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We talk a lot about the boys’ club. But what happens when the person making work harder for a woman is another woman? In this honest and thought-provoking conversation, Betsy sits down with organizational psychologist, leadership expert, and author Vanessa Vershaw to explore The Sisterhood Paradox—the complicated reality of women undermining, excluding, and sometimes bullying other women at work. Vanessa explains why these experiences are often difficult to recognize and even harder to talk about. She shares the difference between a difficult colleague and a true workplace bully, why exclusion can be one of the most damaging forms of aggression, and what women can do when the person targeting them holds more power. They also discuss why “women supporting women” cannot simply be a slogan, the importance of accountability, and what it will take to build stronger and more honest support systems for women. Because the boys’ club may be real. But women still have work to do to …

Most of us don't actually have a decision problem — we have an avoidance problem. There's one conversation, with one person, that we keep dodging, and it's the reason we're spinning our wheels. This week, Betsy sits down with Kasey D'Amato — a physician assistant turned founder who built and exited a company that went global, and now advises CEOs and executive teams on the big calls: pivots, partnerships, hiring, firing, exits. What you'll take away: The head, heart, gut test for makin...

Roxy Couse has built a platform by saying the quiet parts of corporate life out loud. The career lies. The unspoken rules. The bad bosses. The pressure to be "authentic" at work while still somehow being polished, agreeable, visible, strategic, collaborative, ambitious, and not "too much." Cute little list, right? In this episode of Loud & Lifted, Roxy brings her signature mix of corporate hard truths, workplace humor, and practical career strategy to a conversation about what it really takes to get ahead — without losing yourself in the process. Her message is clear: hard work alone will not save your career. We talk about why performance doesn't automatically lead to promotion, why visibility matters more than most women want to admit, and why personal branding isn't just an online thing — it's how people understand your value before you're even in the room. Roxy gets into the hard truth about bad bosses, why you can't outwork one, workplace mean girls, career ownership,…

Gen Z is getting talked about a lot right now — especially at work. But instead of just complaining about this generation, this episode asks a better question: what’s actually going on, and what do we need to do differently? In this conversation, Dr. Andrea Mata shares why many Gen Z employees are not broken, but under-equipped, and how that changes the way leaders and parents should respond. We get into the impact of parenting, the cost to companies when young employees are unprepared, and how managers can do a better job setting expectations, giving feedback, and building the skills Gen Z needs to succeed. In this episode, we talk about: Why Gen Z may be struggling with professionalism, communication, and accountability at work The idea that young employees need skills development, not just criticism What high expectations and high support actually look like in leadership Why parents need warmth and connection plus clear expectations and consequences How businesses can …

Why do so many women work harder… and still end up underpaid? In this episode, Betsy sits down with Bhavana Smith, founder of Until There Are Nine, to talk about negotiation, self-advocacy, promotions, and the quiet ways women are taught to stay grateful instead of ask for more. Bhavana shares the personal experience that changed everything for her — a job conversation that led to an almost 70% increase in salary and sparked the mission behind her work helping women advocate for the pay and recognition they’ve earned. She explains why the gender pay gap is not always about one big obvious moment, but often a pattern: women not negotiating, not understanding pay ranges, not speaking up early enough, or assuming good work will naturally lead to better compensation. Betsy and Bhavana also unpack the role managers play, why timing matters more than people realize, and how visibility across an organization impacts promotions and raises.

You’ve heard of glass ceilings—but what if the bigger career blocker is glass walls? In this conversation, researcher and author Dr. Amy Diehl explains why women often don’t just hit barriers at the top… they hit invisible walls every direction they turn—blocking access to roles, relationships, and real influence. Amy breaks down the six glass walls from her book Glass Walls and shares practical ways leaders, allies, and women can respond—without pretending bias is “all in your head.”

Women in leadership often get stuck in the likability vs. competence double bind—and it can stall career growth for women even when performance is strong. In this episode, organizational psychologist Dr. Alison Fragale shares the “Likeable Badass” approach to build leadership confidence, strengthen executive presence, and increase influence at work—without shrinking, over-explaining, or apologizing for being direct. If you’ve ever softened your message, over-explained, or held back from advocating for yourself because you didn’t want to be “that person”… this episode is for you. Alison breaks down why the likability-competence tradeoff shows up so often for women, and the practical shifts that help you build influence without contorting yourself into someone else’s comfort zone.

Bad bosses don’t just ruin your day—they can destroy your confidence and make you question your sanity. If you’re dealing with a toxic work environment, a micromanaging boss, or constant gaslighting, this episode is your survival guide. We are joined by Lynda Harvey (aka the Management Guru) to break down the three most common toxic manager types: the Micromanager, the Narcissist, and the Bully. We share the exact scripts and strategies you need to "train your boss," protect your peace with the Gray Rock method, and know exactly when it’s time to exit. In this episode, you’ll learn: The 3 Toxic Archetypes: How to spot toxic boss behavior before it breaks you. The "Train Your Boss" Technique: Proactive steps to stop a micromanaging boss in their tracks (like calling them before they call you). Narcissist Neutralization: Using the "Gray Rock" theory to handle gaslighting, lack of accountability, and credit-stealing Document or Depart: The "detective" method for handling w…