Girl Gang Podcast

Rachael Shares How She Finally Publishes The Story She Lived

Text the Girl Gang! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2406256/fan_mail/new] A book can start as a private coping tool, then slowly turn into the one thing you can’t ignore anymore. From our new studio setup, we walk you through Rachael’s long road to publishing her memoir self-help book “Drowning” this August, including why the release week lines up with a major anniversary in her life and why that timing feels full circle instead of accidental.  We get specific about what’s inside the pages: nine water-themed sections that track the feeling of suffocating in a relationship, the slow climb toward air, and the newer “lighthouse” lens of learning to be the light in your own life. We also talk about what it takes to write honestly when your real-world circles overlap with the people you’re writing about, how aliases work, and why some chapters had to be rewritten after a breakup even though the manuscript was already in motion. If you care about divorce recovery, relationship red flags, healing after heartbreak, and women’s empowerment with a sense of humor, this conversation stays real while still leaving room to laugh.  On the practical side, we break down hybrid publishing, monthly accountability, beta readers in a shared Google Doc, editing rounds, copyright limits on song lyrics, and the new end-of-section playlists plus reflection questions that turn memoir into a tool. We also cover launch strategy, why books release on Tuesdays, Amazon categories, Kindle pricing, and what a “launch team” actually does. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review, and then tell us: what would make you show up for an author on launch day? Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2406256/support]

Episode 29: Using AI & Training to Prove Your Value at Review Time

Text the Girl Gang! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2406256/fan_mail/new] Annual reviews are coming, and we are not walking in with vibes and half-remembered projects. We talk about how we approach performance review season like a strategy problem: build skills that matter, document the work as you do it, and make it easy for leadership to see your value when raises, bonuses, and new opportunities are on the table.  We share what it looks like when your employer pays for real professional development, including the Google Project Management Certificate on Coursera and how those templates, stakeholder habits, and capstone exercises translate into day-to-day work. We also get honest about company-funded degrees and certifications: tuition reimbursement caps, taxable education benefits, and the “you must stay X years” rules that can quietly change your career timeline. If you are considering an MBA, a second master’s, or any paid training, we give you the questions to ask before you sign anything.  Then we dig into AI at work in a practical way. We cover how we use Google Gemini to search massive FDA and regulatory documents, summarize reports, and translate files, plus how “agents” and Gemini Gems can turn repeat tasks like weekly accomplishment tracking into an automated workflow. We also talk about AI hallucinations, why the human factor still matters, and how to verify answers without losing the time savings. Finally, we zoom out to skills employers still crave, like emotional intelligence, empathy, and clear communication, especially in remote teams. Subscribe, share with a friend who is dreading review season, and leave a review with the one skill you are building this year. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2406256/support]

Episode 28: Women's History Month & the Women that Inspired Us

Text the Girl Gang! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2406256/fan_mail/new] March hits different when you know the backstory. We kick off with how Women’s History Month became official in the US, why it’s tied so closely to International Women’s Day, and why visibility is still a fight even when women make up half the population. Then we widen the lens beyond the usual names and talk about what it means to actually learn women’s history instead of just nodding at it. We get into the women who influenced us most, starting with women in science and the way recognition can get messy. Rosalind Franklin’s work on DNA opens a bigger conversation about stolen credit, gatekeeping, and why women in STEM still need loud advocates and real allies. From there we jump to education and the Montessori method, plus what today’s test-driven schools miss when curiosity and critical thinking get sidelined. The conversation also goes very real on women’s health and why basic reproductive education is still shockingly limited. We talk endometriosis awareness, the power of public voices speaking up, and why learning your own body should never be treated as taboo. Finally, we run through women changing culture right now, from women’s sports and fandom to podcasts, books, and self-help voices like Brené Brown, Glennon Doyle, and Emily Nagoski. If you want Women’s History Month ideas, women in science stories, women’s sports inspiration, and a reading list that actually helps, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, leave a review, and tell us who belongs on your personal list of women who changed your life? Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2406256/support]

Episode 27: Breaking Down Body Counts and Bias Around Them

Text the Girl Gang! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2406256/fan_mail/new] Ever been floored by someone’s “number” and then realized the math makes sense? We take the heat out of body count talk with fresh survey data, personal stories, and the context that most conversations skip. Instead of tallying conquests, we zoom in on what actually matters for health, trust, and chemistry: timelines, monogamy streaks, protection, and a willingness to get tested now. The hot take fades fast when you consider how years of relationships compress even “big” totals into realistic averages. We also dig into the millennial paradox: more sex positivity, fewer new partners. From dating app burnout and social media filters to the paralysis of endless options, it’s never been easier to match and harder to connect. That vacuum fuels double standards, too—men flexing high counts while demanding purity from women. We call the hypocrisy, then offer a better path: set consistent standards, align on values, and treat numbers as context, not character. If you’ve struggled with the “ick,” we give you a toolkit. How to ask for STI results without killing the vibe. How to define exclusivity versus labels so no one “assumes” their way into heartbreak. How to decide when a high count signals experience versus avoidance of commitment. And how to say no with confidence, keep your boundaries intact, and still keep things flirty and honest. By the end, you’ll know how to talk about sex like a grown-up: clear on safety, curious about patterns, and free from scorekeeping. Hit play, share with a friend who needs real talk, and tell us your take—do numbers matter to you, or is it all about behavior and honesty now? Subscribe, leave a review, and text us your topic ideas so we can keep the conversation bold and useful. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2406256/support]

Episode 26: From Doomscrolling To Doing: Practical Ways To Reclaim Your Day

Text the Girl Gang! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2406256/fan_mail/new] Feeling wrung out by endless scrolling and bad news? We felt it too. So we decided to trade dopamine loops for do-able, analog habits and built a simple reset that doesn’t require deleting your life or your job. Together we map out why the spiral hits harder lately—seasonal blues, rough weather, and constant alerts—and how tiny changes can reclaim your focus without going off the grid. We start with friction you can feel today: move social apps off your home screen or use a browser, kill nonhuman notifications, and set soft limits that don’t boomerang. Then we test bite-size interrupters like the three-post rule and the scroll sandwich to break autopilot. We look at curation as self-care: mute and unfollow what drags you down, and build a walled garden of accounts that teach, calm, or delight. If work keeps you on social, we share a smart workaround—stay logged in via brand pages to avoid the personal feed. From there, we go full analog in ways that actually stick. Piano drills and YouTube once, practice often. Coloring with alcohol markers for flow. Book nooks, physical books, bowling nights, logic puzzles, and even old-school letters that make connection feel human again. We also walk through a seven-day digital reset: audit alerts, switch to grayscale, protect the bedroom, delete your top-three time sinks, practice single-tasking, spend two hours on a purely physical activity, and finish with a ruthless unfollow before you reinstall. No purity tests—only tools that put your attention back in your hands. By the end, you’ll have a kinder plan to step down screen time, protect your mood, and fill the space with activities that make you feel present and proud. If you try a challenge, tell us how it goes, what you kept, and what you ditched—we’re learning with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s stuck in the doomscroll, and leave a quick review to help more people find a healthier, happier feed. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2406256/support]