Shero Cafe Podcast

Talk to us, Shero! Talk to us!

What happens when we know something is wrong—but speaking up could cost us something?

In this episode, Debbie and Deborah explore the line between staying out of something and staying silent when someone is being harmed. Using the allegations surrounding a Cornell University fraternity as a starting point, they look at loyalty, belonging, accountability, and what can happen when protecting the group becomes more important than challenging what we know isn't right.

None of us can take on every injustice. But when something crosses our path, maybe the question is: What do my values ask of me here—and am I willing to act on them?

Thank you so much for the likes, love, and comments you leave. Not only does it mean the world to us, it helps other women who need to hear it be able to find it.

#womenempoweringwomen
#youmatter
#makeadifference

---CONNECT with Shero Cafe---
Subscribe: www.SheroCafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shero.cafe.podcast/
Email: [email protected]

---CONNECT with Deborah Edwards---
Let's Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.edwards.372
Self Care Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624202641785785
Website: https://gratefulom.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahedwards-selfcarecoach/

---CONNECT with Debbie Pearson---
Website: https://www.debbiepearson.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiePearsonCoaching
Substack:  https://debbiepearsoncoaching.substack.com
Email: [email protected] 

Talk to us, Shero! Talk to us!

Debbie and Deborah aren’t quite finished asking, “What’s the rule?” This time, they go beyond political double standards to explore why the rules seem to change when money, power, belonging, family, or our own interests enter the picture—and what it can cost us to stand by what we believe.

The conversation eventually turns inward: What happens when following your own values could mean disappointing people, challenging long-held expectations, or even risking your sense of belonging? Maybe we can’t control the rules other people play by, but we can become the SHE-EOs of our own lives—learning to lead ourselves, take small steps, and decide what integrity looks like for us.

Thank you so much for the likes, love, and comments you leave. Not only does it mean the world to us, it helps other women who need to hear it be able to find it.

#womenempoweringwomen
#youmatter
#makeadifference

---CONNECT with Shero Cafe---
Subscribe: www.SheroCafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shero.cafe.podcast/
Email: [email protected]

---CONNECT with Deborah Edwards---
Let's Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.edwards.372
Self Care Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624202641785785
Website: https://gratefulom.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahedwards-selfcarecoach/

---CONNECT with Debbie Pearson---
Website: https://www.debbiepearson.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiePearsonCoaching
Substack:  https://debbiepearsoncoaching.substack.com
Email: [email protected] 

Talk to us, Shero! Talk to us!

 What happens when the rules seem to apply differently depending on who you are or who benefits? 

In this episode, Debbie and Deborah wrestle with fairness, double standards, integrity, and the everyday question, “What’s the rule?”

From politics to relationships to real-life choices, they explore what we can control, what we can’t, and how we decide what feels right when following the rules doesn’t always seem fair. 

Timestamps/Chapters

0:00 — We’re Doing Something a Little Different
Debbie and Deborah invite Sheroes into the conversation and ask what kinds of conversations listeners want to hear.

1:10 — What’s the Rule?
Why double standards and different rules for different people can be so frustrating.

3:10 — The Rules We Meet in Everyday Life
Deborah takes the question beyond politics into marriage, work, community, and everyday interactions.

5:15 — What Can We Actually Control?
The difference between rules in the larger world and the choices we can make in our own lives.

6:05 — Is It Fair—or Is It Personal Choice?
Debbie and Deborah explore where personal values, fairness, social expectations, and actual rules intersect.

9:40 — Truth, Fear, and Double Standards
What happens when people bend facts, use fear, or excuse behavior because it benefits their side?

12:35 — If They Lie, Does That Make It Okay for Me to Lie?
Deborah shares her timeshare story and an attorney’s surprising advice.

15:15 — When Your Integrity Becomes the Rule
Why someone else breaking the rules doesn’t necessarily change how you want to behave.

16:05 — Doing Everything “Right” and Still Getting Burned
Debbie shares what happened when she carefully followed property rules—and paid thousands she apparently didn’t need to spend.

18:35 — Self-Care, Self-Love, and Your Core Values
Deborah brings the conversation back to knowing what you can live with inside yourself.

20:00 — When Someone Who Lies Gets the Benefits
Debbie shares a post-Katrina experience that challenged her feelings about fairness and following the rules.

23:35 — When Is It Time to Challenge the Rule?
Not every rule is right. When do we decide to step forward and try to change one?

24:25 — Why We Need to Talk About This Together
How talking about difficult questions can create connection and remind us that we’re not alone.

26:00 — What Do You Think, Sheroes?
Debbie and Deborah leave the question open and invite listeners to continue the conversation.

Thank you so much for the likes, love, and comments you leave. Not only does it mean the world to us, it helps other women who need to hear it be able to find it.

#womenempoweringwomen
#youmatter
#makeadifference

---CONNECT with Shero Cafe---
Subscribe: www.SheroCafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shero.cafe.podcast/
Email: [email protected]

---CONNECT with Deborah Edwards---
Let's Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.edwards.372
Self Care Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624202641785785
Website: https://gratefulom.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahedwards-selfcarecoach/

---CONNECT with Debbie Pearson---
Website: https://www.debbiepearson.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiePearsonCoaching
Substack:  https://debbiepearsoncoaching.substack.com
Email: [email protected] 

Talk to us, Shero! Talk to us!

We've all heard the advice.

Just let it go.
Just trust yourself.
Just do it.
Just step into your glory.

Easy to say. Not so easy to do.

In this episode, we explore why these well-meaning phrases often leave us feeling frustrated instead of empowered. The problem isn't that the advice is wrong. It's that it skips over the skills needed to get there.

We talk about why awareness is only the first step, how mindfulness helps us notice what's happening inside us, and why real change comes from learning what to do after we become aware. Along the way, we each share personal stories about choosing not to let someone else's perspective determine our future.

If you've ever thought, "I know what I should do... so why can't I do it?" this conversation is for you.

Because growth isn't about trying harder. It's about learning the skills that make lasting change possible.

Thank you so much for the likes, love, and comments you leave. Not only does it mean the world to us, it helps other women who need to hear it be able to find it.

#womenempoweringwomen
#youmatter
#makeadifference

---CONNECT with Shero Cafe---
Subscribe: www.SheroCafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shero.cafe.podcast/
Email: [email protected]

---CONNECT with Deborah Edwards---
Let's Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.edwards.372
Self Care Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624202641785785
Website: https://gratefulom.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahedwards-selfcarecoach/

---CONNECT with Debbie Pearson---
Website: https://www.debbiepearson.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiePearsonCoaching
Substack:  https://debbiepearsoncoaching.substack.com
Email: [email protected] 

Talk to us, Shero! Talk to us!

What happens when you finally reach the goals you once prayed for… but something inside still feels empty?

In this honest and deeply relatable conversation, Debbie Pearson and Deborah Edwards explore the hidden emotional cost many high-capacity women quietly carry behind success. From achievement and responsibility to loneliness, pressure, and the need for deeper connection, this episode speaks to the women who are exhausted from always being the strong one.

Together, they unpack:

• why success can still feel emotionally unfulfilling
• how women become valued for what they provide instead of who they are
• the loneliness many successful women experience behind the scenes
• why community, support, and emotional safety matter more than ever
• how to redefine success in a way that actually supports your life

This episode is a reminder that you are not weak for wanting support, connection, rest, or a softer place to land.

Success is not only what we build around us.
 It is also what we build within us.

✨ Deborah’s Heart Connection Community:
 Substack Membership Community for Women
Deborah is offering a one year subscription

✨ Debbie’s Practice Lab (renamed: Steady Leader Lab™):
 Steady Leader Lab 
Debbie offers 50% off of the first month for new members.

#successfulbutunhappy 
#womenandlonliness
#womensupportingwomen
#intentionalcommunity
#redefiningsuccess
#emotionalfulfillment
#womenempowerment

Thank you so much for the likes, love, and comments you leave. Not only does it mean the world to us, it helps other women who need to hear it be able to find it.

#womenempoweringwomen
#youmatter
#makeadifference

---CONNECT with Shero Cafe---
Subscribe: www.SheroCafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shero.cafe.podcast/
Email: [email protected]

---CONNECT with Deborah Edwards---
Let's Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.edwards.372
Self Care Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624202641785785
Website: https://gratefulom.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahedwards-selfcarecoach/

---CONNECT with Debbie Pearson---
Website: https://www.debbiepearson.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiePearsonCoaching
Substack:  https://debbiepearsoncoaching.substack.com
Email: [email protected] 

Talk to us, Shero! Talk to us!

In this raw and deeply personal episode of the Shero Café Podcast, Debbie and Deborah talk about patriarchy, self-trust, silence, power, and what happens when women are taught to abandon themselves to keep others comfortable.

Through personal stories, emotional reflection, and honest conversation, they explore:

• how girls are taught to stay agreeable
• why so many women silence themselves
• the emotional cost of people-pleasing
• what community and self-trust can heal
• how small moments of awareness create lasting change

This conversation moves through politics, culture, family systems, trauma, parenting, and personal growth — all centered around one powerful question:

What happens when women begin listening to themselves instead of only outside voices?

This episode is an invitation to notice the patterns, pause long enough to question them, and begin building self-trust one small moment at a time.

Chapter Markers / Timestamps

00:00 – Why Women Are Taught to Stay Small
 02:20 – Growing Up Responsible for Men’s Feelings
 04:15 – Personal Stories of Silence and Harm
 06:15 – Respectability, Religion, and Patriarchy
 09:00 – Learning to Advocate for Yourself
 12:45 – The Emotional Cost of Staying Quiet
 14:00 – Indoctrination Starts Early
 15:20 – How Society Shapes Gender Roles
 18:00 – Voting Against Our Own Interests
 20:00 – Listening to Outside Voices Instead of Yourself
 22:00 – Power, Politics, and Protection Systems
 25:00 – Social Media, Predators, and Protecting Children
 30:00 – Why Self-Trust Changes Everything
 32:00 – Teaching Children Boundaries and Self-Respect
 35:00 – When Family Protects the Wrong People
 38:00 – The Healing Power of Community
 41:00 – Truth-Telling, Honesty, and Respect
 44:00 – Why Awareness Matters
 49:00 – How Self-Trust Is Actually Built
 52:00 – Awareness Is Only Step One
 54:00 – The Small Language Shifts That Matter
 58:00 – Fighting for Women’s Voices
 1:00:00 – One Small Change at a Time
 1:02:00 – Trusting Yourself Through Life’s Challenges
 1:04:00 – Final Reflections and Closing Thoughts

Thank you so much for the likes, love, and comments you leave. Not only does it mean the world to us, it helps other women who need to hear it be able to find it.

#womenempoweringwomen
#youmatter
#makeadifference

---CONNECT with Shero Cafe---
Subscribe: www.SheroCafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shero.cafe.podcast/
Email: [email protected]

---CONNECT with Deborah Edwards---
Let's Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.edwards.372
Self Care Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624202641785785
Website: https://gratefulom.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahedwards-selfcarecoach/

---CONNECT with Debbie Pearson---
Website: https://www.debbiepearson.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiePearsonCoaching
Substack:  https://debbiepearsoncoaching.substack.com
Email: [email protected] 

Talk to us, Shero! Talk to us!

You’re doing everything right.

You’re showing up. Taking care of yourself. Keeping things moving in your work and your life.

And still… something feels off.

That feeling can be hard to explain. It doesn’t make sense on the surface. You’re doing what you’re “supposed” to do, so why doesn’t it feel better?

In this episode, we gently look at what might be happening underneath.

Because sometimes it’s not about doing more.
 It’s not about adding more self-care.
 It’s about noticing where your energy is quietly leaking.

We talk about the difference between being depleted and being overextended. How you can be giving, doing, and holding a lot… without enough support or space to steady yourself.

You’ll hear real-life examples of what this can look like:
 Saying yes when your body is saying no.
 Avoiding conversations that matter.
 Overthinking decisions after you’ve already made them.
 Trying to hold it all together for everyone else.

These aren’t signs that something is wrong with you.

They’re signals.

Small moments where your body is asking you to notice, pause, and choose differently.

We also explore the role of boundaries—not as something harsh, but as something steady. Something that helps you stay connected to yourself while still caring for others.

This isn’t about fixing yourself.

It’s about learning to listen in a new way.
 To notice what feels tight or heavy.
 To give yourself one small moment of choice.

Because when something feels off, it usually means something deeper is asking for your attention.

And that’s not a problem.

It’s a place to begin.

0:00  Welcome And The “Something’s Off” Feeling

1:48  Self-Care Without Capacity Fails

3:59  The Oil Leak Analogy For Burnout

6:13  Real-World Signs Of Overextension

8:42  Saying No And Listening To Your Body

13:17  Self-Care Versus Self-Love Choices

15:27  When Giving Money Feels Like Peace

19:04  Restrictive Versus Expansive Energy Clues

23:39  Small Steps Plus Coaching And Community

26:45  You’re Not Weak For Needing Support

Thank you so much for the likes, love, and comments you leave. Not only does it mean the world to us, it helps other women who need to hear it be able to find it.

#womenempoweringwomen
#youmatter
#makeadifference

---CONNECT with Shero Cafe---
Subscribe: www.SheroCafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shero.cafe.podcast/
Email: [email protected]

---CONNECT with Deborah Edwards---
Let's Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.edwards.372
Self Care Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624202641785785
Website: https://gratefulom.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahedwards-selfcarecoach/

---CONNECT with Debbie Pearson---
Website: https://www.debbiepearson.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiePearsonCoaching
Substack:  https://debbiepearsoncoaching.substack.com
Email: [email protected] 

Talk to us, Shero! Talk to us!

You know that quiet feeling… something isn’t right… even when everything looks fine on the outside?

We sit with that.

Not to fix it. Not to rush past it. But to name it.
 Because more often than not, you already know.
 You just haven’t let yourself fully say it.

We talk about the places this shows up—
 relationships that look good but feel heavy,
 work that checks the boxes but drains your peace,
 and those moments where you keep saying yes… while something in you is saying no.

And then there’s the body.

The tight chest.
 The clenched jaw.
 The low hum of anxiety that never fully goes away.

That’s not random. That’s your body holding the truth you haven’t spoken yet.

We also talk about why this is so hard.

Because it’s not just about knowing.
 It’s about what it might cost to admit it.

Belonging.
 Comfort.
 Familiarity.

Sometimes it feels easier to stay where you are… even when you know it’s not right.

But there’s a cost to that too.

You start to lose trust in yourself.
 You second guess.
 You override what you feel.

So we slow it down.

We talk about creating space—just enough to hear yourself again.
 And from there, making small, honest choices.

Sometimes that looks like a boundary.
 Sometimes it’s a simple truth spoken out loud.
 Sometimes it’s just admitting… this doesn’t feel right anymore.

Nothing dramatic - just honest.

Because self-care isn’t always comfort.
 And self-love isn’t always soft.

Sometimes it’s telling yourself the truth… and being willing to listen.

#selftrust  #selfawareness  #emotionalgrowth  #selfcare  #selflove  #innerwork  #boundaries  #personalgrowth  #mindsetshift  #emotionalintelligence  #healing  #authenticity

Thank you so much for the likes, love, and comments you leave. Not only does it mean the world to us, it helps other women who need to hear it be able to find it.

#womenempoweringwomen
#youmatter
#makeadifference

---CONNECT with Shero Cafe---
Subscribe: www.SheroCafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shero.cafe.podcast/
Email: [email protected]

---CONNECT with Deborah Edwards---
Let's Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.edwards.372
Self Care Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624202641785785
Website: https://gratefulom.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahedwards-selfcarecoach/

---CONNECT with Debbie Pearson---
Website: https://www.debbiepearson.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiePearsonCoaching
Substack:  https://debbiepearsoncoaching.substack.com
Email: [email protected] 

Talk to us, Shero! Talk to us!

The most life-changing part of emotional regulation is not a big breakthrough. It is the microscopic moment most people miss — the pause between what happens and how you respond. When you learn to notice that sliver of time, you stop riding the reaction roller coaster and start making real choices instead of saying something you regret, shutting down, or handing your power to someone else’s mood.

In this episode we share what that pause looks like in real life, including a surprisingly intense situation that triggered overthinking and a familiar freeze response. We explore why the same situation can trigger one person but not another, and how capacity, nervous system safety, and practice change what happens in that moment. You will also hear simple body signals to watch for and one grounding question that can shift everything: What do I need right now?

Thank you so much for the likes, love, and comments you leave. Not only does it mean the world to us, it helps other women who need to hear it be able to find it.

#womenempoweringwomen
#youmatter
#makeadifference

---CONNECT with Shero Cafe---
Subscribe: www.SheroCafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shero.cafe.podcast/
Email: [email protected]

---CONNECT with Deborah Edwards---
Let's Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.edwards.372
Self Care Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624202641785785
Website: https://gratefulom.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahedwards-selfcarecoach/

---CONNECT with Debbie Pearson---
Website: https://www.debbiepearson.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiePearsonCoaching
Substack:  https://debbiepearsoncoaching.substack.com
Email: [email protected] 

Talk to us, Shero! Talk to us!

Glamour can feel like safety—until it isn’t. Using the movie Blink Twice as our lens, we explore how charm, access, and curated beauty can quietly become control. We unpack grooming, normalization, and the intoxicating pull of proximity to power—and why belonging so often outranks intuition.

We share personal stories of staying silent to keep harmony and of challenging authority at a cost. Like the film’s paradise, systems ask for small surrenders until your voice fades. We talk about gaslighting, self-doubt, and the fear of exile that keeps us nodding along—then pivot to rebuilding self-trust through mindful pauses, body-based yes/no checks, and boundaries practiced before they’re needed.

Taking your power back isn’t aggression—it’s clarity. It might mean leaving a room, declining an invitation, or choosing spaces that can hold your truth. If you're will, we'd love to hear how have you experienced taking your power back?

Thank you so much for the likes, love, and comments you leave. Not only does it mean the world to us, it helps other women who need to hear it be able to find it.

#womenempoweringwomen
#youmatter
#makeadifference

---CONNECT with Shero Cafe---
Subscribe: www.SheroCafe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shero.cafe.podcast/
Email: [email protected]

---CONNECT with Deborah Edwards---
Let's Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.edwards.372
Self Care Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/624202641785785
Website: https://gratefulom.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahedwards-selfcarecoach/

---CONNECT with Debbie Pearson---
Website: https://www.debbiepearson.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbiePearsonCoaching
Substack:  https://debbiepearsoncoaching.substack.com
Email: [email protected]