When’s the last time you got caught up in a mental spiral, going over and over a past event or constantly reimagining a future one? Research shows we’re more prone to this habit than ever. That cycle that peaks your anxiety and distracts you from what’s happening at the moment is called rumination, and my guest wrote a book all about it.

Donna Jackson Nakazawa is an acclaimed science journalist whose new book, “Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist,” explores the neuroscience behind why we fall into these repetitive patterns. Her knowledge of the topic is informed by all the latest research, and she has even developed her own framework for dealing with it; I experience that approach first-hand, right in the middle of our conversation.

This episode is essential listening for anyone who wants the tools to break out of those stressful spirals once and for all. Stop spiraling and ramp up your power over your own mind:

• The role your childhood plays in shaping the stories you tell yourself;
• Find your voice by naming and relinquishing your negative thought patterns;
• Why rumination isn’t just overthinking;
• The radical reparenting approach to rewiring your mind.

Related Links:

• Learn more about Donna’s work - https://donnajacksonnakazawa.com/
• Subscribe to Healing Together on Substack - https://donnajacksonnakazawa.substack.com/
• Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist, by Donna Jackson Nakazawa - https://donnajacksonnakazawa.com/books/mind-drama-science-of-rumination/
• Girls on the Brink by Donna Jackson Nakazawa - https://donnajacksonnakazawa.com/books/girls-on-the-brink/
• Bossed Up: A Grown Woman’s Guide to Getting Your Sh*t Together by Emilie Aries - https://www.bossedup.org/book
• Episode 548, Why Adding to My Plate Eased My Burnout - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode548
• SPEAK UP: A Live Assertive Communication Course for Women in the Workplace - https://www.bossedup.org/speakup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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How do you do more without burning out? People often ask me how (and why) I do so many things. From running multiple businesses to raising two young children, from the outside I understand how my life can seem chaotic and primed for collapse. But what if my latest “side hustle” isn’t the final nail in the exhaustion coffin? What if it’s the very thing keeping me from burnout?

In today’s episode, I get real about the how and why behind my newest business endeavor. Are you one of those people who finds your daily grind exhausting, not because of the physical or mental toll but because some intangible piece is still missing for contentment? Then this hot take might resonate: sometimes adding to your plate - not subtracting - is the key to increasing your engagement. Let’s break down how realigning your priorities may be key to contentment - no matter what era you’re in now:

• Build a busy schedule that’s actually restorative;
• Get real about time management and tradeoffs;
• Why motherhood isn’t a reason to step out of a full life;
• The science behind getting physical when your job is mostly intellectual.

Related Links:

• Episode 538, Rebalance Your Career Portfolio - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode538
• Episode 539, Managing Through the Millennial Career Crisis - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode539
• “Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist” by Donna Jackson Nakazawa - https://donnajacksonnakazawa.com/books/mind-drama-science-of-rumination/
• LinkedIn Learning Course, “Get Unstuck: Make a Plan to Move Your Career Forward” - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/get-unstuck-make-a-plan-to-move-your-career-forward
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What can you do to improve your executive presence? Perception of your leadership abilities directly impacts your career trajectory, for better or worse. You’ve likely heard of executive presence before, but even though it often comes up in the context of something to improve, it’s difficult for many people to identify a clear path to make that improvement.

My guest, Dr. Alexa Chilcutt, is an executive communication expert at Johns Hopkins University and wrote the book, “The Presence Principle.” In it, she offers a 3-step framework to demystify this confusing but vital professional trait once and for all. Alexa joins me on the podcast to get into the weeds about what executive presence is and how we can cultivate it to become more impactful leaders.

Give your career trajectory a boost with Alexa’s research-backed perspective:

• What executive presence is, and what it’s not;
• Why you don’t have to impersonate the traditional leader archetype to succeed in your career;
• The impact of initial and enduring impressions;
• The three-adjectives activity that will pump up your leadership presence progress.

Related Links:

• Connect with Dr. Alexa Chilcutt on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-chilcutt-phd/
• Order “The Presence Principle” from Routledge - https://www.routledge.com/The-Presence-Principle-Embodying-Executive-Presence-to-Lead-with-Impact/Chilcutt-DuPont/p/book/9781041021964
• Sally Williamson, “Executive Presence Is a Top Priority for Leadership” - https://sallywilliamson.com/executive-presence-top-priority-leadership/
• Coqual, “Executive Presence Key Findings” - https://coqual.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/26_executivepresence_keyfindings-1.pdf
• Episode 407, How to Delegate Without Feeling So Bad About It - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode407
• Episode 491, Debunking Imposter Syndrome as a Women's Issue - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode491
• Episode 447, Job Search Success: How to Optimize your LinkedIn Profile Skills Sections - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode447
• Episode 298, How to Maximize Your Time to Get Things Done - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode298
• LEVEL UP: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does attribution bias have to do with women adopting AI? Research has shown that women are more reluctant to embrace these new technologies than men and that this discrepancy is creating a whole new kind of workforce gap. One big reason for this reticence is a belief that using AI is somehow “cheating.” As an April 2026 study from Lean In shows, this assumption is backed up by a whole lot of concrete evidence.

If you’ve been avoiding AI and can’t quite put your finger on why, this episode might shed some light. Women are no strangers to attribution bias, and the ever-growing rise of this tech is a whole new field for unequal expectations to play out on. Workers who use AI tools see big productivity and career benefits. However, we can’t just dive into AI and expect the playing field to even itself out. We must also address the root causes of women’s reluctance and opposition to this new technology.

Fight the bias and reap the career rewards by learning more about:

• The glaring difference in how credit and blame are assigned to men versus women;
• How competence penalties are unequally doled out for female AI users;
• The internal factors at play when we see AI as “cheating”;
• Three ways you can start to push back against the attribution bias and the AI gender gap.

Related Links:

• LinkedIn Learning Course, “Get Unstuck: Make a Plan to Move Your Career Forward” - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/get-unstuck-make-a-plan-to-move-your-career-forward
• Lean In, New research: Women use AI less often at work and get less credit - https://leanin.org/research/ai-women-gender-gap-data
• HBR, Research: The Hidden Penalty of Using AI at Work - https://hbr.org/2025/08/research-the-hidden-penalty-of-using-ai-at-work
• Lean In, The AI gender gap: How women can break through - https://leanin.org/research/ai-women-gender-gap
• Episode 540, The Double Disadvantage: AI, Women, and the Future of Work - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode540
• Episode 542, Why AI is Giving Women the “Ick” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode542
• Episode 543, Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (and What to Do Instead) - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode543
• Bossed Up: A Grown Woman's Guide to Getting Your Sh*t Together - https://www.bossedup.org/book
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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How do you manage your anxiety-driven overachieving without losing your competitive edge?

There’s a good chance that, if you’re an avid Bossed Up listener, the spiral of the do-it-all overachiever is familiar to you. You’re stressed out, maybe burnt out, and potentially navigating anxiety, too.. Maybe you fear that seeking more balance means losing the drive that makes you successful and sought-after.

Dr. Lindsay Pfister-Kerr is a recovering anxiety-driven perfectionist turned coach and the author of “From Perfectionist to Empowered: A Makeover Guide.” She’ll be the first to tell you that you don’t have to choose one or the other. In this episode, she speaks with me about the reverberating impact our perfectionism and stress have on those around us and how we can make moves toward a better balance without giving up our high-achiever status. Lindsay’s insights will give you hope that you can step out of the stress of perfectionism and embrace a more intentional, fulfilling life.

Create empowerment without abandoning your ambition:

• How mindfulness and the right questions can make you better at your job;
• Small, simple steps that lead to big mindset changes;
• The stress cycle you create when you’re always operating at 110%;
• How to recognize toxic perfectionism.

Related Links:

• Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypfister/
• Learn more about Lindsay’s work - https://www.lpkcoaching.com/
• Buy “From Perfectionist to Empowered: A Makeover Guide” - https://www.lpkcoaching.com/book
• Download Lindsay’s 3-minute reset - https://www.lpkcoaching.com/free-resources
• Episode 333, An Honest Look Into Motherhood and Mental Health - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode333
• Episode 494, Matrescence and the Transformation of Motherhood - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode494
• Episode 530, Disability Accommodations: What All Leaders Need to Know - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode530
• HIRED Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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How can a strong value proposition help you stand out in your job search? If you can’t explain how your skills and experience make you perfect for a position, you’ll have a hard time convincing a hiring team to choose you. That’s why, whether you’re looking to rise in the ranks at your current organization or go in an entirely new direction, selling yourself with clarity and confidence is essential.

In this episode, I walk you through building a powerful value proposition, from brainstorming and data collection to getting outside support. You have all the experience you need to write the perfect sales pitch, one that sums up why your past experience and impact make you the best choice for that exciting new job or promotion.

Get confident and concise with your value proposition:

• Why your past experiences play in, regardless of how much you plan to pivot;
• How to utilize AI as a useful tool, but never as the final say;
• How to keep your humility from dampening your sales pitch;
• Using assessments and aptitude tests to beef up your value vocabulary.

Related Links:

• Episode 543, Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (and What to Try Instead) - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode543
• Episode 542, Why AI is Giving Women the “Ick” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode542
• Episode 540, The Double Disadvantage: AI, Women, and the Future of Work - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode540
• Episode 522, Know Your Aptitudes to Direct Your Career with Confidence - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode522
• LinkedIn Learning, Get Unstuck: Make a Plan to Move Your Career Forward - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/get-unstuck-make-a-plan-to-move-your-career-forward/
• HIRED: A Job Search Accelerator to Land Your Dream Job - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired
• U.S. Department of Labor career assessments - https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Assessments/self-assessments.aspx?frd=true
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can you leverage your strengths, values, and AI tools to make the job search a bit less daunting? The job market in 2026 is chaotic and confusing. Job seekers are sending out hundreds of resumes and getting only a few interviews in return. But finding your dream job is still possible, and Sam DeMase can help you make that happen.

Sam is ZipRecruiter’s first career expert, and she goes by “Your Career Bestie” on social media. Our conversation spans everything from the human/AI skill dichotomy to moving on without guilt. Sam shares great advice on navigating current job market trends, the challenges job seekers are facing right now, and approaches you can take to avoid the endless apply-and-get-ghosted spiral so many people are experiencing.

Tune in to learn how to transform your job search:

• The trends employers are looking for in applicants;
• How you can make the most of an AI agent as you prepare your applications;
• Why it’s time to “own your superpowers” on your resume;
• How to avoid “job catfishing.”

Related Links:

• Connect with Sam on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/apowermood/
• Connect with Sam on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@apowermood
• Follow ZipRecruiter on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ziprecruiter/
• LinkedIn Learning Course, “Get Unstuck: Make a Plan to Move Your Career Forward” - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/get-unstuck-make-a-plan-to-move-your-career-forward
• Ezra Klein, “How Fast Will A.I. Agents Rip Through the Economy?” - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-jack-clark.html
• Episode 542, “Why AI is Giving Women the ‘Ick’” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode542
• Episode 540, “The Double Disadvantage: AI, Women, and the Future of Work” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode540
• Episode 539, “Managing Through The Millennial Career Crisis” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode539
• Harvard Business School, “Global Evidence on Gender Gaps and Generative AI” - https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/25023_52957d6c-0378-4796-99fa-aab684b3b2f8.pdf
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Does using AI to optimize your schedule or do your research give you a distinct sense of unease? There’s something innate keeping women from incorporating new automation tools into their workflows, and it’s not just a lack of interest. Many are describing it as actual repulsion, and I want to understand why.

Women are facing a double disadvantage: they’re more likely to lose their jobs to AI, and they’re less likely to get jobs that the AI revolution will create. That significant gender gap deserves much closer exploration. So let’s dig deeper into why so many women are saying no to automated agents and what that means for our impending AI future.

Let’s unpack why AI is giving women “the ick” together, including:

• How the billion-dollar AI industry highlights the invisible nature of “women’s work”;
• Why women are perfectly positioned to see an often-overlooked truth about AI
• What the studies say about why women aren’t adopting AI as readily as men;
• Why the transformation to ideal AI agent manager isn’t going to happen overnight.

Related Links:

• Abi Awomosu, “They Built Stepford AI and Called It ‘Agentic’” - https://abiawomosu.substack.com/p/they-built-stepford-ai-and-called
• Episode 540, “The Double Disadvantage: AI, Women, and the Future of Work” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode540
• Harvard Business School, “Global Evidence on Gender Gaps and Generative AI” - https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/25023_52957d6c-0378-4796-99fa-aab684b3b2f8.pdf
• Pew Research, “The ‘Leisure Gap’ Between Mothers And Fathers” - https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/10/17/the-leisure-gap-between-mothers-and-fathers/
• Tressie McMillan Cottom at the Urban Consulate - https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUlNVvmka05/
• Listen to “There Are No Girls on the Internet” - https://www.tangoti.com/
• Mara Bolis, “The AI Gender Gap Paradox” - https://ssir.org/articles/entry/ai-gender-gap-paradox
• Anne-Marie Slaughter, “Unfinished Business: Women, Men, Work, Family” - https://bookshop.org/p/books/unfinished-business-women-men-work-family-anne-marie-slaughter/aa05ce9043ac07ad
• Ezra Klein, “How Fast Will A.I. Agents Rip Through the Economy?” - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-jack-clark.html
• The Conversation, “Grok 4’s new AI companion offers up ‘pornographic productivity’” - https://theconversation.com/grok-4s-new-ai-companion-offers-up-pornographic-productivity-260992
• EdX, “How to Close the Gender Gap in AI Jobs” - https://www.edx.org/resources/closing-ai-gender-gap
• LinkedIn Learning Course, “Get Unstuck: Make a Plan to Move Your Career Forward” - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/get-unstuck-make-a-plan-to-move-your-career-forward
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.