The Heels in the Hierarchy Podcast

She failed the exams that were meant to define her future. It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to her career.

In this episode SJ speak with Emmy, a payments product manager, about a journey that didn't start where she expected — or wanted — it to. Failing anatomy exams m...

A career break isn't a gap. It's a chapter — and it's time the workplace started reading it that way.

In this episode SJ and Pegsy explore Carol Fishman Cohen's influential TED Talk on "relaunchers" — women returning to work after stepping away for caregiving, health, or simply a differen...

This episode explores the growing, often-hidden impact of elder care on women in the workforce — from 600 people quitting daily in the UK to the 1.4 million ‘sandwich carers’ balancing children, careers and aging relatives.

Hosts SJ and Pegsy discuss the emotional toll, anticipatory grief, financial pressures, workplace stigma and practical resources, and offer compassionate advice for both carers and managers on ...

The difference between an ordeal and an adventure is your attitude. This episode is pure adventure.

To celebrate one year of Heels in the Hierarchy, SJ and Pegsy are throwing open the outtakes reel — the bloopers, the behind-the-scenes moments, and the bits that didn...

A year in. What have we learned? More than we expected.

SJ and Pegsy mark one year of Heels in the Hierarchy by revisiting the themes that have resonated most deeply with their listeners: women's health, late and missed diagnoses, neurodivergence, and the systemic barriers...

Having a job is supposed to be the answer. For millions of people in the UK, it isn't enough.

In this episode SJ and Pegsy tackle one of the most uncomfortable realities in modern working life — in-work poverty. Rising living costs, part-time contracts, and a persistent gender pay gap are leaving workers, and disproportionately women, financially vulnerable despite being in employment.

But this isn't just a policy conversatio...

A decade of severe pain. A senior job to hold down. A toddler to raise. And nobody believed her.

In this episode SJ and Pegsy welcome Charlotte, an IT manager and mother, who shares her extraordinary ten-year journey through undiagnosed abdominal pain — navigating ho...

Nine years. That's how long the average woman waits for an endometriosis diagnosis in the UK. Nine years of pain, dismissal, and being told it's normal.

In this episode SJ and Pegsy dig into the refreshed UK Women's Health Strategy, published April 2026, and ask the questi...

One in ten women lives with endometriosis. Most will wait years for a diagnosis. Many will wait in silence.

In this episode, recorded for Endometriosis Awareness Month, SJ and Pegsy explore one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood conditions affecting women today &...

What if the thing that made school so hard is exactly what makes you an exceptional leader?

In this episode Pegsy turns the mic on SJ for a candid, personal conversation about SJ's dyslexia diagnosis — how it reshaped her sense of identity, changed the way she learns...

Imagine spending decades adapting, compensating, and wondering why everything feels harder than it should — and then finding out there was a reason all along.

In this episode SJ and Pegsy explore Pegsy's personal experience of late ADHD diagnosis — the years of...

The conversations that stayed with us. The moments we didn't plan for. The community that kept showing up.

In this Series 3 reflection episode, SJ and Pegsy look back at a season that covered men's mental health, continuing professional development, encouraging young girls...

It's February. Your resolutions are already on life support. You're not the problem — the approach is.

In this episode SJ and Pegsy revisit the New Year's resolution — all 4,000 years of it — and ask why something so well-intentioned fails so reliably...

⚠️ Please note: due to technical difficulties, the sound quality of this episode is below our usual standard. The conversation is absolutely worth it — we just wanted you to know in advance.

The stories women carry to work with them every day. It's time we talked ab...

Hosts SJ and Pegsy talk with Audrey, an Assistant Associate Head Teacher who returned to education later in life and worked her way into school leadership.

They discuss career change, self-doubt, mentorship, and the gender gap in senior roles.

The episode also tackles practical classroom challenges—social media, student wellbeing, and cultural inclusion—and leaves listeners with clear takeaways: go for opportunities, su...

In this episode of Heels in the Hierarchy we discuss Gaelle Deschamps' TED Talk about how girls lose interest in leadership during adolescence and why leadership training must start early. We unpack the LEAD HER approach—lead by example, encourage leadership skills, ask probing questions, and define leadership inclusively—and share practical tips parents, mentors and teachers can use every day.

Highlights include the im...

SJ and Pegsy explore why many women question their competence and whether formal qualifications matter more than hands-on experience in career progression.

They discuss cultural conditioning, leadership styles, mentoring and practical steps to assess motivations, advocate for yourself, and empower other women to grow without feeling the need to constantly prove their worth.

Subscribe to our channel!  https://www.youtube.com/@H...

In this episode SJ and Pegsy explore International Men's Day, unpacking its purpose, the mental health challenges men face, and the impact of positive male role models in sport, media and everyday life.

They highlight warning signs to watch for, discuss cultural influences and social media risks, and suggest practical ways women and men can encourage open conversations and stronger support networks.

Listeners are invited to downloa...

Hosts SJ and Pegsy reflect on Series Two of Heels in the Hierarchy, revisiting key episodes and discussions on self-care, emotional intelligence, feedback, trust and leadership. They highlight personal stories, practical insights and moments of vulnerability that shaped the season.

The episode includes a discussion about this series' powerful guest interview with JJ, where topics included domestic abuse, culture and faith.  La...