Advancing Women Podcast

Episode Summary: In this deeply honest episode of The Advancing Women Podcast, we explore what it means to stop hiding the cracks—and start honoring them. Inspired by Leonard Cohen’s iconic lyric, “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in” from his song Anthem (1992), we dig into the cultural and professional pressures that push us all, especially women , toward perfectionism a...

Episode Summary: What if the most productive thing you could do this summer… is less? In this gentle-yet-grounded episode of the Advancing Women Podcast, we challenge the pressure to “make the most” of summer by doing more—and instead embrace the science and soul of slowing down. Host, Dr. Kimberly DeSimone offers five simple, evidence-based shortcuts to reclaim moments of real joy, presence, and...

~A follow-up to “Permission to Pause” If you've ever stepped away to “rest” but came back feeling just as drained, this episode is for you. In this powerful follow-up to Permission to Pause, we name and unpack a concept that deeply resonated with listeners: contaminated leisure — the kind of downtime that looks like rest but still carries the weight of responsibility, guilt, and multitasking. And...

This episode is for the ambitious woman who’s doing it all—and still feels like it’s never enough. If you’re listening while multitasking—folding laundry, answering emails, or in between Zoom calls—this one’s for you. Dr. KimberlyDeSimone invites you to press pause on the pressure and unpack why we’ve lost the ability to truly rest. With research, real talk, and radical empathy, this episode explo...

Are Your Expectations Really the Problem — or Is That Just What You've Been Told? Research shows that expectations can be a major source of stress, anxiety, and even the breakdown of trust and respect in our relationships. But let’s challenge the tired narrative that women’s so-called “too high expectations” are to blame. In this episode of the Advancing Women Podcast, I flip the script. We take a...

In this powerful and timely episode, we explore how feedback—especially public feedback—can have vastly different impacts depending on gender, and why the principle “praise publicly, criticize privately” is more than just good advice—it’s a vital strategy for allyship, equity, and leadership development. Dr. Kimberly DeSimone shares personal insights from years of academic leadership, backed by co...

We’re constantly reminded to take time for ourselves, to prioritize self-care, to fill our own cup first. These messages are everywhere—but let’s be honest, it’s not always that simple. Life has a way of stacking the deck against us. The expectations never stop piling up. We’re juggling so many responsibilities—personally, professionally, emotionally—and somehow we’re supposed to keep all the ball...

Want to know how you can truly support family or friends raising a child with autism? This episode is for you. With April being Autism Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to learn about what really matters. Studies show that mothers of children with autism experience stress and depression levels on par with those of active combat soldiers. In this episode, we dive into the importance of awarene...

In this episode, we celebrate Women’s History Month with words of wisdom from many powerful, brilliant, and inspiring women. Their poignant quotes provide lasting insight and inspiration for all women as we continue to work towards gender equity for all. These quotes and the resulting discussion come from a variety of women including women of color, women from the LGBTQ community, and women from c...

In today’s episode, I dive deep into the feeling of being overwhelmed and constantly busy, despite our best efforts to manage our time better. I share some personal reflections on how to take back control of our time and the importance of making small progress in our personal and professional lives. I explore the concept of The Progress Principle, backed by science, and how small wins can lead to...

What if we could turn FOMO (the fear of missing out) into JOMO (the JOY of missing out)? In this episode of the #AdvancingWomenPodcast join me in exploring how embracing the freedom to say “no” can help us prioritize us and our time. JOMO isn’t about scaling back on ambition or motivation, it’s about intentionally focusing our time and energy on what truly brings us both achievement and joy. It’s...

February is Black History Month, an annual celebration to honor the remarkable achievements of African Americans and acknowledge their pivotal contributions to U.S. history. Throughout this journey, African American women have often been overlooked, despite playing a central role in the ongoing fight for gender equity. This episode celebrates and highlights the powerful voices of courageous Black...

If you feel like your “tone” and level of emotion are being policed, #tunein because this is the #advancingwomenpodcast episode for you! Scrutiny of women’s speaking patterns is the latest frontier in an endless barrage of judgment and undermining women face. It is yet another way to blame women. An attempt to shift the emphasis to fixing women versus doing the hard work of fixing #genderbias Tone...

Moving from one calendar year to the next doesn't automatically result in personal growth or transformation. Without making changes to the way we think and behave, we’re unlikely to experience any significant improvement or progress, no matter how much time passes. As author James Clear says…we  don’t rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems. And too often, the systems w...

We live in a world designed largely by and for men and men's pursuits. Research shows that women - even working full time - almost always take on the lion's share of home responsibilities and most of the emotional labor in our families. If you are bogged down in the unnoticed, unappreciated work and feel like your time and goals are deprioritized or derailed, you’ll want to #tunein to this episode...

Instead of always aiming for 100%, how about focusing on balance? How about embracing progress over perfection? The "all or nothing" mindset, always pushing to give 100%, may actually be standing in the way of living our best lives. Consider this your permission to let go of this unnecessary pressure and reject the constant brainwashing. During this hectic time of year, it’s easy to feel like life...

Have you ever been written off as too complicated? Too emotional? These labels may not seem like a big deal, but they can serve as  a way to push aside our difficulties or invalidate our feelings. If you have ever felt not enough AND too much all at once, then this is the episode for you! Having your emotions policed is not a healthy experience. Being gaslighted is not a healthy experience. In thi...

As we approach the holidays, this episode is a call to action. I encourage us all to think more intentionally about the choices we make with our dollars and our time. As women, we hold a great deal of consumer power,  and this is a great time to wield that power in the support of other women. I’m talking about women creators, entrepreneurs, women-owned businesses, and businesses that support women...

#tunein for this dynamic and pragmatic interview on mindful communication and emotional intelligence with communications strategist Anna Bulszewicz. We dive deep into communication, community, and connection.   Let’s stop calling communication skills and emotional intelligence "soft skills.” These are ESSENTIAL skills that women tend to be exceptionally good at, so let’s make sure we are acknowled...

“We are the granddaughters of the witches you weren't able to burn”  ~ Tish Thawer, The Witches of Blackbrook  #tunein to this #newepisode of the Advancing Women Podcast where in this #Halloween season, we set aside our stereotypical descriptions and depictions of witches, and instead look to appreciate, how generations of activists have reclaimed the witch archetype to resist patriarchal control...

“The wind extinguishes a candle and energizes fire.” ~Taleb (2014) In this episode, I’m talking about Antifragility, a concept even more powerful than resiliency and grit. It’s about overcoming. Harnessing the wind and being the fire that is energized. As Nietzsche (and Kanye) have said…that that don’t kill me…can only make me stronger…” Antifragility, resilience, and grit are valuable tools in co...

Do you ever feel guilty for not feeling more grateful?  Guess what? This is a classic example of “it’s not your fault, but it is your problem.” Have you noticed an increase in using positivity and gratitude as a means of control and superiority? A weaponizing of gratitude where it’s being wielded to minimize someone's experience? In this episode, we explore weaponized gratitude and gratitude shami...

In this episode, we talk about social comparison and how we can fall into the trap of valuing our personal and social worth by assessing how we compare to others. Whether it is an upward or downward comparison, if we allow comparison of others to dictate how we view our own lives it can steal our joy. Comparison is a Kryptonite that often makes us want more while simultaneously seeing ourselves as...

I’m practicing what I preach in this episode and offering myself some grace. Enjoy a reposting (with a new introduction) of one of my most popular, and most downloaded episodes ever. It’s all about 50/20 vision…what advice in my 50s would I give my 20-something self? We've all heard the adage “Hindsight is 20/20”. It's an expression that suggests it's easier to understand something after it has al...

How often are you asked, “How do you juggle it all?”  If you’re a working mom, the answer is probably OFTEN. If you’re a working dad, the answer is probably NEVER. Research confirms that dads working outside the home are often praised for being good fathers while moms who work outside the home are often judged. If you’ve ever felt frustrated at how dads get a pat on the back whenever they are out...