Make This Make Sense

MakeThisMakeSensePod

Make This Make Sense brings together three Entrepreneurship professors unpack the systems, trends, and social dynamics everyone is confused about — with the women who actually understand them. Guests include academics and entrepreneurs covering various industries diving into the latest research and sharing their experiences.

  1. 3h ago

    Gaslighting Isn't Just in Your Head—It's Changing Your Brain: Make This Make Sense ep20 Dr. Jennifer Fraser

    Gaslighting Isn't Just in Your Head—It's Changing YourBrain:  Make This Make Sense ep20 Dr. Jennifer Fraser What if gaslighting isn't just messing with your mind butactually changing your brain? Dr. Jennifer Fraser, author of The Bullied Brain and The Gaslit Brain, joins us to unpack the neuroscience of manipulation, why toxic leaders get away with abuse, how gaslighting can make us question our ownreality, and what we can do to recognize it, protect ourselves, and reclaim ourpower.   Topics 🧠 The neuroscience of gaslighting 💡 What gaslighting really means 🎭 Narcissists and psychopaths 🚩 Recognizing manipulation ❤️ When empathy becomes a vulnerability 🏢 Toxic workplaces and abusive leaders 🌎 Collective gaslighting and misinformation 🧩 How abuse changes the brain🏀 Bullying in sports and coaching ⚖️ Holding abusers accountable 🔍Recognizing red flags 🛡️ Protecting yourself from gaslighting 🌱 Neuroplasticity and healing   About Dr. Jennifer Fraser Dr. Jennifer Fraser is an award-winning educator, researcher, author, and founder of The Bullying Brain. For nearly two decades, she has explored the devastating effects of bullying, abuse, and manipulation on the human brain, with a particular focus on toxic workplace cultures, abusive leadership, and gaslighting. She is the author of The Bullied Brain and The Gaslit Brain, books that explore the neuroscience behind psychological abuse and the brain's remarkable capacity for change and recovery. Drawing on neuroscience research and her own experiences confronting institutional abuse, Dr. Fraser advocates for greater accountability, healthier organizations, and recognition of the neurological harm caused by psychological mistreatment. She also writes The Bullied Brain, a regular series for Psychology Today, and speaks internationally to educators, legal professionals, athletic organizations, and others about preventing abuse and protecting brain health.   🔗 Connect with Jennifer Website: bulliedbrain.com/ Substack: bulliedbrain.substack.com/ Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jen-fraser-phd-1466a417/ 🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for moreepisodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook:@makethismakesensepod NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Senseare those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated. Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.   Chapters 0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️ 0:00:21 Meet Dr. Jennifer Fraser & The Gaslit Brain 🧠 0:03:00 What Is Gaslighting & How Can You Recognize It? 🚩 0:06:02 The Neuroscience of Gaslighting: What Happens to Your Brain? 🔬 0:09:02 Narcissists, Psychopaths & the Dark Tetrad 🎭 0:14:30 Empathy, Manipulation & Why We Trust the Wrong People ❤️ 0:19:30 Power, Authority & the Consequences of Psychological Abuse ⚖️ 0:25:30 Bullying in Sports, Coaching & Dr. Fraser's Personal Story 🏀 0:33:30 Recognizing Gaslighting at Work & Protecting Yourself 🛡️ 0:40:30 Healing the Brain, Building Resilience & Final Takeaways 🌱

    Gaslighting Isn't Just in Your Head—It's Changing Your Brain: Make This Make Sense ep20 Dr. Jennifer Fraser

  2. Oct 28

    Who Rescued Who? The Surprising Power of Therapy Dogs:  Make This Make Sense ep19 Toddy Kean

    Who Rescued Who? The Surprising Power of Therapy Dogs:  Make This Make Sense ep19 Toddy Kean Can a rescue dog with a traumatic past become someone'sgreatest source of comfort? Dog trainer Toddy Kean joins Make This Make Sense to break down the world of therapy dogs, challenge misconceptions about rescue animals, and explain how patience, trust, and training can transform even the most difficult beginnings into extraordinary second chances. From a rescued pit bull who completed nearly 800 hours oftherapy work to the remarkable ways dogs help children, patients, and students, Toddy shares heartwarming stories, practical advice for dog owners, and a powerful reminder that sometimes the best way to understand our dogs is to stopjudging and start listening.   Topics 🐶 Therapy dogs vs. service dogs vs. emotional support animals 🦮 The incredible potential of rescue dogs❤️ Second chances for abused and neglected animals 🐾 The 3-3-3 rule for rescue dogs 🧠 Understanding canine behavior and trauma 🎓 Therapy dogs in classrooms and hospitals 🦴 Training your dog for therapy work 🏥 Real-life stories of dogs changing lives 🐕 Why pitbulls deserve a second look 🏡 Finding the right rescue dog for your family 🛡️ Advocating for your dog's well-being 🤝 Building trust instead of forcing obedience ✨ The ripple effect of kindness   About Toddy Kean Toddy Kean is a dog trainer with more than 20 years ofexperience helping dogs and their humans build stronger, more trusting relationships. A passionate advocate for rescue animals, she serves on the board of the Calusa Humane Society in LaBelle, Florida, where she works to give neglected, abused, and abandoned dogs the second chances they deserve. With undergraduate and graduate degrees in Englishliterature, Toddy began her career in grant writing, fundraising, and development before a personal health scare inspired her to pursue her lifelong passion for animal welfare. Today, she offers private and group training, including specialized preparation for therapy dog certification, and helps dogs and their handlers bring comfort to hospitals, schools, and community organizations. Her philosophy is rooted in patience, empathy, and understanding the individual animal. Through her work with rescue dogs and therapy teams, Toddy hopes to leave a legacy of kindness, compassion, and countless happy endings.   🔗 Connect with Toddy Calusa Humane Society: caloosahumanesociety.org/Calusa on Facebook: facebook.com/caloosa Beesley’s Paw Prints: unitedwaylee.org/beesleys-paw-prints Healing Pawsibilities:healingpawsabilities.com/dog-training-resourcesBark Place: barkplacek9.com/ 🔗 Connect with MakeThis Make Sense If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook:@makethismakesensepod NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Senseare those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated. Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.   Chapters 0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🐾 0:01:40 Meet Toddy Kean: Giving Rescue Dogs a Second Chance ❤️ 0:05:55 Helping Abused and Neglected Dogs Heal 🐕 0:11:00 Therapy Dogs vs. Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Animals 🦮 0:14:00 How to Train Your Dog for Therapy Work 🎓 0:19:00 The Incredible Ways Therapy Dogs Change Lives 🏥 0:31:50 Rescue Dog Myths and Finding the Right Dog 🏡 0:36:50 Certification and Advocating for Your Dog 🛡️ 0:46:00 Toddy's Journey, Purpose and Legacy of Kindness ✨ 0:52:30 Shelter Programs, Second Chances and Final Takeaways 💜

    Who Rescued Who? The Surprising Power of Therapy Dogs:  Make This Make Sense ep19 Toddy Kean

  3. Oct 21

    Who Are You When You Stop Being Who Everyone Needs You to Be? Make This Make Sense ep18 Monique Renee

    Who Are You When You Stop Being Who Everyone Needs You to Be? Make This Make Sense ep18 Monique Renee What happens when you've checked all the boxes for successbut somewhere along the way, you've lost yourself? In this episode, Monique Renee, founder of Fiercely Flowing, joins us to unpack the hidden struggles of high-achieving women, the exhausting trap of people-pleasing, and why reclaiming your voice, trusting your intuition, and letting go of who you usedto be might be the most powerful moves you ever make. Topics 🏆 The hidden cost of success 💔Feeling lost while looking successful 🎭 Taking off the mask 👩‍💼Women in leadership and burnout 🧠 Rewriting the stories we tell ourselves 🪞 Rediscovering your identity 🌿 Finding your flow 🧘Listening to your body and intuition 🔥 Making fierce decisions 💪Courageous authenticity ❤️ Relationships and personal transformation 🚫Breaking free from people-pleasing ✨ Reclaiming your magic 🎉Celebrating small victories   About Monique Renee Monique Renee is the founder of Fiercely Flowing, a coachingpractice dedicated to helping successful women reconnect with their authentic selves, reclaim their voices, and redefine what success means in their current season of life. With a background in leadership development, coaching, andhigher education, Monique brings both professional experience and personal transformation to her work. Her approach combines practical leadership tools, strengths-based coaching, intuition, and spiritual practices to help women release limiting identities and rediscover their purpose. Through Fiercely Flowing, Monique creates space for womenwho appear to have it all together but privately feel exhausted, disconnected, or ready for something more. Her philosophy centers on courageous authenticity, personal evolution, and the belief that finding your flow begins with making fierce decisions about the life you truly want to live. 🔗 Connect with Monique Website: fiercelyflowing.com/ Blog: fiercelyflowing.com/blogs/ Substack: substack.com/@moniquerenee Podcast: youtube.com/@iammoniquerenee   Connect on Instagram:  @i.am.monique.renee  Connect on LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/moniquerenee   🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook:@makethismakesensepod NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Senseare those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated. Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.   Chapters 0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️ 0:01:13 Meet Monique Renee: From Favorite Boss to Fiercely Flowing 💜 0:04:25 Why Successful Women Feel Lost Behind the Scenes 🎭 0:09:45 The Warning Signs You're Disappearing from Your Own Life 🚩 0:12:00 Rewriting the Stories and Identities We've Inherited 🪞 0:15:00 Creating Space to Exhale and Reconnect with Yourself 🌿 0:21:00 Monique's Journey: When Leadership and Well-Being Collide 💔 0:28:00 Finding Your Voice, Setting Boundaries, and Trusting Your Intuition 🧘 0:38:00 Breaking the People-Pleasing Habit and Reclaiming Your Power 💪 0:45:00 Small Steps, Fierce Decisions, and the Freedom to Evolve ✨

    Who Are You When You Stop Being Who Everyone Needs You to Be? Make This Make Sense ep18 Monique Renee

  4. Oct 14

    Babies, Bootstrapping & Building a Business: Make This Make Sense ep17 Dr. Athena Jackson Pavlovich and Kaitlyn Schoeffel

    Babies, Bootstrapping & Building a Business: MakeThis Make Sense ep17 Dr. Athena Jackson Pavlovich and Kaitlyn Schoeffel Two moms, young kids, no investors, and no permanentlocation—so how do you build a thriving wellness business? In this episode of Make This Make Sense, Dr. Athena Jackson Pavlovich and Kaitlyn Schoeffel share how they bootstrapped Fit and Flow Mom Club by turning an unmet need formom-friendly fitness into a community-driven business, using creative partnerships, shared spaces, and a whole lot of trial and error to prove that you don't need big money to build something meaningful.   Topics 👩‍👧 Motherhood meets entrepreneurship 🧘‍♀️ Fitness with kids welcome 💜 Building community and connection 💰Bootstrapping on a budget 🏢 Growing without a permanent location 🤝 Creative business partnerships 📣 Grassroots marketing 🔄 Learning to pivot 👯‍♀️ Finding the right co-founder 🎪 Events and vendor collaborations 🎓 Creatinginstructor training 🚀 Scaling a mission-driven business ✨ Giving value before expecting anything in return   About Athena and Kaitlyn and Fit and Flow Mom Club Dr. Athena Jackson Pavlovich and Kaitlyn Schoeffel are theco-founders of Fit and Flow Mom Club, a community-centered wellness business designed to make fitness, connection, and self-care more accessible for mothers with young children. Their entrepreneurial journey began with a Facebook post.Athena was looking for another mom who enjoyed yoga and wanted to meet at a local park while their children played. Kaitlyn responded, and after a few successful yoga playdates, the two realized they had discovered something othermoms needed, too. Drawing on their complementary backgrounds – Athena brings expertise in education and yoga, while Kaitlyn contributes experience in dance and pilates – together they've transformed a simple idea into a growing wellness business without investors or a permanent studio, relying instead on creative partnerships, shared spaces, and community connections. Through Fit and Flow Mom Club, Athena and Kaitlyn arecreating more than fitness classes. They're building a supportive community where moms can prioritize their own well-being without having to leave motherhood at the door.   🔗 Connect with Athena and Kaitlyn Website: fitandflowmomclub.com    motherhoodmovementinstitute.com   Connect on Instagram:  @fitandflowmomclub  and @motherhoodmovementinstitute   Connect on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/fitandflowmomclub    Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/athena-jackson-501b1151/  andhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlyn-schoeffel-b69267139/   🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook:@makethismakesensepod NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Senseare those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated. Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.   Chapters 0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️ 0:02:00 Meet Athena & Caitlin: The Moms Behind Fit and Flow 👩‍👧 0:04:00 The Problem: Why Fitness Isn't Built for Moms 🧘‍♀️ 0:09:30 Building Community and Making Wellness Accessible 💜 0:13:30 From Mommy & Me Yoga to Fit and Flow Mom Club 🔄 0:17:30 Bootstrapping: Starting a Business with Almost No Money 💰 0:21:00 Growing Without a Permanent Location 🏢 0:27:30 The Co-Founder Dynamic: Friendship and Complementary Strengths 👯‍♀️ 0:33:00 Partnerships, Events and Creating Instructor Training 🤝 0:45:00 Advice for Entrepreneurs: Collaboration Over Competition 🚀

    Babies, Bootstrapping & Building a Business: Make This Make Sense ep17 Dr. Athena Jackson Pavlovich and Kaitlyn Schoeffel

  5. Oct 7

    Women, Entrepreneurship & Why “Different” Isn’t the Problem: Make This Make Sense ep16 Dr. Amanda Elam

    Women entrepreneurs get less funding, build different kindsof companies, and often approach risk, growth, and networking differently than men—but Dr. Amanda Elam argues that trying to “fix” women may be missing thepoint. Drawing from decades of research and her own experience co-founding Galaxy Diagnostics, Amanda explains why women need to be bold AND smart, why industry matters more than we think, and how entrepreneurship education canbetter support everyone without assuming women need to become more like men. Topics 👩‍💼 Women in entrepreneurship 💰 The gender funding gap 🧠 Gender stereotypes in entrepreneurship 🎯 Being bold AND smart 🤝 Why networks matter for funding 🏭 Why industry matters more than gender 🌍 Women entrepreneurs around the world   About Dr. Amanda Elam Dr. Amanda Elam is a scholar, entrepreneur, and leadingexpert on women’s entrepreneurship, venture growth, and access to capital. She is an Adjunct Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Research Fellow at the Diana International Research Institute at Babson College, and has helped lead the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Women’s Report, bringing research on women entrepreneurs to policymakers, investors, and business leaders around theworld. Amanda is co-founder and director of Galaxy Diagnostics, a life sciences company advancing diagnostic testing and clinical discovery for emerging vector-borne infectious diseases. She brings the rare perspective of someone who has spent decades both studying entrepreneurs and actually building a company herself.   🔗 Connect with Amanda  Connect via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaelamand https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3382502/  Amanda at Babson: https://www.babson.edu/about/our-leaders-and-scholars/faculty-and-academic-divisions/faculty-profiles/amanda-elam.php   The Entrepreneurship Hub: https://www.uottawa.ca/study/career-experiential-learning/entrepreneurship-hub   Diana International Research Conference: https://www.babson.edu/womens-leadership-institute/diana-international-research-institute/events/annual-research-conference/   Diana International Research Institute: https://www.babson.edu/womens-leadership-institute/diana-international-research-institute/research/   Frank & Eileen Institute for Women and Allies: https://www.babson.edu/womens-leadership-institute/   Babson WIN Lab Venture Accelerator: https://www.babson.edu/womens-leadership-institute/entrepreneurs-everywhere/win-lab/   Techstars Accelerators: https://www.techstars.com/accelerators   Tori Burch Foundation Women Fellows Program: https://www.toryburchfoundation.org/fellows/   Cartier Women’s Initiative: https://www.cartierwomensinitiative.com/ 🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for moreepisodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook:@makethismakesensepod NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Senseare those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated. Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.   Chapters 0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️0:02:00 Meet Dr. Amanda Elam: Researcher & Entrepreneur👩‍🔬0:02:57 Finding Your “Why” & Building Galaxy Diagnostics 🚀0:13:12 Women in Male-Dominated Entrepreneurship Spaces 👩‍💼0:17:03 Be Bold AND Smart💡0:20:49 Feminism, Gender & the Entrepreneurship Playing Field ⚖️0:26:30 Women’s Entrepreneurship Around the World 🌎0:31:52 Getting More Women & Girls Into STEM 🔬0:36:12 What Women Entrepreneurs Need to Stop Trying to Fix 💪0:41:18 Resources, Research & Why Industry Matters More Than Gender 🎯

    Women, Entrepreneurship & Why “Different” Isn’t the Problem: Make This Make Sense ep16 Dr. Amanda Elam

  6. Sep 30

    Estrogen Left the Party—and Took Everyone With Her: Make This Make Sense ep15 Ellen Scherr

    Estrogen Left the Party—and Took Everyone With Her: MakeThis Make Sense ep15 Ellen Scherr Midlife can feel like someone changed the rules withoutbothering to tell women: your body changes, your brain changes, relationships shift, parents age, careers implode, and suddenly your tolerance for people-pleasing disappears. Therapist Ellen Scherr joins us to make sense of the anger, grief, changing friendships, caregiving, body image,boundaries, and surprising freedom that can come when women finally stop worrying about what everyone else thinks.   Topics 🧠 The midlife brain 🧬 Estrogen & neurological changes 🔥 Midlife anger 🙅‍♀️ Aging out of people-pleasing 💼 Career reinvention & age discrimination 🥪 The sandwich generation 💔 Grief & loss 🪞 Body image & aging 🐹 Stopping rumination & negative self-talk 👯‍♀️ Changing friendships 🤝 Finding community 🚧 Setting boundaries 😬The guilt of saying no ✨ Accepting who you are   About Ellen Scherr Ellen Scherr is a therapist who helps women navigate theoften-overlooked realities of midlife. Her work explores what happens when decades of people-pleasing collide with menopause, loss, changing relationships, and a brain and body that suddenly feel very different—helping women better understand the anger, grief, overwhelm, and changing needs that can come with this stage of life.  Learnmore at: https://lifebranches.com/about 🔗 Connect with Ellen Connect on Substack:https://substack.com/@ellenscherr    Article: https://open.substack.com/pub/midlifeshift/p/aging-out-of-f***s-the-neuroscience    Connect viaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-scherr/   Life Branches: https://lifebranches.com/   💬 Memorable Quotes “Estrogen’s like the popular girl at the party. When sheleaves, everybody wants to leave.” “We start to become more protective of who’s reallyimportant in our life and who do we want to spend the time with.” “Women are better at beating up on themselves than men.” “Take one minor thing you keep saying yes to and make it ano.” “If I can change one person’s life a day, that’s all Ineed.”   ✨ Anyone ready to stop waiting for an “if” to be happy and start accepting thelife and body they have now   🔗 Connect with MakeThis Make Sense If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for moreepisodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook:@makethismakesensepod NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Senseare those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated. Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.   Chapters 0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️0:00:25 Why Midlife Can Feel So Overwhelming 🤯0:02:06 Meet Ellen Scherr & Her Midlife Reinvention 🔄0:05:15 Going Viral 🔥0:09:22 What’s Actually Happening to the Midlife Brain? 🧠0:13:11 Career Reinvention & Age Discrimination 💼0:17:53 The Sandwich Generation: Kids, Parents & Caregiving 🥪0:18:46 Grief, Loss & the Guilt Women Carry 💔0:24:47 Why Is Guilt Such a Recurring Theme for Women? 😔0:29:18 Body Image, Aging & Letting Go of the “If” 🪞0:33:45 Changing Your Self-Talk & Rewiring the Brain 🧠0:36:55 Friendships, Community & Knowing When to Let Go 👯‍♀️0:39:27 Clarity Circles 🙅‍♀️0:42:13 Learning to Say No Without the Guilt 🚧0:44:25 Making Midlife Make Sense ✨

    Estrogen Left the Party—and Took Everyone With Her: Make This Make Sense ep15 Ellen Scherr

  7. Sep 23

    Solve a Problem People Will Actually Pay For: Make This Make Sense ep14 Rachel Braun Scherl

    Solve a Problem People Will Actually Pay For: Make ThisMake Sense ep14 Rachel Braun Scherl Healthcare entrepreneur and growth strategist Rachel Braun Scherl joins Make This Make Sense for a wide-rangingconversation about women’s health, entrepreneurship, workplace culture, and what it really takes to build a business people will pay for. From the unglamorous reality of being a founder to Gen Z rewriting the rules of work, Rachel brings decades of experience—and a refreshingly practical perspective—to why solving women’s health problems isn’t just good for women, it’s good business. The conversation gets especially real about working motherhood, boundaries, trusting your gut, and the myth that entrepreneurs—or women—can somehow “have it all.” Rachel’s bottom line: women’s health isn’t a niche; it’s foundational to the health of men, women, and families.   Topics 👩‍⚕️ Why women’s health is everybody’s health 💰 The business opportunity in women’s health 🚀 The unglamorous truth about entrepreneurship 🎯 Solve a problem peoplewill actually pay to solve 🧠 Why intuition comes from experience 🤝 Choose people you trust over work you love 💼 Gen Z is rewriting workplace rules 🧘 Boundaries vs. getting the job done 👩‍👧 The reality of being a working mom ⚖️ Why “having it all” was always a myth 💵 Using economics to change healthcare 🩺 Building a better women’s healthsystem   About Rachel Braun Scherl Rachel Braun Scherl is a healthcare entrepreneur, growthstrategist, and women’s health expert with more than 25 years of experience building businesses and brands. A three-time founder, she has raised millions in venture funding and helped launch dozens of category-leading products. Rachel began her career at Johnson & Johnson and her experience includes work with major healthcare companies including Pfizer, Merck, Bayer, Allergan, Church & Dwight, and Reckitt, as well as numerous venture-backed startups. Today, Rachel leads Spark Solutions, a boutique strategicgrowth and marketing strategy firm focused on driving top-line growth and transactions. Over the course of her career, much of her work has centered on women—as healthcare decision-makers, consumers, and an increasingly importantfocus of healthcare innovation—leading to her belief that, broadly speaking, everything really is about women’s health.   🔗 Connect with Rachel Connect via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelbraunscherl/  Connect on Instagram/Threads: @rbscherl Spark Solutions for Growth: https://sparksolutionsforgrowth.com/  🔗 Connect with MakeThis Make Sense If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook:@makethismakesensepod NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Senseare those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated. Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.   Chapters 0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 👋0:00:25 Meet Rachel Braun Scherl 👩‍⚕️0:01:48 Spark Solutions & Pragmatic Growth Strategy 📈0:02:47 From Johnson & Johnson to Women’s Health 💊0:04:28 The Unglamorous Truth About Entrepreneurship 🚀0:06:00 Solve a Problem People Will Actually Pay For 🎯0:08:37 Finding Your “Why” as a Founder 💡0:12:34 Taking Control of Your Financial Future 💰0:14:21 Trust Your Gut: Why Intuition Comes From Experience 🧠0:17:10 Gen Z Is Rewriting the Rules of Work 💼0:23:54 The Economics Driving Better Women’s Health 🩺0:29:09 Working Motherhood & the Myth of “Having It All” 👩‍👧0:31:48 What Rachel Is Building Next 🔮0:35:48 Women’s Health Would Make Sense If… ❤️

    Solve a Problem People Will Actually Pay For: Make This Make Sense ep14 Rachel Braun Scherl

  8. Sep 16

    Competent, Likable & Exhausted: The Double Bind of Women Leaders: Make This Make Sense ep13 Colleen Ammerman

    Competent, Likable & Exhausted: The Double Bind ofWomen Leaders: Make This Make Sense ep13 Colleen Ammerman Why does being a woman at work sometimes feel like animpossible balancing act—be confident but not intimidating, ambitious but likable, decisive but warm? Colleen Ammerman, Director of the Race, Gender & Equity Initiative at Harvard Business School and co-author of Glass Half Broken, joins us to unpack the double bind facing women leaders, thehidden “care tax” of workplace empathy, why family-friendly policies can backfire, and what women—and organizations—can do to change the system.   Topics 👩‍💼 The leadership double bind ⚖️ Competence vs. likability 🫶 The empathy & care tax 🧠 The invisible cognitive load of caring at work 🚧 Care creep & setting boundaries 💰 Why invisible work needs to be rewarded 📣 Managing your professional reputation 🎯 Creating your own leadershipstyle 👶 The flexibility stigma & “mommy track” 🏢 Why women may be pushed out rather than opting out 🤖 Gender bias & AI at work ✨ Making leadership work for everyone   About Colleen Ammerman Colleen Ammerman is the Director of the Race, Gender &Equity Initiative at Harvard Business School and co-author of Glass Half Broken. Her research explores the complex expectations placed on women leaders—including the pressure to be confident but not intimidating, ambitiousbut still likable, and decisive while remaining warm—as well as the invisible empathy tax women continue to face in the workplace. Article: The Empathy Tax Female Leaders Pay: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-empathy-tax-female-leaders-pay/ Article: How Women in Leadership Can Shape How Others SeeThem: https://hbr.org/2025/05/how-women-in-leadership-can-shape-how-others-see-them Article: Rethink what you “know” about high-achievingwomen: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=5545723 Book: Glass Half-Broken: Shattering the Barriers That StillHold Women Back at Work: https://www.amazon.com/dp/163369593X?lv=shuf&channelId=510&plpRedirect=mhFallback   🔗 Connect with Colleen Connect via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenammerman/ https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hbs-race-gender-equity/posts/   Join the mailing list: https://www.hbs.edu/race-gender-equity/about/join-our-mailing-list   🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook:@makethismakesensepod NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Senseare those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated. Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution. Chapters 0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️0:02:40 Meet Colleen Ammerman & Her Journey to Harvard🎓0:07:20 The Double Bind: Competence vs. Likability ⚖️0:12:19 The Empathy Tax: The Invisible Work Women Do 🫶0:15:52 “Care Creep” & When Caring Becomes Part of Your Job 🧠0:19:27 When Setting Boundaries Hurts Your Reputation 🚧0:33:00 Navigating Bias Without Changing Who You Are 🧭0:35:28 Managing Your Reputation & Finding Your Leadership Style 👩‍💼0:44:00 The Mommy Track, Flexibility Stigma & Why Women Get Pushed Out 👶0:51:00 Glass Half Broken, What Organizations Can Do & the New AI Double Bind 🤖

    Competent, Likable & Exhausted: The Double Bind of Women Leaders: Make This Make Sense ep13 Colleen Ammerman
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2 Ratings

About

Make This Make Sense brings together three Entrepreneurship professors unpack the systems, trends, and social dynamics everyone is confused about — with the women who actually understand them. Guests include academics and entrepreneurs covering various industries diving into the latest research and sharing their experiences.

Information

  • Creator
    MakeThisMakeSensePod
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © MakeThisMakeSensePod
  • Show Website
    Make This Make Sense

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