This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil

Women are told to be strong, but not hard. Confident, but not intimidating. Emotional, but for the love of God, don’t be too sensitive. Apparently, there’s some magical “just right” version of womanhood—but nobody seems to have the address.

In this episode of This Is Woman’s Work, Nicole Kalil talks with Dr. Sasha Hamdani, board-certified psychiatrist, mental health educator, and author of Too Sensitive about why feeling deeply isn’t a flaw to fix. They unpack rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), what happens when emotions hijack logic, how hormones impact sensitivity, and practical ways to regulate without stuffing, numbing, or apologizing for what’s being felt.

In This Episode:

Why sensitivity isn’t weakness—and can actually be a leadership strength

What rejection sensitive dysphoria is and why rejection can hit so damn hard

How to regulate emotions without suppressing them

Why hormones matter more than women have been taught

Why the goal isn’t thicker skin—it’s greater self-awareness and control

Feeling deeply isn’t the same as being fragile. The goal isn’t to become less sensitive—it’s to understand it, work with it, and stop shrinking perfectly human parts of ourselves just because they make someone else uncomfortable.

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Connect with Sasha:

Website: https://www.drhamdanimd.com/toosensitive

Book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250423764/toosensitive/

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

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

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Working mothers are often told they can "have it all." But what many actually hear is that they're expected to do it all—build a successful career, raise thriving children, manage a household, nurture relationships, and somehow make it all look effortless. It's no wonder so many women feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and convinced they're somehow falling short.

In this episode of This Is Woman's Work, Nicole Kalil welcomes Julia Sewell—performance coach, founder of the Self-Made Mom movement, entrepreneur, and author of The Self-Made Mom: Thriving at Home and at Work Without Compromise. Together, they challenge outdated expectations surrounding motherhood and success while exploring what it truly means to build a life that honors both ambition and well-being.

In This Episode, Nicole and Julia Discuss:

What it means to become a "Self-Made Mom."

The concept of "noble self-abandonment" and how it keeps women depleted.

How tying self-worth to productivity leaves women feeling like they're never enough.

Julia's personal "broken red cup" story and the wake-up call that transformed her marriage and life.

Why self-awareness often has to come before relationship repair.

How partners can become allies in building healthier family systems.

Why working moms should apply business strategies to their personal lives.

Using values, systems, and planning to reduce stress and decision fatigue.

Communicating effectively with family members and other key stakeholders.

Delegating responsibilities based on strengths instead of outdated assumptions.

How hiring help can reduce burnout and create more presence at home.

Letting go of the myth of perfect work-life balance.

This powerful conversation is about what it really takes to redefine success on your own terms as a working mom. Offering a new way forward for women who are ready to stop measuring themselves against impossible standards and start building lives that actually work for them.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW. Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills!

Connect with Julia:

Website: https://www.theselfmademom.com/

Book: Sign up to be notified when the book launches and receive exclusive updates at: https://www.theselfmademom.com/book

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144 / Jay & Nicole Kalil on Partnership, With Guest Host Lynn Casaletto

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Guilt has become so commonplace in women's lives that many of us barely notice it anymore. It shows up when we set boundaries, ask for help, prioritize our careers, take time for ourselves, or simply admit that we can't do everything. But what if much of that guilt isn't a reflection of our values at all? What if it's the result of impossible expectations we've been conditioned to carry?

In this episode of This Is Woman's Work, Nicole Kalil sits down with Dr. Jennifer Reid, psychiatrist, women's behavioral health expert, educator, podcast host, and author of Guilt-Free: Reclaiming Your Life from Unreasonable Expectations. Together, they unpack how guilt functions as a form of social conditioning, why women are especially vulnerable to carrying unreasonable expectations, and how guilt often keeps us focused on fixing ourselves instead of questioning the systems that created those expectations in the first place.

In This Episode, Nicole and Dr. Jennifer Discuss:

Why guilt can function as a form of social control.

How guilt often masks deeper emotions like sadness, disappointment, and fear.

Who benefits when women remain trapped in cycles of guilt and over-functioning.

Dr. Jennifer's "Guilt Equation" and how expectations create unnecessary guilt.

The four unreasonable expectations—or "Four Furies"—that drive guilt for so many women.

How comparison widens the gap between expectations and reality.

Why women tend to focus on what they're not doing instead of recognizing what they are doing well.

Why the myth of "having it all" continues to fuel guilt and burnout.

Dr. Jennifer's SPEAK framework for recognizing and responding to guilt.

How to identify recurring guilt triggers and challenge the thoughts behind them.

Healthy ways to establish and maintain boundaries without unnecessary guilt.

How to navigate relationships with people who resist or ignore boundaries.

The difference between healthy guilt that encourages growth and unhealthy guilt that keeps women small.

Why letting go of unreasonable guilt is an act of resistance and self-leadership.

Ultimately, this conversation is a reminder that not all guilt deserves our attention, and learning to question where it comes from can be a powerful step toward greater freedom and self-trust.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills! Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW.

Connect with Jennifer:

Website: https://www.jenniferreidmd.com/

Substack: https://amindofherown.substack.com/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-mind-of-her-own/id1561999981

Guilt Free Groups: https://www.jenniferreidmd.com/guilt-free-groups

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

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Guilt-Free-Reclaiming-Unreasonable-Expectations/dp/0593833465

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If you’re looking for some encouragement to chase your dreams, if it’s time for you to take that shot, or if you’re just looking for some energy to make it through your day, this is the episode for you!

Judi Holler is a fire starter, an energy shifter, the ultimate hype woman, one of my favorite people to follow on IG, and she’s moving audiences worldwide to take massive action in their lives and businesses. For the last decade, Judi has built an enterprise that includes a robust keynote speaking business, a top podcast, and a best-selling book. Each year, Judi shifts energy in convention centers and ballrooms worldwide with audiences of 50 - 50,000 with her motivational, inspiring, and transformational keynote experiences.

Don’t waste another minute worrying and overthinking… it’s time to HOLLER AT YOUR DREAMS!

Thank you to our sponsors!

Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills! Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW.

Go to https://CovePure.com/tiww to get $250 off. Thanks to CovePure for sponsoring this episode!

Connect with Judi:

Website: https://judiholler.com/

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

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Women are often told that working harder is the key to getting ahead. Deliver exceptional results, say yes to every opportunity, support the team, and eventually someone will notice. But for many women, that strategy doesn't lead to promotions—it leads to becoming indispensable in the very role they're trying to outgrow.

In this episode of This Is Woman's Work, Nicole Kalil sits down with Patty Azzarello—author, speaker, business advisor, and former Fortune 500 executive—to unpack the unwritten rules that shape career advancement. Drawing from her own journey from awkward introvert to CEO before the age of 40, Patty shares the lessons she learned about visibility, executive presence, influence, and why competence alone is rarely enough to build a successful career.

In This Episode, Nicole and Patty Discuss:

Why being excellent at your job can actually keep you stuck in it.

The hidden career rules that no one teaches—but everyone is expected to know.

The difference between being busy, being valuable, and being visible.

Why women often take on "office housework" that doesn't advance their careers.

How to identify the work that creates the greatest value for the business.

Practical strategies for saying no without damaging relationships.

Why executive presence is often poorly defined—and how to build it authentically.

How bringing humanity to leadership creates greater influence than trying to be impressive.

Why visibility matters just as much as performance when it comes to promotions.

Simple ways to build relationships with senior leaders and decision-makers.

The power of asking for help as a leadership skill.

Why waiting until you feel ready often keeps you from your biggest opportunities.

How healthy conflict strengthens leadership and decision-making.

The career cost of constantly taking care of everyone else.

This conversation is a wake-up call for anyone who has been told that hard work alone is enough. Patty offers a refreshing, practical perspective on what actually drives career growth—and how to start making those shifts today.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Don't wait to teach your kids real-world money skills! Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/TIWW.

Go to https://CovePure.com/tiww to get $250 off. Thanks to CovePure for sponsoring this episode!

Connect with Patty:

Website: https://pattyazzarello.com/

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

IG: https://www.instagram.com/pazzarello777/

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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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