The False Choice Between Tradwife and Girlboss

The False Choice Between Tradwife and Girlboss

From Under the Influence with Jo Piazza by Jo Piazza

March 24, 2026 · 54 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the false dichotomy between being a 'tradwife' and a 'girlboss' and explores alternative frameworks for women's ambition and success.

Why have women been told the only choices are girlboss or tradwife, lean in or opt out, burnout or retreat? We're chatting with author and coach Megan Hellerer about why that binary is so false and so seductive, especially for women who did everything “right” and still wound up exhausted, anxious, and unhappy. Megan shares how she went from Stanford to a dream job at Google to panic attacks on the bathroom floor, and how that breakdown led her to build a different framework for ambition and success. We get into burnout, misalignment, why five-year plans can keep us stuck, and why there has to be a third way for women who want meaningful work, a real life, and something more honest than either extreme. Plus: how Megan’s “directional living” framework helped a young bartender named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez find her path. Get Megan's book Directional Living here. Join our newsletter community here. ORDER The Parisian Heist here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Jo Piazza

Guest: Megan Hellerer

Topics covered

  • women's choices
  • burnout
  • ambition
  • success
  • directional living
  • work-life balance

Keywords

  • tradwife
  • girlboss
  • burnout
  • ambition
  • success
  • directional living
  • women's empowerment

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Google, Stanford

Books & works: Directional Living, The Parisian Heist

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