Best Shawna Samuel Podcasts (2025)

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Back-to-School Resets 27:12

Play Pause

8d ago27:12

27:12

Any way you slice it, Back-to-School is a sprint. The extra load?! It’s real. And working mothers typically feel it extra hard. And yet, there can be an unhelpful temptation the moment that back-to-school week is over…to immediately jump back into “real life”, without a moment to recover. This will leave you spent. And contributes to burnout. You m…

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Why You're Not Getting Promoted 26:11

27d ago26:11

26:11

You’ve been angling for a promotion. And it should be yours. You’ve got strong results. Good performance reviews. You get along with your colleagues. And yet…that promotion still hasn’t come. What’s going on here? Is it bias? A boss who’s not advocating for you? Some hidden secret handshake you haven’t mastered? Let me be clear: You’re probably not…

1
Offense and Defense at Work 19:18

1M ago19:18

19:18

You’re presenting your big recommendation. You’ve prepped. You’ve practiced. You’ve got the room’s attention. And then… Someone pushes back. Challenges your approach. Questions your recommendation. Suddenly, you find yourself on the back foot. Nervous. Stammering. Feeling defensive. But unable to defend yourself well. I see this same pattern with s…

1
5 Key Times to Rethink your Personal Brand and Executive Presence 31:20

2M ago31:20

31:20

Even the most capable leaders fall into this trap: You evolve professionally—get promoted, shift roles, step into a new organization—but keep showing up the same way you always have. You end up trusted for execution. Valued for your solid judgment. Respected for your work ethic. But still, something’s off. You’re not quite getting the traction you …

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Part-Time Pitfalls 31:11

2M ago31:11

31:11

There’s no sugar-coating it. Most jobs are relentless. Even greedy. You’re not imagining it. It’s very real. (In fact, Claudia Goldin won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics for her work highlighting the impact of demanding jobs on the careers and earnings of women.) One potential solution: going part-time. For many women, this is the holy grail of w…

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Power Moms with Joann Lublin 34:52

3M ago34:52

34:52

If you’re a working mother with a demanding job, you’ve probably asked yourself: Is this sustainable? Am I doing enough? How do successful moms make this all work? One journalist has some answers to share. This week, I’m joined by Joann Lublin, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Wall Street Journal contributor, and author of Power Moms: How Executi…

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Noble Excuses with Elizabeth Sherman 34:50

3M ago34:50

34:50

As kids finish off the school year, I’m looking back in awe how much they’ve grown and accomplished this year. And then, the proud reverie is interrupted. It’s like a split screen where I see my own stalled progress. And feel a giant ugh in the pit of my stomach. I see the goals I meant to prioritize this year — consistent exercise, healthier meals…

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How to Beat Burnout as a Working Mom with Lori Oberbroeckling 31:09

4M ago31:09

31:09

From the outside, it probably looks like you’re doing it all—and doing it well. You’ve checked all the boxes: crushing it at work, holding things down at home, maybe even taking on a volunteer project or two. But on the inside? You might be asking yourself: How much longer can I keep going like this? In this week’s episode of The Mental Offload, I …

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Running Behind 24:29

4M ago24:29

24:29

Go getters always manage to get it done. But for some of you, it’s often “just in the nick of time”. Are you jumping from one last-minute push to the next late-night sprint? Have you convinced yourself that this is simply the cost of being successful, high-achieving, and in demand? I know, I know. You want to focus on the result: you’re meeting dea…

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Nervous System Regulation (Part 2), with Jane Pilger 22:45

5M ago22:45

22:45

If you've ever found yourself trying to stay calm in a heated meeting—or keeping your cool with a tantruming child—you know: try harder is not the answer. In this week’s episode of The Mental Offload, I continue my powerful conversation with nervous system expert Jane Pilger. We dive deep into how you can regulate your nervous system—and help other…

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Nervous System Regulation (Part 1), with Jane Pilger 38:03

5M ago38:03

38:03

As working mothers and high achievers, we are trained to keep pushing through—no matter the cost. On top of that, you’ve probably been told at some point that the best way to be taken seriously as a woman in leadership is not to show any emotion. That can lead you to keep pushing down your emotions. But those pesky emotions often refuse to be silen…

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Magical Schedule Thinking 25:13

5M ago25:13

25:13

You start the week with a color-coded calendar, clear priorities, and the best intentions. But by Wednesday, things are already going off the rails. You’re already working through lunch, but you’re about 4 tasks behind where you intended to be. Loads of high-achievers get sucked in by the same culprit: Magical schedule thinking. Magical schedule th…

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Preparing for a Mid-Level Management Job Interview 37:06

6M ago37:06

37:06

When’s the last time you interviewed for a job? Maybe it’s been a few years. Or even a few promotions ago. If so, you need to know that the interview game evolves as your career evolves. At the mid-to-senior level, interviews are no longer about proving you’re a go-getter who can do anything. As you get more senior, interviews are about something d…

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3 Phases of Change 22:14

6M ago22:14

22:14

Ever catch yourself spiraling with frustration after a tense meeting... and think, “Why didn’t I stop myself sooner?” Or maybe you’re trying to create an exercise habit, and find yourself skipping out most of the time. You’re not alone. And these “fails” don’t actually mean you’re failing. As women who are used to crushing big goals — especially th…

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Dealing with Difficult Colleagues: The Underminer 15:34

6M ago15:34

15:34

Ever had a colleague who keeps cutting you out of the loop? They conveniently “forget” to invite you to key meetings. They drop you from email chains. Or withhold information that you need to do your best work. Some of them do this so subtly, you may even start to doubt whether they do it on purpose. But regardless, it’s beyond frustrating. It’s im…

1
Moms on Strike 24:52

6M ago24:52

24:52

We’re living through a historic backlash against women and minorities. You don’t have to live in the US to feel it. Global companies are rolling back DE&I initiatives. Executives are promoting a “work harder and be in the office” ethos. And there’s the subtle insinuation that working mothers should be grateful for any flexibility we’re given at wor…

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The New Rules of Hybrid Work 21:57

6M ago21:57

21:57

If you work in a hybrid environment, you know some things are easier: Less time spent commuting. Fewer interruptions. The ability to pop a load of laundry in. But hybrid work also presents its own difficulties, like: How do I get the right visibility for my work? How can I show strong executive presence over Zoom? How can I build relationships with…

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Cinderella Syndrome 41:51

7M ago41:51

41:51

Cinderella syndrome is the ultimate corporate fairy tale. The belief that if you do your work perfectly, take on more responsibilities without complaint... ...one day, Prince Charming (aka a powerful leader in your company) will discover your talent and rescue you. With the glass slipper of a promotion in hand. Women have been fed a version of this…

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Reinvention 29:40

7M ago29:40

29:40

Have you ever looked at your life—your job, your routines, maybe even your entire identity—and thought, I want to hit the reset button? That feeling isn’t a crisis. It’s a calling. To reinvent yourself. But that word, reinvention, comes with some baggage. We’re taught that our careers (and lives!) should follow a linear path. Get the job, climb the…

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Overcompetence 35:01

7M ago35:01

35:01

Have you ever been so good at what you do that you somehow ended up with all the work? At the office, everyone needs you to proofread the documents before they go to the client. At home, everyone asks you where to find things. Or how to book a dentist appointment. You’re the safety net, the problem solver, the one who ensures things don’t fall apar…

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The War on Working Parents 29:00

7M ago29:00

29:00

Working parents are in crisis right now. And at the root of it? Systems that penalize working parents, by pretending that we still live in societies where one parent (usually the mother) is on call at home. Childcare in the US is a prime example of this. It costs as much as a second mortgage. The waitlists are ridiculous. And that’s assuming you do…

1
Bandwidth is Your Most Critical Asset 20:35

8M ago20:35

20:35

Most people think time, money, or energy is their most valuable asset. But what if the real key to success and ease is something else? There’s something even more critical—and most of us are running dangerously low on it. That resource is bandwidth. Bandwidth is the combination of your time and mental capacity. It’s what allows you to make good dec…

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Strategic Subtraction 25:10

8M ago25:10

25:10

As the year starts, most people are thinking about new goals and activities to add to their calendars. I’m thinking about what to subtract. It sounds a little bit radical. But what if the real key to thriving isn’t adding more stuff to your plate, but subtracting? In this week’s episode of The Mental Offload Podcast, I discuss how subtraction creat…

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Networking for Introverts 29:19

8M ago29:19

29:19

Does the thought of walking into a room full of strangers and “working the crowd” make you want to head for the exit? I’m with you. Networking often feels like it’s designed for extroverts: loud conversations, endless small talk, and nonstop people-ing. If you’re an introvert, the traditional advice can feel exhausting and even shame-inducing. You’…

1
The Charisma Formula 24:37

8M ago24:37

24:37

Have you ever been in the presence of someone with undeniable charisma? They have this magnetic energy that makes people stop and follow their lead. It might seem like a gift they were born with. But what if I told you charisma isn’t magic? Charisma is a skill. And like any skill, it can be developed. In this week’s episode of The Mental Offload Po…

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Underearning 27:47

9M ago27:47

27:47

Are you earning what you’re capable of—and what you truly want to earn? For many women, the answer is no. We stay stuck in patterns of underearning for reasons that feel outside our control: “This is just what my job pays.” “I need flexibility, so I can’t ask for more.” “I’d have to work so much harder to make more—and I can’t.” But what if there’s…

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4 Work-Life Balance Myths 31:12

9M ago31:12

31:12

Let’s face it: the idea of “work-life balance” is full of myths and half-truths. You’ve probably heard that you just need the right job, better boundaries, or a reduced schedule to find harmony. But if you’ve tried these solutions and still feel stretched thinner than your worst hair tie, it’s not a surprise. These changes alone won’t magically cre…

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Values-led Goal Planning 23:08

9M ago23:08

23:08

When you have a lot on your plate, it’s tempting to give up on goals. We wake up, look at our bulging to-do list, and think: my only goal is to survive the next week. Or month. Or year. But when survival becomes the goal, it can be a trap. And our values are the way out. The truth is, traditional goal-setting can dig you deeper into burnout. We pil…

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BEST OF: Growth, Balance and Pivot Years 17:54

9M ago17:54

17:54

Whether you’re looking at the business press, or the motivation quotes on Pinterest, you’ll often get a one-dimensional look at what it takes to be successful. “Go for GROWTH!” It’s so ingrained in our culture’s approach to success, that you can feel like a failure if you’re not constantly trying to achieve the Next Big Thing, personally or profess…

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BEST OF: Your Future Self 23:52

10M ago23:52

23:52

Imagine if you could sit down with your future self—the version of you who has achieved your wildest dreams, overcome your biggest challenges, and is living your best life. What would that conversation be like? How would it transform the decisions you make today? Last month, we focused on the important relationships you have at home and at work. Bu…

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BEST OF: Executive Presence 25:28

10M ago25:28

25:28

Executive Presence. Most leaders know it’s a powerful ingredient for success. It’s that bit of leadership sorcery that allows some to command a room, influence key decisions, and inspire confidence. You might be able to get ahead without it, but I don’t recommend trying! But can you actually develop executive presence? I’ve heard leaders describe i…

1
A Relaxed Holiday Season 22:34

10M ago22:34

22:34

The holidays are supposed to be magical. But let's be honest – scrolling your picture-perfect instagram feed, you’re feeling overwhelmed and under-prepared. For working moms, the holidays often feel like a marathon of endless to-dos, "should-dos," and societal expectations. What if you could actually come through the holiday season feeling relaxed,…

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The Myth of Multitasking 24:36

10M ago24:36

24:36

You’re in a meeting. Half listening, half emailing. Suddenly, you hear your name. “What are your thoughts on the proposal?” Cue panic. If you’ve been caught multitasking, you know the sting. And if we’re being honest, most of us do it. At work, at home, everywhere in between. Because it feels like the only way to keep up. But here’s the truth: mult…

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Burnout Prevention Protocol 23:49

10M ago23:49

23:49

You know the drill: You're in the car after a long day of meetings, mentally cycling through your to-do list and meal plan…but secretly wishing you could teleport to an island resort where you could finally relax. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Nearly ⅔-rds of working parents say they’re feeling burned out. Even the U.S. Surgeon General declarin…

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Why Women’s Leadership Matters Now 14:22

11M ago14:22

14:22

I’ll be honest, I had to unplug from the news this week. For many of us - not just in the US but around the world - the US election results were a blow to the causes we believe in. But I had to turn off the tv when the analysts started to weigh in on “what happened.” The sting of watching a powerful woman be dissected to see where she had “fallen s…

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Time to Take Back Your Brain with Kara Loewentheil 38:43

11M ago38:43

38:43

Picture this: a woman with multiple Ivy degrees, running a reproductive rights think tank in NYC, crushing it on paper... yet finding herself curled up under her desk, feeling like a failure. This was Kara Loewentheil before she discovered the truth about why so many brilliant women feel like they're never quite "enough." In this week's must-listen…

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Leadership during (Peri) Menopause 27:03

11M ago27:03

27:03

Menopause has long been a sort of taboo topic in the workplace. So it’s rare to see open discussion of the real-life impact menopause can have on our work, our leadership, and our sense of self. This is not just a conversation about hot flashes. Menopause and perimenopause—the years leading up to it—can disrupt sleep, focus, and mood, and even self…

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Advocating for your Career 32:45

11M ago32:45

32:45

Here's a scene that plays out in offices everywhere: A talented woman sits down for her year-end career conversation. Her boss asks where she'd like to take her career next. Despite her quiet ambitions, she’s unsure how to respond. Eventually, she croaks out something like, “I’m open to a lot of different opportunities.” Which does zero to advance …

1
The Power of Rest with Marissa McKool 38:10

12M ago38:10

38:10

We tend to think “getting rest” means simply getting more sleep, but what if there’s more to it? Most working moms know they should rest, but here’s the problem: we’re taught that rest only happens when everything else is done. The truth? That to-do list will never get down to the point where you feel entitled to rest. And putting off your need to …

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Executive Presence Lessons from Kamala Harris 28:43

12M ago28:43

28:43

Female leaders often walk a tightrope. You’re expected to be strong and decisive—but not so strong you’re seen as a bitch. You’re asked to be nice — but not too nice, or people might think you’re not tough enough to be a leader. Oh, and please wear some makeup so you look polished – but not so much that you seem overdone. It’s maddening, right? The…

1
Receiving Feedback 37:41

12M ago37:41

37:41

For many, October means the start of pumpkin spice season. But if you’re in the corporate world, it means something else: Year-end review season. Along with it comes something most of us have a complicated relationship with: feedback. We all love positive feedback. But the prospect of critical feedback?! Let’s keep it real: wouldn’t you be happier …

1
Managing the Family Calendar and Setting “Off-Duty” Hours at Home (with Amelia Pleasant Kennedy) 39:20

1y ago39:20

39:20

Ever feel like managing your family’s calendar is a part-time job? You're not alone. Modern parenting = calendar chaos. Your commitments, kids’ pickups, drop-offs, activities, medical appointments, parties—everything competes for your time. It’s not just the physical running around. It’s the mental gymnastics of squeezing it all into the few precio…

1
The 3am Wakeups 27:15

1y ago27:15

27:15

The worst time to be a working mom? It might be 3am, when you bolt awake with anxiety. What is it that’s got so many of us waking up in a panic in the middle of the night?? For too many of us, it’s the weight of the mental load. Those I-shouldn’t-forget-this tasks that your brain decides to alert you to in the middle of the night. And although the …

1
Back to School Recovery 23:39

1y ago23:39

23:39

Any way you slice it, Back-to-School is a sprint. The extra load?! It’s real. And working mothers typically feel it extra hard. And yet, there can be an unhelpful temptation the moment that back-to-school week is over…to immediately jump back into “real life”, without a moment to recover. This will leave you spent. And contributes to burnout. You m…

1
Mid-Career Malaise 26:15

1y ago26:15

26:15

After a summer break, we’re back with Season 3 of The Mental Offload Podcast! Mid-career is a challenging, and pivotal, point in almost every corporate career. It’s the point where most companies decide who has the potential to break through to the top. Some people will be tapped to ascend to the top levels of the organization, and others will stag…

1
Seasonal Productivity 31:01

1y ago31:01

31:01

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy…said no working parent, ever. Your kids probably see it differently. Summer time is more relaxed, whether it’s days at camp, at the pool, or on the road. You might have seen it differently in the B.C. (before children) era, back when Summer Fridays meant luxuriously long weekends to kick back with friends. If we p…

1
Reclaiming Your Freedom, Energy and Power (with Emma Seppälä) 34:10

1+ y ago34:10

34:10

In a busy world, where most of us are overstretched, it’s easy to end the day feeling drained, guilty, and anxious. You might hope that changing jobs, using your time better, or starting that exercise routine is the answer. But Dr. Emma Seppälä, director of the Women’s Leadership Program at Yale School of Management, wants us to address the deeper …

1
Straight Outta Stepford 19:13

1+ y ago19:13

19:13

Plenty of think pieces have taken on the tradwife trend. And a fair bit of ink has been spilled over that Harrison Butker commencement speech. And tradwives might be fairly compared to their vintage counterparts, the Stepford Wives. And yet, there’s something deeper…and maybe more sinister going on here. It’s an alarming notion that’s sucking in pl…

1
Speaking with Confidence (with Claire Fry) 39:29

1+ y ago39:29

39:29

Ever struggled to get your message heard at work? Maybe it’s in your boss’s leadership team meeting, where your input is minimized and the boys’ club is busy talking over you. Maybe it’s when your voice shakes with nerves as you present the roadshow deck to challenging stakeholders. Or maybe it’s at your mid-year, where you get feedback that others…

1
Prepare a Successful Mid-Year Review 33:29

1+ y ago33:29

33:29

In many companies, June means one thing: mid-year season is here. Many leaders give mid year performance reviews short shrift. It’s easy to make this mistake. Mid-year doesn’t feel as important as year-end, and yet it still has a way of weighing down your to-do list: there’s plenty of paperwork, feedback requests, and the like to complete. But it i…