Hannah and Tara get candid about the chaos of modern motherhood—sick kids, conferences, birthday parties, and that ever-present tug-of-war between work and home. They unpack why “having it all” rarely means “all at once,” how to make peace with imperfect weeks, and the difference between avoiding guilt vs. building resilience (for you and your kids). From honoring a long-promised solo trip to Paris to inviting family to extend a work trip, they share real choices, real feelings, and zero performative perfection. Expect solidarity, not prescriptions—and a reminder that changing your mind is not failure, it’s growth.

Timestamps (Approx.)

• 0:00–1:20 – Welcome + Olivia Knox shoutout; Buc-ee’s birthday party legend 🦫
• 1:20–6:30 – Hosting, sick-kid season, and deciding to do the trip anyway
• 6:30–12:10 – “You can have it all—just not all at the same time” (and why self-care isn’t optional)
• 12:10–18:40 – Guilt vs. resilience: letting kids feel feelings without fixing everything
• 18:40–26:30 – The first long solo trip, mom guilt, and keeping promises to yourself
• 26:30–33:40 – Changing plans: leaving engineering, starting a business, and the grief of pivoting
• 33:40–39:30 – Ambition after kids: scrutinizing roles, timing, and what actually fits your life
• 39:30–44:40 – Autonomy, equity, and why your choice ≠ letting other women down
• 44:40–48:50 – Modeling boundaries, honest repair, and raising kids who choose you later

Key Takeaways

• Messy is normal. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s a rolling average that balances out over weeks, not days.
• Keep promises to yourself. Resentment costs more than a plane ticket.
• Guilt ≠ guidance. Let guilt inform you, not govern you. Build resilience instead of erasing discomfort.
• Ambition can evolve. Wanting different work after kids isn’t “less driven”—it’s better aligned.
• Autonomy is feminist. The “right” choice is the one that’s right for you, not the internet.
• Model the relationship you want later. Apologize, repair, and lead with respect so they’ll choose you when they don’t have to.

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.

Hannah and Tara get real about using your voice at work—from interrupting interruptions to asking for the raise (again). They unpack why many women in STEM wait to be noticed, how to build advocacy as a skill through tiny reps, and when “moving on” is actually the most self-respecting form of self-advocacy. Expect practical scripts, manager-friendly tactics, and a loving nudge to stop waiting until you feel “ready.”

Key Takeaways

• Advocacy is a skill, not a personality trait. Start with low-stakes reps (finish your thought after an interruption, share one idea per meeting) and build up.
• Prepare receipts, not feelings. Track wins, metrics, and impact continuously so performance convos aren’t a blank-page problem.
• Engineer your moments. Pre-brief allies before big meetings, ask leaders to “round-robin” at the end, and use intentional silence to open space.
• Turn “no” into “not yet.” Leave every comp/promo chat with a concrete checklist and a date to revisit.
• Control breeds engagement. Even asking (and being told no) can restore a sense of control and reduce burnout; repeated stonewalls may mean it’s time to move on.
• Lift as you climb. Sponsor other women publicly—amplify in meetings, send kudos emails, and redirect the spotlight.

Chapter Guide (Approx.)

• 00:00–02:30 Welcome + shoutout: intro/outro music by artist Olivia Knox; episode setup
• 02:30–06:30 The bedtime story: a 9-year-old masterclass in self-advocacy
• 06:30–11:45 Why early conditioning (be agreeable, don’t push) stalls careers—and how to rewire it
• 11:45–15:30 Behavioral activation: tiny advocacy reps that snowball
• 15:30–19:30 Hannah’s paper-mill story: asking for the pay that matches the work
• 19:30–24:30 Receipts over sentiment: metrics, calendars, and a “wins” folder
• 24:30–30:30 Mentorship vs. sponsorship; being the advocate you needed
• 30:30–34:45 Make speaking easier: pre-meeting allies, round-robin, and productive silence
• 34:45–39:45 “I won’t leave with a no”: converting rejection into a roadmap
• 39:45–46:45 Control spectrum: how advocacy boosts engagement (and burnout when it’s missing)
• 46:45–End When “moving on” is self-advocacy; listener call-in + ways to share stories

Try-It-This-Week Micro-Challenges

• Finish your thought: When interrupted, say: “I wasn’t finished—let me wrap this quickly.”
• One idea rule: Share at least one idea in your next meeting.
• Kudos ripple: Send one cross-functional kudos email naming a woman’s contribution.
• Wins folder: Create it today; drop in one metric or praise note.

Resources & Mentions

• Intro/outro music by Olivia Knox (find her on Spotify/Apple Music)
• STEM Girl Affirmations (Tara’s book)
• Contact: femaledominatedpod@gmail.com
• DM us on IG: @femaledominatedpod (send stories & questions), @stemwithhannah or @simplysortedstem

Burnout isn’t just “I’m tired.” It’s the slow slide from disappointment → resentment → stuck → hopeless. In this candid convo, Hannah and Tara unpack their own burnouts (post-mat-leave, caregiving during COVID, misaligned work, the motherhood penalty) and the skills that pulled them out: communicating your value, setting real boundaries, and practicing minimum-viable self-care that actually fits your life. Expect practical tools, not fluff—plus a little Cardi B, linear interpolation, and the reminder that you are the glass ball.

Timestamps

• 00:44 Cold open: math brain vs. words (linear interpolate, anyone?)
• 02:20 Why this topic: 90% of Hannah’s IG poll said “burnout.”
• 04:24 Tara’s story: return from mat leave, COVID, caregiving, zero control.
• 06:54 “Soul-burnout”: values misalignment & feeling unseen at work.
• 08:26 The pattern Hannah sees in clients: job-hopping without learning to communicate value.
• 11:03 Boundaries as first self-care: saying no, visibility without the ick.
• 12:56 The burnout spiral (disappointment → resentment → stuck → hopeless).
• 15:06 Self-care skepticism & reframes (no, it’s not just nails + facials).
• 19:39 Boundaries at home: calendar the “you” time; expect an adjustment period.
• 29:26 “Be the girl of your dreams”: enjoying your own company.
• 30:46 Glass vs. plastic balls: you are glass; a spotless house is plastic.
• 32:39 Outsource if you can; if not, lower the bar without the shame.
• 38:30 Minimum-viable self-care: a single intentional breath on the worst day.
• 41:22 On-desk reset: quick breathwork before a big meeting.
• 44:45 Micro-goals that survive your busiest week (behavioral activation).
• 51:00 Authentic self-care: pick what fills you, not what trends.
• 56:06 Join the Pod Squad & share your wins.
• 56:28 How to reach us + wrap.

Try it this week (5-minute game plan)

1. Name your balls: List everything on your plate. Mark GLASS (must not drop) vs PLASTIC (can bounce).
2. Draw one line: Write a single “no” you’ll use at work (e.g., “I’m at capacity—here are my current priorities.”).
3. Schedule 30–60 minutes for you (calendar it). Afterward, write three feelings you noticed.
4. Visibility rep: Send a 3-line update highlighting a win, impact, and next step.
5. On-desk reset: 60 seconds of box breathing before your next meeting.

Resources mentioned

• Glass vs. Plastic Balls prioritization analogy.
• Breathwork/meditation for quick regulation (any app or a 60-second timer works).
• Prior episode tie-in: Imposter Syndrome (on anxiety vs. healthy stretch).

Keep in touch

• DM us on Instagram: @stemwithhannah or @simplysortedstem
• Email: femaledominatedpod@gmail.com
  
  
• Share your “you-time” experiment: What did you do? How did you feel? Use #FemaleDominatedPodSquad so we can cheer you on.

Welcome to the very first episode of The Female Dominated Podcast!
We’re kicking things off by getting real about something nearly every woman in STEM has felt — imposter syndrome.

In this episode, we dive into the messy, mindset side of being a woman in STEM: the self-doubt, the pressure to prove yourself, and the anxiety that can come with visibility. We talk about what it means to set boundaries, advocate for yourself, and build the kind of confidence that doesn’t depend on external validation.

You’ll hear how both of us have faced (and still face!) moments of “am I really cut out for this?”— and how shifting your mindset, managing your energy, and speaking up can change everything.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, perspective, and giving yourself permission to take up space.

🔑 Big Takeaways

• You’re not alone — imposter syndrome is wildly common among women in STEM.
• Mindset isn’t fluff; it’s the foundation for resilience and growth.
• Boundaries aren’t selfish — they’re leadership in action.
• Visibility at work isn’t bragging; it’s how your impact gets recognized.
• Confidence comes from doing, not waiting to “feel ready.”
• Managing anxiety starts with awareness and self-compassion.
• Advocacy matters — for yourself and for other women coming up behind you.

🕒 Chapters

00:00 – Mindset & Imposter Syndrome in STEM
00:51 – Navigating Gender Dynamics in Engineering
03:25 – Recognition & Gender Bias
06:37 – Imposter Syndrome: A Personal Reflection
09:56 – Tools for Overcoming Anxiety & Building Confidence
15:50 – Finding Balance: Managing Stress & Expectations
21:41 – Setting Boundaries: The Power of Saying No
28:34 – Advocating for Yourself: The Importance of Visibility
36:20 – Boundaries at Work
37:25 – Communicating Priorities Effectively
40:11 – Building Confidence Through Resilience
43:21 – Overcoming the Doom Spiral
46:06 – Taking Action to Build Confidence
48:50 – Mindset as the Foundation for Success
48:55 – Empowering Women to Speak Up
50:20 – The Importance of Contribution
52:04 – Closing Thoughts & Future Directions

This episode is for every woman who’s ever sat in a meeting and thought, “Do I even belong here?”
You do. You always have.
And it’s time the room knows it, too.

Welcome to (Fe)male Dominated - the first podcast where real women in STEM get honest about leadership, life, and everything in between. We’re your hosts, Hannah Burns Dunham and Tara Smith — two engineers with a combined 25 years in the industry, here to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to thrive as a woman in STEM.

We’re talking career, motherhood, confidence, representation — and the messy, beautiful balance of it all. Expect unfiltered conversations, plenty of laughs, and a few hard truths as we share stories, strategies, and the playbook we wish we’d had years ago.

🎶 Music by Olivia Knox

The first full episode drops October 20th — so hit follow, grab your coffee, and let’s do this!