Dating in 2026 can feel… bleak. Everyone is analyzing “red flags,” burned out on dating apps, and building emotional walls to stay safe out there. Sound relatable?

In this episode of Ambition 2.0, Amanda Goetz sits down with relationship expert Amy Chan—founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp, bestselling author of Breakup Bootcamp, and author of the upcoming book Unsingle: How to Date Smarter and Create Love That Lasts—to talk about what’s actually going wrong in modern dating (especially for ambitious women) and how to date smarter.

Amy breaks down why high-achieving women can accidentally bring “CEO energy” into their love lives—turning dating into a project, over-functioning, and doing 90% of the work. You’ll learn how to stop over-giving, create space so someone can show you who they are, and why it’s not your job to coach someone out of their insecurity. 

Plus, Amy shares her “dating funnel” framework (lead generation → evaluation → commitment) and the underrated stage most people skip: the evaluation phase (a.k.a.: dates 3–20, where character is revealed).

If you’re dating right now—or you want a smarter path to partnership—this episode is for you.

You’ll learn: 

Why modern dating feels broken—and how hyper-fixating on red flags is blocking connection

How “CEO energy” can sabotage dating and what to do instead

Why it’s not your job to fix or coach a partner out of insecurity

What emotional wealth really means (and why it matters more than money)

Amy’s “dating funnel” framework and why dates 3–20 are crucial

How “ick culture” keeps people single

How to reopen your heart if dating has made you guarded, burned out, or distrustful 

00:00 Intro

03:22 Women’s standards are rising—and “survival coupling” is over

05:04 What is the “CEO energy” problem?

07:26 How to leave space and let them show who they are

10:12 Emotional wealth > financial flex: what men can do differently now

14:50 Amy’s dating funnel framework

21:08 The internet’s worst dating advice

GUEST LINKS

Instagram:  www.instagram.com/missamychan

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missamychan

Read Breakup Bootcamp: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780062914743 

Pre-order Unsingle: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781419779848 

www.renewbreakupbootcamp.com 

www.missamychan.com

www.hearthackersclub.com 

FOLLOW THE PODCAST

IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss 

Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ 

https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast 

SIGN UP

Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ 

For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ 

ABOUT AMBITION 2.0Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Repeat after us: You can love your job and still be a workaholic.

In this episode of Ambition 2.0, Amanda Goetz sits down with Dr. Malissa Clark, a professor at the University of Georgia, Director of the Healthy Work Lab, and author of Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture Is Bad for Business—and How to Fix It, to break down what workaholism can look like in real life (spoiler: it’s not just about working long hours). They get into the sneaky “working light” tasks that we tell ourselves don’t count as work (like sending emails while watching TV or checking Slack between errands), how leaders accidentally create always-on teams, and so much more. 

If you’ve ever felt guilty while resting, struggled to stop thinking about work, or worried that your ambition is turning into something unhealthy, this episode is worth a listen. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

00:00 Intro 

01:33 What workaholism is (and the four components)

04:32 Early signs your work habits are becoming unhealthy

07:21 What to do if you think you might be a workaholic 

11:23 How leaders unintentionally create “always-on” teams

13:26 How to bring boundaries up with your boss

20:46 Redesigning work culture

24:04 Surviving a 40-hour workweek without losing your life

32:56 Rapid fire: urgent emails, Slack, PTO, and commute baths

GUEST LINKS

Read Never Not Working: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781647825096 

https://www.malissaclark.com/ 

FOLLOW THE PODCAST

IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss 

Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ 

https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast 

SIGN UP

Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ 

For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ 

ABOUT AMBITION 2.0Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with Alexa von Tobel—the founder of LearnVest (where she raised $75M and successfully sold it to Northwestern Mutual) and current founder and managing partner of Inspired Capital—to unpack the resilient mindset that has shaped her successful career, from founder to venture-capital veteran.Alexa dropped out of Harvard Business School and poured her life savings into LearnVest, a multimillion-dollar business idea—despite warnings from nearly everyone around her that she was making a big mistake. She did it in the middle of the 2008 economic recession, no less.

Alexa shares why her 90-year-old self (and the fear of regret) fuels her to take big risks, the qualities she looks for when investing in a founder, and practical tips for pitching your business to VCs for the first time. She also shares an unpopular truth: if you’re becoming an entrepreneur for the status or the “quick money,” it’s going to be a rough ride. There’s only one reason why you should start your own business: because you can’t do any other job.

Key takeaways

Regret is usually about the swings you didn’t take—not the mistakes you made.

Raising capital gets easier when you combine mission + proof + obsessive category insight.

Feedback is a competitive edge (and ego is the fastest way to lose it).

Entrepreneurship shouldn’t be “cool”—it should be inevitable for the person doing it.

00:00 Intro

02:46 Reclaiming ambition as a positive force

04:11 The LearnVest origin story and dropping out during the economic downturn of 2008

07:53 Raising $75M and the difference between capital vs. “world-class” capital

15:24 What founders get wrong in pitches (and what great answers sound like)

24:20 Identity beyond titles, exits, and the founder doom spiral

33:54 Speed round: The one quality she looks for before investing in founders (and the one that’s a major red flag) 

GUEST LINKS

IG: https://www.instagram.com/alexavontobel/?hl=en 

Listen to her podcast here: https://www.inspiredcapital.com/content/podcasts 

Learn more about Inspired Capital: https://www.inspiredcapital.com 

FOLLOW THE PODCAST

IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss 

Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ 

https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast 

SIGN UP

Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ 

For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ 

ABOUT AMBITION 2.0Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Ambition 2.0, Amanda Goetz sits down with psychotherapist and Toxic Productivity author Israa Nasir to unpack why so many high-achieving women feel constantly behind, overwhelmed, and unable to rest—even when they’re doing “everything right.”

Israa explains how productivity often becomes a coping mechanism for shame, fear, and feeling “not good enough,” and why no system, planner, or habit hack can fix that. Together, they talk about the early warning signs of toxic productivity (including resentment and the phrase “I just need to get through next week”), how unhealed wounds show up at work through perfectionism and feedback sensitivity, and why rest isn’t a reward—it’s a requirement.

They also talk about how convenience culture and “main character energy” are quietly eroding community, why boundaries shouldn’t be rigid walls, and what it really takes to build a sustainable, values-aligned relationship with ambition.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

00:00 Intro

04:17 When productivity becomes toxic

09:07 Reparenting at work

15:11 Boundaries 101

18:16 Hyper-optimizing “self-improvement”

26:21 Contentment vs complacency (and the “both/and” mindset)

28:06 The 7 types of rest

31:42 Convenience vs connection

38:28 Rapid-fire questions 

GUEST LINKS

IG: https://www.instagram.com/well.guide/ 

Subscribe to Well Guide: https://israanasir.substack.com/ 

https://www.israanasir.com/ 

Read Toxic Productivity: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781962305358 

FOLLOW THE PODCAST

IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss 

Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ 

https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast 

SIGN UP

Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ 

For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ 

ABOUT AMBITION 2.0Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with Starbucks' Global Chief Brand Officer Tressie Lieberman to talk about the path that led her through some of the biggest brands in marketing (Pizza Hut → Taco Bell → Chipotle → Yahoo → Starbucks), the mentors who changed her trajectory, and the family system that makes it possible: a true partnership where her husband is the stay-at-home parent.

They get tactical about how to divide the cognitive load, why “Sunday check-ins” are a non-negotiable, and how to navigate the social friction that still shows up when you flip traditional gender roles.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How Tressie went from aiming for “the next level” to owning the CMO path—and what made that shift happen

Why curiosity (and doing “the little extra things”) is key in your career

How to build a partnership that’s equitable, not score-keeping

The practical systems that reduce mental load at home

How to handle judgment, weird school dynamics, and “default parent” assumptions when dad stays home

If you’re building an ambitious life—and want a relationship that can grow with it—this episode is a must listen.

00:00 Intro

02:53 The mindset shift that set Tressie’s sights beyond “the next level” 

04:02 The mentors who opened doors (including reverse mentoring a CEO)

05:36 How to stand out early: curiosity, doing extra, and teaching what’s next

06:49 Advocating for yourself in executive rooms (and getting over FOE: fear of executives)

09:10 How they chose a stay-at-home partner dynamic

13:59 The at-home teamwork: check-ins, trade-offs, and letting go of perfection and control

17:45 Keeping the marriage strong: date nights, boundaries, and “one blended life”

32:45 Rapid fire: Sunday rituals, go-to Starbucks order, and ideal partnership in one word

GUEST LINKS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tressielieberman/ 

FOLLOW THE PODCAST

IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss 

Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ 

https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast 

SIGN UP

Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ 

For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ 

ABOUT AMBITION 2.0

Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to workplace culture expert and author Jennifer Moss, burnout in 2025 is actually worse than it was at the height of the pandemic—with roughly half of the global workforce experiencing symptoms. 🙃

In this episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with Jennifer to unpack why burnout is still rising, why “hardcore culture” and the 996 movement are actually bad for business (and employee morale), and why self-care rituals like a face mask and a Sunday night bath are band-aid solutions for a systems-level problem. 

They get into the uncomfortable truth about ageism (both Gen Z and older workers are experiencing bias) and what leaders are getting wrong about “return to office” and productivity.

You’ll also hear a much more hopeful take on the future of work: how to design cultures around hope, purpose, and community, what actually moves the needle on wellbeing and performance, and what employees can do when they’re stuck in a bad culture but can’t just quit (because… rent). They also dig into AI, “boreout,” calendar Tetris, and the simple 20-minute rituals that can quietly transform a team. 

Key Takeaways: 

Burnout is a systems failure, not a self-care issue 

Ageism is shrinking the workforce more than AI

How to assert boundaries with your boss when you’re burned out (and can’t quit)

Clear signs you’re burning out 

Community at work is a performance driver, not a perk

3 things every company culture should have to prevent burnout

Whether you’re a manager, an HR leader, or just someone who’s tired, cynical, and wondering, “Is it me… or my job?” this episode will give you language, frameworks, and actionable steps you can take today to redesign the way you work forever.

00:00 Intro

01:30 Redefining ambition without toxic productivity

06:30 Generational divides, ageism & entry-level careers

11:12 Burnout as a systems failure (not a self-care issue)

13:40 Hardcore culture, the 996 movement, and the real cost it has on companies

23:03 What employees can do when they can’t just quit

29:28 Three warning signs you’re sliding into burnout

32:30 The pillars of great culture

38:09 AI, “boreout,” and designing a lower-burnout future of work

GUEST LINKS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jleighmoss/?hl=en 

https://www.jennifer-moss.com/ 

Why Are We Here? Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781647826130

The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781647820367

FOLLOW THE PODCAST

IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss 

Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ 

https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast 

SIGN UP

Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ 

For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ 

ABOUT AMBITION 2.0

Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with Erika Ayers Badan, former CEO of Barstool Sports, current CEO of Food52, bestselling author of Nobody Cares About Your Career, and all-around master of building a career entirely on her own terms. 

Erika took Barstool from scrappy outsider to a $550M powerhouse with 5 billion monthly video views and 225 million followers, and now she’s teaching us how to take charge of our own career trajectory.

Erika shows us the real mechanics of career growth: why nobody is coming to save you, how to make your own luck, why “random” career paths are often the most powerful, and the mindset shifts that separate fulfilled professionals from stuck ones. 

She also shares candid stories from her time leading one of the most controversial (and successful) media companies in the world, what she’s learned about managing men and underdogs, how to stay emotionally regulated at work, and why she advocates for not bringing your whole self to work (compartmentalization can actually enhance your authenticity). 

Erika shares her thoughts on: 

You’ll also hear Erika’s framework for avoiding energy vampires, deciding which “thankless” tasks are worth it, building a personal board of directors, and creating momentum at any stage of your career—from your second job to the C-suite.

00:00 Intro

03:50 The biggest misconception about career progression

09:23 Surviving bad startups and getting the most out of them

14:20 Making your own luck and the power of asking for help

16:36 Personal boards and shameless asks 

20:41 How junior employees can stand out and create momentum

23:37 Leading in a male-dominated culture without being the alpha

32:33 Compartmentalization, authenticity, and emotional regulation at work

39:47 Energy vampires, thankless tasks, and protecting your focus

42:37 How to pick a boss and read interviews differently

45:53 Erika’s work at Food52 and Work Life A Girl, and the power of building community

49:15 Rapid-fire questions and Erika’s non-negotiables at work

GUEST LINKS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erika/ & https://www.instagram.com/workwitherika/ 

Connect with Erika: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikanardini/ 

Subscribe to her Substack: https://erikaayersbadan.substack.com/ 

Listen to her podcast, Work: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/work-with-erika-ayers-badan/id1503065691 

Join Work Like a Girl: https://www.worklikeagirl.com/ 

Order her book, Nobody Cares About Your Career: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781250320582

FOLLOW THE PODCAST

IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss 

Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ 

https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast 

SIGN UP

Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ 

For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ 

ABOUT AMBITION 2.0

Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Ambition 2.0, Amanda sits down with board-certified psychiatrist, researcher, and viral mental health educator Dr. Judith Joseph, MD, MBA, to talk about a form of depression that often flies under the radar: high-functioning depression.

If you’re the one who “has it together” (the dependable friend, the rock at work, the caregiver who never drops the ball), but feel numb, exhausted, or joyless inside, this conversation is going to hit uncomfortably close to home (in the best way).

Dr. Judith breaks down:

They also get into practical tools: how to set limits with toxic people you can’t fully cut them off, how to support a friend with high-functioning depression without shaming them, and why scheduling joy is needed.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m functioning… but I’m not okay,” this episode will help you name it, understand it, and start to change it.

00:00 Intro

01:39 Judith’s story of realizing she was depressed

03:19 Why high-achieving, caregiving women are vulnerable to high-functioning depression

04:41 The difference between happiness and joy

08:30 The five V’s of healing

11:06 What masochism really means, how it became “people-pleasing,” and why women self-sacrifice

19:27 Venting vs trauma dumping 

24:16 How Dr. Judith reclaimed joy through play

33:08 How to support a friend with high-functioning depression

GUEST LINKS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjudithjoseph/?hl=en 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjudithjoseph 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmHQJaOerTsZJfOtiYz4sOg 

Read High Functioning: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780316577298 

https://drjudithjoseph.com/

FOLLOW THE PODCAST

IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss 

Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ 

https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast 

SIGN UP

Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ 

For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ 

ABOUT AMBITION 2.0

Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

DISCLAIMER

This episode is sponsored by Bulova

Crafted with over a century of heritage, the Bulova Rubaiyat collection fuses timeless design with modern femininity. From diamond-studded dials to sleek gold and silver finishes, these timepieces are proof that luxury should be anything but quiet.

So, go ahead. Celebrate your milestones. Invest in yourself. Because time is on your side — and it looks so damn good on you.

Discover the Bulova Rubaiyat collection at bulova.com. And get 30% off sitewide until November 28, 2025.

https://bulova.sjv.io/c/3557746/3398415/16604

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to money, most of us were taught to work hard, focus on saving, and not take any financial risks. In this episode of Ambition 2.0, Rachel Rodgers (self-made millionaire, founder of Hello Seven, and author of We Should All Be Millionaires and Future Millionaire) is here to replace that belief with something way more powerful.

Rachel and Amanda get into why wealth is built on risk, not by simply “working harder”, how women are socialized to budget instead of build wealth, and the exact mindset and practical moves that helped Rachel go from living in a low-income household as a child to running an eight-figure business.

You’ll hear them talk about:

Why “making money is easy” is the belief Rachel wishes she’d adopted at 25

The biggest limiting belief holding ambitious women back

Why wealth comes after betting on yourself—not just by investing in stocks and real estate

How to know when it’s time to hire help (EA, VA, house manager, childcare, etc.)

Turning your natural talents and obsessions into income streams

How Rachel designs her life so she can make millions without burning out

00:00 Intro 

04:10 Why women are taught to budget—not build wealth

07:30 Failure, risk, and “successful failure”

10:40 Turning your natural talents into income

14:10 When (and why) to hire help instead of doing it all

19:40 Balancing “treating yourself” with long-term financial goals

23:25 Ambition without burnout: Rachel’s non-negotiables

25:30 The power of community, accountability, and momentum

29:41 The money belief Rachel wishes she had learned sooner

31:10 Rapid fire: millionaire habits, splurges, and rich-life rules

GUEST LINKS

Rachel Rodgers: https://www.instagram.com/rachrodgersesq/ 

Read We Should All Be Millionaires: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781400221622

Read Future Millionaire: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780310158202 

Read Million Dollar Action: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9781400243686 

Hello Seven Co.: https://www.instagram.com/hello7co/ 

https://rachelrodgers.com/

The Rachel Rodgers Show: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/therachelrodgersshow/the-rachel-rodgers-show-entrepreneurship-uncensored

FOLLOW THE PODCAST

IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss 

Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ 

https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast 

SIGN UP

Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ 

For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ 

ABOUT AMBITION 2.0

Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if ambition didn’t mean chasing the next title, paycheck, or performance review? In this episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with executive coach, podcast host, and author Amina AlTai (The Ambition Trap) to unpack what ambition really means—and why it might need a full rebrand.

Together, Amanda and Amina get real about how culture (and capitalism) have warped our relationship with ambition—especially for women—and how to reclaim it on our own terms. From the “core wounds” that drive our overachieving tendencies to the importance of rest, self-awareness, and setting boundaries, this episode is your permission slip to stop chasing and start living.

✍️What you’ll learn

Why ambition is cyclical (seasons of push + rest)

The five core wounds (Lise Bourbeau) & how they show up at work

“Painful” vs “purposeful” ambition—and how to shift

The five "whys" to separate ego goals from what truly lights you up

The resentment line: naming needs, stating them, and negotiating

How to spot toxic individualism and reframe success as a team sport

Why identity is a prism (you’re more than your job title)

Whether you’re deep in your hustle era or learning to rest without guilt, this convo will help you spot what’s fueling your ambition—pain or purpose—and redesign it for something sustainable, joyful, and yours.

00:00 Intro

02:14 Two camps of ambition

03:58 Core wounds & masks

08:10 Untangling identity from achievement (and capitalism’s worthiness trap)

14:17 Desire, shame, and policing women’s wants

18:34 Toxic individualism vs. team sport mentality

22:38 Mistaking passion for purpose

26:50 Finding your purpose

32:45 Living above the resentment line

GUEST LINKS

Amina AlTai: https://www.instagram.com/aminaaltai/?hl=en 

Read The Ambition Trap: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780593655306 

https://www.aminaaltai.com/ 

RESOURCES MENTIONED: 

Lise Bourbeau’s Five Core Wounds framework

Stephen Cope’s The Great Work of Your Life 

FOLLOW THE PODCAST

IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss 

Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ 

https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast 

SIGN UP

Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ 

For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ 

ABOUT AMBITION 2.0

Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.

ABOUT HER WORKPLACE UNFILTERED

Listen to Her Workplace Unfiltered—a podcast about what it really means to be a woman in the workplace.

Instagram: @herworkplaceunfiltered @herworkplace

TikTok: @herworkplaceunfiltered @herworkplace

Watch on YouTube

Join Her Workplace

Follow Her Workplace on LinkedIn

Subscribe to their newsletter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices