High Heels Higher Standards

Ashley Werner
  • 4.8 (17)
  • CAREERS

High Heels, Higher Standards is a bold, unfiltered podcast where two executive women get real about power, purpose, and the pressure to play small in careers, relationships and life. Ashley & Heidi blend ambition with authenticity and humor with hard-hitting advice to help high-achieving women own their voice, set the bar higher,  live unapologetically, and level up. 

  1. DEC 17

    Home for the Drama-days: How to Deal with Family Drama During the Holidays

    Home for the Drama-Days: How to Deal with Family and Keep Your Cool at Family Holiday Gatherings (Without Matching Chaos) The holidays are here and so are the opinions, comments, old stories, and emotionally charged casseroles. In this laugh-out-loud episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Ashley and Heidi tackle one of the most universal December dilemmas: going home to family dynamics that haven’t evolved… even when you have. If you’ve leveled up personally, professionally, or spiritually — and suddenly feel like the calmest person in a very loud room, this episode is your emotional safety plan and holiday family drama guide.   In this episode, we cover: How to identify common holiday family archetypes (the lifestyle commentator, the emotional historian, the chaos instigator, and more)Why 'matching energy' is a trap and how composure becomes your most powerful boundaryEasy, Elegant boundary scripts you can actually use at the table (polite, polished, and non-confrontational)What to say when relatives comment on your body, career, relationship, food choices, or past selfHow to stay calm when someone gets loud, dramatic, or emotionally volatileThe hosting mindset inspired by Martha Stewart and Ina Garten how to create environments that naturally regulate behaviorHow to navigate family gatherings when you’ve grown… and they haven’tGraceful exit strategies (soft exits, early departures, and the classic British fade)Calming composure affirmations to ground you before, during, or after any gatheringThis episode is for women who: Are tired of shrinking to keep the peaceWant to enjoy the holidays without absorbing everyone else’s emotionsBelieve boundaries can be set with grace, humor, and authorityKnow that composure is the new flexBecause at High Heels, Higher Standards, we don’t match chaos — we match composure. 🎧 Press play, pour something cozy, and remember: You’re allowed to enjoy the holidays with elegance, not obligation. Keep your heels high, and your standards higher. 👠✨ Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

    47 min

  2. DEC 10

    Holiday Hosting with Higher Standards: How to Handle Difficult Holiday Guests (Boundaries, Scripts & Survival Tips)

    Surviving Difficult Guests: You Can Light the Candles and Hold Your Boundaries, Martha Stewart Would Approve Hosting holiday guests should feel elegant, warm, and maybe a little glamorous… but let’s be honest: sometimes it feels like emotional survival. In this hilarious, practical, high-glam guide to holiday hosting, Ashley and Heidi break down how to handle difficult guests, family dynamics, boundary breakers, and chaotic energy — without losing your sanity, your standards, or your centerpiece. This week on High Heels, Higher Standards, the ladies explore: ✨ The 5 archetypes of difficult holiday guests ✨ How to host with Martha Stewart-level ambiance and Michelle Obama-level boundaries ✨ Bulletproof boundary scripts for intrusive questions, early arrivers & guests who won’t leave ✨ Elegant ways to redirect complainers and chaos agents ✨ How to manage family members who trigger you ✨ Tag-team boundary strategies with your partner ✨ Hosting while overwhelmed — without burning out or breaking down ✨ Bougie hostess affirmations to keep you grounded and glamorous Inside the episode: • The Early Arriver, the Boundary Tester, the Chaos Toddler (at any age), the Diet-Bringer & the Guest Who Won’t Leave • “Environment, Expectations, Energy” — the hosting trifecta that instantly calms a room • Polished boundary-setting scripts that sound graceful but mean business • What to do when your home becomes a stage for unsolicited opinions • How to protect your peace when family is the source of stress • Emotional self-regulation tools for overstimulated hosts • Creating a “silent retreat room” & other elite hostess secrets • How to stay gracious without becoming the holiday martyr If you’re a woman managing holiday stress, hosting pressure, family triggers, or chaotic guests, this episode gives you the humor, confidence, and strategy to run your home like a calm, candle-lit sanctuary — with ironclad boundaries and zero guilt. Perfect for listeners searching for: • holiday hosting tips • managing difficult guests • setting boundaries with family • holiday etiquette + emotional wellness • soft life hosting energy • women’s empowerment podcast • holiday stress management • family dynamics during holidays • high-value woman habits • home + lifestyle boundaries • navigating holiday chaos with grace Light the candles. Set the tone. Hold your boundaries. Martha would absolutely approve. It’s a good thing. Subscribe for more luxe life strategies, elegant boundaries, holiday survival wisdom, and unapologetic high-standards energy. ✨👠 Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

    38 min

  3. DEC 3

    Emotional Hangovers During the Holidays: When the Glitter Settles and the Chaos Hits

    Emotional Hangovers During the Holidays: Coping with the holiday rush and the post party come down Ever wake up the day after a holiday party feeling emotionally drained, overstimulated, or low-key regretful — even if you had “fun”? Welcome to the emotional hangover, babe. In this raw, cozy-glam holiday episode, Ashley and Heidi unpack the mental fog, post-party crash, family triggers, and loneliness that hit when the glitter settles and the chaos finally stops. This week on High Heels, Higher Standards, we’re talking: ✨ Emotional hangovers & post-holiday burnout ✨ Family triggers, boundaries, and “sparkly black sheep” energy ✨ Post-party regret and the morning-after anxiety spiral ✨ Loneliness after the holidays and how to not let it define you ✨ How to decompress, reset, and glow-up your emotional recovery ✨ CEO-level self-care rituals, reflection prompts & luxe healing routines Whether you overshared at the party, texted your ex, hosted a family gathering that drained your soul, or you’re just feeling the quiet hit a little too hard — this episode is your chic, empowering guide to holiday emotional recovery. Inside the episode: • What an emotional hangover actually is and why women get them • How to handle draining family dynamics without absorbing the chaos • Why the post-holiday loneliness hits even if life is good • The difference between “having fun” and performing fun • A full CEO Glow-Up Recovery Plan to get your mind, energy, and vibe back • How to reflect without spiraling and reset without shame • Practical steps to calm your nervous system after overstimulation • Journaling prompts + mindset shifts for a softer, more intentional season This is your December detox — part therapy, part girl talk, part glow-up. Think holiday self-care, emotional intelligence, boundaries, healing, and high standards… all in stilettos. If you’re dealing with holiday stress, emotional exhaustion, family tension, regret, people-pleasing burnout, or just need a calm, empowering reset — this episode will help you feel grounded, validated, and back in your main-character energy. Perfect for listeners searching for: • Holiday mental health tips • Emotional hangover recovery • Setting boundaries with family • Holiday loneliness support • Post-holiday self-care • Women’s empowerment & glow-ups • Nervous system regulation • Toxic family dynamics • Healing after holiday chaos • High-value woman routines • Soft life & self-love habits Pour a coffee (or a martini), put your phone on Do Not Disturb, and join us for a cozy luxe conversation about decompressing, healing, and keeping your sparkle — even after the party ends. Subscribe to High Heels, Higher Standards for more empowering holiday episodes, high-value woman energy, glam healing, and the glow-up wisdom you didn’t know you needed.  Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

    26 min

  4. NOV 26

    Untangling the Tinsel: Spending the Holidays Alone Without the Toxic Ones

    If this is your first holiday, thanksgiving or Christmas without toxic family, a draining partner, or the chaos you grew up with, this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards is your permission slip to protect your peace, protect your energy, and romanticize spending the holidays solo for the softest December of your life.  In “Untangling the Tinsel: Spending the Holidays Alone Without the Toxic Ones,” hosts Ashley Werner and Heidi Hushak dive into the emotional reality of spending the holidays alone — and why solitude can be the glow-up season your nervous system has been begging for. From healing after cutting off toxic ex or toxic family, to rebuilding traditions post-divorce, to navigating your first “solo Christmas” this episode blends humor, honesty, practical tips and high-level empowerment. ✨ In this episode, we explore: How to spend the holidays without toxic family members without feeling guiltyThe emotional arc of choosing peace over dysfunctionThe “black sheep glow-up” after walking away from chaotic relatives or unhealthy relationshipsWhy spending holidays or Christmas alone can be a reset, a recalibration, and an act of self-respectHow to create new holiday traditions when you’re starting from scratchThe surprising moment solitude shifts from “sad” to “luxurious and peaceful”How neutrality can feel like a luxury when you come from dysfunctionHow to stop feeling ashamed, embarrassed, or “behind” when you celebrate the holidays soloThe 5-year glow-up arc of holiday healing — from lonely to empoweredA survive-and-thrive guide for your first solo holidayWhether you’re divorced, estranged from family, no-contact, skipping the drama this year, or simply choosing a more peaceful December, this conversation will help you reframe what the holidays can look like — soft, intentional, and completely on your terms. 🎧 Perfect for listeners navigating: holiday trauma, going no-contact, first Christmas alone, healing family wounds, rebuilding traditions, emotional boundaries, seasonal empowerment, and choosing a peaceful “soft life” holiday season. ✨ This episode will help you: Romanticize solitudeRelease guilt and comparisonRebuild your holiday identityCelebrate without chaosCreate a version of Christmas that feels healing, not harmfulGrab a peppermint martini, or a non-alcoholic cocktail, wrap yourself in your softest blanket, and tune in for the holiday empowerment episode you didn’t know you needed — but absolutely deserve. Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

    29 min

  5. NOV 19

    The Girl Gang Effect: Why Female Friendships Make You Unstoppable

    Why does spending time with powerful, aligned women make you feel more confident, creative, and unstoppable? In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, hosts Ashley Werner and Heidi Hushak break down the science, psychology, and strategy behind what they call The Girl Gang Effect — the transformative power of female friendship. This conversation blends neuroscience with real-life girl talk, revealing how supportive women literally change your brain chemistry, stress levels, mindset, and even your success trajectory. ✨ In this empowering episode, you’ll learn: The science of female connection and how oxytocin helps regulate stress, boost mood, and strengthen mental healthWhy strong female friendships improve emotional stability, leadership presence, and resilienceHow powerful women “find each other” through energetic alignment, mirror neurons, and social resonanceThe biology behind stress contagion and why the wrong people drain your energyHow to intentionally curate a supportive inner circle that elevates ambition, confidence, and creativityWhy your nervous system thrives in healthy sisterhood — and crashes in competition or comparisonPractical strategies for building a girl gang that feels safe, inspiring, and growth-orientedIf you’ve ever walked away from brunch, a mastermind, or a night out with your girls feeling 10x more motivated, this episode explains exactly why — and how to build more of that energy into your life. 🎙️ Listen now to learn how female friendships can become your superpower — scientifically, emotionally, and energetically. Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

    28 min

  6. NOV 12

    Wine Night Science: Why Talking With Your Girls Heals You Faster Than Therapy

    Ever notice how one night of girl talk can leave you feeling lighter, calmer, and more grounded — even if nothing in your life has changed? Turns out, that’s not just emotional — it’s science. In this funny, cozy, and research-backed episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, hosts Ashley Werner and Heidi Hushak break down the neurochemical power of female friendship — why talking with your girlfriends literally lowers stress, boosts mood, and rewires your brain for connection and healing. ✨ What you’ll learn in this episode: The science of girl talk — how oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine create instant emotional reliefWhy venting isn’t gossip (and how to know the difference)What healthy emotional regulation looks like in real friendshipsThe “tend and befriend” stress response unique to womenHow emotional co-regulation works — and why your best friend might actually be your nervous system’s favorite personThe physical and emotional health risks of loneliness (and how connection heals them)Whether you’re sipping wine with your besties, decompressing on your commute, or hiding in your car with coffee between meetings — this one’s for you. Get ready to laugh, learn, and feel deeply seen as Ashley and Heidi remind us that connection is medicine, not drama. 🎙️ Listen now to learn why girl talk is the most powerful (and free) therapy there is — backed by brain science. Keywords: female friendship, women supporting women, emotional regulation, girl talk podcast, oxytocin, stress relief, neuroscience of connection, women’s mental health, healing through connection, female empowerment podcast, emotional intelligence, self-care for women, women in leadership, friendship therapy, women’s wellness, co-regulation, feminine energy, High Heels Higher Standards Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

    34 min

  7. NOV 5

    Soulmate Energy, but Make It Friendship

    Not every soulmate is romantic. Some wear high heels, carry iced coffee, and show up exactly when you need them most. In this heartfelt and empowering episode, Ashley and Heidi explore the concept of friendship soulmates — the women who change your life and arrive through divine timing. Together, they unpack the psychology and soul behind female connection: What makes a “friendship soulmate” and how to recognize oneWhy female friendships can be deeper and more healing than romantic loveHow to honor the natural seasons of friendship — from growth to graceful goodbyesHow to attract and nurture high-value, aligned female friendshipsYou’ll learn how to identify the women who feel like home, release connections that no longer align, and cultivate friendships rooted in reciprocity, depth, and emotional safety. Because true friendship is sacred — it’s self-care for your soul and nervous system. Topics: female friendship, soulmate connections, feminine energy, nervous system regulation, friendship seasons, emotional intelligence, personal growth, women supporting women, high-value friendships Key Quotes: “Some women enter your life and it feels like divine timing.”“Friendship soulmates don’t fix you — they remind you who you are.”“Growth isn’t betrayal — it’s alignment.”If you’ve ever met a woman who changed your life — or you’re calling in the next one — this episode is for you. Listen to High Heels, Higher Standards — where ambition meets intuition, and women learn to rise together in style. Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

    33 min

  8. OCT 29

    Black Cat Energy: Mastering Self-Worth, Boundaries, and Feminine Mystery

    Black Cat or Golden Retriever? Every woman has had a golden retriever phase,  over-texting, over-giving, over-analyzing, chasing validation instead of embodying self-worth. But that era is over. In this empowering episode, Ashley and Heidi dive deep into “Black Cat Energy,” the art of magnetic feminine confidence, emotional regulation, and the psychology of attraction. Learn how to stop chasing love, friendship, and success, and start attracting them by shifting your self-image, body language, and energy. Explore how anxiety drives over-effort, why calm confidence is magnetic, and how the most powerful women lead with presence, not pursuit. From dating and friendships to leadership and everyday life, this episode teaches you how to: Reclaim your worth without over-explaining or over-givingCultivate quiet power through emotional regulation and poiseSet boundaries with confidence and easeAttract aligned people and opportunities effortlesslyBecause the black cat doesn’t chase, she observes, she attracts, and she knows she’s the prize. Topics: feminine energy, self-worth, confidence, emotional regulation, psychology of attraction, friendship boundaries, dating mindset, main character energy, self-concept, magnetic confidence Key Quotes: Chasing is anxiety disguised as connection.Confidence is energy conservation.Being selective isn’t being hard to get, it’s being hard to forget.Tune in to High Heels, Higher Standards, where ambition meets intuition, and women learn to rise in style. Support the show Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies!

    33 min
See All (24)

4.8
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

High Heels, Higher Standards is a bold, unfiltered podcast where two executive women get real about power, purpose, and the pressure to play small in careers, relationships and life. Ashley & Heidi blend ambition with authenticity and humor with hard-hitting advice to help high-achieving women own their voice, set the bar higher,  live unapologetically, and level up. 

Information

  • Creator
    Ashley Werner
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 High Heels Higher Standards
  • Show Website
    High Heels Higher Standards