About this episode

In this episode, Ruth Wood reflects on the emotional burdens women in leadership have carried throughout the year and encourages listeners to shed unnecessary pressures before the new year.

In this reflective year-end episode, I take listeners on a gentle pause to sit with the reality of the year they've just carried. It's not the polished, social-media version of the year, but an honest look at what women, especially in leadership and career spaces, have held—often invisibly. From emotional loads and endless mental tabs to the weight of responsibilities, self-doubt, and cultural change, this episode speaks directly to those feeling stretched and tired. What We Carried: The high expectations, emotional labor, unending mental lists, unclaimed responsibilities, and even self-doubt—all these made the year heavier than most realize. What It Cost Us: Rest, clarity, confidence, joy, boundaries, parts of our identity, and sometimes our own breathing space suffered under the weight of all that carrying. Compassion for Ourselves: Resonate Leadership Podcast Host reassures listeners: fatigue hasn’t come from weakness, but from holding too much, for too long. Lessons Learned: This year revealed our limits, the importance of belonging, the exhaustion of masking, and the difference between performing strength and true strength. It taught us who supports us—and who…

More episodes of Frustrated And Exhausted

• When Leaders Mean Well · February 10, 2026 · 11 min
• Too Nice to Trust? · February 3, 2026 · 11 min
• Why Leaders Avoid Clarity · January 27, 2026 · 12 min
• Pointless Leadership Conversations · January 20, 2026 · 12 min
• Belonging Is A Performance Issue · January 13, 2026 · 12 min
• Living With The Cost Of Unreliable Leadership · January 6, 2026 · 12 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Frustrated And Exhausted podcast page.