Episode 4: Picking Your Battles - Relationships & Bias

Episode Summary
Hannah and Tara get radically honest about what it actually looks like to navigate discrimination and bias as a woman in STEM—especially in male-dominated, industrial and technical spaces. They break down the difference between individual and institutional bias, share real stories from the field and the floor, and offer practical scripts for calling things out without blowing things up.

From interruptions in meetings to “harmless” comments to full-blown inappropriate behavior, they dig into how to pick your battles, set boundaries, and hold your ground while still maintaining your reputation, relationships, and sanity. They also talk about the emotional toll of micro-moments that pile up over time, how to stop internalizing other people’s behavior, and why your presence at the table is part of changing the system—not just surviving it.

If you’ve ever replayed a comment on the drive home wondering, “Is it me?”—this episode will remind you it isn’t, you’re not alone, and you’re not crazy.

Timestamps (Approx.)

• 0:00–1:30 – Welcome + intro, mission of the show, music credit to Olivia Knox
• 1:30–6:30 – Normalizing women’s experiences in STEM
• 6:30–12:30 – Benefit of the doubt, awareness, and “name it to tame it”
• 12:30–20:00 – Overcorrecting, anger, and finding the confident middle
• 20:00–29:00 – Field culture, banter, and choosing what’s actually worth escalating
• 29:00–36:30 – Interruptions, scripts, and claiming your physical + vocal space
• 36:30–47:30 – Women supporting (or undermining) women and being an active ally
• 47:30–59:30 – Micro-traumas, mental health, and stepping into leadership to change the system

Call to Action

Loved this episode? Send it to the woman in your life who needs backup in her next meeting.
Share your favorite line or “I’m using this script next time” moment and tag Hannah and Tara.