Why Smart Women Still Get Silenced with Alison Fragale

In this episode of Unstable Vitals, Dr. Lara Zibners and Dr. Adam Brown welcome Alison Fragale, organizational psychologist, professor, and author of Likeable Badass, to talk about the science of respect, influence, and why women in leadership still face steep uphill battles.

From trading nail files for shoes to unpacking why “likeable” and “badass” aren’t opposites, this conversation dives into how gender bias shapes pay, leadership, and culture, and what can be done to change it.

Alison breaks down the psychology behind earning respect and why bias isn’t just a “men vs. women” problem. Lara and Adam bring it home with real-world reflections on mentorship and what it means to balance warmth and authority in a system that often rewards the opposite.

Smart psychology, unfiltered honesty, and a little bit of chaos the Unstable Vitals way.