The Great Leader Great Mom Podcast

Liz Jolley
  • 5.0 (8)
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Welcome to The Great Leader Great Mom Podcast where we talk about how to be a great leader AND a great mom. For so long it was a choice: "Do you want to be a great leader OR a great mom?". Let's be both. I empower working moms who strive to make a meaningful impact at work while fostering joy at home. My mission is to help you end overwhelm & become the leader everyone wants to work for and the mom your family adores. Through personalized one-on-one coaching, I will equip you with the skills and confidence to unlock your full potential, transforming both your professional and personal life.

  1. 93. Toxic Culture: Why Work Feels Draining — and How to Stay Grounded and Powerful

    1D AGO

    93. Toxic Culture: Why Work Feels Draining — and How to Stay Grounded and Powerful

    If you want deeper support, join the live Toxic Culture workshop https://www.lizjolley.com/toxic.   Interested in diving deep with us in the School of Courage? More info here: https://lizjolley.com/membership If work feels draining, political, or emotionally exhausting, you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re talking about what people really mean when they say they work in a toxic culture — and why the stress often follows you home, affects your mood, and drains your energy. You may be experiencing: • office politics and decisions made behind closed doors • gossip, tension, or difficult personalities • feeling invisible despite working hard • performance reviews that feel personal • Sunday-night dread and constant mental replay • irritability at home because work stress won’t turn off But before you assume quitting is the only solution, there’s something important to understand. A toxic culture doesn’t just impact your workload — it impacts your nervous system, your identity, and how you feel about yourself. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔ what actually makes a workplace feel “toxic” ✔ why high-performing women feel especially drained by difficult cultures ✔ how workplace stress affects your energy, confidence, and presence at home ✔ the difference between what is happening and the story your brain tells about it ✔ how to stay grounded and self-trusting even in a difficult environment ✔ how to make clear decisions from strength instead of exhaustion You don’t have to let a difficult workplace steal your joy, your energy, or your sense of self. This episode will help you feel calmer, clearer, and more in control — no matter what’s happening around you.

    16 min
  2. 92 When You Work With Someone You Can’t Stand

    FEB 9

    92 When You Work With Someone You Can’t Stand

    Do you have that person at work — the one whose name on your calendar instantly makes your body tense? They don’t even have to say anything overt. It’s the tone. The side comments. The questions that feel slightly off. And before you know it, you’re replaying the meeting, venting to coworkers, thinking about them at home, and letting one person quietly run your entire day. In this episode of The Great Leader, Great Mom Podcast, we’re talking about why certain people feel so powerful at work — and the uncomfortable truth most of us miss: they didn’t take your power. You handed it over. I walk you through what “giving someone power” actually looks like in real life, why trying to control, avoid, or eliminate difficult people never works, and how to show up calm, grounded, and confident even when someone is pushing your buttons. You’ll learn practical tools to stop the mental replay loop, stay regulated in meetings, and respond with clarity instead of defensiveness. We talk about separating what someone actually says from the story your brain adds, deciding who you want to be before the meeting even starts, and using thoughtful questions to take your power back without aggression. This episode is for you if you’re tired of letting one person dictate your mood, your confidence, or how you show up at work. The goal isn’t to win against them. The goal is to stop losing yourself around them.

    11 min
  3. 91 When Your Boss Is a Woman Without Kids — And It Feels Harder as a Mom

    FEB 2

    91 When Your Boss Is a Woman Without Kids — And It Feels Harder as a Mom

    There’s a unique tension that can show up when your boss is a woman who doesn’t have kids — especially if her version of success looks nothing like the life you’re trying to build. Maybe she works late most nights and expects the same. Maybe she seems irritated by school calls, sick days, or schedule changes. Maybe you feel like you’re constantly proving you’re still “serious” about your career. And underneath it all, you hear the quiet thought: “I don’t want her life. But I also don’t want to disappoint her.” In this episode of the Great Leader, Great Mom Podcast, Liz Jolley unpacks what happens when you work for a child-free female leader and you’re a mom who wants a rich life outside of work. This is not an attack on women without kids. It’s an honest look at: Why this dynamic can feel more charged than working for a manHow unspoken values and identity choices show up in expectationsThe subtle ways you start editing yourself to avoid judgmentHow to respect her path without betraying your ownPractical ways to set expectations and lead yourself with quiet confidenceYou don’t need your boss to want your life in order to lead well in it. If you’ve ever felt like your family makes you “less” in the eyes of a female leader you used to admire, this conversation will help you untangle that knot and come back to yourself. https://lizjolley.com/membership

    16 min
  4. 90 When Motherhood Is Treated Like a Burden at Work — And How to Stop Carrying the Shame

    JAN 26

    90 When Motherhood Is Treated Like a Burden at Work — And How to Stop Carrying the Shame

    Motherhood shouldn’t feel like a liability — but for many women, it quietly does. If you’ve ever felt like: You’re seen as “less committed” because you have kidsSick days, school calls, or emergencies come with guilt or side-eyeYou over-explain, over-apologize, or over-perform just to prove you belongYou’re carrying shame for wanting to be both a present parent and a capable professionalThis episode is for you. In Episode 90 of the Great Leader, Great Mom Podcast, Liz Jolley talks honestly about what happens when motherhood is treated like a burden at work — and how women internalize systemic bias as personal failure. This is not a rant. And it’s not about blaming individual bosses. It’s about: Why caregiving still gets quietly penalized in many workplacesHow guilt sneaks in even when you’re doing your job wellThe difference between responsibility and self-punishmentHow to communicate with confidence instead of apologyLeading yourself with self-trust when family needs ariseYou are not unreliable because you are human. You are not unprofessional because you care. And you are not failing — you are navigating systems that were never designed with caregivers in mind. Listen in for grounded perspective, practical language shifts, and the reminder that you don’t have to choose between being a good mom and a good leader.   LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE ✨ Join the Future Self Membership Explore identity, clarity, and the next version of you — at work and at home:  https://lizjolley.com/memebership    2026 Gift: Liz’s Favorite Leadership & Culture Podcasts and Videos A curated list of resources that have shaped calm, human-centered leadership:  https://lizjolley.com/leadership-culture

    12 min
  5. 89 Working for a Bad Boss? How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Stay Grounded

    JAN 19

    89 Working for a Bad Boss? How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Stay Grounded

    Liz's favorite podcasts and videos on leadership and culture https://lizjolley.com/leadership-culture Working for a bad boss can quietly wear you down — even if you’re capable, confident, and good at your job. In this episode of The Great Leader, Great Mom Podcast, Liz Jolley talks about what really happens when leadership doesn’t match your values, expectations, or experience — and why so many high-performing people start to doubt themselves in these environments. This conversation isn’t about blaming or fixing your boss. It’s about understanding what’s happening inside you when you work for someone who feels unpredictable, unsafe, or misaligned — and how to stay grounded without burning out, shutting down, or losing your sense of self. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why working for a bad boss creates emotional exhaustion and self-doubt How your brain compares “what should be” to “what is” — and why that hurts Why you’re not weak for struggling in these environments How to stay grounded and emotionally steady when leadership feels difficult What you can control (even when you can’t change your boss) If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe it’s me,” after working for a difficult manager — this episode is for you. Listen in for a grounded, compassionate perspective that helps you lead yourself well, even when the environment around you isn’t. Learn more and connect with Liz: https://lizjolley.com/

    12 min
  6. 88 Why Am I So Bad at Remembering Names? (And How to Fix It)

    JAN 12

    88 Why Am I So Bad at Remembering Names? (And How to Fix It)

    LINK TO FAVORITE VIDEOS AND PODCAST More Information on The School of Courage Membership https://lizjolley.com/school-of-courage-membership Most people believe they’re “bad at names.” But what if that’s not true? In this episode, Liz Jolley breaks down why remembering names isn’t a talent — it’s a skill you’ve simply never practiced. Through personal stories (including learning pickleball as a beginner), humor, and practical tools, you’ll learn how to build confidence, connection, and trust by mastering one of the most human leadership skills there is. Long Version (Show Notes / Website): Have you ever said, “I’m just bad at names” — and immediately believed it? In this episode, Liz Jolley challenges that belief with humor, personal stories, and practical strategies that anyone can use. From awkward elevators to pickleball courts, Liz shares how learning names is less about memory and more about willingness to practice discomfort. You’ll walk away with simple, actionable steps to remember names, build genuine connection, and show up as a more present leader — at work and in life.

    11 min
  7. 87 When You Don’t Get the Role You Wanted: Showing Up Fully in the Job You Did Get

    JAN 5

    87 When You Don’t Get the Role You Wanted: Showing Up Fully in the Job You Did Get

    FREE FAVORITE VIDEO AND PODCAST COLLECTION: You didn’t get the promotion or dream role you really wanted… and now you’re in the job you did get, quietly wondering: “If I were really that good, wouldn’t they have chosen me?” “Do they even see my value as a leader?” “Is this just the consolation prize?” In this episode of the Great Leader, Great Mom Podcast, leadership and life coach Liz Jolley walks you through what actually happens in your brain when you start a new role after a reorg or promotion disappointment. Instead of pushing gratitude or “proving them wrong,” she shows you how sneaky thoughts like They don’t think I’m ready and I’m not star material feed imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and a watered-down version of your leadership. Through real client stories and examples (plus Oprah and J.K. Rowling cameos), you’ll learn: Why “they didn’t pick me” is a circumstance, not a verdict on your worth How default thoughts like I’m just a placeholder create defeat, overworking, and playing small How to separate your value as a leader from other people’s decisions, politics, and bias A simple way to rewrite the story you’re telling yourself about this new role Three practical steps to start the job you did get from courage, confidence, and self-trust instead of self-doubt If you’re a high-achieving woman, working mom, or woman in leadership stepping into a new role in 2026—after a reorganization, a missed promotion, or a move you didn’t choose—this episode will help you stop questioning your value, reclaim your confidence, and show up as the powerful, authentic leader you actually are. Join us for January: Joyful Mother, Joyful Leader. https://lizjolley.com/school-of-courage-membership

    19 min
  8. 86 Reclaiming Your Identity Beyond “Mom” and “Leader” (Without Abandoning Either)

    12/29/2025

    86 Reclaiming Your Identity Beyond “Mom” and “Leader” (Without Abandoning Either)

    Have you ever thought, “I love my kids. I care about my work. But I don’t really know who I am anymore”? In this episode of the Great Leader, Great Mom Podcast, Liz Jolley speaks directly to capable, high-achieving women who feel a quiet sense of loss beneath the roles they carry every day. Not because they’ve failed — but because over time, their identity has narrowed around responsibility, duty, and productivity. This conversation explores what happens when desire gets crowded out by obligation — and how to gently reconnect with yourself without quitting your job, leaving your family, or disappearing to “find yourself.” Through deeply relatable client stories and grounded coaching insights, Liz shares: Why women don’t lose themselves overnight — but one obligation at a time How motherhood and leadership can quietly silence desire Why identity isn’t found through reinvention, but through space How small daily micro-rituals help you hear your own voice again Why you don’t need permission, productivity, or justification to be yourself You’ll learn how to reconnect with who you are beyond the roles of “mom” and “leader” — not by doing more, but by allowing yourself to exist outside of duty. This episode is for working moms, women leaders, and ambitious women navigating midlife identity shifts who want to feel grounded, present, and whole again — without guilt. Your identity doesn’t need to be earned or rediscovered. It needs to be remembered.

    7 min
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5
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About

Welcome to The Great Leader Great Mom Podcast where we talk about how to be a great leader AND a great mom. For so long it was a choice: "Do you want to be a great leader OR a great mom?". Let's be both. I empower working moms who strive to make a meaningful impact at work while fostering joy at home. My mission is to help you end overwhelm & become the leader everyone wants to work for and the mom your family adores. Through personalized one-on-one coaching, I will equip you with the skills and confidence to unlock your full potential, transforming both your professional and personal life.

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