Episode 164: Hard Conversations

“When we start to de-prioritize our careers and prioritize a partner’s career there’s this inherent message of, ‘my career, my identity, my desire, less important.’”

— Rachel Garrett

Photo by Space_Cat/iStock / Getty Images

In this show we meet small business owner Rachel Garrett who, as a coach, specializes in boosting women's careers - only to find that during Covid, her own was flagging. She is far from alone.

We now know that in September, four times as many women than men left the US workforce thanks to the pressures of the pandemic. Rachel and I discuss the difficult conversations she started at home about whose career was getting priority, how to redress the balance, and why it's important - even now - that women don't put themselves on the sidelines.

This episode continues our series on what is happening to women’s careers during the ongoing pandemic.

Rachel first appeared on the show last year in an episode about coaches and their clients.

You can also read a transcript of the show.

Episode 163: No Kids. Working Hard.

“I never wanted to have kids.... so I do feel like I am reaping the rewards of those choices, and I was before Covid. All this year has really done is shine an extra spotlight on that.”

— Jennifer Szambecki

“At this point in the pandemic, I don’t know that I’m as motivated as I was before to work my way up. ”

— Sandra

In this third episode in our mini-series about what’s happening to women’s careers during the pandemic, we look at an under-discussed group.

We know women's careers are suffering, but much of the talk around this revolves around women with children at home. But what if you don't have kids, or your children are grown up?

In this show we meet two child-free women with quite different experiences of work during Covid. One feels her career is thriving. The other wonders what ambition means anymore when she just wants to get offline before midnight.

I’d love to hear from you if you’re in this category - either your kids have grown up, or you don’t have any. What does this time feel like to you? Are you overwhelmed at work, covering for others, or are you on a roll?

You can also read a transcript of the show.