Parity Podcast

In this episode, Deborah and Cathy ask a very specific question about a perplexing phenomenon they've experienced. Why do we hear so many complaints (very often from other women) that the wrost boss they ever had was, in fact, a woman? Deborah and Cathy break down the Hollywood caricatures of women bosses - think Miranda Priestly or Selina Meyer - and contrast those with reality. What's at play he...

From "sugar and spice" to "snips and snails," we're handed gender roles before we can walk -- and those early scripts follow us straight into the workplace. While the stereotypes concerning women in the work place are generally well-known (think "less ambitious" or "emotional"), there are plenty of misplaced stereotypes to go around. Until we stop telling women to be nice and men to be tough, thes...

Women aren't less ambitious as some have recently suggested - they're navigating a rocky path and workplaces that make ambition harder to express and success harder to find. In this episode, Cathy and Deborah break down the 2025 Women in the Workplace report with their signature mix of humor, data, and straight talk. From the broken rung to sponsorship gaps, AI inequities, flexibility stigma, and...

The Oxford word of the year in 2025 was "rage bait." Is that why 2025 brought us opinion pieces asking whether women were ruining the workplace? In this Episode 3, Cathy and Deborah discuss how to avoid taking the bait, by relying on the clear evidence of women's contributions to an improved workplace for all. They also reveal what they wish for in 2026.

In this interview with psychologist and prolific author Dr. Ron Levant, Cathy and Deborah discuss his new book, The Problem with Men. From delinquency to the President of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Levant shares his own experience, including the role abuse and forced male stereotypes played in his life, and how he reached beyond. According to Dr. Levant, when boys receive the mess...

In the Season 5 Opener of the Parity Podcast, Cathy and Deborah share their candid assessment of parity today from the bottom of the hole it has seemingly fallen into - along with them (HELP!). Forever focused on solutions, they propose we all work harder to have conversations where everyone is invited to contribute to the project of creating a better workplace. In that spirit, Cathy and Deborah r...

In this episode, Cathy and Deborah dive into the concept of experience capital , explaining how it plays a pivotal role in career advancement. They explore why it's not just about doing good work, but also about strategically positioning yourself through  stretch assignments , developing strong  sponsorship  relationships, and building the right  networks . Together, they share actionable tips on...

In this episode, Cathy and Deborah discuss the lesser known fact that women are, on balance, every bit as motivated to maximize their careers as men. With this in mind, how do women in the workplace navigate negative pushback when we are deemed too "aggressive"? How do employers ensure that they are capitalizing on women's talents? As always, Cathy and Deborah offer their own insights and practica...

Marking four years of the Parity Podcast, Cathy and Deborah discuss their ongoing efforts to nudge the workplace culture to be a more equitable place for women and to take advantage of the skills sets women have to offer. They recount their SCRIPT for change, review some of their favorite episodes, and share what they have learned.  In answer to the question of whether something different is neede...

Elaine Lin Hering joins the Parity Podcast to discuss the role that silence plays in each of our lives. Her 2024 book, Unlearning Silence, explores the ways in which we are silenced in the workplace, and the roles we play in silencing others. Driven by her own experience in being encouraged to speak up, yet not having her words welcomed, Elaine began pondering the larger dynamics in play and the c...

The Parity Podcast has been curious about Taylor Swift's stunning success as a pop star and her potential as a role model to the next generation of women. In this episode, Deborah is joined by four Taylor Swift fans from across the country, ranging from the teens to late 20s, to discuss what she means to them. They describe her music as poetic, playful, self-deprecating, and deeply relatable and a...

Dr. Nithila Peter returns to the Parity Podcast and joins Deborah to discuss the magic and mess of the Barbie movie. Drawing on her background in media studies, Nithila offers insight into the cinematic experience and the bookends of the movie, from the birth of Barbie to the gynecologist's office. Simulatenously inspired and horrified by the perfectly sculpted Barbie as a role model, Nithila and...

In this episode, Cathy and Deborah speak to Kara Wojnowski, a Marketing Manager at Biorigin Specialty Products, who has studied the communication differences between women and men. One large difference is many women's tendency to apologize, even when there is no reason to do so. How does over-apologizing undermine a person's credibility? And when should someone apologize and when not? Kara discuss...

Over the last several years, we've developed a brand-new vocabulary to talk about very old problems. In this episode, Cathy and Deborah explore the importance of that vocabulary, as well as its imperfections and limitations. They also discuss how seemingly uncontroversial terms have become oh-so controversial, while identifying solutions to overcome the divide. 

We welcome Karith Foster whose new approach to achieving workplace inclusion rejects the use of blame and shame in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. She offers a new path forward, recognizing that all of us are different and unique, and true change requires everyone to participate. You can learn more about how INVERSITY takes the division out of diversity.

Kicking off the fourth season, Cathy and Deborah welcome Vivia Chen to discuss the challenges of getting the care you need for your mental health. Vivia, an award winning columnist and prolific opinion writer, was denied short term disability because she was not deemed "sad enough." Vivia discusses mental health stereotypes and solutions for change. You can find Cathy and Deborah on LinkedIn.

In this episode, Cathy and Deborah discuss the revolt against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts - and women - in the workplace. How did the seemingly noncontentious goal of inclusivity become controversial? More importantly, what can we learn from this back lash to transform our own approach? As always, we offer solutions.

In this episode, we talk to Angela B. Freeman, mom, wife, law firm partner, and podcaster about where she's been and what she hopes for in teaming up with others. We discuss the moments White women have failed to be allies and partners to Women of Color, and what we all need to do to step up, including recognizing the advantages some people have based on skin color. Along with firmly believing in...

The year 2023 brought incremental gains at the top for women overall but not for women of color. Women in middle management also lost ground, leaving open the question of whether gains at the top were a passing fancy. Join us to discuss 2023 challenges as well as solutions.

Join us for a discussion with Blessing Adesiyan who entered corporate American with a baby in her arms, literally. She shares her nuggets about creating a care infrastructure for workers at all levels and how businesses can best adapt in this new post-COVID landscape. As Blessing says, we're not going back to how it was before. In this new reality, caring about workers is as imperative for their w...

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts surged in 2020, but are now experiencing headwinds. Carrie Fletcher, leadership and strategy consultant, joins us to discuss how and why DEI initiatives falter, the critical role of men, and the need to address the elephant in the room which asks "what's in it for me"? 

Good Guys authors David Smith and Brad Johnson say that men are the key to gender parity. We agree but we need many more men as allies. In this episode, Cathy and Deborah ask the tough questions. What is standing in the way of full engagement by men? And for those men who are engaged, what can they do right now? You can learn more about the important work that Dave and Brad are doing on their webp...

We are joined by Gender Equity and Reconciliation International (GERI) to discuss bringing women and men together to listen to each other and bridge the gender divide. Its view? Parity isn't possible unless we engage with each other more deeply. GERI colleagues Cynthia Brix and Jon Levitt share a glimpse into what this process entails.

People hear a lot of different things when they hear the word "privilege," both good and bad. In this episode, Cathy and Deborah discuss their own privileges and how to have a more constructive, nuanced discussion, including by ditching the word. They also discuss "aha" moments and best practices for using whatever privileges -- or advantages -- you have to create a more inclusive workplace.

We focus a lot in this day and age on unconscious  bias , but women continue to experience head-scratching moments of in-your-face, outright explicit bias . From public shaming to cornering and bullying, listen in on these modern-day examples of good old-fashioned blatant sexism - and know you are not alone. Then, learn what you can do as the target of  bias , and even more importantly as an ally,...