Posts by Giovanna Rossi
343: Ending the Culture of Overwork with Brigid Schulte
Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Well Woman Show! I’m your host, Giovanna Rossi, and I’m absolutely thrilled to have you with us today. We’re diving deep into one of the most pressing topics of our time—how we work, live, and care for one another—and what that means for all of us striving for a healthy and fulfilling life.
Today, I’m honored to introduce a truly inspiring guest: Bridget Schulte. Bridget is an award-winning journalist and author, as well as the director of the Better Life Lab at New America. For decades, she’s been at the forefront of investigating the dynamics of workplace culture, time use, and gender equity. Her latest book, Overwork: Transforming the Daily Grind in the Quest for a Better Life, offers a powerful look into how our current systems are failing us and what we might do to change that.
In our conversation today, we’ll unpack several key issues:
- The impossible balancing act between being the “ideal worker” and the “ideal caregiver”
- The systemic challenges that working parents—especially women—face every day
- And how businesses and policies can evolve to create more humane, productive work environments
Bridget’s impressive background includes more than two decades at the Washington Post, where she honed a journalist’s eye for detail and a passionate commitment to justice. She doesn’t just highlight problems; she provides actionable solutions for transforming how we think about work, care, and the immense potential of human collaboration.
Before we jump into this conversation, let’s take a moment to acknowledge Women’s History Month! I have a special message to everyone who supports this movement for change: We want more than a thank you or a shout out once a year.
To our spouses and partners listening—please, make the invisible workload visible and share the load. if you don’t know what the invisible workload is, go look it up. And when you look after the kids please don’t call it babysitting, you are parenting your kids.
To the employers and business leaders out there—show us your commitment to paid family leave, flexible scheduling, and support for caregivers. Track and share your data on employee pay by gender, race, and job category.
And to our public officials and candidates—please move beyond telling us you love your mom or your sister. You’re supposed to love your mom! Let us know your concrete plans and policies that center women’s lives and needs.
A huge thank you to all who are part of this change. Today and all month long, we celebrate the progress we’ve made and the work that still lies ahead.
I’m also excited to share that Family Friendly New Mexico is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with an event featuring none other than Bridget Schulte herself. As part of their annual awards luncheon at Sandia Resort & Casino on April 30, Bridget will be coming to New Mexico to share her insights on building workplaces that truly work for families. With companies recognized for their innovative approaches to family-friendly practices, this event promises to be a catalyst for change. For more details, check out familyfriendlym.org. The Well Woman Show is a proud sponsor of this incredible event.
The Well Woman Show is thankful for support from Collective Action Strategies—a consulting firm dedicated to driving systemic change so that women and families thrive. And don’t forget to take the Well Woman Life Movement Challenge Quiz at Well Woman Life Challenge – Well Woman Life . Trust me, these two questions could very well change your life!
All the links and additional information are available at WellWomanLife.com/radio and WellWomanLife.com/343show and The Well Woman Show on NPR with Giovanna Rossi – Well Woman Life .
Now, without further ado, let’s dive into our conversation with Bridget Schulte. Stay tuned as we explore how to transform the daily grind into a journey toward a better, more equitable life.
341: Choose Love with Sandy Hook Parent Scarlett Lewis
Hello Well Women, on today’s show, I interview Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Choose Love Movement in honor of her son, Jesse, who was murdered during the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in December 2012.
Shortly after his death, Scarlett decided to be part of the solution to the issues that we’re seeing in our society — that also caused the tragedy — and turned it into an opportunity to build a culture of love, resilience, forgiveness, and connection in our communities at a time when it is needed the most.
We discuss:
What Nurturing Healing Love means.
How to overcome fear & post traumatic growth
and How we can choose love as a thoughtful response in any situation, circumstance or interaction
Make sure to listen to the podcast for the Superpowers for Success section!
The New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women is excited to announce their Women’s Day of Action, January 28th at 10am in the Rotunda at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. We’ll hear from lawmakers and organizations about key bills supporting women in the 2025 session.
Plus, get a quick Legislative 101 on how to make your voice heard and advocate for the bills that matter to you.
The event is from 10-11 and no RSVP is required.
Events – New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women
100 Women Albuquerque will be meeting January 29th at 5:30pm in Albuquerque to amplify our impact and assist under-supported organizations. The WWS continues our sponsorship of this great work in 2025. Come be inspired by the collective power of women. Join us to meet like-minded women committed to making a difference. Members can nominate local nonprofits and, promote a business or event during our meeting. Head over to 100WomenABQ.org.
Grief Center’s 19th annual Healing Hearts Luncheon, on February 14th, which provides hope and healing to our grieving community. Throughout their 23-year history, they have served over 12,000 individuals in support groups, over 200 campers in Camp Corazon, and trained over 400 volunteer Bereavement Facilitators. For more information on the Healing Hearts event, go to 
Healing Hearts Event – The Grief Center
For more information on The Grief Center’s programs, visit www.griefnm.org
339: Collective Awakening Through Acts of Peace & Justice with Mirabai Starr
Today, as we continue to process the recent election results, we’re diving into a conversation that supports us in the realm of spiritual connection, resilience, and collective awakening. In times of change, we often seek grounding and meaning, and this week’s guest offers a unique perspective on how to find both. Wherever you are in the process of digesting the recent election, I invite you to take good care of your energy and your heart, nourish yourself and take your time. And know that there is a place for your voice and contribution in finding solutions to our most pressing challenges as a society.
If you are longing for community to rest, reflect, restore and rejuvenate with, join me in the Well Woman Academy. Details at wellwomanlife.com/academy
I’m thrilled to bring you my conversation with Mirabai Starr, an award-winning author, internationally acclaimed speaker, and a pioneer in interspiritual dialogue. Mirabai has been named one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People, and she’s spent decades exploring spirituality through the wisdom of the world’s religious traditions. She’s authored books like Wild Mercy, Caravan of No Despair, and God of Love, which offer a fresh, grounded approach to spirituality and feminine wisdom.
Together, we discuss what it means to live a deeply connected life, where everyday experiences invite us to the sacred, beyond institutionalized religion and self-improvement. Join us as we explore how engaging in acts of peace and justice can be as profound as any personal journey.
The Well Woman Show is thankful for support from Collective Action Strategies – a consulting firm that supports systemic change so that women and families thrive, and by the Well Woman Life Movement Challenge Quiz at wellwomanlife.com/quiz
As always, all the links and information are at wellwomanlife.com/radio
Mirabai’s first episode: https://wellwomanlife.com/captivate-podcast/173show/
Her group: Holy Lament – 
Holy Lament Community Grief Journey with Mirabai Starr
The Transformative Path of Loss & Longing with Mirabai Starr: An ongoing community grief journey through the Landscape of Loss
334 Menstrual Cycle Key to Empowering Women with Dr. Jen Gunter
This Month on the Well Woman Show this month, I interview Dr. Jen Gunter. Originally from Winnipeg, Jen is an internationally renowned OB/GYN. In addition to her most recent book, Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation, she is the author of the two New York Times bestsellers, The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto. Her TED Talk on menstruation was the third most viewed TED Talk of 2020. She’s been called the Internet’s OB/GYN and one of the fiercest advocates for women’s health. Her mission is to build a better medical internet because to be empowered about health, one must have accurate information. Her writing has appeared in various publications, including the New York Times, Dame, The New Republic, and The Guardian. She runs a blog called The Vajenda, and her medical practice is in San Francisco, California.
We discuss:
- Lack of factual knowledge and education in women’s reproductive health
- How we need to challenge misinformation and stigma.
- The need for research, funding, and open conversations about women’s health.
- How the wellness industry is exploiting gender gaps and profiting from women’s health concerns.
And much more
She recommended:
- “Chain Gang All-Stars” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, which she is currently reading and recommends as an incredible dystopian novel.
Plus her book,
“Blood” by Jen Gunter, which she wrote to help people understand the basics of the menstrual cycle
The Well Woman Show is thankful for support from Collective Action Strategies – a consulting firm that supports systemic change so that women and families thrive, and by the Well Woman Life Movement Challenge Quiz at
333: Better Menstruation Policy Improves Women’s Lives with Professor Marcy Karin
Hello Well Women! On the show today, I Interview Professor Marcy Karin, law professor, scholar, and Director of the Legislation and Civil Rights Clinic at the University of the District of Columbia. Through the Clinic, she supervises students’ systemic reform work at the intersection of gender, disability and racial justice for community-based organizations. Her scholarship advances social justice for current and former menstruators, breastfeeding workers, domestic violence survivors, people with disabilities, and the military community. As the 2023 Fulbright-Scotland Distinguished Scholar at the University of Edinburgh, she explored “Menstrual Justice at Work and School: Public Policy Lessons from Scotland’s Period Products Law and the UK’s Equality Act.” She has a LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center, a JD from Stanford Law School and a BA from American University. Professor Karin also self-identifies as a disabled advocate, legislative lawyer, storyteller, mentor, mentee, carer, neighbor, niece, aunt, cousin, friend and explorer. She has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, The Ferret, Arizona Republic, Law360, and Ms.
On the show we discuss:
- Professor Marcy Karen’s career trajectory from law to advocacy around menstruation, menopause, and reproductive justice.
- Scotland’s period products law and how it changed cultural attitudes, emphasizing the need for multi-level government involvement in these issues.
- Making menstruation and menopause more visible through policies like eliminating the “tampon tax”, providing accommodations in workplaces and schools, and expanding menstrual health education.
- The importance of inclusivity, connecting people, and embracing opportunities rather than a linear career path.
And much more
Also, The Well Woman Show is a proud media partner of the Work and Family Researchers Network conference happening on June 19-22, 2024 at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec Canada. You can hear our interview with conference chair Ellen Gallinsky at episode 325 and of course Prof. Marcy Karin is on the show today, a long time contributor to the Work and Family Researchers Network who’ll be presenting there this year as well.
The 2024 conference theme is Big Questions in Work-Family, which will be part of a two-year agenda. These are the cutting-edge global questions that are not yet fully answered or recognized, including:
- CHANGES IN WORK – What are the meanings of work at different life stages, for different groups, and in different kinds of jobs? How is work organized? What is the future of work and for whom?
- CHANGES IN FAMILY LIFE – How are families and family experiences changing around the globe and what changes might we expect? For example, fertility rates are declining in high-income countries and there are reports of an epidemic of loneliness. What other changes are evident and what are the implications?
- CHANGES IN WORK-LIFE INTERFACE: What theories, concepts, and measures best explain new and emerging intersections between work and family?
- THE LIFE COURSE – How do changes in work and family impact children and their capacities to enter adult roles, for adults to successfully navigate transitions, and for older populations to age well?
- SOLUTIONS AND PROMISING PRACTICES – What are the most promising solutions in policy and practice in the global north and south? What are the challenges and best opportunities for advancing equity and social justice?
The conference’s objective is to chart an agenda for the future of work-family research, policy and practice. And there will be numerous events to connect a global community of scholars with thought leaders in media, philanthropy, practice, policy, and social change. Find more information at wfrn.org.
The Well Woman Show is thankful for support from Collective Action Strategies – a consulting firm that supports systemic change so that women and families thrive, and by the Well Woman Life Movement Challenge Quiz at wellwomanlife.com/quiz
As always, all the links and information are at wellwomanlife.com / 333show
