/teens, as a gift for someone else - everyone will benefit from more moments of zen (and they offer discounts on bundles)!

In an ever changing world with increasing access to better technology, resources and people than in any other time in history, it’s amazing to me how many organizations and leaders refuse to test out new ways of allowing their teams to work.

Despite the evidence that flexible work environments, schedules and trusting your people is profitable, organizations are still trying to force their team back to pre-covid work environments.

On today’s episode I welcome Lona Alia - she is an expert on building revenue channels and fully remote teams. Head of Revenue at Safety Wing (where they have 100% retention… seriously), Advisor to Startups and EU for Innovation, Lona is a remote work advocate and Digital Nomad who has worked and traveled to over 80 countries and has learned 7 languages. She is even building the first country on the internet.

I see far too many of us staying in unhealthy, unsupportive work environments out of some sense of displaced loyalty, or fear of change, or unwillingness to take strategic risks. Women make up a large and necessary part of the workforce. We have power. It’s time we use it for ourselves and everyone else that’s being underserved by their company. That is woman’s work.

To learn more about Lona and her work you can visit www.safetywing.com or follow her on IG @nomadcities.

For more info on Boundless Life and for an automatic $400 discount please go to: https://www.boundless.life/lona

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Click here for your FREE Confidence Building workbook. You will be added to our weekly communication for even more confidence building tips! You can unsubscribe at any time… but we hope you’ll stay with us for the confidence building journey.

Every Monday I bring a chapter of my book, Validation Is For Parking: How Women Can Beat The Confidence Con) to life! 

This week we work our way through Chapter 6 and talk about Perfectionism and Failure. Here’s what you can expect:

• We define what a “confidence derailer” is so you know what’s chipping away at your confidence

• I share why Perfectionism is not only a confidence derailer, but the ENEMY of confidence

• The Antidote to Perfectionism gets revealed… and it’s the most shocking confidence builder of them all!

• I share my favorite 4 step process for turning failure into fuel

Like what you heard? Please rate and review

This is a tough one because I’m so fully aware of how IMPORTANT, how

complex, and how necessary this topic is. And I truly hope I treat it with the care and respect it is due.

On this episode of TIWW we’re going to talk about Mental Health and Trauma. If this topic feels triggering or not supportive to you right now, then hit pause and join us next week.

I’ve asked Jessi Beyer, an international speaker and the #1 best-selling author of How To Heal:

A Practical Guide To Nine Integrative Therapies That Can Help Release Trauma, to join me. She has been featured in over 160 media outlets, holds a Masters in Critical Psychology and Human Services and, outside of her professional life, she is a K9 search and rescue handler with her dog, Phoebe.

If you’ve experienced trauma, ask for support. Find the help you need…

nobody can do the work for you, but there are people who can stand WITH you.

If you witness trauma, don’t turn away from it. Call it out if, and when, you can. Be OUTRAGED.

If someone honors you by sharing about their trauma, listen, hold space, BELIEVE those that trust you enough to tell you about it.

To learn more about Jessi and her work go to www.jessibeyerinternational.com or follow her on IG @itsjessibeyer

You can find the book Jessi referenced in this episode: The Art of Holding Space by Heather Plett HERE

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com.

Stress—it’s everywhere, unavoidable, and, if we’re being honest, usually the enemy. But what if we’ve been thinking about it all wrong? What if stress isn’t just something to manage but something we can leverage?

Today, we’re flipping the script on stress with Dr. Sharon Bergquist, an award-winning physician, researcher, and expert in lifestyle medicine, stress science, and longevity. She’s been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, NPR, and The Wall Street Journal, hosts The Whole Health Cure podcast, and has over 6 million views on her TED talk about stress and the body. In her new book, The Stress Paradox: How to Live Longer, Healthier, and Happier with Stress, she unpacks how the right kind of stress can actually make us stronger, healthier, and more resilient—if we learn how to use it correctly.

In This Episode, We Cover:

Stress isn’t the villain—it’s a skill. When we stop fighting it and start using it, we sharpen our focus, build resilience, and improve our long-term health. Let’s make it work for us instead of against us.

Connect with Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist: 

Website: https://drsharonbergquist.com/ 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Stress-Paradox-Longer-Healthier-Happier/dp/006334596X

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thegoodstressdoctor 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thegoodstressdoctor/ 

X: https://x.com/TheGoodStressDr/status/1895568273963384878 

FB: https://www.instagram.com/thegoodstressdoctor/ 

10 Simple (And Affordable) Tests For Your Health & Longevity (FREE) https://drsharonbergquist.com/10-tests-to-extend-your-healthspan 

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• Toxic Productivity with Israa Nasir | 254

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Whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship, or venture capital, or just love hearing from women who are blazing a trail like I do… you are going to love this conversation.

Our guest, Carrie Colbert spent nearly two decades in the male-dominated oil and gas industry, with a standout career at Hilcorp. After “retiring” at age 38, Carrie transitioned into a new chapter of her life: investing in women-owned businesses. After five years as an angel investor, Carrie realized that women-led businesses are not only underfunded, but they consistently outperform. This led her to launch Curate Capital to champion female-founded consumer brands. In 2022, Carrie closed Fund 1 at $15 million—50% oversubscribed and with nearly 80% of her investors being women. Curate Capital is now breaking down barriers for female founders and making venture capital more accessible to potential investors.

Whether you’re thinking about building a business, investing in one, or simply managing your finances with more intention – get into action toward it.

Because it isn’t called trail waiting, or trail thinking, or even trail tiptoeing. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, don’t overthink every step, and don’t play it small. BLAZE your trail, take bold action, and create the future you want.

Connect with Carrie:

Website: https://www.curate.capital/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriec 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Visit wisefitwealth.com, click the “Schedule a Meeting with our Team” button, and they’ll send you a free budget sheet and some helpful planning tips! WiseFit Wealth has ONE goal, and that is to help you achieve yours.

Lets face it, we can ALL still get better at creating and communicating BOUNDARIES.

I mean, I train on this topic on occasion, I covered it briefly in my book, and I STILL find myself, on the regular, in situations where I didn’t hold to a boundary or didn’t communicate it in a way I feel good about, or in some cases, didn’t communicate my boundary at all… which leaves me feeling frustrated, resentful, disappointed, and exhausted.

I’ve asked Amy Worthy, High Performance Business Coach and Psychotherapist with 20 years of experience working with mindset, high performance and habit building, to join us today to cover this very important topic that we’ve covered before (Episode 72 if you’re looking for more on boundaries). 

If you say no in a kind, responsible, or professional way, and someone gets upset, that doesn’t mean you should have said yes. You are not responsible for other people’s reactions, you can only be responsible for YOUR choices.

And if you say yes, even when you meant maybe or I’d rather not, then you need to own the resentment and frustration you feel and use it to fuel your next no, or not yet, or yes but with these expectations.

Yes and no are powerful words with extreme clarity. We should probably be using them with more power and more clarity.

To learn more about Amy and her work go to: www.nextlevelwealthcoach.com

You can follow her on IG @amynworthy  

To access her free resource go to: https://nextlevelwealthcoach.activehosted.com/f/10

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com.

We’re releasing the 200th episode of This Is Woman’s Work!! That’s 200 topics, in just over 4 years, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. I love this thing that I get to do. And I love that you’re doing it with me. 

THANK YOU… I am forever grateful!

So, in celebration of 200 episodes, I’m taking a break from recording and releasing a classic episode on the topic of Burnout – some of us may need it more than others (ME, it’s me!) – but I KNOW we’ll all benefit from hearing it.

Cait Donovan is a leading burnout expert, author of The Bouncebackability Factor and host of “Fried. The Burnout Podcast”.

Run down. Drained. Exhausted. Worn Out. Nothing left in the tank. Ever wonder why there are so many ways of saying burnout? It’s probably because far too many of us are experiencing this far too often.

And let’s be real, communicating healthy boundaries is hardest when you’re stressed and overwhelmed. It’s also when it’s most important.

So let’s do it together. Less perfection, more REAL. Less martyr, more grace. Less worry, more trust. Less other people’s expectations, more honoring ourselves. That feels like woman’s work to me.

Connect with Cait:

Website: https://www.caitdonovan.com/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/caitdonovanspeaks/ 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

To get the best, most comfortable leggings I’ve ever worn (and rarely take off), go to http://lndr.com/ and use promo code TIWW to get 20% off! I’m obsess with LNDR and agree with them that your butt deserves the best.

What happens when technology isn’t held accountable? Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, is here to guide us through AI’s power, pitfalls, and potential. From exposing bias in facial recognition to championing ethical AI, Dr. Joy is leading the charge to protect what makes us human in a world dominated by machines.

As a Rhodes Scholar, MIT researcher, and author of Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines, Dr. Joy’s groundbreaking work has reshaped the conversation on AI ethics. Her viral TED Talk and the Emmy-nominated documentary Coded Bias highlight the real-world consequences of unchecked technology and why ethical AI is essential for everyone.

AI isn’t inherently good or evil—it’s a tool. How we use it defines its impact, and being human isn’t just a feature—it’s the whole point.

Connect with Dr. Joy: 

Website: www.Unmasking.ai 

Algorithmic Justice League: https://www.ajl.org/ 

Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/670356/unmasking-ai-by-dr-joy-buolamwini/ 

Poet of Code: https://www.poetofcode.com/ 

TSA Facial Scan Opt Out: https://www.ajl.org/campaigns/fly

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• 202 / Building Your Email Lists & Websites with Brittni Schroeder

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It’s no secret that many work environments were built by and for men, leaving women’s contributions and the feminine underappreciated. But here’s a twist: What role do women play in shaping masculinity itself? Honestly, I didn’t even know where to start.

That’s why I’m thrilled to welcome Moe Carrick to the show. Moe is an internationally recognized expert in workplace culture, known for helping organizations like Nike, Nintendo, Amazon, and Reddit foster healthy, inclusive environments. With three TEDx talks under her belt and recognition from Thinkers360, Moe has authored Fit Matters, Brave Space Workplace, and most recently, When Work is Good: What it Means, Why it Drives Results, How You Can Build a Workplace People Love.

We all have a part to play in shaping leadership that values every form of energy—masculine, feminine, and everything in between. So, ask yourself: What role will you play in creating a workplace where all forms of leadership thrive?

Connect with Moe: 

Website:https://moementum.com/ 

Book:https://www.amazon.com/When-Work-Good-Results-Workplace/dp/B0CGKZWJD1/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&sr=1-1 

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moecarrick/ 

Take The Pulse Check Quiz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moecarrick/ 

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• Masculine & Feminine Energetics And How To Unify Them with Dene Logan

• What It Means to Be Codependent At Work with Amina AlTai

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I often challenge men to be open, curious, to truly LISTEN, to not be so defensive… and now it’s our turn. Friends, buckle up, because we’re going full throttle on the bullshit that WOMEN do.

The second I met Caroline Adams Miller, I just KNEW she needed to be our guest for this conversation. Caroline is a well-respected expert, whose scientific approach to change fosters lasting success in organizations and individuals. She has a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University. The author of eight books, including Getting Grit, Creating Your Best Life, and My Name is Caroline, Caroline’s work has been featured worldwide and she’s here today to help me, not just to have the discussion, but to provide that scientific, research-backed data so we’re not just talking “in theory” about the things that aren’t working for us, but providing concrete evidence of it.

Are you just a grown up Mean Girl? Are you going silent on the women in your life? What might you be doing that’s comfortable and convenient for you, but isn’t in support of other women? 

It’s time for us to be open and curious. It’s time for us to check ourselves.

And, because this conversation is so good and so necessary, we’ve made it a two-part episode. Meet us here next week for Part 2 of this conversation.

To learn more about Caroline you can visit her website at www.carolinemiller.com or follow her on IG @carolineadamsmiller and @cultivatingeliteorganizations or on Twitter @carolinemcoach

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com.

Easing the mental load, minimizing the to-do list, letting go of the things that don’t really matter is a constant work in progress for me – but when I’m in the throes of it all, I often think “there’s got to be a better way”.

I’ve invited Sam Bennett, creativity/productivity specialist to join us to share her 15 minute method with all of us. Sam is the author of the bestselling book Get It Done as well as Start Right Where You Are: How Little Changes Can Make a Big Difference for Overwhelmed Procrastinators, Frustrated Overachievers, and Recovering Perfectionists. Her latest book just released in June and is called The 15-Minute Method: The Surprisingly Simple Art of Getting It Done. Having spent most of her life working as a professional actor and improvisor, Sam brings a quick wit to her writing and her work as a top instructor on LinkedIn Learning with over a million “learners” worldwide. 

It will all get narrowed down to those very few things that matter most at the end, so what are we waiting for? Someone else to decide what truly matters for us? A point in time where things all of a sudden get easy and simple?

No, we get to decide. And like so many things worth doing, we start small, one step at a time, 15 minutes devoted to what matters most to you. 

Connect with Sam:

Website:  www.TheRealSamBennett.com 

Book: The 15 Minute Method: The Surprisingly Simple Art Of Getting It Done

FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealSamBennett 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/therealsambennett 

X: https://twitter.com/realsambennett 

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealsambennett  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SamanthaBennettCreative 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Interested in promoting your product, service, online course or book on the This Is Woman’s Work podcast? We love nothing more than supporting women-owned businesses! Email podcast@nicolekalil.com to learn more.

On this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, we tackle fear and rejection—how to face it, move through it, and ultimately conquer it. Why? Because everything we want is on the other side of fear, and building bridges to cross it is essential for growth and fulfillment.

I’m joined by Jodi Wellman, a former corporate executive turned executive coach, with a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Jodi teaches in the Master’s program at Penn and is a trainer for the Penn Resilience Program. She is also the author of You Only Die Once, has a thought-provoking TEDx Talk on using the reality of death to inspire life, and leads Four Thousand Mondays, dedicated to ensuring people live life fully and without regret.

In this conversation, we’ll explore why letting go of fear, the weight of others’ opinions, and the risk of rejection leads to more fulfilled living. Regret, we agree, is far scarier than failure. The truth is, we regret the things we don’t do more than the things we try and fail at.

There’s a quote I love that says something like: when I stand before God I want to be able to say I used all the gifts I was given, I have not a bit of talent or love left, I used it all up. It’s a powerful reminder to live boldly, love deeply, and give generously.

Connect with Jodi:

Website: https://fourthousandmondays.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/fourthousandmondays/ 

Book: https://fourthousandmondays.com/book/ 

Quiz - "How Alive (or Dead) Are You": https://fourthousandmondays.com/quiz-landing-page-2/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Fear & Failure (Part 1) with Amy Green Smith

• Stress Less and Fear(Less) with Rebecca Heiss

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In this episode, we talk about the Enneagram, which you’ve likely heard about since it’s all the rage right now!

Our guest and resident expert is Kristi Rowles, a Mental Health Therapist turned full-time Enneagram Coach. In the Enneagram world, she is known for teaching it in a way that is easy to understand, practical, fun, and driven toward compassion. In her work coaching individuals and couples, speaking, and leading corporate leadership training, people often ask her, “How do I get certified to do what you do?”  So in 2018, she built Enneagram University, where they are committed to transforming Enneagram-and-people-loving humans into the most competent and confident enneagram coaches on the market.

The Enneagram is an opportunity to get to know yourself better – to understand your motivations and preferences, give you insights into your behavior and choices, and help to identify paths for growth and development.

And because, as women, we have a tendency to be others-focused, I’m going to encourage you to start with and stay with you for a while. Use it for self-reflection. Create deeper levels of understanding and intimacy with yourself. Do the internal work.

Connect with Kristi:

Discover Your Type Resource: (FREE with code: TIWW) https://www.theenneagramuniversity.com/courses/discover-your-type 

Enneagram University Website: https://www.theenneagramuniversity.com/?ref=726257 

Free Access To Kristi’s Typing Guide: https://theenneagramuniversity.myflodesk.com/ceced2b5-be34-4ebb-af31-739736b64410 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Visit WiseFitWealth.com to get your free budget sheet, some helpful financial planning tips, or to schedule a meeting. And order your Finding Your Financial Type book here! 

I love talking with women who are breaking stereotypes and finding a name for themselves in traditionally male dominated careers. My guest today is doing just that.

In this episode I welcome Megan Taylor - International DJ who performs at events all across the world. Megan shares the key steps she took in the early days of her career that helped make her a trailblazer in her field. By redefining the role and what it would look like for her, setting boundaries and truly embracing both masculine and feminine characteristics, she has created a career that she loves.

When masculine leadership is balanced with feminine, when environments are created where both genders thrive, when people can bring their whole authentic selves to work, everybody wins. Men have been leading imperfectly for centuries, we don’t need to be perfect or have it all figured out to lead, but we must lead, just as we are.

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Water is life. It’s something we all need, yet so often take for granted. Today, we’re diving into this critical topic with Shilpa Alva, founder and Executive Director of Surge for Water, a nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through access to safe water and sanitation solutions.

Over the past 15 years, Surge has impacted over a million lives in 12 countries, and Shilpa’s journey to creating this legacy is nothing short of inspiring. From a successful corporate career to embracing her true purpose, Shilpa’s transition is a testament to the power of pursuing work that aligns with your passion and values.

Water is more than a basic necessity—it’s a connector, a lifeline, and a driver of change. Your unique gifts and talents are meant to make a difference, and you get to define how you use them. 

Looking to make a meaningful impact? Consider supporting Surge for Water in their mission to provide safe water and sanitation to communities in need. Every dollar helps change lives and create opportunities for a better future.

Connect with Shilpa Alva & Surge For Water: 

Website: https://surgeforwater.org/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/surgeforwater

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/surgeforwater/

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The word "courage" often gets thrown around in ways that dilute its true meaning. It’s not about fearlessness or recklessness—it’s about trusting yourself enough to take meaningful action despite fear. This episode of This Is Woman’s Work sets the record straight on what courage actually looks and feels like, and how it’s the foundation for growth, success, and self-trust.

Our guest, Dr. Margie Warrell, is a five-time bestselling author, international keynote speaker, leadership coach, and Forbes columnist. With 25 years of experience working globally, Margie is dedicated to helping people face their fears, unlock their potential, and live bravely. From her humble beginnings on a small farm in Australia to her roles as a Senior Partner at Korn Ferry and an Advisory Board member for the Forbes School of Business & Technology, Margie embodies the courage she teaches.

In this conversation, Margie shares how courage closes the gap between self-doubt and self-trust, hesitation and action, and fear and possibility. She invites us to see courage not as an extraordinary trait, but as a practice that builds bridges to the lives we truly want.

As Margie says, “Fear creates the gap. It’s courage that closes it.”

Connect with Dr. Margie Warrell:

Website: https://margiewarrell.com/ 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Gap-Steps-Braver-Action/dp/1523007249

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• 141 / How Regular Women Take Risks with Liz Deacle

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• 197 / Fear & Failure (Part 1) with Amy Green Smith

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When you think of abundance, do you think of having more—more money, more success, more stuff? What if true abundance isn’t just about accumulation, but about appreciation? In this episode, Nicole Kalil is joined by Cathy Heller—transformational coach, spiritual guide, meditation teacher, and host of the Abundant Ever After podcast—to challenge everything we think we know about living a full and prosperous life.

Cathy’s new book, Abundant Ever After: Tools for Creating a Life of Prosperity and Ease, invites us to shift our mindset, tap into the flow of prosperity, and welcome abundance into every aspect of our lives. Together, Cathy and Nicole explore how abundance is something we tune into, not something we chase, and how trusting in your inherent enoughness can unlock joy and ease in ways you never imagined.

So let’s TUNE IN. Tune in to the limitless possibilities, to receive what’s there for you, tune in to the trust that lies within. Trust that you are already enough and create a life that feels full—not just because of what’s in it, but because of who you are in it.

Connect with Cathy Heller: 

Website: https://www.cathyheller.com/ 

Book: http://cathyheller.com/book

IG: https://www.instagram.com/cathy.heller 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/cathyhellerbiz/

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• 206 / A Better Way to Define Success with Stella Grizont

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I’m beyond excited to bring you the BEST of 2024—a roundup of our most listened-to, loved, and impactful episodes of the year! This might just be my favorite episode to record each year because it’s a chance to reflect on the amazing content, incredible guests, and powerful lessons we’ve shared.

For those of you who are new to This Is Woman’s Work, this episode is the perfect starting point, highlighting the episodes that resonated the most with our community. And for our longtime listeners, it’s a fun trip down memory lane and a great reminder to revisit the conversations that made the biggest impact.

Podcast Board Of Directors Alert! 📣 Join PodBOD to help shape the future of This Is Woman’s Work and share in its exciting growth.

Top 5 Most Downloaded Episodes of 2024 - Click the links to listen to the full episodes highlighted here today:

🔗 #5 - Be A Likeable Badass with Alison Fragale | 230

🔗 #4 - Holler At Your Dreams with Judi Holler | 211

🔗 #3 - Abundance: Secrets to Prosperity and Ease with Cathy Heller | 260

🔗 #2 - 7 Keys To Unlock Your Dynamic Drive with Molly Fletcher | 229

🔗 #1 - The Resilience Myth with Soraya Chemaly | 249

🌟 Bonus Links:

• Team Favorite: The Small And The Mighty with Sharon McMahon | 247 – A can’t-miss pick from the TIWW team.
• Editors Pick: How To Feel Good Naked with Chardét Ryel | 212 - means a lot coming from someone who has listened to every episode, multiple times.
• Nicole’s Highlight: How To Live A Fulfilling Life with Dr. Edith Eger | 251 - The episode that lit me up the most this year.
• Most Outreach Episode – Why & How I’m Considering Ozempic | 213 - The one people couldn’t stop talking about.

Learn more about the This Is Woman’s Work podcast Board of Directors: https://nicolekalil.myflodesk.com/podbod 

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In this episode, Nicole shares her perspective on friendships, and the importance of reaching out to the RIGHT friend who can support you in your time of need. And how now (more than ever!) is the time to nurture and build that tribe.

Spending time with the people we love, who give us a mental and emotional break from our everyday demands, is so necessary. Now is a great time to reflect on our friendships both past and present. To give thanks to those who at one time supported us, and to reach out to those in our lives today.

Who comes to mind as you listen to this? Make time today to call that person, to share a laugh, to be there for each other, and to love on.

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

This episode is a collection of all the things I know, so far. And believe me when I say I could fill hours upon hours of podcasts with the things I DON’T know (which is awesome!). Because the less I think I know, the more free and open I feel.

How about you? What do you know so far?

And why am I asking?

Well because, your answer is the answer. When I say this is woman’s work, it begs the question, what is this? But my goal was never to define it for you, only to create the space for you to ask yourself.

So what do you know so far? Whatever your answer is, do that. BE that. All of us together, living our truth… That is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com.

Most people resist change, are afraid of it, or at least feel really uncomfortable with it.

But that doesn’t change the fact that CHANGE IS COMING. You can count on it.

It is for that very reason that I’ve invited Kristen Lisanti to join me today to talk about navigating change… and not just any old change, but what she calls RADIANT change. Kristen coaches leaders and their teams to drive transformation at scale, guiding them through her proven methodology to spark and sustain meaningful change. Kristen is trained and certified by the NeuroLeadership Institute, the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, the Leadership Circle and the International Coaching Federation. In short, she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to change.

A loving reminder of the first truth: it’s INEVITABLE. No amount of avoiding, resisting, running, or fighting will change that. And progress, success, healthier relationships, and our deepest desires often live on the other side of change.

To learn more about Kristen and her work go to kristenlisanti.com or follow her on IG @Kristen Lisanti

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com.

In an age where information is everywhere, it seems we know very little about how to have a discussion while practicing respect and curiosity. It seems it’s easier to talk about leadership than it is to demonstrate it.

We all need to do better. For our country certainly, for our personal and professional relationships definitely, and for the next generations, emphatically.

Lindsey Cormack helps us understand how to raise a citizen. Lindsey is an associate professor of Political Science and Director of the Diplomacy Lab at Stevens Institute of Technology. She earned her PhD in Government, currently serves as the Secretary for Community Board 8 in Manhattan, and she created and maintains the digital database of all official Congress-to-constituent e-newsletters in the DCInbox Project. Her book, How To Raise a Citizen is a practical guide to becoming better civic role models by showing how to have conversations about the important functions of government, citizen participation, and political issues with children of all ages, even in these polarizing times.

The way that children learn best is by experience and observation. Who do you want your kid to become? Do you want them to be kind, curious, brave, confident? Do you want them to be a leader in some way? Well, then for the love of them and this country, demonstrate it.

Connect with Lindsey:

Website:  https://www.lindseycormack.com/ 

Book: https://howtoraiseacitizen.com/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/howtoraiseacitizen/ 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Head to zenimals.com/NICOLEMKALIL and use my code NICOLEMKALIL to save 10% off your Zenimal!  Whether you’re looking for yourself, your kid(s)/teens, as a gift for someone else - everyone will benefit from more moments of zen!

I’ve become convinced that fear has gotten a bad rap. What if fear is not the enemy? What if fear is just misunderstood, and if you actually spent some time with it and got to know it a little better, you’d actually discover that fear is your friend?

In today’s episode of This Is Woman’s Work, I’m going to ask you to be open to setting aside everything you’ve heard and think you know about fear, so that you can begin to access the possibilities and opportunities that embracing fear creates for you.

Here to help us do that is Judi Holler - Author of the instant bestseller Fear Is My Homeboy, host of the top rated podcast “Yes, And”, International Keynote Speaker, Creator and CEO of Haus of {&}, and an improve alum of Second City’s Conservatory in Chicago. Judi shares the power of the improvisational mindset, how to unlock the transformational power of {&}, while also challenging us to become best friends with fear.

Stop chasing being fearless and start welcoming fear to your life by making space for it. You’ll never be able to outrun it or get rid of it, but you can befriend it and get really good at doing things even while feeling afraid. And that my friends is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about Judi you can find her on Instagram @judiholler, or visit judiholler.com for more info.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Tired of hearing "do more" or "work harder" as the solution to every problem? You're not alone. For women—especially moms—working in environments that don’t prioritize efficiency, burnout is almost inevitable.

Enter Dr. Mithu Storoni, a physician, neuroscience researcher, and author of Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work. Trained at the University of Cambridge, Dr. Storoni is an expert in mental performance and stress management, advising global corporations on how to work effectively without sacrificing well-being.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into her revolutionary insights on how to become hyperefficient. From avoiding decision fatigue to structuring your day for maximum impact, you’ll leave this conversation armed with tools to optimize your brain, rethink productivity, and stop glorifying busyness.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why doing more isn’t the same as being more effective.
• The neuroscience behind decision fatigue and how to overcome it.
• How prioritizing efficiency can transform your career and well-being.
• Why “the busier you look, the less productive you’re being.”

Connect with Mithu Storin: 

Website: https://www.mithustoroni.com/ 

Book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/mithu-storoni/hyperefficient/9780316566933/

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• 192 / How To Ask For Help with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer

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Have you ever worked in a place and felt like they just don’t get you? Like your talents, contributions and potential is being overlooked? I know a lot of women who have felt this way most of their professional career.

So how do we pave our own way? How do we play to our strengths, and create success in the face of being told that we should be different?

I’m joined by Andrea Williams - Speaker, Wealth Management Advisor and Author, whom I greatly admire for her ability to do just that. When Andrea started her career she was different then the norm in just about every way, and she’s turned those differences into difference makers creating massive success for herself and blazing the trail for other women in her field.

Our job is not to convince others of our value. If you want to grow your confidence or self worth, stop giving other people the calculator. Show up as the only person you can authentically be...YOU. If they don’t appreciate, notice, value or understand you, well you have a choice to make...blaze a new trail, or find a new place to work that does.

This is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

What if some villains are put in your life for a reason? What if they are put there as an opportunity for you to overcome them? So that you can be the superhero of your own story.

Our guest today literally wrote a book on it. Heather Monahan is a best-selling author of her recently released book titled Overcome Your Villains. She was named one of the Top 40 Female Keynote Speakers for 2020 by Real Leaders, and you may know her from USA Today, CNN, Gary V’s Audio Experience, or The Steve Harvey Show, just to name a few. Heather and I have a shared passion as her first book, Creating Confidence, shot to #1 on Amazon, and was named a Top 5 Book for Women by Forbes. Heather shares with us her tips for being your authentic self and rising above your villains.

Your villains are never meant to be the star of your show. That role is yours and yours alone.

This Is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about Heather and her work visit HeatherMonahan.com

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

I firmly believe that gender expectations damage everyone, and that in order for ALL of us to achieve equity, it’s going to require not just women to fight for what’s right, but everyone.

But men often share that they feel like they’re walking on eggshells and are afraid to say and do the wrong things. While I don’t feel sorry for them, I do have empathy. And I’m not talking about the a-holes here, but the men who want to be part of the solution.

Which is why I invited Joanne Lipman on the show. Joanne is the author of the national bestseller, That’s What She Said: What Men and Women Need to Know About Working Together, former editor-in-chief at USA Today and Conde Nast, and referral from Adam Grant (who I’m professionally obsessed with). She drops some serious (and well researched) knowledge!

We’ll all get where we want to go faster, if we work together. Good men can’t stay silent and a little extra empathy across the board wouldn’t hurt anyone. “Woman’s Work” will be what WE make it, so let's work together to make it something amazing.

P.S. This is a great listen for anyone of any gender, especially those who are leading others.

To follow Joanne you can visit her website at www.joannelipman.com or on IG @joannelipman. And you can buy her book That’s What She Said on Amazon.

Click here to pre-order Validation Is For Parking, which will be released on October 4th!

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

In this episode, we delve into the concept of being "qualified" in the workplace, examining who gets labeled as such, who doesn't, and the underlying reasons. We explore "competency checking"—the practice of scrutinizing individuals' abilities—and how it disproportionately affects underrepresented groups, often going unnoticed or unchallenged. Our discussion aims to redefine qualifications in a fair, equitable, and actionable manner.

Our guest, Shari Dunn, is an accomplished journalist, former attorney, news anchor, CEO, university professor, and sought-after speaker. She has been recognized as Executive of the Year and a Woman of Influence, with her work appearing in Fortune Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Ad Age, and more. Her new book, Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work, unpacks what it truly means to be deserving and capable—and why systemic barriers, not personal deficits, are often the real problem. Her insights challenge the narratives that hold so many of us back and offer practical solutions for building a more equitable future.

Together, we can build workplaces and communities that don’t just reflect the world we live in, but the one we want to create. A world where being qualified is about recognizing the talent and potential that’s been overlooked for far too long. It’s not just about getting a seat at the table—it’s about building an entirely new table, one designed with space for all of us.

Connect with Our Guest Shari Dunn

Website& Book - Qualified: https://thesharidunn.com 

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/sharidunn

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesharidunn 

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• How To Defy Expectations with Dr. Sunita Sah | 271

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I know being happy every minute of every day isn’t an option, but I do wish I saw more women experiencing it regularly. I wish women allowed themselves to choose happiness FAR more frequently without feeling guilty or selfish.

So let’s talk about how we might do that.

Joining me is Zenica Chatman, who after experiencing workplace trauma, went on a path to redefine her own self-worth and what it means to be happy and successful. Now as a certified coach, she’s helped many other women do the same.

What does it mean to be happy, FOR YOU? 

Are you choosing it? Every day? 

Because happiness is an available option far more often than we think. And you deserve to choose happiness. 

Connect with Zenica:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zenica.chatman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zenica-chatman-86b50110/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/z_chatman/

Click here to access her free guide to Loving Your Job Again 

To join Nicole’s pod (to get all the inside scoops, free stuff, and the occasional rant), click here

Parenting comes with a lot of expectations, but have you ever stopped to ask where they come from? On this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, we unpack the myth of “the good mother” with Nancy Reddy, author of The Good Mother Myth.

Nancy shares her personal experience of confronting the unrealistic ideal of motherhood: endlessly patient, always available, and completely selfless. She hilariously and heartbreakingly debunks these outdated ideals, rooted in flawed mid-20th-century research by figures like Harry Harlow and Dr. Spock.

Nancy explains how bad science from the past continues to haunt modern parenting, creating pressure, guilt, and shame for today’s mothers. But this conversation is about more than debunking myths—it’s about empowerment.

Because when you prioritize what matters and let go of perfectionism, you’re not just doing woman’s work—you’re modeling it.

Connect with Nancy:

Newsletter: https://nancyreddy.substack.com/ 

Book: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-good-mother-myth-9781250336644/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/nancy.o.reddy/ 

Essay: I Was Promised That The “Golden Hour” Would Make Me A Mom: 

https://slate.com/human-interest/2022/04/golden-hour-c-section-bonding-attachment-baby-friendly-hospitals.html

Related Podcast Episodes:

• 126 / The Parenting Map with Dr. Shefali

• 090 / Unmasking Modern Motherhood with Katherine Wintsch

• 155 / Executive Motherhood with Ashley Quinto Powell

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In a world of surface-level interactions and quick fixes, what does it mean to truly connect? Today, Nicole is joined by Talia Fox, CEO of KUSI Global and author of The Power of Conscious Connection, to explore how authentic relationships and intentional leadership can transform our lives and work.

Talia’s expertise as a psychologist and “inspiration Jedi” has guided leaders in organizations ranging from the U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs to Harvard and Howard Universities. Her mission? To help us trade transactional interactions for meaningful, conscious connections that align our values with our actions.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why connection is a brave, messy, and essential act.
• How listening is the most underrated and impactful leadership skill.
• Tools for building conscious equity and connected cultures.
• How to align values with actions for deeper relationships at work and in life.

Connection is a two-way street—when we truly see, hear, and value others, we also feel seen, heard, and valued. So let’s trade fake for real, surface for deep, and quick for meaningful.

Connect with Talia Fox: 

Website: https://taliafox.com/ 

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Conscious-Connection-Habits-Transform/dp/1646871359

Kusi Training: https://kusitraining.com 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/taliafoxspeaks/?hl=en

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• 133 / Making Friends As An Adult with Danielle McCombs

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!

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On this episode we discuss what I believe to be the common denominator of success. The thing that all the people who make it big have in common.

What do you think that is? Hard work? Talent? Passion or great connections?

I believe it’s this: They are RESILIENT. Which, for most of us, is a skill we get to build.

Here to help us do just that is Erika Rothenberger. She uses her degree in Civil Engineering and Masters in Business Administration in her full-time career as Director of Performance Systems for the large national utility contractor, Henkels & McCoy. She runs two female empowerment networking groups in her community, is the host of the “Grit,Grace & Glitz” podcast, and is a captivating keynote speaker. So she’s busy, but I need you to hear me – she’s resilient. 

As she shares, resilience is less about sucking it up or muscling your way through it, and more about adapting, learning, growing and recovering well.

It’s about bending, but not breaking.

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Connect with Erika Rothenberger:

Website: https://www.erikarothenberger.com/

Erika’s speaker reel:  https://vimeo.com/900147226.

Grit, Grace & Glitz podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grit-grace-glitz-with-erika-rothenberger/id1563962436 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsors:

For CAKES grippy, not sticky, nipple covers visit cakesbody.com and use Promo Code: TIWW to get your 10% discount!

Women excel in school—higher GPAs, more degrees, more advanced education—yet the moment they enter the workforce, the advantage disappears. And when it comes time for promotions, the numbers tell a stark truth: for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women make the jump. This gap compounds over time, keeping women from reaching senior leadership long before they ever get a shot at the top.

This is what our guest today, Kweilin Ellingrud, calls The Broken Rung—the single biggest obstacle preventing women from advancing in their careers. As a McKinsey senior partner, researcher, and co-author of The Broken Rung: When the Career Ladder Breaks for Women—and How They Can Succeed in Spite of It, Kweilin has spent years studying this issue and developing actionable strategies to help women navigate and overcome these barriers—regardless of whether their companies are ready to fix the system.

No one’s saying you have to climb the corporate ladder. If you want to build your own, take a completely different route, or burn the whole damn thing down—I support you. But if you do want to climb, the bare minimum should be that your ladder is as solid, as high-reaching, and as accessible as anyone else’s.

So climb. We’ll be holding the ladder for you.

Connect with Kweilin Ellingrud: 

Book: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/the-broken-rung 

Women in the Workplace 2024 Report: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace 

Implicit Association Test: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatouchtestv2.html 

Related Podcast Episodes:

• QUALIFIED: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work with Shari Dunn | 284

• Belonging (At Work) with Dr. Beth Kaplan | 286

• Holding It Together: Women As America's Safety Net with Jessica Calarco | 215

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I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m overexposed to being told I must do things like wake up by 5am, work out every single day, start out each day with a strategic morning routine, work the longest hours, grind it out, and be hyper disciplined at all times and at all costs in order to be successful. I know these things can and do create success for people, but this one size fits all approach makes me want to vomit.

I’ve invited Tricia Hamilton - Leadership Coach with a degree in psychology, to join us on this episode. Tricia helps us to unravel some misconceptions and rethink how mindset and habits connect, how they don’t, and how we can reform them to serve us and our goals.

Mindset, goals, commitment and habits do matter. They are difference makers in creating success. However it is YOU that defines success and YOU are the decider of what you need to do to get there. Nobody has a lock on what it takes or even what success looks like for everyone. Go find and live your answer.

This is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Love addiction? Is that even a real thing?

Yep.

In this episode, Nicole welcomes guest Katie Grimes, Love Addiction Coach, and host of the “Anything For Love” podcast, to share with us her own journey with love addiction, as well as her experience in helping others overcome their dependency.

Love addiction can show up in many different ways, some subtle - some not so subtle. But the feelings underneath it all have no variation. Katie identifies key behaviors and signs to a possible self diagnosis, an important first step to healing, and shares some valuable resources.

We are wired for connection, we are wired for love. How can we redirect the love we crave from others back into ourselves, so that we can build healthy relationships? (Hint hint...it doesn’t start with the other person)

We. Are. Good. Enough.

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

We’re a few weeks into the new year, so how are your resolutions going?

If the answer is anything but GREAT, this episode is for you. Because there’s a huge segment of people I want to acknowledge – those who make the resolutions and then don’t follow through, for whatever reason. And my concern is less about follow through, and more about the beat up, guilt, and shame that often comes along with it. My theory as to why many of us DON’T follow through is that whatever intention/goal/or resolution that was set was probably too big of a pendulum swing.

This episode is for those of you, like me, who have very little “totally figured out”. 

May you find YOUR best place for your pendulum to land and may you accept and maybe appreciate all the paradoxes life brings – like less is more, commitment creates freedom, and the more you try to please everyone, the less pleased everyone will be (especially YOU).

Some things may be black or white - but in most cases, we live in a world of pendulum swings and paradoxes!

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Take the FREE BodCon Quiz  to begin your journey to cultivating a deeper level of body confidence: https://rebrand.ly/nicolekalil 

How can you be a better brand ambassador for yourself? A lot of women I work with (myself included) struggle with self promotion. I’m not sure why… we are total badasses. :)

In this episode I welcome Terri Lomax - a globally recognized Brand Strategist, Speaker and Podcaster, to help inspire us all to walk into our greatness, when creating our personal brand and leveraging social media.Terri talks about how, whether you are aware of it or not, people are already making associations with you. So by taking ownership of that narrative and being more strategic, you can be in the driver’s seat with your branding.

If you don’t brand yourself...who will?

It’s important that we all own our messaging and that we share our authentic, imperfect and worthy selves. Stand in who you are and what you have to offer and give to others. Share your story, share your purpose, share what makes you different.

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

If you’re tuning into this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, I’m guessing it’s EITHER because you listened to last week and CAN’T WAIT to hear the rest of this amazing conversation, or you happened to stumble upon our show. If that’s the case, I’d like to encourage you to go back to last week's episode, because this is Part 2 of a two-part episode on the patterns, approaches, and ways that women ARE NOT supporting women.

And let me tell you, this conversation goes down as one of my all time favorites in the 3.5 years I’ve been hosting this show. Caroline Adams Miller brings a scientific, research-backed, and data led approach to the important topics we’re covering.

The time has come for ampliship - let’s SHARE the stories of women doing amazing things. Collaborate with other women to promote and recognize each other. GO PUBLIC with your support. Make sure there are witnesses as you promote them, reference their work, and celebrate their successes.

Become a MASTER of supporting other women. Let’s make ampliship both the word and the action of the year. That is WOMAN’S work.

To learn more about Caroline you can visit her website at www.carolinemiller.com or follow her on IG @carolineadamsmiller and @cultivatingeliteorganizations or on Twitter @carolinemcoach

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com. 

What are some of the popular approaches to success that you’re feeling pressured to do, but just don’t feel right to you?

Success for me isn’t about rigidity, adding more shit to my plate, or even mental toughness and  these one size fits all approaches is just another thing that’s saying you must be perfect (no cheats, no misses, no exceptions), and that the way to become confident and all the things you want is thru achievement. 

I call bullshit. And on today's episode I walk through some examples of these popular approaches and why I think they do more harm than good. 

What other success principles drive you nuts? What other maybe more masculine approaches to business aren’t serving you? What one-size-fits all approaches are being shoved down your throat?

TRUST yourself. 

And while confidence is my passion, I hope I never send the message that there’s only one way to achieve it or that I EVER would make you feel bad or less than if my message doesn’t speak to you or feel right for you.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com. 

If you're caught somewhere between lovingly shoving your kid out of the nest—or holding on for dear life—this episode is for you. Because sending them off to college is equal parts exciting and terrifying. And let’s be honest… it’s not just about them growing up, it’s about us figuring out how to let go.

Our guest, Dr. Pamela Ellis, also known as The Education Doctor®, has empowered over 30,000 families to navigate the college process without drowning in stress—or debt. Through her company, Compass College Advisory, she’s helped students gain admission to their top-choice schools with a 95% success rate, securing an average of $75,000 in scholarships per student. She’s also the author of the best-selling book What to Know Before They Go: College Edition, offering parents a roadmap for college prep that actually makes sense.

And she gets it—not just as an expert, but as a mom.

So if you’re hoping for more confidence, less panic, and maybe even some money left in the bank, you’re in the right place. Because while we raise them to leave, we also want to be steady and ready for those moments they choose to come home.

Connect with Our Guest: Dr. Pamela Ellis

If you connect via socials below and send the code BLUEPRINT25 you'll get your free blueprint

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drpamelaellis/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpamelaellis/ 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/drpamela.ellis

Yourtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theeducationdoctor 

Website: https://compasscollegeadvisory.com/   

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• 5-Steps To Making Big Decisions with Abby Davisson | 222

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In this episode, I welcome guest Jennifer Nagel - Certified Personal Trainer and Body Transformation Expert, to share her 3 M’s of health - you’ll need to listen in to learn what they are!

As women we often struggle with prioritizing our own health, so our needs can get put on the back burner. Jennifer talks about how you can work out effectively in less time (because who has 2 hours to get to the gym?!), and how you may need to eat more (the 1,200 calorie diet doesn’t cut it).

You only get one body, this body. What if you loved it, cared for it, honored it like a sacred temple, like a home? What would THAT look like for you?

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

If you are a self-doubting mom who would love nothing more than to feel confident as a parent, you are not alone, and this episode is for you.

Our guest on today’s episode of This Is Woman’s Work is Katherine Wintsch, founder and CEO of The Mom Complex, and author of Slay Like A Mother. Her research has been featured on The Today Show, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Working Mother magazine, to name a few. And she’s here today to share some of that ground breaking research from her popular book so that we can ALL slay like a mother.

“The dragon raging inside you has a name and it’s self doubt. You’re the only one who can see it so you’re the only who can slay it. You have two choices, either learn to slay this beast, or it will slowly and silently slay you. If you don’t rise up and take back your life, and your sanity, the constant battle and fighting will wear you down and wear you out. And you, your family and the world will miss out on the best of you. You can do this, let’s go slay some dragons.”

– Katherine Wintsch

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about Katherine, visit slaylikeamother.com, click HERE to sign up for her newsletter, or connect with her on IG @slaylikeamother.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Have you ever wished there was an instruction manual that came with your child so you’d understand how they operate and what to do as their parent?

We’re here today to have a conversation about parenting… one that’s coming from a place of love and a desire that every mom I know has… how we can be the best mom to our littles. And because I can’t think of a better person to lead that conversation, I’ve invited Dr. Shefali to join me.

Acclaimed author of THREE NYT best-sellers, international speaker, clinical psychologist, and wisdom teacher, Dr. Shefali wrote the guide we’ve all been looking for… her new book, The Parenting Map, comes out February 28th and it gives us step by step solutions to create the ultimate parent-child relationship. My greatest takeaway is that doing that, starts with transforming OURSELVES.

I don’t have a lot of parenting advice outside of this… heal yourself so you can trust yourself. And get your hands on Dr. Shefali’s book!

To learn more about Dr. Shefali and her work go to www.drshefali.com or follow her on IG @doctorshefali

Here’s the link to purchase her new book The Parenting Map, and info on her Parenting Mastery Summit.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com.

How do we live a fulfilling life, even in the face of life’s inevitable challenges, hardships, or unspeakable trauma?

This episode features a conversation with someone uniquely qualified to answer that question—Dr. Edith Eger, psychologist, Holocaust survivor, and author of The Choice, The Gift, and her latest release, The Ballerina of Auschwitz. I’m honored, humbled, and admittedly a little nervous to speak with Dr. Eger, who has redefined what it means to live with fulfillment, no matter the circumstances.

Dr. Eger, a colleague of Viktor Frankl, has dedicated her career to working with veterans, military personnel, and trauma survivors. She was once a promising gymnast, cut from her Olympic dreams because of her religion, and later imprisoned in a concentration camp. In that unimaginable darkness, she exercised not just physical flexibility, but mental and emotional resilience—the very qualities she now teaches us to embody. 

If you take away one thing from this conversation, let it be this: No matter what life throws your way, you can always choose how you respond—and you can choose to live a life that fulfills you.

Tune in to hear this inspiring discussion with Dr. Edith Eger and her grandson Jordan Engel, and prepare to be moved, challenged, and empowered to live your fullest life.

Connect With Our Guest: Dr. Edith Eger

Website: https://dreditheger.com/ 

Book:https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ballerina-of-Auschwitz/Edith-Eva-Eger/9781665952552 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.editheger/?hl=en

X:https://twitter.com/DrEdithEger1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor 

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Trauma with Jessi Beyer

• Healing Mental And Emotional Wounds with Stephanie Kwong

Share the Love:

🔗 Subscribe & Review:
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I value the intention behind Work/Life Balance, which is that work isn’t supposed to consume our entire lives. But the “balance” part is confusing for many, and it always hits me funny that it implies that we leave our lives when we go to work. As someone who loves their career, I’d say my work is very much a part of my LIFE. 

I’ve invited our guest, Dr. Sohee Jun, to join me to talk about how to succeed, as women, at LIFE, which of course, includes our work. As a top leadership coach, keynote speaker, leadership development expert and Amazon best-selling author, Dr.Jun works with emerging leaders and executives to unleash their untapped power. She worked over 20 years in the corporate world and is here today to talk about how we can build trust with and for ourselves so we create the Work/Life we truly want.

Maybe it’s less about balance and more about CHOICE. Knowing there’s power in our NO, value in our YES, and impact in our “not nows” or “not yets”. Maybe you already know the answer of how to succeed at work and in your life… you just need to be brave enough to listen.

All I know for certain is, this is the life you get to live and it's my greatest desire that you live it with intention.

To learn more about Sohee you can visit her website at www.soheejunphd.com or follow her on IG @soheejun_phd and LinkedIn @Sohee Jun 

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com. 

While there are many great purposes for social media, the news and various other forms of media, these can also negatively impact our energy, our mindset, and our confidence.

I am joined by Liesl Ulrich-Verderber - CEO of Ever Widening Circles, a global positive media company with the goal of proving we still live in an amazing world by changing the negative dialogue and celebrating the people, organizations and discoveries that prove it.

What impact would it have on your energy if you found a healthy way to be informed, to digest what’s going on in the world? Not to put your head in the sand, but to also look for the good, rather than allowing yourself to just be sucked into the bad. To have empathy, to remain curious, to be kind, and to remain confident, no matter what media you’re engaged in.

You have the choice of who and what you let in. Choose with your values, your hopes, your goals and your sanity in mind. Choose wisely. This Is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about Liesl Ulrich-Verderber please visit: www.everwideningcircles.com

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

In this episode, I welcome my special guest Alicia Romano - Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, to share her perspective on the importance of nourishing our bodies both on and off the plate. Alicia helps guide us BACK to the basics of understanding what our bodies really need to function at our best.

And guess what? Traditional dieting doesn’t play a role in any of this.

So many of us have unhealthy relationships with food, and for a lot of us, our food fears have kicked into high gear during this time. My consumption of cheese and wine has hit an all-time high...HELLO emotional eating! But I love how Alicia says “That’s ok” and to give grace and kindness to ourselves, and how cravings aren’t such a bad thing after all.

Big bad craving monster...take that!

What if we shifted our focus and took on this concept of choosing our food based on how it’ll make us feel, as opposed to how it’ll make us look? For me, this is a much healthier (and somewhat freeing!) way to live. I’m excited to share Alicia’s perspective and am committed to putting it into practice myself.

I hope you’ll join me!

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

Why are we so obsessed with doing it all? It seems like there’s not a problem that we don’t try to solve with some version of “do more”.

We are inundated with messages that hard work creates success and that we’re supposed to grind, and have grit, pay the price, be disciplined and get shit done.

I’m tired. Or maybe I’m just old and cranky. But either way I'm going to share in this episode of This Is Woman’s Work how both myself and the women I coach have achieved our greatest success by doing less.

Will people judge you if you go against the “do more” grain? Sure, but people will have opinions no matter what you do. They can have all the grind awards, the ‘first in, last out’ badges of honor, and every Overworked Woman of the Year trophy if they want them.

I’m going further by doing less. Clarity, purpose, courage, passion…that is woman’s work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

We’re going to do something a little different on this episode, and play affirmation roulette with none other than Kirsten Ferguson. 

Because, let's be real. What we say to ourselves, about ourselves MATTERS. We all spend the bulk of our time, the majority of our LIVES, inside our own mind… we really ought to make it a nice place to be.

After seven years of working with the NFL, Kirsten made the decision to shift her focus to family. Her journey to motherhood was not easy, and fitness helped Kirsten strengthen her body and soul during difficult times. She is now the proud mother of two beautiful daughters and uses her life experiences to fuel her deeply inspiring workouts. She shares affirmations while you move… ones that speak directly to your soul and feel like they were meant just for you, and come at exactly the right time. You can find her on the Peloton Tread and you can count on epic hip hop and R&B playlists, a truly great workout, AND affirmations that remind you who you are and what actually matters.

It’s time you affirm yourself! Because if you don’t affirm YOU and your choices, who will?

Connect with Kirsten and resources:

IG: @iamkirstenferguson 

Peloton Website: https://www.onepeloton.com/instructors/peloton_kf

Join the Ratchet Mom Club: #ratchetmomclub 

To join Nicole’s pod (to get all the inside scoops, free stuff, and the occasional rant), click here

Do you have days where everything feels heavy? The responsibilities and the burdens, the expectations and the worries, and you feel like you’re just not strong enough to carry it all. And you’re afraid you’re about to break.

Me too. And here’s what I know – we’re not meant to feel that way.

As our guest today will tell you, the light isn’t where you think it is. It isn’t out there. You don’t need to go searching for it. It lives inside you, and it’s always there.

Jessica Zweig, has been declared “a voice of her time” by Marianne Williamson and “Personal Branding Expert” by Forbes. A serial entrepreneur, Jessica founded three businesses and recently sold her agency, SimplyBe., the nation’s premier personal branding company. Her first book was the #1 bestseller, Be: A No Bullsh*t Guide to Increasing Your Self-Worth and Your Net Worth by Simply Being Yourself. Her newly released book, THE LIGHT WORK: Reclaim Your Feminine Power, Live Your Cosmic Truth, Illuminate the World, just hit shelves! Host of top-ranked podcast, The Spiritual Hustler, Jessica is a highly sought-after speaker, a leader of a global community of spiritual women and hosts sold-out retreats on business, branding, and spirituality across the world.

If you’re feeling dark and things are heavy, I’m sending you so much love and reminding you that light only needs the smallest space to get in. There’s a fire burning within you, I just know it.

Grab your matches, we ride at dawn.

Connect with Jessica:

Website: https://jessicazweig.com/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jessicazweig/

Book: https://www.amazon.sg/Light-Work-Reclaim-Feminine-Illuminate/dp/1250332966 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

Thanks to our This Is Woman’s Work Sponsor:

Head to zenimals.com and use my code NICOLEMKALIL to save 10% off your Zenimal!  Whether you’re looking for yourself, your kid(s)/teens, as a gift for someone else - everyone will benefit from more moments of zen.

Our topic is about taking risks, but I didn’t want to cover it with one of those “mer-women” (like mermaids, but with independence) who has done it all, unafraid, and made it look effortless. I wanted to talk about it with someone who I know would be REAL. 

Real women taking real risks, big and small, with REAL feelings about it.

So, without further delay, let me introduce my new friend Liz Deacle.  Liz, is a British expat currently living in New Zealand with her family. Liz and her husband embarked on a year-long backpacking adventure with their teenagers on a budget of just $70 a day. This experience inspired Liz to start a travel blog where she discovered her hidden talent for storytelling and developed a mastery for using Pinterest to build a loyal audience. 

Today, Liz and Brian spend long periods traveling, creating content for their two popular websites and running a membership site that helps other people who want to move to New Zealand. Their YouTube channel, “It’s a Drama,” has over a million views, and their comedy podcast also called It’s a Drama, has hundreds of thousands of downloads. She has just published her first book, The Travel Bog Diaries.

With risk there comes failure, but failure isn’t permanent. Only regret is. And with risk there also comes success, confidence, and the life you really want. Isn’t that worth the risk?

Start small, but start.

To learn more about Liz you can visit her website at www.lizdeacle.com  or follow her on IG @itsadrama 

To join Nicole’s pod (to get all the inside scoops, free stuff, and the occasional rant), click here

Is success about how much you make? Is it about being influential? Is it about having it all? 

How do we, how do YOU, define success?

Here to help us answer that question is Stella Grizont, the Author of The Work Happiness Method, an Executive Coach, one of the first 150 people in the world to earn a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology (aka the science of happiness) from the University of Pennsylvania, and a leading happiness expert according to Time Magazine. Leveraging research from positive psychology, neuroscience, and leadership, Stella helps people identify their vision of success and make strides towards achieving it -- in their career and in life.

Success needs to first be defined in order to be achieved.

And then acknowledged and celebrated in order to be experienced.

Otherwise we’re just chasing an elusive moving target, and I can tell you from experience that that is fucking exhausting.

Create YOUR success – define it, achieve it, celebrate it.

Connect with Stella:

Website: www.stellagrizont.com 

Book: https://www.stellagrizont.com/work-happiness-method-book 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/stellagrizont/ 

Free Vision Generator Resource: www.visiongenerator.com 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

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It’s easy to be grateful and optimistic when things are going great. But during times of transition, when facing the unknown, when life throws you a curveball...THOSE are the times it can be challenging to choose a positive mindset.

And if it were easy, everyone would do it and we’d have nothing to talk about on this episode.

I’m joined by Susan Tripi - Women’s Empowerment Coach, Blogger, Non-Profit Advisor and Advocate, to talk about positive mindset and gratitude in the midst of transition, hurt and stress. Her advice on how to support women going through divorce is some of the best I’ve ever heard!

I say to anyone who’s standing in the unknown, in pain or in transition...we see you, and we honor you. I lovingly challenge you to put one foot in front of the other, ask for the support you need, and hold on with every bit of strength you have to the knowing that tomorrow is coming. The sun will rise, and there is every reason for hope. Even if you can’t see it yet. In spite of all of your fears and worries, there is another side and you WILL get there.

This is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

For many of us, delivering a TED Talk sits firmly on our bucket lists. But how do you move from dreaming to standing on that iconic red circle? In this episode, Nicole reconnects with Ashley Stahl to break down exactly how to make that dream a reality.

You may remember Ashley from Episode 92—her career began at the Pentagon in counterterrorism, but she has since transformed into a career expert, international speaker, and author. Ashley’s book, YOU Turn, became an international bestseller, and she is now recognized as a top 100 TEDx speaker. She believes TEDx talks are the super highway to launching your personal brand, and with over 100 successful clients, her coaching boasts a 90% success rate in landing speakers on stage.

If giving a TEDx talk has ever crossed your mind, you have an idea worth spreading. This episode will inspire you to gather your courage, find the right support, and take action toward your TED dream.

So what do you say? Shall we see each other on the big red circle?

Connect With Our Guest: Ashley Stahl 

Website: www.wisewhisperagency.com  

Special Offer: Mention this podcast to get $1,000 off Ashley's TEDx coaching package

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Holler At Your Dreams with Judi Holler

• Let’s Get Unapologetically Bold with Vaneese Johnson

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I’ve invited my guest to join me today for totally selfish reasons, because she might be one of the only people on the planet that I’d consider trading lives with.

After getting her degree in journalism from NYU, Mary Shea landed in Napa CA, where she met her now husband, an Italian vintner. She has spent many years working at the top end of the wine business, while also curating her own custom travel design business. Mary shares with us what she loves about making wine in Tuscany (what’s not to love?!?), as well as the challenges and obstacles of her business. She also shares some helpful tips for great wine and travel!

Chase. Your. Dreams.

Be open to possibilities, explore, go new places, meet new people, experience differences, and what brings us all together. Find joy in the life you’re living, and take just one step closer to something that lights you up from the inside.

This is Woman’s Work.

To learn more about Mary Shea please visit: maryshea.co

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

When we market our business we know the outcome we want, but how many of us truly understand what our potential clients or customers want? Do we understand how they make decisions?

On this episode our guest talks about the Age of Instinct and how we can and should adapt our marketing efforts in a way that actually influences people.

Joining us is Leslie Zane, award-winning marketer, TEDx speaker and recognized authority in harnessing the instinctive mind to accelerate brand and business growth. Founder and CEO of Triggers, the first brand consulting firm rooted in behavioral science, Leslie champions the primacy of the instinctive mind in brand decisions. She is the author of The Power of Instinct: The New Rules of Persuasion in Business and Life and her groundbreaking contributions have deepened our understanding of human decision-making and unlocked the elusive formula for accelerating brand and business growth.

How can you leverage Growth Triggers in your business, in your communities and in your life? Because let’s face it, it’s not just business owners that are trying to get other people to do what we want.

Every single one of us has a brand – and we’re all out there marketing it. We’re living billboards for our values, our beliefs, and our choices.

Connect with Leslie:

Book: https://thepowerofinstinctbook.com/

Website: https://lesliezane.com/ 

TedX: https://www.ted.com/talks/leslie_zane_the_hidden_link_between_success_and_the_subconscious/up-next 

Like what you heard? Please rate and review 

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In this episode, I welcome guest Melissa Lorenzo-Hervé - Full-Time Attorney Editor, CEO/Co-Founder/Creative Director of Pirouette, wife and mother of 2. Melissa shares with us some great insight into managing a very busy life, as well as how one goes about starting a new business with limited time.

It may feel like other people have more capacity, more talent or more luck than you. It’s easy to compare ourselves to others and feel behind. But like Melissa, like myself (regular people like you!) we are so much more capable than we give ourselves credit for. This has nothing to do with perfection, there’s no perfect way to start a business, there’s no perfect way to do any of this.

We as women are so many things to so many people. But who are you, for YOU?

There’s purpose inside you. There are dreams and passions, for you, and I believe it’s time to honor them. Because I can’t think of anything more important to redefining Woman’s Work, than the notion that we show up as our authentic selves, with all our gifts, with all of our strengths, so we can take the world to its feet.

This is Woman’s Work

To learn more about what we are up to outside of this podcast, visit us at NicoleKalil.com

We’re going to talk about some of the big compensation myths that might be holding YOU back and share some alternative approaches.

I’ve invited Kelli Thompson back to the show, as she shares my passion for confidence, and is focused specifically on how confidence impacts your paycheck. She has coached and trained hundreds of women to trust themselves, lead, and create a career they love. She is the founder of the Clarity & Confidence Women’s Leadership Program, a Stevie Award winner for Women in Business—Coach of the Year, and the author of Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck.

Determining your compensation almost ALWAYS involves more than just one perspective. It’s a discussion, a negotiation, an agreement. 

But ADVOCATING for what you believe you’re worth just takes YOU.

Like what you heard? Please rate and review by clicking here. 

Join Nicole’s pod (to get all the inside scoops, free stuff, and the occasional rant), click here

Connect with Kelli and Resources:

Website: www.kelliraethompson.com 

Book: closingtheconfidencegap.com/book