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Powrsuit

Powrup

A Careers and Business podcast

#4 in Careers · 🇳🇿 #77 in Business · 🇳🇿
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About the show

Nat and Kristen are on a mission to amplify your impact - think of us as your personal cheerleaders. We’ve been there and done that and are open-sourcing the career playbook. Filled with actionable insights and entertaining commentary, each episode will equip you with the confidence and skills to shape your career on your terms. Find out more at www.powrsuit.com.

Newest episodes

Ep 192: Will you regret not taking the leap? (Yes.)

34 min

Someone offers you a board seat and your first question is ‘how much time will it take?’ (Fair enough, but it’s probably four to six hours a month, and the upside is huge.) In this episode of Powrup, Nat and Kristen chat about living with no regrets, or ‘no regurts’, as one viral tattoo put it. They talk about why people at the end of their lives regret what they didn’t do far more than what they did, and why a job that’s just okay can be harder to leave than a bad one. Nat makes the case for starting with the upside before you get to the costs, and reminds us you can apply for a job and still say no at the offer stage. There’s also a great story about people who set out to collect rejections and mostly got yeses. And if you’re stuck on a big decision, try asking whether 80-year-old you would be annoyed you didn’t do it. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 191: Powrup Plus - Two Raw Sisters on being intelligently lazy

40 min

Got a cookbook somewhere in your kitchen that hasn’t been opened in years? Chances are it’s too fussy, needs too many ingredients, and doesn’t fit the reality of our full lives. For our very first Powrup Plus, Nat and Kristen chat with Margo Flanagan and Rosa Power from Two Raw Sisters, the cooks behind six bestselling cookbooks and their latest, How We Cook. They talk about food, work, and why ‘what’s for dinner?’ is the one decision most of us would happily hand off forever. Margo and Rosa share their ‘be intelligently lazy’ approach to meal prep and healthy eating without the faff. That includes why bulk cooking a recipe takes no longer than cooking it once, and how a bit of Sunday prep can take a bunch of daily food decisions (and mental load) off the table. There’s, of course, a decent amount of chat about ditching the word busy. And if you raid the pantry at 4pm every day, there’s a fix for that too. Two Raw Sisters: https://www.tworawsisters.com/ Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 190: Do you pick up everyone else’s slack at work?

34 min

Remember the group project where you did most of the work and everyone got the same grade? At work, it can be more of the same, whether it’s a collaborative project or even a team you’re leading. Do high performers get the short end of the stick? In this ep of Powrup, Nat and Kristen talk about capable people who keep picking up the slack and tiptoe towards burnout - it's called the burden of competence. They look at the ways high performers can hold others back without meaning to, like jumping on every problem before anyone else has spotted it, or rescuing people the minute they struggle. There’s a difference between high standards and perfectionism, and one person’s idea of ‘good’ isn’t automatically everyone else’s. If you’re leading a project, start by agreeing on expectations together, recognising what each person brings, and asking questions instead of handing out answers - so others start owning the work too! Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

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All episodes

Ep 192: Will you regret not taking the leap? (Yes.)

34 min

Someone offers you a board seat and your first question is ‘how much time will it take?’ (Fair enough, but it’s probably four to six hours a month, and the upside is huge.) In this episode of Powrup, Nat and Kristen chat about living with no regrets, or ‘no regurts’, as one viral tattoo put it. They talk about why people at the end of their lives regret what they didn’t do far more than what they did, and why a job that’s just okay can be harder to leave than a bad one. Nat makes the case for starting with the upside before you get to the costs, and reminds us you can apply for a job and still say no at the offer stage. There’s also a great story about people who set out to collect rejections and mostly got yeses. And if you’re stuck on a big decision, try asking whether 80-year-old you would be annoyed you didn’t do it. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 191: Powrup Plus - Two Raw Sisters on being intelligently lazy

40 min

Got a cookbook somewhere in your kitchen that hasn’t been opened in years? Chances are it’s too fussy, needs too many ingredients, and doesn’t fit the reality of our full lives. For our very first Powrup Plus, Nat and Kristen chat with Margo Flanagan and Rosa Power from Two Raw Sisters, the cooks behind six bestselling cookbooks and their latest, How We Cook. They talk about food, work, and why ‘what’s for dinner?’ is the one decision most of us would happily hand off forever. Margo and Rosa share their ‘be intelligently lazy’ approach to meal prep and healthy eating without the faff. That includes why bulk cooking a recipe takes no longer than cooking it once, and how a bit of Sunday prep can take a bunch of daily food decisions (and mental load) off the table. There’s, of course, a decent amount of chat about ditching the word busy. And if you raid the pantry at 4pm every day, there’s a fix for that too. Two Raw Sisters: https://www.tworawsisters.com/ Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 190: Do you pick up everyone else’s slack at work?

34 min

Remember the group project where you did most of the work and everyone got the same grade? At work, it can be more of the same, whether it’s a collaborative project or even a team you’re leading. Do high performers get the short end of the stick? In this ep of Powrup, Nat and Kristen talk about capable people who keep picking up the slack and tiptoe towards burnout - it's called the burden of competence. They look at the ways high performers can hold others back without meaning to, like jumping on every problem before anyone else has spotted it, or rescuing people the minute they struggle. There’s a difference between high standards and perfectionism, and one person’s idea of ‘good’ isn’t automatically everyone else’s. If you’re leading a project, start by agreeing on expectations together, recognising what each person brings, and asking questions instead of handing out answers - so others start owning the work too! Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 189: Should you do the job before you get the promotion?

34 min

Ask someone chasing a promotion whether they should work at the next level before they get it, and plenty say no thanks. Ask the person doing the promoting and the answer’s almost always yes. In this ep, Nat and Kristen take a middle ground. Things like speaking up in meetings like a peer, linking your work to revenue, cost or culture, and making the value you add easy to see (visibility for its own sake just makes everyone groan). Where they draw the line is taking on a whole second job, or covering the gaps for a colleague who got the role instead of you. A rule of thumb is to spend your first three to six months in any role getting wins on the board, then start spotting gaps you could fix. And if you want a place to start this week, get curious about what would make your manager’s life easier (and no, that doesn’t mean picking up their sandwiches). Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 188: How do you back yourself in meetings?

34 min

We've noticed a trend lately: Powrsuiters sharing that they want to back themselves more when under pressure. Getting the words out is the first step, but it’s the uncertain twenty seconds after, when you’re braced for someone to question you, that stops many of us speaking up at all. In this ep of Powrup, Nat and Kristen talk through both. They share a four-point sticky note to fill in before your next meeting (your position, what it rests on, any trade-offs, and what would change your mind) and why speaking first beats waiting for the perfect moment. In a Powrsuit LinkedIn poll, half of you said preparation helped most - which supports researcher Herminia Ibarra's point that you can’t think your way into acting differently, so at some point you just have to say the thing! Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 187: Not sure what to do next in your career?

32 min

The usual advice when a job ends is to work out what you want first, then make a move. Kristen has given that advice to plenty of Powrsuit members, and in this ep of Powrup, Nat and Kristen question it. They talk about the awkward in-between stage after a redundancy, time at home with kids or outgrowing your role (there's even a word for it: liminality). They draw on Herminia Ibarra's year-long study of 23 career changers, who figured out what they wanted by trying things first. Her advice is to spend a little time reflecting to come up with three ideas, then test them in real life to see which one sticks. That could be a 15-minute virtual coffee where you ask someone what a typical Tuesday looks like for them, or saying yes to an unpaid spot on a local sports club board. Confidence usually turns up after you've started, so you don't need to wait for it. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 186: How to Disagree at Work in a Polarised World

34 min

Neutrality used to cost you nothing but now it costs reach. We start with the flashpoints doing the rounds: Ed Sheeran, Sydney Sweeney, Meghan Markle, Jacinda Ardern, return to office mandates, private school vs public school (we could go on). Then the work version, where you can't mute anyone and the project's still due. Using Jessica Tarlov's new book 'I Disagree' as a frame: leave room for people who choose differently, because if every disagreement is a character test you'll run out of colleagues. Go in to learn rather than to win. Nat's opener is to ask whether someone's open to changing their mind, and if they're not, leave it there. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 185: Why Women Can Be Harder on Other Women

33 min

Queen bee syndrome is when senior women pull the ladder up behind them. It's real, it's been studied, and the research points to structure rather than personality. We start with the Sydney Sweeney ad and the pick me girl label, then get to the thing Powrsuiters say in hushed tones on calls: one of my worst managers was a woman. A few reasons it happens. There's often only one seat, so enter fierce competition thanks to scarcity. Survival mode sets in, because if proving you're not like other women is what got you there, distancing is the strategy that works. And helping really does cost us, since women who champion other women get worse performance ratings for it while white men doing the same don't....(?). Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 184: Are People Getting Ruder?

34 min

Are people ruder now, or have the norms just shifted under our feet? Speakerphone conversations in the airport lounge, QR code ordering when you've just paid close to a hundred dollars for a couple of burgers and beers, ghosting meetings and catchups - is this the new normal? A researcher has been asking people about rudeness since the 90s and the number has climbed every time, with the biggest rise in customers behaving badly towards frontline staff. She also found nobody thinks they're the rude one (ha). Plus our LinkedIn poll results and the noise violation ticket Kristen dodged at 14. Got a pet peeve we missed? Tell us. powrsuit.com Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 183: Are you past, present or future focused?

33 min

Your brain has a default time zone: Past, present or future. Kristen found out about it at a dinner party, went home and got AI to test her, and ran a shorter version on Nat. Someone more junior gets the promotion you wanted and it's 9pm, what are you doing?If you're past focused you work out how something happened, which is great for spotting patterns and for backing yourself based on your track record, though you can get stuck diagnosing when you should be deciding. Present focused means you go on how it feels right now, which is a lovely way to live but no help for a five year plan. Future focused means today is always a step towards something, and it comes with skipping your wins and comes with a worrying version. We figure it’s useful to be able explain yours to the people you work with, which is why we did this out loud - so give it a go.  Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 182: Calendar management: do's and don'ts for sanity

30 min

Your calendar probably isn't a plan. It's a receipt for everything other people asked you to do. We've heard a few common ways people run a calendar. As a receipt, where it's just a record of what you're delivering for everyone else. As a watch list, where you accept everything and then triage it on a Sunday night. Or as a Tetris board, where the blocks are constantly moving around because they have to fit the hours you've actually got. Some of our do's and don'ts: Deliberately end meetings 5-10 mins early. Stop defaulting to 60 minutes! Start at 15 and make yourself justify more.Put the agenda in the description field - most agendas are one question or one decision anyway.Block your travel time and be honest about how long it takes.Block the prep before a meeting, and a block for the work that comes out of it.Name your blocks, personal ones too, so people can see what's movable.Put a three month end date on recurring meetings, so you've got a natural excuse to kill them. Plus an expensive Japanese pot, a helpful husband, and three op shops.If this was helpful, we've got mini masterclasses on calendar hacks, taking back your time, and the art of prioritisation inside Powrsuit. Reach out and we'll sort a discount for your first month. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 181: How to work a room when you'd rather hide in the toilet

35 min

Networking is the thing most of us dread, so here's how to actually work a room without wanting to hide in the women’s toilet. We start with the liking gap - the research showing people walk away thinking they tanked terribly while everyone else rated them an A. Then in Powrsuit fashion, Nat and Kristen get practical: the walk-in plan, why heading straight for the drinks table gives you a job to do, how to read which groups are safe to join, and graceful ways to exit a convo. In a male-dominated field? What to do when banter feels designed to exclude you, and why the fix is curiosity. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 180: Quiet quitting is back (in the worst economy for it)

28 min

Quiet quitting is back - and it makes no sense. Jobs are at an all time low, unemployment all time high, and yet work disengagement is off the charts? Nat and Kristen dig into why people are checking out when you'd most expect them to cling on. They cover what’s going on (poor management, burnout and broken promises), and why Gen Z are more likely to quiet quit than boomers. Plus the difference between disengaged and actively disengaged and whether this is all about boundaries and why it’s all pretty bad for our mental health. Also - eclipse tourism, and how wedding-spend correlates to divorce rates. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! More from Powrsuit: 🔗 Podcast: https://powrsuit.com/podcast/ 🌐 Website: https://powrsuit.com/ 📩 Newsletter: https://powrsuit.com/newsletters/ 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORJdS-WlYOWA20mSOGG2ug 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powrsuit 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powrsuit/

Ep 179: Criticism disguised as feedback (and what to do)

32 min

There's a difference between feedback and criticism, and often what we get is the latter dressed up as the former. So we pull the two apart: feedback is clear, actionable and comes from someone who wants you to win, while criticism can be someone venting and making it your problem. We also dig into why women often get judged on personality rather than work (abrasive, strident, 'too intense'), and why 'you're not ready' is the most useless thing you can be told after missing out on a role. Then in Powrsuit style, we share how to be proactive and drive your own constructive feedback, check-ins and progress. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 178: Dating apps are broken (so where do people go?)

35 min

Nat and Kristen get into why dating apps have got so bad - and general swipe fatigue (the same friction-removing tech logic has leaked into job hunting), and why Gen Z are heading back to real-life 'third places' like run clubs and work for dating. Then the bit that actually matters for your career: why who you partner with makes or breaks it. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 177: Are you the drama? Victim, villain, hero at work

34 min

Nat and Kristen turned up in matching green tops to talk about the roles we all slip into when things go sideways - victim, villain and hero. Kristen owns up to being a chronic hero (that dopamine hit of solving everyone's problem, whether they asked or not), Nat cops to villain as her go-to, and they use a very unhinged Married At First Sight dinner party to show all three playing out in real time. Where the drama triangle came from (a 1960s sports doodle, weirdly) and why these roles still run the show at work and at home. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 176: The first 90 days (and why you're allowed to not know things)

36 min

A Powrsuiter put her hand up for a stretch role, got it, then froze - terrified that asking questions would make her look stupid. Nat and Kristen unpack why that's textbook imposter phenomenon, and why the first 90 days are for diagnosing before you prescribe, not hitting the ground running (a pretty damaging bit of advice, when you think about it). They cover the listening tour, why no one's paying you to know everything on day one, and the exact questions that build credibility instead of eroding it. Plus a slightly unhinged detour into where 'teach your grandmother to suck eggs' actually comes from. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 175: How to talk to sceptics (without needing to win)

38 min

Kristen got cornered at a party by a guy insisting women are outstripping men on every metric, and spent the weekend rarked up about it (now officially in the Oxford English Dictionary, by the way). So Nat and Kristen come armed with the stats they wished they'd had - like why 40 years of women dominating university hasn't dented the C-suite, and the broken rung that sees just 89 women promoted for every 100 men at the very first step up. Then the practical bit: how to handle these conversations when they find you, from getting curious instead of combative (It's hard!). Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 174: Allyship and Man Flu

26 min

Nat and Kristen dig into allyship after an event where the allies in the room got an actual rule sheet - turn up, listen, don't take up space. One of them still found a moment to stand up and announce that men get man flu, and honestly, it was a highlight. They debate what an ally even is, why sponsorship beats mentorship for closing leadership gaps, and the difference between welcoming allies and accommodating them. Plus how to move allyship from 'I'm a good person' to things you do on a Tuesday. All things allyship - so forward to one you know! Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 173: Why Your Managing Up Isn't Landing

34 min

A Powrsuiter came to us with a familiar problem: she's scheduling one-on-ones, building rapport, sending proactive updates - and her manager's response is... nothing. Not hostility, just indifference. Turns out she’s probably missing one critical angle. Nat and Kristen dig into the direct conversation worth having - one that's about strategic alignment, not reassurance-seeking - and how to frame it. And if all else fails? We share what research says about staying in a role where your manager doesn't notice you, and when it's time to move on. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 172: Why No One Asks the Obvious Question

32 min

Nat and Kristen get into why the most useful question in any meeting - the basic, obvious, 'dumb' one - is almost always the one nobody asks! Turns out 70% of people are holding back in meetings, doing constant mental maths about whether it's worth it. They get into the blue collar vs white collar question thing, what psychological safety actually looks like in real life, and three questions worth keeping in your back pocket before any new project kicks off. Plus some openers that actually work if you want to get your voice in the room without derailing the whole thing. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters.

Ep 171: Stop Waiting to Be Noticed

30 min

Nat and Kristen take a quiz to find out what kind of follower they actually are (Nat's a recovering chaos-agent, Kristen's an eye-roller with a popcorn habit). They get into the five followership styles - passive, alienated, survivor, conformist, effective - and why almost everyone reckons they're the 'good' one, which obviously can't be true. If you've ever saved your real opinion for after the meeting, worked yourself to the bone waiting to be noticed, or can't figure out why hard work alone isn't getting you promoted... this one's for you! Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 170: Everyone's Flat Right Now (Not Just You)

33 min

Nat and Kristen dig into the motivation gap that's showing up everywhere right now - teams low on initiative, leaders exhausted by it, and nobody quite sure why. They cover a few reasons people are checked out (spoiler: six years of economic chaos can do that), why change fatigue is different this time, and whether the generational blame game is actually useful. Plus: why running faster is not the answer, and the case for doing absolutely nothing in your 15-minute gaps instead of doom-scrolling. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 169: Your Calendar Is Not a Democracy

25 min

Nat and Kristen get into why so many of us treat a meeting invite like a court summons - accepting on autopilot, turning up unprepared, and wondering why we feel busy but not strategic. Turns out, saying yes to everything gets you a great reputation as a doer, and quietly sidelines you from the rooms where decisions actually happen. They cover the practical fixes too: how to graciously decline or clarify before you commit, why prepping for a meeting completely changes your role in it, and the very normal move of just... leaving halfway through. Warning: a rescue dog has strong opinions throughout. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 168: Write Your Own Obituary (No, Really)

30 min

Nat and Kristen wrote their own obituaries - one involves a yacht, gin martinis, Michelle Obama, and a request for dramatic sobbing (guess who). The other is a manifesto. Both are surprisingly useful. This episode is about using your obituary as a filter: for your values, your career, and whether you're actually living the life you want or just a very organised version of the default one. Plus: living funerals, why the robot (AI) makes a terrible life coach, and what happens when you're too content to think big. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 167: Why You Always Put Everyone Else First

30 min

Turns out there's actual science behind why you do everything for everyone else before yourself. Nat and Kristen dig into the biology of why women are literally wired to put others first and how decades of conditioning piles on top to make self-prioritisation feels uncomfortable. They cover what finally pushes women to make a change, plus genuinely small ways to start reclaiming your time without a personality overhaul. Also: golf course rule enforcers, the husband who always changed his clothes first, and why sitting in a café doing nothing is actually a powr move. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 166: The Ick List: Workplace Edition

31 min

Nat and Kristen dive into the professional version of the dating ick - that sudden, inexplicable cringe you get from colleagues and workplace behaviour. From performative cultural awareness and name-dropping to people who swan into meetings mid-phone-call just to look busy they share their personal lists of workplace annoyances (and admit some of them say more about themselves than anyone else). Weaponised busyness, auto-forwards with zero context - it's all on the table. Equal parts venting and an excercise in self-awareness, this ep will have you quietly adding to your own list. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 165: Read The Room: The Superpower Nobody Taught Us

31 min

Nat and Kristen get into the underrated skill of reading a room - who actually holds the power (*cough* it's not always the most senior person), why where you sit says more than you think, and how to spot the silent dissenters before they tank your project offline. They cover what to watch for in your next meeting: who opens, who dominates, who's performing for the boss, and what the micro-moments between people are actually telling you. US Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 164: The Art of the Opener: Better Conversation Starters

33 min

Nat and Kristen tackle the lost art of starting a conversation - why we've all gotten terrible at it (thanks, Zoom), and how to stop defaulting to ‘what do you do?’ at every networking event. From the situational observation trick to the ‘gift opener’ technique, they share practical openers for networking events, random everyday bumps, and those awkward meeting icebreakers that nobody wants to call icebreakers. Plus: why ChatGPT's conversation starters are absolutely terrible and what vegetable you'd bring to a duel. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 163: The Relationship Bank Account: Who's Draining You?

29 min

Nat and Kristen get into why so many women find themselves giving, giving, giving - and getting very little back. They break down a ‘relationship bank account’ theory (deposits, withdrawals, and who's quietly draining your savings), why being the reliable, accommodating one can seriously backfire, and how culture plays a bigger role than you'd think. Plus - the sneaky ways you might accidentally be the withdrawer without realising it - and when to stop investing in a one-sided relationship. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 162: (Repeat) Stop Assuming, Start Managing Up

25 min

While we recharge, we're reaching into the vault for this one - and if you've ever silently fumed about your manager, it's for you. One in two people quit because of theirs, but here's the thing: this relationship is a two-way street and there's way more you can control than you think. Nat and Kristen get into how to crack your manager's communication code, stop making assumptions, and actually take control of the dynamic. Spoiler: most managers get about 4 hours of leadership training a month, so don't wait for them to figure it out. If you missed it first time round, now's your chance. Back in one week, Powrsuiters. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 161: (Repeat) Gravitas: The Powr Of Presence

20 min

We're taking a couple of weeks off (yes, we're actual humans!), so we're reaching into the vault for this one - and it's a goodie worth revisiting.  Nat and Kristen unpack gravitas -  the ancient Roman virtue that's been wildly misunderstood, especially for women. What it actually is, what it definitely isn't, and why authenticity in your voice and message matters more than projecting 'main character energy'. Plus some practical tips on making your voice heard in the rooms that matter. If you missed it first time round, now's your chance. Back in two weeks, Powrsuiters. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 160: Crisis Fatigue is Real. Here's How to Cope.

27 min

Nat and Kristen are battling sinus colds AND the state of the world - turns out both are equally congestion-inducing. From their city's dodgy sewage situation to a looming fuel crisis, a lonely Gen Z kid, and powerful men making questionable decisions, they unpack why we've all gone a bit numb to the chaos. They cover the spectrum of crisis responses (are you a checker, an avoider, an evangelist, or just fully paralysed?), why your amygdala was simply not built for the 24/7 news cycle, and how to take back some control without either doom-scrolling yourself into a spiral or burying your head completely in the sand. Hopeful-ish. Practical. Sniffly. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 159: We Need to Talk About Your Meetings

27 min

Nat and Kristen count their meetings live on air (nine for Kristen. NINE.) and dive into why your calendar has become a problem. They cover why time wasted in unproductive meetings has doubled since the pandemic, why 70% of senior execs admit meetings are inefficient but keep booking them anyway, and what you can actually do about it - from auditing your recurring ‘ghost meetings’ that nobody needs anymore, to the magic of the 15-minute meeting, to sending your manager three bullet points on a Monday instead of booking yet another catch-up. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 158: Why We Wait For Permission

30 min

Why are so many of us hanging around waiting for a shoulder tap, an invite, or someone to say ‘go ahead’? Nat and Kristen get into where permission-seeking comes from, why it's a learned behaviour rather than a personal failing, and what you can do about it - starting with the low-stakes stuff like just picking the restaurant. Also featuring: Simone Biles, a deeply uncomfortable rewatch of Nashville, and why your professional development budget is probably sitting there untouched while someone else spends it. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at⁠ www.powrsuit.com⁠ for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

IWD Special: Find Your Voice (And Help Others Find Theirs)

36 min

Nat and Kristen dig into why women speak up to 75% less the moment men enter the room - and no, it's not a confidence problem, but a room problem. They get into the research behind why it takes a supermajority of women on a board before they get equal airtime, and what's actually going on when women go quiet in spaces that weren't really designed for them. But this one's as much for allies as it is for women - there's a brilliant trick from Obama's White House staff, practical ways to prep so you actually speak up, and why the casual chat after the meeting might be worth paying attention to. This one's worth sharing around for International Women's Day! Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 156: Ep Your Labels Are Limiting You

24 min

Nat and Kristen dig into the growing habit of self-diagnosing every uncomfortable feeling - from 'I'm nervous about this event' becoming 'I have social anxiety' to the ADHD label being casually dropped with zero diagnosis in sight. They're not here to dismiss real mental health struggles (big caveat, they make it very clear), but they do want to talk about what happens when discomfort gets a clinical name, kids get excused from exams because the classroom changed, and your entire personality becomes a list of conditions. Turns out labels aren't neutral - and the ones we fling at ourselves might be doing more harm than good! Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 155: What's Your Work Personality?

28 min

Nat and Kristen do a deep dive on personality tests - yep, including the bird one from the 90s - before diving into the Business Chemistry assessment and its four archetypes: the Pioneer (40 browser tabs open, hates admin), the Guardian (actually reads the terms and conditions), the Driver (please just get to the point), and the Integrator (felt the tension in the room before anyone said a word). Turns out Nat and Kristen are complete opposites, which explains a lot. Take the free five-minute test, do it on your business partner or colleagues, and finally have language for why you keep talking past each other in meetings. Business chemistry test: https://bc20questions.deloitte.com/#/ Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 154: When to Take Credit (And When to Share It)

26 min

Nat and Kristen dig into why everyone assumes the guy did more when men and women work together, even when there's zero evidence for it. From research papers where men get tenured more often to the woman who secretly engineered the Brooklyn Bridge for 11 years while her husband took credit, the examples are wild! They break down exactly when you need to claim your work - performance reviews, ambiguous projects, when your idea gets recycled by someone else in a meeting - and when spreading credit around actually makes you look like a stronger leader. Plus practical tips like checking how many times you've used 'we' instead of 'I' on your LinkedIn profile, and why Obama's team had to create a whole system to deal with men who literally couldn't hear ideas from women. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 153: Stockdale Paradox: When Sh*t Gets Real

29 min

Heard of the Stockdale Paradox? Neither had we until two incredible expert interviewees in Powrsuit both brought it up. It’s a concept from a Vietnam POW about how to get through seriously hard times - you have to face the brutal facts of how hard things are while at the same time, believing you'll make it through. It sounds contradictory - and that's the paradox. Nat and Kristen dig into why blind optimism kills you faster than pessimism, how this applies to career and life crossroads (plus we share a few of our breakdowns, and what helped!).  Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 152: Preparing Quiet Talent for Leadership Roles

28 min

A senior leader asked how to support a talented woman who's quiet in meetings and doesn't look like a 'traditional' leader. We break down a simple three-step framework: the reality check (does she actually want the role?), finding her leadership style (there's more than one way to lead, thank god), and creating low-stakes practice opportunities. Whether you're supporting someone or wondering if you need to act like a guy (ahem, no), this one's for you. Plus: why showing up to a first meeting in activewear might actually be a power move, and why we're begging our Apple listeners to figure out how to leave a review! Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 151: Ask vs Guess Culture: Why Your Hints Aren't Working

29 min

Ever hint that you're going to Hawaii hoping someone offers their private jet? That's guess culture. Ever directly ask to borrow said jet? That's ask culture. Nat and Kristen unpack why some people drop hints while others just ask outright - and why it causes so much confusion at work, at home, and when your friend keeps inviting herself to crash at your place. They cover the mental energy wasted on reading between the lines, why saying no doesn't have to be dramatic, and practical tweaks if you're sick of playing guessing games or tired of seeming pushy. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 150 (Replay): How To Manage Up

25 min

Enjoy a replay of one we wish we'd heard earlier in our careers #redo One in two people quit over their manager, but here's the thing: this relationship is actually a two-way street, and there's way more you can control than you think. Most managers get about 4 hours of leadership training per month, so it's up to us to manage up.  In Powrsuit fashion, we lead with self-leadership and serve up actionable tips on how to crack your manager's communication code, stop making assumptions, and take control of the dynamic. When you're stuck with each other anyway, might as well make it work, right?  Loved what you heard? Pass it on and leave us a 5-star review! 'Til next week, Powrsuiters! Got a topic you want us to discuss? Email us at ⁠hello@powrsuit.com⁠ Join Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, and be sure to check out our Membership Network at ⁠www.powrsuit.com.

Ep 149: What's Your Word of the Year?

29 min

Nat and Kristen admit they've completely forgotten if they even did a word of the year last time, so this year they're making it stick. They break down why 90% of New Year's resolutions fail (know when 'quitter's day' is?), then brainstorm their 2026 words - 'patience' for playing the long game, and 'true' for everything from boundary-setting to not underselling yourself. For anyone who wants a flexible guide that won't collapse the second you eat an entire bag or chips. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 148: Highs, Lows, and Why 2025 Was a Six Out of Ten

36 min

Time to take a look back at 2025 - a year Nat calls 'three thirds' (great start, fell off a cliff, optimistic end) while Kristen just found it grindy. They talk about couch patches and perimenopause energy crashes, the weirdness of starting a business during an economic downturn, and how Kristen got unexpectedly obsessed with the Blue Jays making the World Series while in Canada. Plus: letting go of expectations (about yourself and others), why moving your body for joy beats any gym routine, and rating 2025 a solid six out of ten - because honestly, it was hard, but there were wins worth celebrating!  Reflect on your year here: https://powrsuit.com/powrsuit-reflection/ Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 147: The Stories Making Us Exhausted

25 min

Nat and Kristen dig into the unhelpful stories women tell themselves about busyness, value, and work - like doing 'three people's jobs' (you're not working 120 hours, sorry), wearing exhaustion like a badge of honour, or crawling towards the finish line every single year. They explore why guys seem relaxed while women are frazzled at the same level, the power of asking 'should I take this on?' instead of 'can I?', and why testing your assumptions by occasionally just NOT doing something can be surprisingly career-friendly. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 146: Why Women Feel Weird About Power

27 min

Nat and Kristen dig into why many of us feel uncomfortable about holding power and having ambition. We attempt to introduce the Cedar Barstow framework of power (in a very light way!) and challenge ourselves whether power means control or influence. Ultimately, we want to explore why 'I don't care about power' thinking deserves some real examination. Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 145: FOMO Is Messing With Your Progress

28 min

Nat and Kristen dig into why we're all comparing ourselves to everyone else - and how it's keeping us stuck. They cover the amygdala's role in making you feel like a loser when someone else gets promoted, why Kristen was hunting for designer labels in op shops at age 12, and how to train your Instagram algorithm to stop showing you things that make you feel rubbish. Plus: why measuring progress on your own terms changes everything, and how knowing your 12-month goal stops you spiralling when everyone else seems to be winning (yeah, right). Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 144: Too Busy for Yourself? Here's Why!

28 min

Have you noticed you'll drop everything for an email but can't find 15 minutes for yourself? Nat and Kristen dig into why we're so good at meeting everyone else's urgency but terrible at our own. They cover five practical hacks to stop deprioritising yourself - from fake deadlines with actual stakes to ‘temptation stacking’. Plus: why signing up for stupid races worked for Kristen, and the push-up challenge that saved lockdown for Nat. For anyone who's ‘too busy’ to invest in themselves! Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

Ep 143: Stuck in Your Job? Stop Coasting and Start Moving

30 min

The job market's gone from employees calling the shots to everyone staying put because it feels too risky to move. Nat and Kristen tackle what to do when you're stuck in a role you'd rather leave but can't - from learning new skills on company time to actually grabbing lunch with people who aren't your usual work besties. They cover building relationships across teams (yes, even with finance and legal), documenting your wins to stay sane, and how to make your current job suck less while you wait for the market to loosen up.  Loved it? Share it and leave us a 5-star review! Got a topic for us? Email hello@powrsuit.com. Follow Powrsuit on LinkedIn and Instagram, or join us at www.powrsuit.com for bite-sized professional development that actually fits into your week. 'Til next time, Powrsuiters!

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