Ordinary To Badass

You were told to wait your turn. Be patient, keep your head down, and eventually it'll be your time. Here's the problem: the person who got promoted last quarter didn't wait for anything. ... In this episode, Marie breaks down why "wait your turn" is one of the most dangerous pieces of advice a woman in a predominantly male industry can follow — and why time in your seat only...

Have you ever watched a man get credit for an idea that came out of your mouth five minutes earlier? ... Or noticed that the women around you somehow became the party planner, office therapist, note taker, and scheduler—on top of the job they were actually hired to do? ... In this episode, we're talking about the rules of the game nobody explains when you work in a predominantly male industry....

How many opportunities have you talked yourself out of because you didn't feel ready? ... In this flashback episode, I sit down with mindset coach, personal trainer, and Girls on the Run Long Island Chairperson Nancy Feinstein to talk about confidence, self-doubt, and why waiting until you feel ready might be the very thing keeping you stuck. ... Nancy shares how she rebuilt her life after div...

If being direct feels mean, this episode is for you. ... Many women are taught from a young age to be agreeable, accommodating, and keep the peace. Then they step into leadership and discover that clarity, accountability, and difficult conversations are part of the job. That tension can make leadership feel uncomfortable. ... In this episode, Marie Sonnemann breaks down why directness often feels...

You were taught not to brag. Keep your head down. Work hard. Be humble. And for a lot of high performers—especially women—that sounds like good advice. The problem? Leadership can't advocate for work they can't clearly remember. In this episode, we're talking about one of the biggest career mistakes strong employees make: assuming hard work speaks for itself. Because evaluations, promotions, and o...

Most employees think: “if I work hard enough, leadership will notice.” That’s not how promotions work. In this sprint episode, I break down: why high performers get stuck how bosses actually evaluate leadership the “fraction problem” and why hard work alone can quietly sabotage your career.

Most women were taught: “Keep your head down.” “Work hard.” “Don’t brag.” Meanwhile… promotions are being decided in conversations happening behind closed doors. 👀 In this episode, I’m breaking down: ⚡ Why visibility feels so uncomfortable for high-performing women ⚡ The difference between bragging vs. strategic communication ⚡ Why your boss can’t confidently back what they can’t clearly expla...

Have you ever had someone say something at work… and technically it’s fine… but it lands completely wrong? In this episode, I break down the difference between what people say and what they actually imply —and why that’s where so much workplace friction comes from. From a coworker questioning me like he had authority… to a vendor who couldn’t answer a simple question without being condescending… w...

You learned to work twice as hard to prove yourself… ...…but what if that’s the exact thing holding you back? Think working harder gets you promoted? ...Think again. In this episode, I’m breaking down the quiet truth most people don’t realize until it’s too late: 👉 The people getting promoted aren’t always the hardest workers ...👉 They’re the ones who are easiest to choose If you’ve been the one...

Most people think they need more confidence to take action. ...But what if that’s not the problem? ... In this episode, we’re flipping the script. ... Because the truth is—you already know what to do. You’ve felt it in those quiet moments, in your gut, in that nudge you keep second-guessing. The issue isn’t a lack of confidence… it’s that you’ve been taught not to trust yourself. ... We talk about...

Ever walked away from a work conversation thinking, “Nothing they said was wrong… so why did that feel off?” In this episode, we unpack the quiet, often invisible shifts that happen when you step into leadership—especially the ones no one prepares you for. From changing team dynamics to subtle disrespect, repeated ideas, and that “tone” you can’t quite call out, this is the stuff that stacks up. Y...

What if the reason your life doesn’t feel aligned… isn’t because you’re doing it wrong—but because it was never really yours to begin with? Think growth is about becoming better, stronger, more confident? Think again. In this remix episode, Kathrin Fox—a transpersonal psychologist and coach—dives into what it really takes to peel back the layers of conditioning, expectations, and autopilot living…...

You did everything right. ...Worked hard. Stayed low-key. Easy to work with. So why are you still not the obvious choice for promotion? Because this isn’t a confidence problem. ...It’s a visibility problem. In Part 2 of this series, we flip the script. You’ll learn why being “easy to work with” is quietly holding you back—and what actually gets you promoted instead. (Hint: it’s about becoming the...

You learned to blend in to survive… but leadership requires you to stand out. ... Think working hard, staying low-key, and “fitting in” is the path to promotion? ...Think again. ... In this episode, we’re diving into the invisible rules women learn in predominantly male industries—and how those same rules start working against you the moment you step into leadership. ... Because here’s the truth:...

Life doesn’t always go the way we planned. ... Sometimes the path completely changes—and we’re left figuring out who we are on the other side. ... In this Flashback episode of Ordinary to Badass , I sit down with Michelle Lauren Anderson , a burn survivor who experienced burns over 91% of her body at just two years old . ... What followed was a lifetime of surgeries, physical challenges, and emoti...

Think confidence comes first? Think again. In this flashback episode of Ordinary to Badass , Marie revisits a powerful conversation with Laquita Monley — speaker, coach, and Army wife — who shares how life experiences, identity struggles, and unexpected challenges helped her discover the strength she already had inside. Laquita’s journey didn’t start with confidence. It started with a wake-up mome...

We’re taught that resilience looks like confidence. Certainty. Toughness. Never doubting yourself. But that’s not real life — especially if you work in a high-pressure or predominantly male environment. In this episode of Ordinary to Badass , I break down what resilience actually looks like when you’re in the middle of it — not after you’ve “figured it out.” Not when things feel clean or resolved....

A failed promotion can mess with your head—even when you know you’re qualified. ... Suddenly you’re replaying conversations, questioning your value, and wondering what you missed or what’s wrong with you. And if you work in a predominantly male industry, that spiral can feel even heavier. ... In this episode of Ordinary to Badass , Marie breaks down what a promotion setback actually does to your m...

Everyone says, “Just be more confident.” ...But no one tells you how confidence actually gets built —especially when you’re a quiet leader in a high-stakes environment. ... In this Badass Debrief, I’m breaking down the real lesson from last week’s conversation with leadership strategist Traci Austin—and translating it into something you can actually use. This episode isn’t a recap. ...It’s the ref...

Think you need one more certification, one more year, or one more sign before you go after the role you want? Think again. In this episode of Ordinary to Badass , I’m joined by leadership coach and HR expert Traci Austin for a powerful conversation about confidence, self-doubt, and why so many high-performing women underestimate their own qualifications. This is real, practical career advice for w...

Ever had a moment at work where your heart dropped… your blood started boiling… and you wanted to say something—but didn’t know how without risking your reputation? ... In this episode, Marie shares a real story about finding out in a group meeting that one of her responsibilities had been taken away—without warning. From there, she breaks down why pushing back at work feels so hard for so many wo...

Most mindset work assumes you need more motivation. Think again. In this remix episode , I’m bringing back one of the most grounding, steadying conversations in the Ordinary to Badass vault—my interview with Lorna Green , a yin yoga teacher and NLP master practitioner who blends science-backed mindset tools with deep self-trust. I’m replaying this episode now because honestly? I almost didn’t reco...

Most New Year goal setting assumes you need fixing. ...New year. New you. Try harder. Do more. ... Nope. We’re not doing that here. ... In this episode of Ordinary to Badass , you'll discover a different kind of reset—one that doesn’t ask you to become someone new, but instead helps you become more of who you already are . ... This conversation is rooted in one core truth: Your next level is a...

You made it. Day 12 of the 12 Days of Badassery. ...And today, we’re ending with the truth you’ve proven over and over again… ... you are a woman who overcomes adversity. ... In this final episode, Marie walks you through the deepest layer of your confidence: the hardships, losses, trauma, challenges, and long seasons of struggle that shaped who you are today. Adversity leaves a mark — not a weakn...

Welcome to Day 11 of the 12 Days of Badassery , and today we’re celebrating a strength most women massively underestimate: ... Your ability to encourage, support, and lift other people up. ... You may not realize it, but your words, your belief in others, and your willingness to cheer someone on can change the entire direction of their life. And that is pure, undeniable badassery. ... In this epis...