What does it mean to live as a woman when you’ve chosen to step outside the script?

In this episode of Curious Life of a Childfree Woman, host Emily Paulsen talks with transformational coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Rewrite the Mother Code, Dr. Gertrude Lyons about the quiet rules women inherit around sacrifice, care, and emotional labor and how those rules shape our choices, confidence, and sense of self.

Together, they explore the subtle ways women are taught to equate worth with overgiving, how to stand firm in your truth without becoming hardened, and why emotional expression is one of the most undervalued sources of strength. This conversation is about womanhood, self-trust, and redefining care on your own terms.

Key Takeaways

• We inherit expectations we didn’t choose. Many women were handed a definition of femininity built around sacrifice, selflessness, and constant caretaking. It’s okay to question that.

• Choosing yourself isn’t selfish. Prioritizing your own well-being and fulfillment isn’t indulgent, it’s vital. And when women care for themselves, everyone benefits.

• Unshakeable doesn’t mean defensive. You don’t need to justify your choices. Confidence grows from clarity, not explanation.

• You are allowed to be complex. You can be soft and strong. Kind and firm. Giving and self-honoring.

• Your emotions are not the problem. Emotional presence is not weakness—it’s wisdom. The more you feel, the more fully you live.
  

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way. 

Learn more about Emily on her website: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com  

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslifeofachildfreewoman/ 

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The guest on this episode,  Dr. Gertrude Lyons has dedicated her professional life to exploring the transformative capacity of all people. Dr. Lyons received her Ed.D. in 2017, and has given workshops at Google, International Coaches Federation, Hey Mama, and more. She has been published or appeared in The Guardian, WSJ, Thrive Global, The Bump, Motherly, Business Insider, and MindBodyGreen, and on Fox NY & Chicago, Good Day LA, NewsNation, and WGN radio. She is the host of the podcast, “Rewrite the Mother Code,” and lives in Chicago, where she and her husband Rich raised their own family.

Learn more about Dr. Lyons on her website: www.drgertrudelyons.com 

Connect with her online: 

IG: instagram.com/drgertrudelyons  

LI: www.linkedin.com/in/gertrudelyons/ 

And order a copy of her book:  https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/book-rewrite-the-mother-code