Bossed Up

What can you or your organization do to make the workplace more inclusive for people with autism?Recently, RFK Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, attracted considerable criticism following his disparagingly blanket statements about people with autism. Many people in the autism community lead fulfilling lives full of love, joy, and productive work—despite the hapless and hopeless depiction of this population that RFK shared. This is an excellent moment to draw attention to my conversation with Amanda Kelly, the president and CEO of Firefly Autism and one of the founders of the groundbreaking Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce (CNDCC). It’s impossible not to look at our growing talent shortage in this country and ask: why aren’t we hiring neurodivergent and autistic people? In this episode, Amanda dives into how we can all make our workplaces more welcoming for neurodivergent individuals, who make up one-fifth of our population. Whether you’re neurodiverse or neurotypical, Amanda’s jaw-dropping stats and pursuit of equity will inspire you:Learn about the shocking lack of career resources for autistic adults;Discover how organizations can make their workplaces more inclusive, for neurodivergent people and beyond;Break down the ongoing issues of neurodiversity and inequities in diagnosis; Understand the unique gender component of autism and its impacts.Related Links:Firefly Autism - https://fireflyautism.org/Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce - https://www.cndcc.org/Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-d-kelly-d-psych-2b5957a0/RFK Jr., “Autism destroys families” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPxTnX1sgJc“Addressing the ‘Cliff’ for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder” - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33539916/NYT, “The Dangerous Race to Put More Children to Work” - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/opinion/editorials/arkansas-child-labor.htmlAutism Recovery Network, “Why Is the Autistic Unemployment Rate So High?” - https://autismrecovery.sg/why-is-the-autistic-unemployment-rate-so-high/Episode 390, How to Manage ADHD in the Workplace - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode390TAKE ACTION with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeactionBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

How could the SAVE Act send us tumbling back to the Suffragette era? This bill that’s pending review in the Senate could jeopardize voting access for up to 69 million American women. It would require all voters to prove citizenship with a passport or birth certificate in order to register to vote, which is a big problem for anyone who’s name has changed since birth—including through marriage—as well as anyone who doesn’t have easy access to such documentation.In this episode, I take a closer look at whether the concern from women and voter rights activists across the country is legitimate or overblown. Spoiler alert: it’s worse than I imagined.Make sure you’re in the know about this major threat, including:The specifics of the SAVE Act;The challenges that make this legislation so alarming to women’s and voter rights activists;How you can make your voice heard to prevent this bill from becoming law.Related Links:5 Calls, “Oppose the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) - A Voter Suppression Bill - Passed House” - https://5calls.org/issue/save-act-voter-suppression/Congress.Gov, Find Your Members - https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-memberRead the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act - https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22Politico, “The House Passed the SAVE Act. What Comes Next?” - https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-score/2025/04/14/the-house-passed-the-save-act-what-comes-next-00288458CAP, “The SAVE Act Would Disenfranchise Millions of Citizens” - https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-save-act-would-disenfranchise-millions-of-citizens/YouGov, “Adults under 30 are more likely than older Americans to have a current U.S. passport” - https://today.yougov.com/travel/articles/46028-adults-under-30-more-likely-have-us-passportNPR, “Will the SAVE Act make it harder for married women to vote? We ask legal experts” - https://www.npr.org/2025/04/13/g-s1-59684/save-act-married-women-vote-rights-explainedCAWP, “Gender Gap: Voting Choices in Presidential Elections” - https://cawp.rutgers.edu/gender-gap-voting-choices-presidential-electionsKaroline Leavitt Defends GOP's SAVE Act Amid Uproar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ_qkZdiBgkDemocratic Women’s Caucus, Maxine Dexter discusses her amendment -  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DICD8rhRjEQ/TAKE ACTION with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeactionBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

How do you deal with feelings of betrayal and resentment in the workplace?Chances are, you have experienced hurt feelings at work. The problem is, much of the corporate world revolves around the idea that the office and boardroom are no place for feelings. So, what do you do when emotional wounds begin to impact your ability to even carry out your job?Tara Mohr has thought long and hard about this question. The author of Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead acknowledges that office tension can deeply affect our well-being. She joins me to delve into what her research and years of coaching have revealed about the best way to address hurt feelings honestly and professionally, so you can continue to cultivate holistic satisfaction in your work life and beyond.Discover how to navigate hurt feelings at work mindfully, including:How to accept the reality of hurt feelings, even in the workplace;The four-step framework Tara uses to help her clients address their sense of betrayal or hurt at work;Why we need to deal with hurt feelings before making significant career changes.Related Links:Download Tara’s F.O.U.R. Process journaling worksheet - https://www.taramohr.com/four-process/Learn more about Tara and her work - https://www.taramohr.comConnect with Tara - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarasmohr/Buy Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead - https://www.taramohr.com/the-playing-big-book/Permission To Feel: The Power of Emotional Intelligence to Achieve Well-Being and Success by Marc Brackett - https://bookshop.org/p/books/permission-to-feel-unlocking-the-power-of-emotions-to-help-our-kids-ourselves-and-our-society-thrive-marc-brackett/9879244?ean=9781250212832&next=tRadical Candor by Kim Scott - https://bookshop.org/p/books/radical-candor-be-a-kick-ass-boss-without-losing-your-humanity-kim-scott/8486942?ean=9781250235374&next=tEpisode 30, Coping with Your Inner Critic: https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode30Episode 323: How to Lead with Emotional Intelligence - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode323  Episode 394, How to Recover from Workplace Bullying -  https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode394LEVEL UP: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelupBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

How might public policy positively impact our drastically declining birth rate?President Trump has suggested that all new parents receive a one-time $5,000 payout in the hopes of encouraging people to have more children. You likely had some kind of strong reaction to this statement. Whether that was surprise at a Republican recommending a social support, concern about forcing people to have more kids, or annoyance at how insignificant an amount is on the table—you’re definitely not alone. It’s clear that people are having fewer babies these days. But it’s the reasons behind this fact that are sometimes in question and need to be addressed. In this episode, I take a closer look at, and share my thoughts on, how policy has—and potentially could—impact plummeting birth rates in the U.S. and beyond. Consider the interplay between public policy and early childhood care, including:The statistical divide between how many kids women want and how many they’re having;The glaring problems that get in the way of having children in today’s economy;The family-friendly policies we’ve seen proposed, passed, and tabled til now;How far we need to take these initiatives if we want to reverse the birth rate decline.Related Links:Episode 479, America’s Parents Are Not Okay - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode479Episode 489, How the Cost of Childcare Has Become a Workforce Issue - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode489Episode 495, New Prenatal Leave Law Benefits Pregnant Workers in New York - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode495Episode 451, The Impact of Return-To-Office Mandates on Working Moms - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode451Senior Living News, Help Address the Population’s ‘Inverted Pyramid’ - https://www.seniorlivingnews.com/help-address-the-populations-inverted-pyramid/New York Times, American Women Are Having Fewer Children Than They’d Like - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/upshot/american-fertility-is-falling-short-of-what-women-want.htmlNew York Times, Stay-at-Home Parents Work Hard. Should They Be Paid? - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/upshot/paying-for-parenting.htmlNew York Times, An Interview with Andrew Yang - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/podcasts/the-daily/andrew-yang-democratic-debate.htmlAbby Care, Get Paid to Care for Your Family in Colorado - https://www.abbycare.org/blog/get-paid-to-care-for-your-family-in-coloradoPopulation and Development Review, The Gender Revolution: A Framework for Understanding Changing Family and Demographic Behavior - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2015.00045.xCompact Magazine, The Failure of Feminist Natalism by Darel E. Paul - https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-failure-of-feminist-natalism/TAKE ACTION with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeactionBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Were the 1990s really the “girl power” era of women’s empowerment we remember?If you were “coming of age” or raising young girls 30 years ago, you probably remember the tumult of scantily clad celebs and brand-backed messaging ostensibly celebrating women’s empowerment. Sophie Gilbert, an author and The Atlantic staff writer, dives into just how empowering this period really was in her new book, Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves, which drops today.On today’s episode, Sophie leads us through her lightbulb moments and research for the book, exploring the social messaging that planted some pretty problematic ideas in the minds of young and teenage girls and people of all genders. This is an important history to examine, as is the question of how we avoid the same missteps in the future.Start talking about the real past and critical future of feminism, including: How we were fooled into believing sexual power was the only kind we could possess;Why the goal of commercial feminism changed so drastically from the early to the late 90s;How we can start to claim the power we deserve (even when it feels like we don’t have the time).Related Links:Order your copy of “Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves” - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738003/girl-on-girl-by-sophie-gilbert/Learn more about Sophie’s work - https://www.theatlantic.com/author/sophie-gilbert/Follow Sophie on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sophiegilbertwrites/“Becoming the Third Wave” by Rebecca Walker - http://www.tonahangen.com/wsc/hi215/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/RW3rdWave-2.pdf“The End of Men” by Hanna Rosin - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-end-of-men-and-the-rise-of-women-hanna-rosin/15539438“Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women” by Susan Faludi - https://bookshop.org/p/books/backlash-the-undeclared-war-against-american-women-susan-faludi/8728966“The Power” by Naomi Alderman -  https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-power-naomi-alderman/114254“Holding It Together: How Women Became America's Safety Net” by Jessica Calarco - https://bookshop.org/p/books/holding-it-together-how-women-became-america-s-social-safety-net-jessica-calarco/20583065TAKE ACTION with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeactionBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

How do you leverage your public sector experience to pivot into the private sector?More than 216,000 government employees were laid off last month. If you or someone you love was impacted, today’s episode is for you. If you’re ready to shift into the private sector rather than dive back into public service, press play now. Trust me: the transition isn’t as daunting as it feels.Launch your job search with confidence with today’s practical tips, including:Why you’re not seeing your public sector skills in private sector job postings;How to emphasize your transferable skills so they shine;Why you shouldn’t gloss over your public sector past;What to keep and what to pull for your private sector resume.Related Links:FREE Masterclass: How to Confidently Communicate Your Skills in the Job Search - https://www.bossedup.org/free-job-search-masterclassEpisode 501, “4 Best Practices to Navigate Layoff Anxiety & Uncertainty” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode501Episode 239, “How to Format Your Resume for the Modern Job Search” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode239Episode 391, “Four Resume Rules That No Longer Apply” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode391Reuters, US announced job cuts surge in March on Doge hit, recruitment firm Challenger says - https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-announced-job-cuts-surge-march-doge-hit-recruitment-firm-challenger-says-2025-04-03/HIRED: our Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethiredBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

What happens when your career becomes your whole identity?Passion for our careers can drive us to achieve great things. But a laser focus on the job can become the only thing in our lives, edging out the personal goals, hobbies, and relationships that make us well-rounded human beings. My guest today, psychologist Dr. Janna Koretz, founded Azimuth Psychological to help individuals in high-pressure positions who experience career enmeshment: the complete entrenchment of their identities in their work. Dr. Koretz and I discuss the potential pitfalls of living for work and how recognizing and aligning with our values serves as a compass to help us remain passionate and committed without losing ourselves to our careers.Dive into Dr. Koretz’s insightful take on career enmeshment, including:When single-minded passion for your work becomes problematic;What happens to your identity when your one-and-only focus is forced to shift;The inextricable interplay between values alignment and a satisfying career;Free tools that will help you name your values and start applying them purposefully.Related Links:Harvard Business Review, “What Happens When Your Career Becomes Your Whole Identity” by Dr. Janna Koretz - https://hbr.org/2019/12/what-happens-when-your-career-becomes-your-whole-identityHarvard Business Review, “New Mothers, Let’s Talk About Your Professional Identity Crisis” by Dr. Janna Koretz - https://hbr.org/2020/08/new-mothers-lets-talk-about-professional-identity-crisisOSHA, Workplace Stress - https://www.osha.gov/workplace-stress“Working Identity” by Herminia Ibarra - https://bookshop.org/p/books/working-identity-unconventional-strategies-for-reinventing-your-career-revised-herminia-ibarra/10709209Connect with Dr. Janna Koretz - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkoretz/Connect with Azimuth on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/azimuth_psychDownload Azimuth’s mindful journaling app - https://azimuthpsych.com/clearlyTake Dr. Koretz’s Values Navigator quiz - https://azimuthpsych.com/values-navigatorTake the Career Enmeshment Test - https://azimuthpsych.com/career-enmeshment-testLEVEL UP: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelupBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

How do you manage the stress of looming layoffs? Last month, layoffs across the U.S. rose an astonishing 205% compared to March of last year, for a total of 275,240 job cuts. Stats like these mean layoffs are top of mind for many people these days. You might be finding yourself in limbo right now, wondering if you’re next on the list to receive a pink slip. There’s no question that a concern like that is a major contributor to our overall stress and mental health. The psychological and emotional impact that comes with layoffs is huge, so today, I’m resharing a 2022 episode updated for 2025 with practical strategies for how to address the overall worry that your job is next on the chopping block.Keep your head on straight in this endlessly swerving era with concrete action steps, includingWhy planning ahead beats burying your head in the sand;The vital importance of prioritizing your mental health;How phoning a friend will help keep your feet on the ground;What your past resilience can teach you about your situation right now.Related Links:Episode 68, I Got Fired—Help! - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode68Episode 402, How to Financially Prepare for Layoffs - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode402Episode 457, How to Explain Your Layoff in a Job Interview - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode457Episode 500, How to Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode500Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career by Herminia Ibarra - https://herminiaibarra.com/working-identity-book/Reuters, US announced job cuts surge in March on Doge hit, recruitment firm Challenger says - https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-announced-job-cuts-surge-march-doge-hit-recruitment-firm-challenger-says-2025-04-03/CNBC, U.S. payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, but unemployment rate increases to 4.2% - https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/04/jobs-report-march-2025-.htmlHIRED: our Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethiredBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Job searching in the current “white collar recession” can be truly daunting. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Kyle Elliott, a career coach and mental health expert who helps people “own their fabulousness” and elevate their careers. We cover some of our favorite tactics for focusing on what you can control during this tumultuous time so you can propel yourself into the next job opportunity without losing hope. Level up your search with Kyle’s actionable strategies to land your next job:Why it’s no longer enough to be qualified for a job;The drawbacks of the buckshot approach to job applications;What the right amount of resume and cover letter tailoring looks like;How to tactically approach your networking for real results.Related Links:S&P Global, Layoffs surge in US white collar jobs as rates, AI alter office work - https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2024/11/layoffs-surge-in-us-white-collar-jobs-as-rates-ai-alter-office-work-85986794Business Insider, Americans with a college degree say they'd need at least a $100K salary to change jobs. But roles that pay in that range are getting harder to find - https://www.businessinsider.com/100k-salary-jobs-hard-find-americans-with-college-degrees-2024-5Reuters, US job openings decline as labor market steadily slows - https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-job-openings-fall-sharply-december-layoffs-low-2025-02-04/Episode 453, Prioritizing Your Job Search While Holding Down a Full-Time Job - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode453Episode 452, Redefining Success: Women and the Fight for a Fair Economy - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode452Episode 455, How to Create a Sustainable Job Search Schedule When You’re Unemployed - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode455Episode 449, Your Cover Letter is Better With Bullet Points - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode449Kyle Elliott Consulting - https://caffeinatedkyle.com/Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylecromerelliott/HIRED: A Job Search Accelerator to Land Your Dream Job - https://www.bossedup.org/gethiredBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

What can your workplace do to celebrate holidays like Women’s History Month the “right” way? Whether you’re proud of how your organization shows support for marginalized groups in the workplace or feel like it could be doing more, my conversation with DEI educator and Ampersand Workspace founder Veronique Porter is just as (if not more) relevant today as when it first aired in May of 2023. Veronique shares what her experience as a Black American woman, her education in international development and American studies and culture, and her work as a facilitator has taught her about the best way to approach this often fraught topic—a way to create company events and initiatives for heritage holidays that uphold both company and employee values and stand to make a real difference.Learn how your organization can host outstanding and inclusive cultural events:Why workplace wokeness doesn’t detract from the financial bottom line (and actually does the opposite);The significance of spending money and resources on heritage events;Why it’s vital to give every employee the chance to get involved;The importance of getting clear on the company’s values before diving in.Related Links:McKinsey: These Women Experience the Highest Levels of Microaggressions - https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/sustainable-inclusive-growth/chart-of-the-day/these-women-experience-the-highest-levels-of-workplace-microaggressionsNew York Times, “Google Calendar Deletes Women’s History Month and Other Cultural Events” - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/technology/google-black-history-womens-history.htmlThe Art of Gathering by Priya Parker - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-gathering-how-we-meet-and-why-it-matters-priya-parker/588739?ean=9781594634932&next=tThe Bossed Up Sports Reference case study - https://www.bossedup.org/forteamsMorgan Freeman on why he doesn't want a 'Black History Month' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpnpIhqSLtoEpisode 304, White Fragility, White Women's Tears, and Dismantling White Supremacy - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode304Connect with Veronique Porter on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/veroniqueporter/Learn more about Ampersand Workspace - https://ampersand-workspace.com/LEVEL UP: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelupBossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/