Brilliant, Ambitious, and Judged by a Double Standard with Rachel Freyman, Esq.

What if the biggest barrier to having a meaningful career, fulfilling relationships, and personal well-being isn’t a lack of time, but the belief that you must choose one over the other?In this conversation, Karen Conlon sits down with attorney, speaker, and creator of the Choose Both framework, Rachel Freyman, to explore the hidden pressures high-achieving women face. They discuss burnout, guilt, shifting expectations, defining success for yourself, and how moving from “either or” thinking to “both-and” thinking can help create a life that feels aligned and emotionally rich.Who This Episode Is ForHigh-achievers struggling with burnout or competing prioritiesWomen balancing ambition, motherhood, relationships, and personal identityLeaders who want to better understand and retain talented professionalsKey Themes & Topics DiscussedMoving beyond either-or thinkingRedefining success on your own termsThe hidden causes of burnoutNavigating guilt, expectations, and workplace biasBuilding a life that aligns with your valuesThoughtful TakeawaysBurnout often happens through small decisions that slowly move us away from ourselves.Success becomes exhausting when it’s based on someone else’s definition.The right support should increase your capacity, not your stress.Memorable Quotes“If something feels impossible, it is probably under-supported.”“If you don’t define success for yourself, you’ll spend your whole life chasing it.”“The things in your life are not stealing from each other. They are your life.”“Knowing that your life and career are the life and career you actually want — that’s wealth.”Chapters00:00 Introduction to emotional wealth and Rachel Freyman’s work02:35 Rachel’s childhood, her mother’s influence, and learning that you can choose both07:20 Breaking free from either-or thinking and creating a both-and mindset13:25 The mental cage of competing priorities and the importance of support16:25 Guilt, motherhood, and the invisible expectations placed on women19:55 The double standards women face at work and at home27:00 Understanding burnout through small daily decisions33:00 Why life is not a pie and how to define your own version of success34:45 Choosing your five priorities and the “two things” daily practice39:15 The Choose Both framework and building a life by design41:25 Workplace bias, perception, and the hidden barriers women experience51:05 Why organizations lose talented people and how leaders can create a path55:45 Moving from “Which one do I choose?” to “How do I design for both?”59:30 Rachel’s practical first step: define your five priorities01:03:05 What emotional wealth truly means and where to connect with RachelResources & LinksWebsitehttps://karenconlon.com/Emotionally Wealthy PodcastBook Karen as a Podcast Guesthttps://talks.co/karen-conlon-lcswApply to Be a Guest Expert or Live Coaching Guesthttps://karenconlon.com/become-a-podcast-guestReview the Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1814244500?action=write-reviewFree Guide5 Steps to Powerful Self-Awareness and More Authentic Connectionshttps://karenconlon.com/freebieBooks & WorkbooksThe Teenager’s Guide to Adulting Skills and Life Hackshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQGHHT6LManage Your Anxiety Workbook & Journalhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5FW5Q2JConnect With KarenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/karen_conlon_lcsw/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559407463659LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenconlonlcsw/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@karen_conlon_lcsw/Substack: https://karenconlon.substack.com/Connect With Rachel FreymanWebsitehttps://rachelfreyman.com/LinkedInwww.linkedin.com/in/rachel-freymanTune in to the Emotionally Wealthy Podcast Your Preferred PlatformApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotionally-wealthy/id1814244500/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BxaZasAk68BD5mRkD59cI?si=b406d5735eae4304/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-yaUREWiHBJNxwze7zI4/Post-production and distribution are handled by the Buzzspear team.https://www.buzzspear.com/