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.