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Nat and Kristen dig into the motivation gap that's showing up everywhere right now - teams low on initiative, leaders exhausted by it, and nobody quite sure why. They cover a few reasons people are checked out (spoiler: six years of economic chaos can do that), why change fatigue is different this time, and whether the generational blame game is actually useful.

Plus: why running faster is not the answer, and the case for doing absolutely nothing in your 15-minute gaps instead of doom-scrolling.

Nat and Kristen get into why so many of us treat a meeting invite like a court summons - accepting on autopilot, turning up unprepared, and wondering why we feel busy but not strategic.

Turns out, saying yes to everything gets you a great reputation as a doer, and quietly sidelines you from the rooms where decisions actually happen. They cover the practical fixes too: how to graciously decline or clarify before you commit, why prepping for a meeting completely changes your role in it, and the very normal move of just... leaving halfway through. Warning: a rescue dog has strong opinions throughout.

Nat and Kristen wrote their own obituaries - one involves a yacht, gin martinis, Michelle Obama, and a request for dramatic sobbing (guess who). The other is a manifesto. Both are surprisingly useful.

This episode is about using your obituary as a filter: for your values, your career, and whether you're actually living the life you want or just a very organised version of the default one. Plus: living funerals, why the robot (AI) makes a terrible life coach, and what happens when you're too content to think big.

Turns out there's actual science behind why you do everything for everyone else before yourself. Nat and Kristen dig into the biology of why women are literally wired to put others first and how decades of conditioning piles on top to make self-prioritisation feels uncomfortable. They cover what finally pushes women to make a change, plus genuinely small ways to start reclaiming your time without a personality overhaul. Also: golf course rule enforcers, the husband who always changed his clothes first, and why sitting in a café doing nothing is actually a powr move.

Nat and Kristen dive into the professional version of the dating ick - that sudden, inexplicable cringe you get from colleagues and workplace behaviour. From performative cultural awareness and name-dropping to people who swan into meetings mid-phone-call just to look busy they share their personal lists of workplace annoyances (and admit some of them say more about themselves than anyone else). Weaponised busyness, auto-forwards with zero context - it's all on the table. Equal parts venting and an excercise in self-awareness, this ep will have you quietly adding to your own list.

Nat and Kristen get into the underrated skill of reading a room - who actually holds the power (*cough* it's not always the most senior person), why where you sit says more than you think, and how to spot the silent dissenters before they tank your project offline.

They cover what to watch for in your next meeting: who opens, who dominates, who's performing for the boss, and what the micro-moments between people are actually telling you. US

Nat and Kristen tackle the lost art of starting a conversation - why we've all gotten terrible at it (thanks, Zoom), and how to stop defaulting to ‘what do you do?’ at every networking event. From the situational observation trick to the ‘gift opener’ technique, they share practical openers for networking events, random everyday bumps, and those awkward meeting icebreakers that nobody wants to call icebreakers. Plus: why ChatGPT's conversation starters are absolutely terrible and what vegetable you'd bring to a duel.

Nat and Kristen get into why so many women find themselves giving, giving, giving - and getting very little back. They break down a ‘relationship bank account’ theory (deposits, withdrawals, and who's quietly draining your savings), why being the reliable, accommodating one can seriously backfire, and how culture plays a bigger role than you'd think. Plus - the sneaky ways you might accidentally be the withdrawer without realising it - and when to stop investing in a one-sided relationship.

While we recharge, we're reaching into the vault for this one - and if you've ever silently fumed about your manager, it's for you. One in two people quit because of theirs, but here's the thing: this relationship is a two-way street and there's way more you can control than you think. Nat and Kristen get into how to crack your manager's communication code, stop making assumptions, and actually take control of the dynamic. Spoiler: most managers get about 4 hours of leadership training a month, so don't wait for them to figure it out. If you missed it first time round, now's your chance. Back in one week, Powrsuiters.

We're taking a couple of weeks off (yes, we're actual humans!), so we're reaching into the vault for this one - and it's a goodie worth revisiting. 

Nat and Kristen unpack gravitas -  the ancient Roman virtue that's been wildly misunderstood, especially for women. What it actually is, what it definitely isn't, and why authenticity in your voice and message matters more than projecting 'main character energy'. Plus some practical tips on making your voice heard in the rooms that matter. If you missed it first time round, now's your chance. Back in two weeks, Powrsuiters.

Nat and Kristen are battling sinus colds AND the state of the world - turns out both are equally congestion-inducing. From their city's dodgy sewage situation to a looming fuel crisis, a lonely Gen Z kid, and powerful men making questionable decisions, they unpack why we've all gone a bit numb to the chaos.

They cover the spectrum of crisis responses (are you a checker, an avoider, an evangelist, or just fully paralysed?), why your amygdala was simply not built for the 24/7 news cycle, and how to take back some control without either doom-scrolling yourself into a spiral or burying your head completely in the sand. Hopeful-ish. Practical. Sniffly.

Nat and Kristen count their meetings live on air (nine for Kristen. NINE.) and dive into why your calendar has become a problem. They cover why time wasted in unproductive meetings has doubled since the pandemic, why 70% of senior execs admit meetings are inefficient but keep booking them anyway, and what you can actually do about it - from auditing your recurring ‘ghost meetings’ that nobody needs anymore, to the magic of the 15-minute meeting, to sending your manager three bullet points on a Monday instead of booking yet another catch-up.

Why are so many of us hanging around waiting for a shoulder tap, an invite, or someone to say ‘go ahead’? Nat and Kristen get into where permission-seeking comes from, why it's a learned behaviour rather than a personal failing, and what you can do about it - starting with the low-stakes stuff like just picking the restaurant. Also featuring: Simone Biles, a deeply uncomfortable rewatch of Nashville, and why your professional development budget is probably sitting there untouched while someone else spends it.

Nat and Kristen dig into why women speak up to 75% less the moment men enter the room - and no, it's not a confidence problem, but a room problem. They get into the research behind why it takes a supermajority of women on a board before they get equal airtime, and what's actually going on when women go quiet in spaces that weren't really designed for them.

But this one's as much for allies as it is for women - there's a brilliant trick from Obama's White House staff, practical ways to prep so you actually speak up, and why the casual chat after the meeting might be worth paying attention to.

This one's worth sharing around for International Women's Day!

Nat and Kristen dig into the growing habit of self-diagnosing every uncomfortable feeling - from 'I'm nervous about this event' becoming 'I have social anxiety' to the ADHD label being casually dropped with zero diagnosis in sight. They're not here to dismiss real mental health struggles (big caveat, they make it very clear), but they do want to talk about what happens when discomfort gets a clinical name, kids get excused from exams because the classroom changed, and your entire personality becomes a list of conditions. Turns out labels aren't neutral - and the ones we fling at ourselves might be doing more harm than good!

Nat and Kristen do a deep dive on personality tests - yep, including the bird one from the 90s - before diving into the Business Chemistry assessment and its four archetypes: the Pioneer (40 browser tabs open, hates admin), the Guardian (actually reads the terms and conditions), the Driver (please just get to the point), and the Integrator (felt the tension in the room before anyone said a word). Turns out Nat and Kristen are complete opposites, which explains a lot. Take the free five-minute test, do it on your business partner or colleagues, and finally have language for why you keep talking past each other in meetings.

Business chemistry test: https://bc20questions.deloitte.com/#/

Nat and Kristen dig into why everyone assumes the guy did more when men and women work together, even when there's zero evidence for it. From research papers where men get tenured more often to the woman who secretly engineered the Brooklyn Bridge for 11 years while her husband took credit, the examples are wild!

They break down exactly when you need to claim your work - performance reviews, ambiguous projects, when your idea gets recycled by someone else in a meeting - and when spreading credit around actually makes you look like a stronger leader. Plus practical tips like checking how many times you've used 'we' instead of 'I' on your LinkedIn profile, and why Obama's team had to create a whole system to deal with men who literally couldn't hear ideas from women.

Heard of the Stockdale Paradox? Neither had we until two incredible expert interviewees in Powrsuit both brought it up. It’s a concept from a Vietnam POW about how to get through seriously hard times - you have to face the brutal facts of how hard things are while at the same time, believing you'll make it through. It sounds contradictory - and that's the paradox. Nat and Kristen dig into why blind optimism kills you faster than pessimism, how this applies to career and life crossroads (plus we share a few of our breakdowns, and what helped!). 

A senior leader asked how to support a talented woman who's quiet in meetings and doesn't look like a 'traditional' leader. We break down a simple three-step framework: the reality check (does she actually want the role?), finding her leadership style (there's more than one way to lead, thank god), and creating low-stakes practice opportunities. Whether you're supporting someone or wondering if you need to act like a guy (ahem, no), this one's for you. Plus: why showing up to a first meeting in activewear might actually be a power move, and why we're begging our Apple listeners to figure out how to leave a review!

Ever hint that you're going to Hawaii hoping someone offers their private jet? That's guess culture. Ever directly ask to borrow said jet? That's ask culture. Nat and Kristen unpack why some people drop hints while others just ask outright - and why it causes so much confusion at work, at home, and when your friend keeps inviting herself to crash at your place. They cover the mental energy wasted on reading between the lines, why saying no doesn't have to be dramatic, and practical tweaks if you're sick of playing guessing games or tired of seeming pushy.

Nat and Kristen admit they've completely forgotten if they even did a word of the year last time, so this year they're making it stick. They break down why 90% of New Year's resolutions fail (know when 'quitter's day' is?), then brainstorm their 2026 words - 'patience' for playing the long game, and 'true' for everything from boundary-setting to not underselling yourself. For anyone who wants a flexible guide that won't collapse the second you eat an entire bag or chips.

Time to take a look back at 2025 - a year Nat calls 'three thirds' (great start, fell off a cliff, optimistic end) while Kristen just found it grindy. They talk about couch patches and perimenopause energy crashes, the weirdness of starting a business during an economic downturn, and how Kristen got unexpectedly obsessed with the Blue Jays making the World Series while in Canada. Plus: letting go of expectations (about yourself and others), why moving your body for joy beats any gym routine, and rating 2025 a solid six out of ten - because honestly, it was hard, but there were wins worth celebrating! 

Reflect on your year here: https://powrsuit.com/powrsuit-reflection/

Nat and Kristen dig into the unhelpful stories women tell themselves about busyness, value, and work - like doing 'three people's jobs' (you're not working 120 hours, sorry), wearing exhaustion like a badge of honour, or crawling towards the finish line every single year.

They explore why guys seem relaxed while women are frazzled at the same level, the power of asking 'should I take this on?' instead of 'can I?', and why testing your assumptions by occasionally just NOT doing something can be surprisingly career-friendly.

Nat and Kristen dig into why many of us feel uncomfortable about holding power and having ambition. We attempt to introduce the Cedar Barstow framework of power (in a very light way!) and challenge ourselves whether power means control or influence. Ultimately, we want to explore why 'I don't care about power' thinking deserves some real examination.

Nat and Kristen dig into why we're all comparing ourselves to everyone else - and how it's keeping us stuck. They cover the amygdala's role in making you feel like a loser when someone else gets promoted, why Kristen was hunting for designer labels in op shops at age 12, and how to train your Instagram algorithm to stop showing you things that make you feel rubbish. Plus: why measuring progress on your own terms changes everything, and how knowing your 12-month goal stops you spiralling when everyone else seems to be winning (yeah, right).

Have you noticed you'll drop everything for an email but can't find 15 minutes for yourself? Nat and Kristen dig into why we're so good at meeting everyone else's urgency but terrible at our own. They cover five practical hacks to stop deprioritising yourself - from fake deadlines with actual stakes to ‘temptation stacking’. Plus: why signing up for stupid races worked for Kristen, and the push-up challenge that saved lockdown for Nat. For anyone who's ‘too busy’ to invest in themselves!

The job market's gone from employees calling the shots to everyone staying put because it feels too risky to move. Nat and Kristen tackle what to do when you're stuck in a role you'd rather leave but can't - from learning new skills on company time to actually grabbing lunch with people who aren't your usual work besties. They cover building relationships across teams (yes, even with finance and legal), documenting your wins to stay sane, and how to make your current job suck less while you wait for the market to loosen up. 

Nat and Kristen tackle strategic thinking - the skill everyone claims they want until they actually have to do it. They break down why we confuse 'having ideas' with solving problems, how asking 'why' five times can save you from building yet another doomed app, and why that shiny new website you're pitching definitely won't solve anything. Plus: why strategic thinkers are problem solvers not ideas people, whether we're all just chasing dopamine hits at work, and why some would rather tick boxes than deal with actual ambiguity.

Ever sent an email you immediately regretted or lost it with your kid over a few tiny things? Nat and Kristen dig into the science of why we go from zero to rage in six seconds flat.

Turns out, it's your amygdala doing its overprotective thing. They share their own flying-off-the-handle moments (stabbed forks, hormonal brain file hunting, family boundary disasters), explain why your brain can't tell the difference between actual danger and someone sending you an ‘as per my previous email’ email, and give you the pause-and-breathe tactics that actually work when you're mid-hijack.

Nat and Kristen give you permission to deliberately fade on friendships that no longer serve you. They break down the reason/season/lifetime framework - from work besties you've moved on from to uni friends who still expect wedding invites years later.

Plus: how tricky is it to navigate the mums vs non-mums divide without offending anyone?? Why 'we should catch up!' doesn't mean you actually have to, and whether friendship breakups are worth the drama. 

Nat and Kristen unpack why five generations working together create such different approaches to everything - from handling restructures to work-life balance. Boomers climbed tenure ladders when single-income households worked, Gen X raised themselves, millennials were helicoptered, and Gen Z entered during economic chaos. Turns out everyone's being logical, just from wildly different starting points. So - what actually helps when your team feels like it's speaking different languages?

Nat and Kristen dig into workplace martyrdom - that toxic cycle where you're simultaneously convinced you're irreplaceable AND furious about doing everything. They break down the origins (erm, sorry millennials, you're apparently the worst culprits!), from childhood safety mechanisms to the scarcity trap that keeps you hoarding information. Plus, the 'pink and blue jobs' problem, and how helicopter parenting accidentally created Gen Z's boundary obsession. If you've ever kept score while pretending you're fine, this one's for you. Please share!

Nat and Kristen admit they're terrible at remembering names despite meeting hundreds of women every week. They break down why this matters, share actually useful memory tricks like the FACE method, and get real about pronunciation struggles - from Māori names to whether it's Megan or Meegan. 

Plus, their sneaky hacks for when you've totally blanked, why spelling someone's name wrong in an email is genuinely lazy, and the running joke about how many ways people mispronounce Kristen.

Nat and Kristen tackle the busy epidemic - turns out we actually work 8 hours less per week than our parents did, so why does it feel like we're constantly on the back foot? They dig into research on ‘time famine’ and why knowledge workers feel more frazzled than ever. From the Obama reality check to why interruptions are destroying your actual productivity, they break down what's actually broken and how to stop confusing busyness with performance.

Nat and Kristen tackle the courage crisis - why everyone's ghosting, avoiding feedback, and nodding along in meetings while secretly hating every idea. They break down Brené Brown's claim that lack of courage is CEOs' biggest problem, share why tech makes us all commitment-phobic, and give you the exact words to start those conversations you've been dodging.

From separating facts from your dramatic internal monologue to practising your opening line out loud, they cover how to disagree without being labelled "difficult" and why treating hard conversations like a third-party problem changes everything. 

Feeling stuck in a career you chose when you were basically a teenager? Nat and Kristen tackle the mid-career wobble that hits when you realise your 18-year-old self maybe didn't have it all figured out. They break down how to pivot without blowing up your life, why being a beginner is actually your superpower, and how to use your existing skills in totally new ways.

Plus: the expertise trap that narrows your vision, and practical tips for moving from career panic to discovery mode without waiting for perfect timing.

Loved what you heard? Pass it on and leave us a 5-star review! 'Til next week, Powrsuiters! Got a topic you want us to discuss? Email us at ⁠hello@powrsuit.com⁠

Have you ever felt like a fraud who doesn't belong? Nat and Kristen dive into the legitimacy loop - that mental trap where you think you need to be perfect to prove you belong, then use your imperfection as proof you don't.

They break down why we ghost networking events, freeze up in meetings, and avoid gym memberships because 'everyone else has it figured out.' From cold LinkedIn messages to breakout room terror, learn why doing scary things until they're boring might be your secret weapon.

Nat and Kristen call out Instagram's fake perfection and introduce the 'rule of thirds' - turns out you're only meant to feel amazing a third of the time. They break down breakthrough weeks (rare wins), grind weeks (boring but necessary), and heartbreak weeks (when everything goes wrong). Featuring a no-nonsense approach to slumps, why we all quit too early, and how to stop expecting constant amazingness. Basically, if you feel mediocre most of the time, you're going ok!!

Stop waiting for your manager to read your mind! Nat and Kristen share the tools that actually work for managing up - from assuming positive intent instead of creating villain stories in your head, to that weekly email format that makes you look like the most organised person alive. They cover how to get more autonomy without your boss panicking, why leading with solutions beats dumping problems every time, and the art of strategic visibility (hint: forward those compliments). For anyone who wants to turn this relationship into actual teamwork for a win-win.

Nat and Kristen dive into research showing your romantic partner is tied for the #1 factor in women's career success - right alongside your manager. They break down why household imbalance costs women up to half a million dollars over their careers, and share practical strategies that actually work. From changing the language around domestic tasks to strategic "piano-moving" techniques for gradual change, plus tips for allies who want to step up. They also tackle the real conversations they hear in every workshop and why some situations might need professional help to navigate.

Your social life deserves a strategy. Nat and Kristen break down the friendship audit - who are your actual top 5, which relationships drain precious energy, and why you can't maintain 100 ‘close’ friendships. Plus we chat about how to reconnect without the awkward ‘catch me up on your entire life’ marathon, and why loose connections are actually pretty handy and should be low maintenance.

We're all craving human connection but somehow can't be bothered leaving the house. Sound familiar? After Kristen's solo weekend that left her feeling oddly hollow, we're diving into why over half our community is desperately lonely yet terrible at actually showing up.

Turns out we've trained ourselves to choose the couch over real humans, and surprise - it's making us miserable. We're sharing stories of random boat trips and pottery weekends that led to lifelong friendships, plus why saying yes to that awkward neighbour invitation might be exactly what you need. Because here's the thing: staying isolated feels easy but leaves you drained, while making the effort to connect feels hard in the moment but actually energises you.

Nat and Kristen take a personality quiz to figure out if they're introverts or extroverts (one's bang in the middle, one definitely gets energy from people), then share practical ways to actually boost your energy instead of just being perpetually exhausted. From fake commutes and guilt-free downtime to putting on real clothes for video calls, they cover what works for different personality types. Plus: why dating drains you, the truth about naps, and Nat's absinthe incident that has Kristen plotting an intervention. For anyone who's tired of being tired and wants to discover what gives them their energy back.

Nat and Kristen explore why managing your energy might be the game-changer you've been missing. From Obama's identical suits to why checking email first thing is basically self-sabotage, they unpack the sneaky battery drains - decision fatigue, task switching, and that brutal afternoon slump we all know too well. Plus, why the 9-5 workday wasn't built for women's energy patterns and how to actually work with your natural rhythms.

Ever catch yourself saying ‘Can I just say…’ before every meeting contribution? You're not alone. Nat and Kristen dig into why women are still waiting for invitations that aren't coming - from childhood praise for being ‘well-behaved’ to boardroom dynamics where men get called on eight times more than women. They share practical ways to ditch the permission-seeking phrases, ask for what you want, and get comfortable with hearing ‘no.’ In summary: stop asking who's going to let you - start asking who's going to stop you! 

Nat and Kristen just survived speaking at a major conference in front of 600 people and share what actually works when you're thrown into the storytelling deep end. From crafting a story that resonates, to handling pre-stage jitters (even they get nervous!), to the slide oops the night before - this ep breaks down the real stuff behind public speaking. Whether you're prepping for an all-hands presentation, pitching to clients, or eyeing up that conference stage, this is a no-BS guide to not bombing when all eyes are on you.

Ever been to a conference or workshop, taken great notes, then completely forgotten everything three weeks later? Turns out we forget 90% of what we learn within a week, and only 12% of employees actually use corporate training on the job.

We're talking about why companies keep spending billions on learning that doesn't stick, why your Coursera subscription isn't changing your career, and what actually works. Psst: it's less about big expensive programs and more about small daily actions and accountability.

Ever been asked to do something, and your brain short-circuits between 'absolutely not' and 'I guess I have to'? This episode dives into the messy middle ground where most of life actually happens. We're talking about mastering the art of 'No, but...' and 'Yes, if...' responses - because it turns out there's a whole world between hard nos and reluctant yeses. We break down how conditional responses can actually make you look more collaborative (not flaky).