9 to 5ish with theSkimm

Born to immigrant parents on Long Island, Jen Wong says she was an introverted latch-key kid. Fast forward to today, and Jen leads people and business growth as Reddit COO. Talk about a turn of events. And as an LGBTQ+ woman, mother, Asian American and more, Jen says: holding these identities has given her the empathy she needed to lead effectively. In this episode, Jen shares: Her fave sub-reddit (gardeners, this one’s for you) Her approach to prepping for events + talks as an introvert How working as a consultant gave her the business ed. she uses everyday Why her gut is her BFF when making decisions How being curious about people has led her to rewarding relationships  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back when low-rise jeans and shoulder bags reigned supreme, Rachel Bilson played the iconic Summer Roberts on The OC. She later starred in TV shows and movies like Hart of Dixie and Jumper. And then…the pandemic happened. And she learned the importance of taking a pause to focus on what matters most. This week, we’re talking about reassessing your career and taking a pause when you need to. In this episode, Rachel shares: The 2000s trend she wants to see come back (hello, platform flip flops) How the pandemic pushed her to take a pause on acting + focus on podcasting Her new criteria for projects + what kinds of work she says “no thank you” to How her friendships + support system has changed since the start of her career The episode she’s most excited to share on her new podcast PS: You can check out Rachel’s podcasts: Broad Ideas and Welcome to the OC, Bitches! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kerry Washington blessed our TV screens on movies + shows like Django Unchained, Little Fires Everywhere, and Scandal. But before she popped off as Olivia Pope, Kerry says she was choosy about roles offered to her. Even if saying “no” meant having less financial freedom.In this episode, Kerry shares: How J-Lo subbed for her dance teacher in the Bronx (shout out @ Jenny from the block) Why she’ll never compromise on roles that perpetuate stereotypes about Black women + women of color  How side hustles gave her creative freedom – and the ability to say no to roles Her process of becoming her characters and why she nerds out about it  A quick Skimm of Prophecy, her upcoming narrative fiction drama podcast PS: 9 to 5ish is going on vacation for the next few weeks. We’ll be back in your feed with new episodes with some amazing women in September. Until then, keep up with Carly and Danielle @carlyanddanielle on Instagram.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a kid growing up in Islamabad, Shiza Shahid volunteered in grassroots initiatives to help Pakistani women get an education. And that early interest in service pushed her to always advocate for important issues through her career. From the founding Malala Fund to her current biz, Our Place, Shiza says: a lot of good can be achieved through a combo of non-profit advocacy work and for-profit businesses. In this episode, Shiza shares: Why she took on a variety of jobs and how that choice shaped her life How you can always find ways to create positive change – no matter how old you are Why ditching the idea of “perfection” is key to creating quality products The importance of understanding a brand’s history as a way to make better choices as a consumer PS: use THESKIMM15 to score 15% off Our Place kitchenware. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hoda Kotb is a pro at a lot of things. And speaking with other incredible women is at the top of that list. In this special episode, Hoda flips the script and interviews our co-founders and co-CEOs, Danielle Weisberg & Carly Zakin, about the past ten years of theSkimm. This week, they discuss how they — as leaders — have evolved in the last decade, why being told no was important to their growth, and how theSkimm will continue to meet women where they are in the years to come. PS: Keep up with Carly and Danielle between episodes. Follow @carlyanddanielle on Instagram.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lindsay Kaplan and Carolyn Childers were killing it as startup VPs. But as they put it: it gets lonely at the top. Especially for women. Enter: their company, Chief, a women’s exec network that takes networking beyond sticky name tags and awkward icebreakers. This week, we sat down with the Chief co-founders who tell us that everyone – even those with unconventional skill sets – has a place in a business. In this episode, Lindsay and Carolyn share: The moment Lindsay realized a network like Chief needed to exist  Carolyn’s unconventional rise to becoming an entrepreneur The conflict that taught them the importance of always assuming best intent How Chief thrived during the pandemic by democratizing access for members Advice on how to take networking to the next level and develop meaningful work relationships  PS: Keep up with Carly and Danielle between episodes. Follow @carlyanddanielle on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes from last year.Brooke Shields has been a household name ever since she did her first commercial, at just 11 months old. As a teenage model and actress being managed by her mother, Brooke found her own image sexualized — but refused to play along with the media’s expectations. Since then, she’s acted on Broadway, starred in sitcoms and TV dramas, raised two daughters and written two memoirs. We spoke to Brooke about how to survive and stay sane amid intense public scrutiny.In this episode, Brooke talks about: Working with her mother — and choosing to fire her The small things she does to help her compartmentalize  Staying true to herself under pressure Not taking criticism personally Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From freelancing as a college student to logging tape, Dana Bash worked her way up the ladder at CNN. Now, she comes to us live on TV as CNN’s chief political correspondent, covering elections and the biggest political news. Dana says she wouldn’t have gotten there without luck– and some good old fashioned patience. This week, she spills the secrets of her career marathon, and how to pace yourself.In this episode, Dana shares: The show she’d most like to make a cameo on (RHONJ lovers, rejoice) How she went from freelancing to getting the FT gig at CNN The career-defining move she made – and why it looked like a step backwards Advice on how to talk to your boss about transitioning to a different role  Why being in the same workplace as her ex-husband actually isn’t so bad  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria Shriver never felt the pressure to go into politics like the rest of her family. Instead, her parents asked her: what moves you? She took that question and ran with it. Fascinated by storytelling, Maria led a decades-long career in journalism. But then she became first lady of California. And NBC asked her to leave. Looking back, Maria says: it was a blessing in disguise.In this episode, Maria shares:  Why she started at smaller stations before hitting the big networks How getting fired opened space for new opportunities for her  Why her Alzheimer’s work specifically centers the impacts on women  A quick skimm of her brain-healthy food company, Mosh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before Audie Cornish made the jump to CNN, she was a longtime co-host of NPR’s All Things Considered. And while she made interviewing politicians and celebs look like NBD, she says she had to deal with a “professional identity crisis” after becoming a new mom. This week, we sat down with Audie to talk about how her professional life changed after she had kids, and how motherhood impacted her mindset at work. In this episode, Audie shares: How she figured out her own communication style Why having kids allowed her to reframe her ideal career success  How recognizing her own accomplishments reframed her ideal career success  Why fostering work + personal relationships is the key to success in all aspects of life Her go-to bagel order  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices