(Fe)male Dominated

In this Season 2 finale, Hannah and Tara sit down with attorney, fertility law advocate, judicial candidate, and Hannah’s sister-in-law, AshLeigh Dunham. What starts as a family conversation quickly becomes a powerful discussion about infertility, IVF access, reproductive rights, women in leadership, and the courage it takes to challenge systems that no longer serve us.

Drawing from her own five-year infertility journey, AshLeigh shares how her personal experiences led her to become one of only a handful of attorneys specializing in fertility law in Alabama. Together, the three discuss the real-life impact of reproductive healthcare legislation, the importance of representation in positions of power, and why women must be willing to have difficult conversations—even when they disrupt the status quo.

This episode is equal parts personal, political, and practical, offering listeners an honest look at the challenges women face and the collective action required to create meaningful change for future generations. Whether you're passionate about reproductive rights, leadership, community building, or simply finding your voice, this conversation is a reminder that progress starts when we're willing to speak up. ✨

Connect with AshLeigh

AshLeigh can be found across social platforms as AshLeigh for Alabama (spelled A-S-H-L-E-I-G-H) and shares updates through Instagram, TikTok, Substack, YouTube, and Facebook.

Thanks for joining us for the Season 2 finale! If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a friend, start a conversation, and remember: meaningful change often begins when we're willing to challenge our assumptions and speak up. ✨

Don't forget to head on over to Instagram and follow @Fe_maledominated to join the community.

You can also follow Hannah @stemwithhannah
and Tara @simplysortedstem

In this episode of (fe)male dominated, we reached out to our community and asked women working in STEM and male-dominated industries to share the moments that have stayed with them — the comments, assumptions, “jokes,” dismissals, and experiences that are so often brushed aside as “not a big deal.”

What came back was honest, uncomfortable, validating, and deeply revealing.

Together, Tara and Hannah unpack the ways micro and macro aggressions continue to shape women’s experiences at work — from subtle undermining and objectification to overt harassment and bias. They explore the emotional toll of constantly navigating environments where women are expected to quietly absorb discomfort to maintain the comfort of everyone else around them.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The cumulative impact of “small” comments and behaviors
• Why so many women question themselves after uncomfortable interactions
• The pressure to laugh things off, stay quiet, or “pick your battles”
• Workplace dynamics that subtly reinforce exclusion and inequality
• The emotional aftermath of being humiliated, dismissed, or undermined at work
• How women internalize blame for behavior that was never their fault
• Why hearing other women’s stories can feel both heartbreaking and validating
• The complicated reality of navigating the “boys’ club”
• What it looks like to challenge bias in real time — even in small ways
• The importance of community, nuance, and speaking openly about these experiences

One of the strongest themes throughout this conversation is that these moments rarely happen in isolation. On their own, they can seem small enough to dismiss. But over time, the accumulation of these experiences shapes confidence, belonging, opportunity, and the way women move through their careers.

This conversation is vulnerable, nuanced, frustrating at times, and ultimately a reminder that if you’ve experienced these things too — you are absolutely not alone.

Don't forget to head on over to Instagram and follow @Fe_maledominated to join the community.

You can also follow Hannah @stemwithhannah
and Tara @simplysortedstem

Myra Betron is a feminist researcher, educator, and founder of @powherdata, where she works to bridge the gap between research, practice, and public understanding around gender equity, health, and systemic inequality. With more than 20 years of experience across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Myra has led groundbreaking initiatives focused on preventing gender-based violence, addressing harmful gender norms, and building more equitable systems for women globally.

Born in the Philippines and raised in the United States, Myra’s work is deeply personal — shaped by growing up in a home impacted by domestic violence and witnessing firsthand how systems of inequality silence women and constrain opportunity.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The global realities of gender-based violence and systemic inequality
• Why patriarchy is not a “cultural issue” — it’s a structural one
• The rise of the manosphere and anti-feminist backlash
• Why Gen Z attitudes toward gender equality are shifting
• The hidden workplace norms that continue to disadvantage women
• Emotional labor, caregiving, and why women are opting out of traditional systems
• How AI, policy, and social media are shaping the future of gender equity
• Why meaningful change happens through “1% shifts”
• The importance of raising boys and girls with healthier models of gender roles
• How women can interrupt bias and advocate for themselves in everyday moments

One of the most powerful themes throughout this conversation is that the “small moments” matter. The interruptions in meetings. The dismissive comments. The subtle objectification. The casual sexism. Myra reminds us that challenging those moments is how larger cultural change begins.

This conversation is thoughtful, nuanced, validating, and incredibly timely.

Connect with Myra & check out the PowHerCircles:
@powherdata

www.powherdata.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/powherdata/

Resources for Gender-Based Violence & Support:

🇺🇸 National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call: 800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text: START to 88788
https://www.thehotline.org

🇺🇸 RAINN — Sexual Assault Support
Call: 800-656-HOPE (4673)
https://www.rainn.org

🇨🇦 ShelterSafe Canada
https://www.sheltersafe.ca

🌎 UN Women — Global Resources
https://www.unwomen.org

🌎 NO MORE Global Directory
https://nomoredirectory.org

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or violence, support is available. You are not alone.

Don't forget to head on over to Instagram and follow @Fe_maledominated to join the community.

You can also follow Hannah @stemwithhannah
and Tara @simplysortedstem

Emily Soloby is the founder of Juno Jones Safety Footwear, a mission-driven company creating stylish, properly fitting safety footwear designed specifically for women. With a background in law, women’s advocacy, and the trucking industry, Emily recognized a major gap in PPE for women working in male-dominated industries and decided to do something about it.

In addition to leading Juno Jones, Emily serves as a founding board member of the Alliance of Women’s Safety Apparel Manufacturers and has held leadership roles with NAWIC Philadelphia, Women in Trucking, and Empowering Women in Industry. She is also the creator and host of the top-ranked Hazard Girls Podcast.

Emily has been featured in more than 100 media outlets, including Women’s Wear Daily and ABC TV, and has earned honors such as National Safety Council Best in Show, EWI Empowering Woman of the Year, and Women in Trucking Top Woman to Watch. As a mother of two, Emily is passionate about building a future where women feel empowered, represented, and equipped to succeed in every industry.

About this Episode

In this episode of Female Dominated, Hannah and Tara sit down with Emily Soloby, founder of Juno Jones Safety Footwear, to talk about entrepreneurship, advocacy, motherhood, and creating real change for women in male-dominated industries.

Emily shares the story behind launching Juno Jones after experiencing firsthand the lack of properly fitting safety footwear for women in trucking and industrial environments. From her background in law and women’s advocacy to learning shoemaking and navigating entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 pandemic, Emily’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and purpose.

The conversation dives into:

• Why “shrink it and pink it” doesn’t work for women’s PPE
• The hidden emotional impact of not being considered in workplace design
• Building confidence and belonging for women in the trades and STEM
• Entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and finding opportunities in industry gaps
• Motherhood, ambition, and redefining “mom guilt”
• Raising sons and daughters to become allies and advocates
• The growing movement demanding PPE designed specifically for women

Emily also shares moving stories from customers whose Juno Jones boots became symbols of confidence, resilience, and empowerment far beyond the job site.

This episode is a powerful reminder that representation matters — and that when women build solutions for women, entire industries begin to change.

Connect with Emily Soloby & Juno Jones

• Juno Jones Safety Footwear: “@JunoJonesShoes”
• Hazard Girls Podcast
• Hazard Girls Community on Facebook

Don't forget to head on over to Instagram and follow @Fe_maledominated to join the community.

You can also follow Hannah @stemwithhannah
and Tara @simplysortedstem

Stefanie O'Connell is an award-winning journalist, speaker, and author of The Ambition Penalty: How Corporate Culture Tells Women to Step Up and Then Pushes Them Down. Her work explores the intersection of ambition, money, power, and gender equity, using data-driven storytelling to unpack why women continue to face systemic barriers to leadership, pay, and influence despite decades of empowerment messaging. Her reporting has appeared in major outlets including Bloomberg, CNBC, Slate, Newsweek, USA Today, Business Insider, and more. Stefanie also hosted and co-produced Money Confidential for Real Simple, a Webby Award-winning podcast focused on the emotional realities of money. Through her newsletter Too Ambitious and a social audience of more than 100,000 followers, she has become a leading voice challenging the myths surrounding meritocracy, confidence, and workplace culture.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Female Dominated, Hannah and Tara sit down with journalist and author Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez to unpack the systemic realities behind gender inequity in the workplace. Drawing from the research behind her new book The Ambition Penalty, Stefanie explains why women are still penalized for ambition, leadership, and visibility — even when they follow every rule they’ve been told will lead to success.

The conversation dives into workplace double standards, the myth of meritocracy, gendered expectations around leadership, emotional labor, burnout, motherhood, household inequity, and why “leaning in” was never enough to dismantle structural barriers. Stefanie shares the research behind how corporate cultures reward and punish behavior differently based on identity, and why true progress requires collective action, community-building, and systemic change — not just individual self-optimization.

This episode is equal parts validating, infuriating, and empowering for women navigating male-dominated industries.

Key Topics Discussed

• The myth of meritocracy in corporate culture
• Why women are punished for ambition differently than men
• Gender double standards in leadership and communication
• How “self-help” narratives place structural problems onto women
• The widening gender pay gap and post-COVID workplace inequities
• Why confidence and competence are rewarded differently across gender
• The “paradox of meritocracy” and hidden workplace bias
• Women in leadership and the importance of critical mass representation
• The invisible labor women carry at work and at home
• Community-building, accountability, and systemic change
• Why collective action matters more than individual optimization
• The role of men, organizational culture, and workplace norms in perpetuating inequity

Resources & Links

• The Ambition Penalty: How Corporate Culture Tells Women to Step Up and Then Pushes Them Down by Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez
• Stefanie’s newsletter: Too Ambitious
• Follow Stefanie on social media for research and commentary on gender equity, work, ambition, and money

Don't forget to head on over to Instagram and follow @Fe_maledominated to join the community.

You can also follow Hannah @stemwithhannah
and Tara @simplysortedstem

🎧 Episode Description

In this episode, we sit down with Angela Jamieson to unpack the myth of hustle culture and introduce a radically different approach: relaxed productivity. From high-powered executive in oil & gas to redefining success on her own terms, Angela shares how a life-altering moment forced her to rethink everything—and how you can too.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck in overdrive, or like your worth is tied to how much you do… this conversation will hit.

👤 About our incredible Guest: Angela Jamieson

Angela Jamieson is a former petroleum engineer and COO turned keynote speaker, author, and entrepreneur.

After building a successful international career across Canada, the Netherlands, and Brunei, Angela reached the top—only to realize something was missing. Following the loss of her father, she began questioning the way we define success, productivity, and fulfillment.

Now, she teaches “relaxed productivity”—a science-backed, practical approach to achieving more without sacrificing your life. Through her books, membership community, and speaking, Angela helps high achievers rethink their relationship with work, time, and themselves.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 — Season 2 Kickoff: A New Way to Work
Why this season is about challenging the rules—and rewriting them.

00:31 — Meet Angela Jamieson: From COO to Reinvention
Her journey from global executive to redefining success on her own terms.

02:25 — The Moment That Changed Everything
How personal loss forced a complete re-evaluation of life and priorities.

05:29 — High Performers Don’t See Burnout Coming
Why “I’m fine” is often the biggest red flag.

08:16 — What Is “Relaxed Productivity”… Really?
Why it’s not about doing less—but doing what actually matters.

12:00 — The Guilt, The Noise, and the Constant Overload
How modern life keeps us overwhelmed—and stuck in cycles we can’t break.

14:25 — The Type of People Who Need This Most
Why high achievers (especially in technical fields) are drawn to this work.

18:09 — You Actually Have More Choice Than You Think
The mindset shift that puts you back in control of your life.

19:29 — There Is No Finish Line (And That’s the Point)
Why the “end goal” mentality is keeping you from enjoying your life.

22:20 — Feeling Helpless? Start Smaller Than You Think
How small, controllable actions create real impact (and relief).

33:37 — Be Where Your Feet Are
A simple but powerful practice to reconnect with your life.

39:30 — The Life Satisfaction Audit
A practical starting point to rebalance your time, energy, and focus.

43:28 — Final Thought: You’re Already Enough
Why self-acceptance might be the most productive thing you can do.

Resources + Learn More

• Learn more about Angela Jamieson at her website: https://www.angelajamieson.com/
  Explore Angela’s coaching, membership, speaking, and Relaxed Productivity resources on her site
• Buy Angela’s books, including Relaxed Productivity and Number Two to Get to Number One, through her website or on Amazon
• Follow Angela Jamieson on Instagram: @angelajamiesonfung
• Connect with Angela Jamieson for insights on burnout, mindset, productivity, and redefining success

Don't forget to head on over to Instagram and follow @Fe_maledominated to join the community.

You can also follow Hannah @stemwithhannah
and Tara @simplysortedstem

🔥 Episode Overview

In this episode, Hannah and Tara sit down with financial feminist, author, and entrepreneur Janine Rogan to unpack the real reasons behind the wealth gap—and what women can actually do about it.

From the pink tax to salary negotiations to investing, this conversation goes beyond surface-level advice and dives into the systemic barriers women face—and the practical steps to build financial power anyway.

If you haven’t yet heard of Janine Rogan, here’s why you should.

She’s a CPA, TEDx speaker, author of The Pink Tax—an instant #1 Amazon bestseller in feminist theory—and CEO of The Wealth Building Academy Inc., an organization dedicated to helping women build wealth, understand money, and navigate the systemic barriers that too often stand in the way.

Her work has reached thousands globally through keynote stages, publications, and financial education designed to give women the knowledge and confidence to pursue financial equality. She’s also the force behind Calgary’s annual Wealthy(HER) Conference, bringing together hundreds of women from across Canada to talk money, power, and financial empowerment.

Globally, women hold just 30% of all wealth.
Janine is working to change that.
And trust us—you’ll want to hear how you can be part of that change.

Chapters:

00:00 — We’re Back (And We’re Tired)
Season 2 kicks off with a raw take on why women in male-dominated industries are done playing by the old rules.

00:43 — Meet Janine Rogan: The Voice of Financial Feminism
Janine’s story, her work, and why she’s leading the conversation on women and wealth.

02:22 — The Pink Tax Is Costing You $200K+
What the pink tax really is—and how small price differences quietly add up over a lifetime.

04:05 — The System Is Rigged (But No One Says It Like This)
Connecting the dots between wage gaps, higher costs, and the global wealth gap.

07:12 — “Women Spend Too Much”… Actually?
Breaking down the double standard and why this narrative doesn’t hold up.

10:44 — Overwhelmed? Start Here Instead
Simple, practical first steps to take control of your finances—without spiraling.

12:02 — The Salary Conversation You’re Avoiding
Why negotiation matters—and how to start advocating for what you’re worth.

20:13 — Build Your Receipts (a.k.a. Your Hype Folder)
How to track your wins, prove your value, and walk into negotiations with confidence.

30:34 — Saving Won’t Make You Wealthy—This Will
Why investing is the real game changer—and how to start, even with small amounts.

35:07 — No One Is Coming to Save You Financially
The case for financial independence—and why it’s essential, not optional.

51:28 — Stop Making $3 Decisions—Start Making $30K Ones
Shift your focus to the financial moves that actually change your life.

Books + Resources Mentioned

• The Pink Tax by Janine Rogan
• The Automatic Millionaire by The Automatic Millionaire
• Say Less, Get More by Fotini Iconomopoulos
• Having It All

Listen + Follow

• Listen to The Pink Tax Podcast wherever you get your podcasts
• Follow Janine Rogan for financial feminism + wealth-building education
• Follow Allison Venditti / Moms at Work for workplace equity advocacy
• Follow Fotini Iconomopoulos for negotiation strategies

Don't forget to head on over to Instagram and follow @Fe_maledominated to join the community.

You can also follow Hannah @stemwithhannah
and Tara @simplysortedstem

Julie Harrish left oil and gas, opened a spin studio, lost it during COVID, went back to the industry, and now leads global sales — all while proving that resilience is a skill you build, not a trait you’re born with.

Today we’re talking about risk, resilience, reinvention, and what happens when your worst-case scenario actually comes true… and you survive it.

Julie Harrish has done just about everything:

• Worked wireline in the Alberta oil fields
• Managed crews offshore in Angola
• Became the only woman on site — repeatedly
• Quit the industry to open a fitness business
• Lost that business during COVID
• Came back stronger and rebuilt her career

And through all of it, she followed one simple rule:

Say yes. Then figure it out.

👩‍🔧 Meet Julie

Julie Harrish is a petroleum engineering technologist and technical sales leader whose career has spanned continents, industries, and some seriously uncomfortable situations.

She started her career in the oil fields of Alberta as a wireline engineer — often the only woman on site — before moving offshore to Angola, where she led crews in high-pressure environments miles from help.

Then she did something most people only talk about.

She walked away from the industry.

Julie sold everything, moved to Toronto, and co-founded a spin studio that later expanded into a yoga business. It ran successfully for five years — until COVID shut it down.

So she pivoted again.

Today, Julie is a Regional Sales Manager in Houston, helping expand reservoir diagnostics and geochemistry services into global markets — and teaching yoga on the side.

Her career is proof that you can start over.
More than once.
And still win.

🔥 What We Talk About

In this episode, we dive into what it really looks like to build confidence in male-dominated industries, especially when you’re the only woman in the room — or on the rig. Julie shares how she learned to speak up, prove herself, and lead in environments where the rules often felt different for her than for her male counterparts. We talk about taking risks before you feel ready, pivoting careers during uncertain times, starting and losing a business, and rebuilding confidence after failure. Julie also reflects on leadership lessons from working offshore in Angola, the resilience that comes from navigating tough environments, and how learning to sit with discomfort — rather than avoid it — can change the trajectory of your career and your life.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Female Dominated Podcast

01:10
Julie Harrish: A Journey Through Male-Dominated Industries

04:36
Pivoting Careers: From Oil and Gas to Entrepreneurship

08:53
Resilience and Adaptability in Challenging Environments

12:56
Navigating Gender Dynamics in the Workplace

16:55
Building Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

20:35
Asking Questions and Embracing Knowledge Gaps

21:03
Experiences in Angola: Lessons Learned

25:12
The Importance of Risk-Taking

28:28
Navigating Career Pivots

31:07
Yoga and Mindfulness: Finding Balance

34:51
Manifestation and Visualization Techniques

39:05
Embracing Opportunities and Overcoming Fear

Don't forget to head on over to Instagram and follow @Fe_maledominated to join the community.

You can also follow Hannah @stemwithhannah
and Tara @simplysortedstem

Hannah and Tara dig into the real work of presence and visibility—the often-invisible ways women learn to take up space, stop shrinking, and show up with the grounded confidence their roles demand. Through candid stories (including early-career cringe like stiff handshakes and being nicknamed “Cornbread”), they unpack how social conditioning, workplace dynamics, and internal narratives shape how women are perceived long before they ever speak.

Blending psychology with lived experience, they explore identity theory, embodied cognition, and the subtle behavioral shifts that quietly transform how you carry yourself—and how others respond. From learning to hold eye contact and keep your seat at the table, to accepting compliments without deflecting, to sharing wins without feeling the ick, the episode offers a roadmap for women who want to be seen, heard, and taken seriously without abandoning who they are.

Expect honesty, humor, and a refreshingly real look at what it takes to build visibility and authority as a woman in male-dominated spaces—without conforming, contorting, or becoming a watered-down version of yourself.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00–1:02 — Why Presence and Visibility Matter

Presence isn’t cosmetic—it shapes how women are heard, valued, and included in spaces never designed with them in mind.

1:02–4:06 — Authenticity vs. the Performed Professional

The pressure to adopt a “work persona” and the instinct to mimic dominant leadership cues rather than trust your own.

4:06–6:00 — When Authenticity Looks Effortless

Reflecting on women whose confidence seemed innate—and why it often isn’t.

6:00–7:29 — Losing Yourself to Fit In

A lighthearted but telling story (“Cornbread”) reveals the cost of over-assimilating.

7:29–9:27 — Micro-Behaviors That Build Presence

How small, intentional habits shape identity. “Dress for the job” becomes “behave for the job.”

9:27–12:16 — Quiet Power: First-Impression Psychology

Calm pacing, intentional movement, and stillness as forms of authority.

12:16–14:59 — Nonverbal Authority: Seating, Posture, Eye Contact

Tiny choices can dramatically shift perceived competence.

14:59–17:20 — Presence as Practice, Not Performance

Confidence develops through repeated, progressive behavior—not through persona-building.

17:20–20:27 — Embodied Cognition & Taking Up Space

How everyday physical habits train your mind to show up with confidence at work.

20:27–23:33 — Unlearning the “Sorry” Reflex

Why over-apologizing undermines authority—and how to stop shrinking.

23:33–26:26 — Visibility Without the Ick

Accepting compliments, owning your contributions, and communicating impact without self-doubt.

26:26–29:27 — The Weight of Bad Advice

How to discern whose feedback to internalize—and whose to let go.

29:27–33:12 — Strategic Communication for Self-Advocacy

Practical, non-cringe ways to ensure your work is seen and understood.

33:12–37:34 — Elevating Others While Elevating Yourself

Recognition as both leadership and visibility—done with clarity and intention.

37:34–41:12 — Relationship Visibility

The role of networks, floor walks, and informal touchpoints in expanding influence.

41:12–46:23 — Building Social Confidence Through Exposure

Small talk, vulnerability, and pushing past discomfort to grow presence.

46:23–47:55 — Visibility That Aligns With Your Values

Visibility isn’t bragging—it’s accurate representation of your work.

47:55–End — Closing Reflections + Season Preview

A reminder that elevating your presence is your responsibility—and your power.

Don't forget to head on over to Instagram and follow @Fe_maledominated to join the community.

You can also follow Hannah @stemwithhannah
and Tara @simplysortedstem