Episode 11: Put Your Own Oxygen Mask On First - Why self care isn't Selfish -- Its Strategic!

In this empowering episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Ashley and Heidi unpack one of the most important lessons ambitious women need to hear: self-care isn’t selfish—it’s strategic. Just like the flight attendants say, you have to put your own oxygen mask on first.

Too often, women are praised for over-giving, overcommitting, and putting themselves last—at work, at home, and in relationships. But running on empty doesn’t make you a better leader, partner, or mother—it makes you burnt out, resentful, and less effective.

Join us as we break down:
✨ Why prioritizing your mental, emotional, and physical well-being is the ultimate leadership move
✨ How to recognize guilt as a sign you’re breaking unhealthy patterns (not doing something wrong)
✨ Practical strategies to protect your energy—non-negotiables, boundaries, delegation, and mindset shifts
✨ The ripple effect: how modeling self-care transforms teams, relationships, and families

If you’ve ever felt guilty for saying “no,” struggled with burnout, or wondered how to balance high standards with self-preservation, this conversation will remind you: the most loving thing you can do is breathe first.

🎙️ Tune in, take notes, and share this episode with a woman who needs the reminder that she matters too.

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Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast

Thank you for listening, lovelies!

The Corporate Woman’s Guide to Solo Global Travel

In this empowering episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Heidi and Ashley dive into the art of solo global travel for ambitious, career-driven women. Whether you’re flying out for an international business trip or planning a solo adventure, Ashley—who has traveled to over 35 countries—shares her best strategies to pack like a pro, fly well, stay safe, and elevate your experience.

Learn how to:
👠 Build a minimalist, cohesive travel wardrobe for business and fun (why the Little Black Dress is non-negotiable)
✈️ Hack long-haul flights with smart routines, hydration tricks, and jet lag resets
🛡️ Prioritize safety as a solo woman traveler (from hotel hacks to dating abroad)
🍷 “Date the city” by creating unforgettable solo nights out around the world

This episode is packed with insider stories, practical travel hacks, and empowering advice to help women feel confident, stylish, and safe while exploring the world on their own terms.

If you’ve ever dreamed of booking that solo trip but felt nervous, this episode will inspire you to take the leap. Because global travel isn’t just about where you go—it’s about who you become.

🎧 Tune in now, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share with the powerhouse women in your life who are ready for their next adventure.

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Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast

Thank you for listening, lovelies!

Why is it that the only people who scream “gold digger” are the ones without any gold to begin with? 👀 This week on High Heels, Higher Standards, Ashley and Heidi dive into one of the oldest, laziest insults aimed at ambitious women: being called a “gold digger.”

From broke-boy logic to jealous “pick me” energy, they unpack:
✨ The real origin of the term “gold digger”
✨ Why rich, confident men never use it (spoiler: they’re not threatened)
✨ How other women weaponize it out of jealousy or insecurity
✨ Practical ways to respond when a man, friend, or even family throws it at you
✨ How to flip the narrative and redefine “gold digging” as simply refusing to settle for less

This conversation is funny, fiery, and packed with the kind of big sister advice every woman needs. Whether you’ve been called a gold digger by a bitter ex, a broke date, or even someone close to you, Ashley and Heidi will remind you that standards aren’t the problem—settling is.

So pour a glass, raise a toast, and join us for a spicy episode that proves: wanting more doesn’t make you shallow, it makes you self-aware. 💋

Keywords:

gold digger insult

how to handle insults

broke men and dating standards

women with high standards

dating advice for ambitious women

broke boy logic

dating and money podcast

empowering women podcast

how to handle being called a gold digger

why men call women gold diggers

setting standards in relationships

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Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast

Thank you for listening, lovelies!

Define Yourself, Darling | High Heels, Higher Standards

Are you living by someone else’s definition of you? In this empowering episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, hosts Heidi Hushak and Ashley Werner pull back the curtain on what it really takes to reclaim your identity, silence the nay-sayers, and step boldly into the version of yourself you’ve always dreamed of becoming.

Ashley shares powerful personal stories—from shrinking in corporate meetings to breaking free from toxic relationships—and reveals a simple yet transformative three-step framework to audit labels, choose your truth, and rewrite your own definition. Heidi opens up about her own struggles of being told she was "too polished" and how she turned that so-called flaw into her superpower. Together, they’ll show you how to recognize when others are holding the pen to author your own story - and how to take it back.

This episode is packed with practical strategies for setting boundaries, building unshakable self-confidence, and shutting down the critics with grace and strength. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, launching your own business, or simply craving more authenticity in your daily life, this conversation will inspire you to define yourself on your own terms—and never again let someone else write your story.

If you’ve ever felt “too much” or “not enough,” this is your permission slip to be unapologetically you.

Keep your heels high and your standards higher—because ambition looks best in stilettos.

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Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast

Thank you for listening, lovelies!

Feeling overwhelmed by a giant to-do list that looks more like a CVS receipt than a game plan? In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, we're serving up our best productivity tips, ADHD hacks, and breaking down how to “eat the elephant” one fabulous bite at a time.

Ashley and Heidi share ADHD-friendly productivity strategies to help you tackle big projects, avoid procrastination, and protect your focus. Whether you’re drowning in paperwork, launching a business, or just trying to keep your sparkle while juggling it all, this episode will give you practical tools to:

• Define your “elephant” (what’s really overwhelming you)
• Break tasks into micro-steps your brain won’t resist
• Prioritize what actually moves your life forward
• Guard your best focus hours from distractions
• Manage the emotional side of overwhelm
• Celebrate small wins to build momentum

This isn’t about hustle or burnout — it’s about consistency, confidence, and clarity. If you’ve ever asked yourself “how am I supposed to do it all?” — this one’s for you.

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Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast

Thank you for listening, lovelies!

Do It Scared – Why Courage Matters More Than Confidence

If you’re waiting to feel “ready,” you’ll be waiting forever. Discover why courage — not confidence — is the key to success, and how taking messy, imperfect action now will get you further than waiting for perfect conditions.

Stop waiting to feel “ready.” In this raw and empowering episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Heidi Hushak interviews Ashley Werner on what it really looks like to chase your dreams while scared out of your mind. The reality is that the best time to start was 20 years ago, the next best time to start is right now - even if it scares you. From sweaty palms to 19 failed drafts before hitting “publish,” Ashley shares unfiltered stories of taking messy, imperfect action — and why that’s the only way to build real confidence.

You’ll learn why anything worth doing is worth doing poorly, how fear can actually be a growth signal, and the mindset shift that turns perfectionism into progress. If you’ve been holding back — waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan, or the perfect version of yourself — this conversation is your wake-up call to do it imperfectly, to do it scared, and just do it.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The myth of confidence — and why courage comes first
• Real “do it scared” moments and the lessons behind them
• How “I’ll do it when I’m ready” keeps you stuck
• Practical tips to start now, even if your voice shakes
• The empowering truth about imperfect action

Whether you’re launching a business, starting a passion project, stepping into leadership, or making a bold career change, this episode will give you the permission slip to take action now — not someday.

Keywords: mindset, motivation, personal growth, imperfect action, entrepreneurship, fear of failure, overcoming fear, confidence building, women in business, empowerment, leadership, career advice, productivity, self-development, courage over confidence, perfectionism recovery

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Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast

Thank you for listening, lovelies!

Ready to upgrade your boundaries without apologizing for your ambition? In this empowering, witty, and refreshingly real episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, hosts Heidi Hushak and Ashley Werner get bold about the power of saying “no” in heels, with grace, and without guilt.

Ashley, the self-proclaimed Boundaries Queen, breaks down why so many high-achieving women struggle to set limits and how saying “no” can actually be the biggest career flex of the year. From workplace expectations to friendship fatigue and family guilt trips, this episode serves up boundary-setting scripts, real-life role plays, and savvy strategies to help you protect your time, energy, and peace of mind while staying polished and powerful.

✨ Topics we cover
• Why women are conditioned to say yes and how to unlearn it
• How to set firm, professional boundaries at work without being labeled “difficult”
• Dealing with energy vampires, emotional labor, and Slack after dark
• The myth of being “nice” vs. being respected
• Real scripts to say no gracefully, stylishly, and unapologetically
• The ROI of boundaries in romantic relationships, friendships, and family dynamics

💬 Soundbite-worthy wisdom

This is your official permission slip to stop people-pleasing and start protecting your future self. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to reclaim your weekends, this episode will leave you feeling energized, emboldened, and entirely unbothered.

👉 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @TheHW_Co for glam vibes, boss moves, and more boundary-setting inspo
📲 Don’t forget to subscribe, share this episode with your fiercest friend, and leave a review if you’re ready to stop apologizing and start ascending

Support the show

Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast

Thank you for listening, lovelies!

Why do some women tear others down? Especially when you're shining the brightest? In this bold and unfiltered episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Ashley and Heidi dive into the real reasons behind female jealousy, mean girl energy, and what happens when confidence triggers insecurity.

From toxic friendships to workplace competition, they break down how to spot the subtle signs of sabotage and more importantly, how to rise above it without shrinking yourself. You’ll hear personal stories, honest truths, and the ultimate reminder: happy women don’t hate, and hating women aren’t happy.

Whether you’ve felt the sting of being left out, side-eyed, or silently judged for your success, this episode is for every ambitious woman navigating female competition, emotional resilience, and self-confidence in a world that often pits women against each other.

✨ Topics Covered:

• Why women hate on other women
• How to deal with jealousy, silent sabotage, and “fake friends”
• Signs your confidence is being weaponized against you
• What to do when another woman tries to tear you down
• The difference between empowered women and insecure ones

Your reminder: You don’t owe anyone smallness. Keep your standards high and your energy higher.

Support the show

Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast

Thank you for listening, lovelies!