🔥 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

In this episode, Hannah and Tara sit down with Heather Morrison, public speaking coach and founder of Deliver Your Best, who also happens to be a theatre grad, CBC broadcaster, and national sideline reporter. Heather shares how she went from dreading community events and replaying every mistake in her head… to coaching professionals all over the world to use their voices without abandoning who they are.

Together we dig into the real reasons public speaking feels so awful (spoiler: it’s not because you’re “bad at it”), why traditional public speaking advice is wildly outdated, and how women in male-dominated workplaces can start small, build skills, and stop turning every awkward moment into a character flaw.

If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “I regret not saying what I wanted to say”, this one’s for you.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why traditional public speaking training doesn’t work for many women
• Internal vs external cues
• Fear, regret, and that awful post-meeting spiral
• Being a woman in a male-dominated room
• The “coin jar” of skill building
• Laddering your fear
• Judgment, reality checks, and more generous assumptions
• Executive presence (aka: the diet culture of corporate)
• The moment it ‘suddenly’ works

About Our Guest – Heather Morrison

Heather Morrison is the founder of Deliver Your Best, where she helps professionals who are terrified of public speaking build the skills and self-trust they need to actually use their voices. With a degree in theatre and a career spanning CBC radio, broadcasting, and national sideline reporting for basketball and lacrosse, Heather has lived both the performance world and the corporate world—and she knows firsthand what it feels like to dread a microphone.

After realizing that most public speaking advice didn’t work for her (or for a lot of women), she developed her own approach focused on internal cues, nervous system regulation, and self-talk that doesn’t destroy you after you leave the room. Now, she coaches clients around the world to stop chasing perfection and start aiming for connection.

Find Heather here:

• Instagram: @deliver.your.best

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 conversation, Hannah and Tara delve into personality assessments, particularly the Hogan assessment, and how it reveals self-perception versus how others perceive you.

The discussion also covers leadership traits such as adjustment and resilience, the nuances of ambition in the workplace, and the importance of communication styles in building relationships. They reflect on the balance between directness and sensitivity in feedback, and the challenges of maintaining personal and professional relationships.

In this conversation, Tara and Hannah explore various themes related to communication, problem-solving, and personal growth. They discuss the importance of honest feedback, different communication styles, and how these affect interpersonal relationships. The conversation also delves into problem-solving approaches, the need for flexibility in the face of change, and the significance of personal values and motivations in leadership. They reflect on how stress impacts decision-making and the balance between confidence and caution in professional settings. The discussion concludes with insights on the role of recognition and the pursuit of enjoyment in work and life.

Curious about taking the Hogan Assessment for yourself? Pull back the curtain on how you are received and unlock the skills to leverage the totality of your personality traits by reaching out to us at femaledominatedpod@gmail.com.

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 Pre

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 get candid about the chaos of modern motherhood—sick kids, conferences, birthday parties, and that ever-present tug-of-war between work and home. They unpack why “having it all” rarely means “all at once,” how to make peace with imperfect weeks, and the difference between avoiding guilt vs. building resilience (for you and your kids). From honoring a long-promised solo trip to Paris to inviting family to extend a work trip, they share real choices, real feelings, and zero performative perfection. Expect solidarity, not prescriptions—and a reminder that changing your mind is not failure, it’s growth.

Timestamps (Approx.)

• 0:00–1:20 – Welcome + Olivia Knox shoutout; Buc-ee’s birthday party legend 🦫
• 1:20–6:30 – Hosting, sick-kid season, and deciding to do the trip anyway
• 6:30–12:10 – “You can have it all—just not all at the same time” (and why self-care isn’t optional)
• 12:10–18:40 – Guilt vs. resilience: letting kids feel feelings without fixing everything
• 18:40–26:30 – The first long solo trip, mom guilt, and keeping promises to yourself
• 26:30–33:40 – Changing plans: leaving engineering, starting a business, and the grief of pivoting
• 33:40–39:30 – Ambition after kids: scrutinizing roles, timing, and what actually fits your life
• 39:30–44:40 – Autonomy, equity, and why your choice ≠ letting other women down
• 44:40–48:50 – Modeling boundaries, honest repair, and raising kids who choose you later

Key Takeaways

• Messy is normal. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s a rolling average that balances out over weeks, not days.
• Keep promises to yourself. Resentment costs more than a plane ticket.
• Guilt ≠ guidance. Let guilt inform you, not govern you. Build resilience instead of erasing discomfort.
• Ambition can evolve. Wanting different work after kids isn’t “less driven”—it’s better aligned.
• Autonomy is feminist. The “right” choice is the one that’s right for you, not the internet.
• Model the relationship you want later. Apologize, repair, and lead with respect so they’ll choose you when they don’t have to.

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 Summary
Hannah and Tara get radically honest about what it actually looks like to navigate discrimination and bias as a woman in STEM—especially in male-dominated, industrial and technical spaces. They break down the difference between individual and institutional bias, share real stories from the field and the floor, and offer practical scripts for calling things out without blowing things up.

From interruptions in meetings to “harmless” comments to full-blown inappropriate behavior, they dig into how to pick your battles, set boundaries, and hold your ground while still maintaining your reputation, relationships, and sanity. They also talk about the emotional toll of micro-moments that pile up over time, how to stop internalizing other people’s behavior, and why your presence at the table is part of changing the system—not just surviving it.

If you’ve ever replayed a comment on the drive home wondering, “Is it me?”—this episode will remind you it isn’t, you’re not alone, and you’re not crazy.

Timestamps (Approx.)

• 0:00–1:30 – Welcome + intro, mission of the show, music credit to Olivia Knox
• 1:30–6:30 – Normalizing women’s experiences in STEM
• 6:30–12:30 – Benefit of the doubt, awareness, and “name it to tame it”
• 12:30–20:00 – Overcorrecting, anger, and finding the confident middle
• 20:00–29:00 – Field culture, banter, and choosing what’s actually worth escalating
• 29:00–36:30 – Interruptions, scripts, and claiming your physical + vocal space
• 36:30–47:30 – Women supporting (or undermining) women and being an active ally
• 47:30–59:30 – Micro-traumas, mental health, and stepping into leadership to change the system

Call to Action

Loved this episode? Send it to the woman in your life who needs backup in her next meeting.
Share your favorite line or “I’m using this script next time” moment and tag Hannah and Tara.

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 get real about using your voice at work—from interrupting interruptions to asking for the raise (again). They unpack why many women in STEM wait to be noticed, how to build advocacy as a skill through tiny reps, and when “moving on” is actually the most self-respecting form of self-advocacy. Expect practical scripts, manager-friendly tactics, and a loving nudge to stop waiting until you feel “ready.”

Key Takeaways

• Advocacy is a skill, not a personality trait. Start with low-stakes reps (finish your thought after an interruption, share one idea per meeting) and build up.
• Prepare receipts, not feelings. Track wins, metrics, and impact continuously so performance convos aren’t a blank-page problem.
• Engineer your moments. Pre-brief allies before big meetings, ask leaders to “round-robin” at the end, and use intentional silence to open space.
• Turn “no” into “not yet.” Leave every comp/promo chat with a concrete checklist and a date to revisit.
• Control breeds engagement. Even asking (and being told no) can restore a sense of control and reduce burnout; repeated stonewalls may mean it’s time to move on.
• Lift as you climb. Sponsor other women publicly—amplify in meetings, send kudos emails, and redirect the spotlight.

Chapter Guide (Approx.)

• 00:00–02:30 Welcome + shoutout: intro/outro music by artist Olivia Knox; episode setup
• 02:30–06:30 The bedtime story: a 9-year-old masterclass in self-advocacy
• 06:30–11:45 Why early conditioning (be agreeable, don’t push) stalls careers—and how to rewire it
• 11:45–15:30 Behavioral activation: tiny advocacy reps that snowball
• 15:30–19:30 Hannah’s paper-mill story: asking for the pay that matches the work
• 19:30–24:30 Receipts over sentiment: metrics, calendars, and a “wins” folder
• 24:30–30:30 Mentorship vs. sponsorship; being the advocate you needed
• 30:30–34:45 Make speaking easier: pre-meeting allies, round-robin, and productive silence
• 34:45–39:45 “I won’t leave with a no”: converting rejection into a roadmap
• 39:45–46:45 Control spectrum: how advocacy boosts engagement (and burnout when it’s missing)
• 46:45–End When “moving on” is self-advocacy; listener call-in + ways to share stories

Try-It-This-Week Micro-Challenges

• Finish your thought: When interrupted, say: “I wasn’t finished—let me wrap this quickly.”
• One idea rule: Share at least one idea in your next meeting.
• Kudos ripple: Send one cross-functional kudos email naming a woman’s contribution.
• Wins folder: Create it today; drop in one metric or praise note.

Resources & Mentions

• Intro/outro music by Olivia Knox (find her on Spotify/Apple Music)
• STEM Girl Affirmations (Tara’s book)
• Contact: femaledominatedpod@gmail.com
• DM us on IG: @femaledominatedpod (send stories & questions), @stemwithhannah or @simplysortedstem

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