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Cathy and Deborah are joined by frequent contributor to the Parity Podcast, Dr. Nithila Peter, to discuss the work and pervasive influence of Gloria Steinem. While Ms. Steinem was known, rightly so, for her political work and fight for parity, including work on the Equal Rights Amendment and the influential Ms. magazine, many of her writings were deeply personal. Ms. Steinem described her own path to feminism, and a path to self-discovery, in a way that was resonating. Caught up in societal norms and expectations, many of us struggle to express ourselves outwardly in a way that is true to who we are, independent of gender. In this episode, Cathy, Deborah, and Nithila touch on the many facets of Ms. Steinem, whose life, activism, and writing stand for feminism itself.  An hour discussion is not enough, but it is a start.

In this episode, Cathy and Deborah discuss the phenomenon of pushback against women in the workplace coming from, of all places, other women. What has brought us to this moment of the "trad wife," and are we experiencing a war among women? The trad wife moment is not the first time that women themselves have lobbied against parity - think Phyllis Schlafly and her success in defeating the Equal Rights Amendment. In their characteristic style, Cathy and Deborah break down the context of our current climate and debunk the myth that a one-size lifestyle fits every woman, or every man. They also add a word of caution against taking the bait to create a war among women that may be more media driven than anything.

In this episode, Deborah and Cathy ask a very specific question about a perplexing phenomenon they've experienced. Why do we hear so many complaints (very often from other women) that the wrost boss they ever had was, in fact, a woman? Deborah and Cathy break down the Hollywood caricatures of women bosses - think Miranda Priestly or Selina Meyer - and contrast those with reality. What's at play here and how do we stop the negative stereotyping from women and men? Deborah and Cathy discuss the role of bias, including confirmation bias and an expectation for women to "play nice," and consider whether these expectations and biases creat unfair standards for wmen bosses. As alwys, they discuss solutions to make the workplace fairer for everyone, including by giving our bosses a fair shot.

From "sugar and spice" to "snips and snails," we're handed gender roles before we can walk -- and those early scripts follow us straight into the workplace. While the stereotypes concerning women in the work place are generally well-known (think "less ambitious" or "emotional"), there are plenty of misplaced stereotypes to go around. Until we stop telling women to be nice and men to be tough, these old notions of "appropriate" gender behavior will continue to box us all in. This episode discusses the challenge for women in abandoning stereotypes for men. This episode also breaks down the stereotypes we should question for women and men and what it takes to finally move past them to a workplace with more partnerships and collaboration.

Women aren't less ambitious as some have recently suggested - they're navigating a rocky path and workplaces that make ambition harder to express and success harder to find. In this episode, Cathy and Deborah break down the 2025 Women in the Workplace report with their signature mix of humor, data, and straight talk. From the broken rung to sponsorship gaps, AI inequities, flexibility stigma, and the invisible weight of caregiving, they unpack what's continuing to obstruct the path for women - and why the "ambition gap" narrative misses the point. They also share practical steps leaders and organizations can take to build workplaces where ambition is possible, visible, and supported.

The Oxford word of the year in 2025 was "rage bait." Is that why 2025 brought us opinion pieces asking whether women were ruining the workplace? In this Episode 3, Cathy and Deborah discuss how to avoid taking the bait, by relying on the clear evidence of women's contributions to an improved workplace for all. They also reveal what they wish for in 2026.

In this interview with psychologist and prolific author Dr. Ron Levant, Cathy and Deborah discuss his new book, The Problem with Men. From delinquency to the President of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Levant shares his own experience, including the role abuse and forced male stereotypes played in his life, and how he reached beyond. According to Dr. Levant, when boys receive the message early on that "girls are less than boys," misogyny can take root. Listen in for his thoughts on how we can take the pressure off men to conform and free up space for men and women to engage with each other and be themselves.

In the Season 5 Opener of the Parity Podcast, Cathy and Deborah share their candid assessment of parity today from the bottom of the hole it has seemingly fallen into - along with them (HELP!). Forever focused on solutions, they propose we all work harder to have conversations where everyone is invited to contribute to the project of creating a better workplace. In that spirit, Cathy and Deborah revisit the Parity Prescription and discuss how to improve upon the approach toward achieving real progress. Spoiler alert - let's please be done with stereotypes.

Elaine Lin Hering joins the Parity Podcast to discuss the role that silence plays in each of our lives. Her 2024 book, Unlearning Silence, explores the ways in which we are silenced in the workplace, and the roles we play in silencing others. Driven by her own experience in being encouraged to speak up, yet not having her words welcomed, Elaine began pondering the larger dynamics in play and the consequences of remaining silent. According to Elaine, finding one's voice is more than what you say or don't say, it is about how you move through the world and show up. She encourages each of us to work on unlearning silence in our own lives to find greater happiness, as well as urges leaders to consider how they are silencing their team members and thereby squelching an open exchange of ideas. Both illuminating and insightful, this episode delivers another round of practical tips for leaders and team members alike.

The Parity Podcast has been curious about Taylor Swift's stunning success as a pop star and her potential as a role model to the next generation of women. In this episode, Deborah is joined by four Taylor Swift fans from across the country, ranging from the teens to late 20s, to discuss what she means to them. They describe her music as poetic, playful, self-deprecating, and deeply relatable and accessible, lending insight to the source of her magic. Offering a sound track for the experience of growing up, and loving and living, Swift makes a profound impact, reaching across cultural and racial differences to draw on the common human experience. In this conversation with the Parity Podcast, this diverse group of young women also reveal their very favorite songs (they were only allowed to pick one!) and provide their take on Swift's feminism.

Dr. Nithila Peter returns to the Parity Podcast and joins Deborah to discuss the magic and mess of the Barbie movie. Drawing on her background in media studies, Nithila offers insight into the cinematic experience and the bookends of the movie, from the birth of Barbie to the gynecologist's office. Simulatenously inspired and horrified by the perfectly sculpted Barbie as a role model, Nithila and Deborah discuss the film's depiction of the hyper-femininine and hyper-masculine worlds, and what they reveal about parity. They discuss the complexity of the Barbie doll as a toy, along with the film's depiction of the gender divide. While Barbie inspires both women and men to create their authentic selves, one wonders whether that powerful pink message can inspire in the shadow of stereotypical Barbie beauty.

In this episode, Cathy and Deborah speak to Kara Wojnowski, a Marketing Manager at Biorigin Specialty Products, who has studied the communication differences between women and men. One large difference is many women's tendency to apologize, even when there is no reason to do so. How does over-apologizing undermine a person's credibility? And when should someone apologize and when not? Kara discusses these issues and more with the Parity Podcast, and helps us think critically about communication styles--without violating Parity Podcast's golden rule against trying to change women.

Over the last several years, we've developed a brand-new vocabulary to talk about very old problems. In this episode, Cathy and Deborah explore the importance of that vocabulary, as well as its imperfections and limitations. They also discuss how seemingly uncontroversial terms have become oh-so controversial, while identifying solutions to overcome the divide.

We welcome Karith Foster whose new approach to achieving workplace inclusion rejects the use of blame and shame in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. She offers a new path forward, recognizing that all of us are different and unique, and true change requires everyone to participate. You can learn more about how INVERSITY takes the division out of diversity.

Kicking off the fourth season, Cathy and Deborah welcome Vivia Chen to discuss the challenges of getting the care you need for your mental health. Vivia, an award winning columnist and prolific opinion writer, was denied short term disability because she was not deemed "sad enough." Vivia discusses mental health stereotypes and solutions for change. You can find Cathy and Deborah on LinkedIn.