A few years ago, we explored The Art and Agony of No—one of the most popular episodes in the Advancing Women Podcast archive. In this episode, we revisit that topic and dig deeper into why saying no feels so agonizing for women, especially in professional and personal contexts. From social conditioning and workplace biases to household expectations, we explore the forces that keep women overcommitted and undervalued.

Using research, real stories, and practical strategies, we discuss:

• The concept of non-promotable work and why women are asked to do it more often—and why we say yes.
• How prove-it-again and tightrope biases make saying no feel risky.
• The transformative story of the No Club, a collective approach to saying no strategically and confidently.
• Actionable ways to start protecting your time, energy, and opportunities, both at work and at home.
• A cultural reflection inspired by the movie 9 to 5, showing how little has changed in the fight for workplace balance.

Key Takeaways / Manifestatement: Your time, your energy, your brilliance are precious. Saying no protects them. This episode is about being intentional, reclaiming your boundaries, and understanding that every no is a doorway to your best yes.

Action Steps for Listeners:

1. Start Your Own No Club: Set a goal for how many requests you’ll decline this week or month.
2. Keep a Log: Track your nos to notice patterns and normalize boundary-setting.
3. Share Your Practice: Encourage friends, colleagues, and family that saying no is strategic, not selfish.

Episode referenced in this episode: The Art and Agony of Saying NO! (8/2/2021) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-and-agony-of-saying-no/id1569849100?i=1000530813744