Parity Podcast

Cathy and Deborah are joined by frequent contributor to the Parity Podcast, Dr. Nithila Peter, to discuss the work and pervasive influence of Gloria Steinem. While Ms. Steinem was known, rightly so, for her political work and fight for parity, including work on the Equal Rights Amendment and the influential Ms. magazine, many of her writings were deeply personal. Ms. Steinem described her own path to feminism, and a path to self-discovery, in a way that was resonating. Caught up in societal norms and expectations, many of us struggle to express ourselves outwardly in a way that is true to who we are, independent of gender. In this episode, Cathy, Deborah, and Nithila touch on the many facets of Ms. Steinem, whose life, activism, and writing stand for feminism itself. An hour discussion is not enough, but it is a start.

In this episode, Cathy and Deborah discuss the phenomenon of pushback against women in the workplace coming from, of all places, other women. What has brought us to this moment of the "trad wife," and are we experiencing a war among women? The trad wife moment is not the first time that women themselves have lobbied against parity - think Phyllis Schlafly and her success in defeating the Equal Rights Amendment. In their characteristic style, Cathy and Deborah break down the context of our current climate and debunk the myth that a one-size lifestyle fits every woman, or every man. They also add a word of caution against taking the bait to create a war among women that may be more media driven than anything.

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 here and how do we stop the negative stereotyping from women and men? Deborah and Cathy discuss the role of bias, including confirmation bias and an expectation for women to "play nice," and consider whether these expectations and biases creat unfair standards for wmen bosses. As alwys, they discuss solutions to make the workplace fairer for everyone, including by giving our bosses a fair shot.

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, these old notions of "appropriate" gender behavior will continue to box us all in. This episode discusses the challenge for women in abandoning stereotypes for men. This episode also breaks down the stereotypes we should question for women and men and what it takes to finally move past them to a workplace with more partnerships and collaboration.

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 invisible weight of caregiving, they unpack what's continuing to obstruct the path for women - and why the "ambition gap" narrative misses the point. They also share practical steps leaders and organizations can take to build workplaces where ambition is possible, visible, and supported.

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 message early on that "girls are less than boys," misogyny can take root. Listen in for his thoughts on how we can take the pressure off men to conform and free up space for men and women to engage with each other and be themselves.

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 revisit the Parity Prescription and discuss how to improve upon the approach toward achieving real progress. Spoiler alert - let's please be done with stereotypes.

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 how to steer your career growth and set yourself up for greater success by seizing upon opportunities, raising your hand for the tough assignments, and actively building relationships that go beyond surface-level mentorship. They also outline actionable tips for organizations looking to do better at providing everyone a fair shot at developing experience capital.

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 practical advice for women and leaders encountering a sometimes "greedy" workplace.