She Said / She Said with Laura Cox Kaplan

She Said/She Said Podcast Episode 370:When Was the Last Time You Asked Yourself, What Am I Ambitious For? with guest Anne WelshTHIS WEEK'S TOPIC:When was the last time you asked yourself what you're actually ambitious for? Not what you were ambitious for at 25, or what everyone around you assumes you still want?

It's a question host Laura Cox Kaplan has often reflected on since she left her corporate job and found that the definition of ambition she'd carried for three decades no longer fit. This week she's joined by clinical psychologist, executive coach, and repeat guest Anne Welsh, author of the new book Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and Life, out August 6, 2026.

Anne makes the case that ambition was never a ladder. The ladder limits us to power, title, and money, and why so many folks think motherhood is where ambition goes to die. It doesn't! Anne offers an alternative: move in any direction, be ambitious for impact or connection or peace or play, change course without falling off. Laura shares what Sheryl Sandberg told her when she asked the same question thirteen years after Lean In, an answer that lands squarely inside Anne's framework. And Anne offers a reframe worth the whole episode: what we call mom guilt is often grief. Guilt implies wrongdoing. Grief simply acknowledges you can't be in two places at once.
If you've ever wondered whether you're still ambitious after your life changed shape, this conversation is for you.

ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST:Anne Welsh is a clinical psychologist, executive coach, and mother of four. A former Harvard psychologist, she left to build her own practice and has spent 20 years working with women navigating career, motherhood, and identity. Her new book, Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and Life, publishes August 6 and includes a chapter written for workplaces on the changes that make careers more sustainable for working parents, and for everyone else. Anne first joined Laura on She Said/She Said in Episode 324.

KEY TOPICS AND WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:
AMBITION AS A WEB, NOT A LADDER: Why the ladder model limits ambition to power, title, and money, and how the web lets you change direction without falling off.
MOTHERHOOD AS AN AMBITION CLARIFIER: Anne's central argument, drawn from 20 years of clinical practice: motherhood changes ambition's shape and direction, but it doesn't end it.
MOM GUILT VS. GRIEF: Guilt signals wrongdoing. What we're often feeling is grief about limited time, which carries none of the shame.
THE THREE PS — PERFECTIONISM, PEOPLE PLEASING, AND PRETENDING: How these behaviors are socialized and rewarded in girls, and why they stop working as careers and families grow.
THE CLOSET CLEAN-OUT: Anne's exercise for naming every role you carry and examining what still fits in this season.

LINKS FOR ANNE WELSH:Book: Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and Life (available August 6)
LinkedIn: Dr. Anne Welsh
Website: drannewelsh.com

RELATED EPISODES YOU'LL LIKE:
Episode 360: Sheryl Sandberg on how she defines ambition today

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She Said/She Said Podcast with Laura Cox Kaplan
Episode 369
Guest: Ashley Elston, author "First Lie Wins" and Anatomy of an Alibi"
Author Ashley Elston joins host Laura Cox Kaplan for this episode of the She Said/She Said Podcast Summer Reads Series to discuss the unlikely career journey that led from wedding photography to becoming a New York Times bestselling author twice over.

Before First Lie Wins became a Reese's Book Club pick and a runaway bestseller, Ashley spent years teaching herself how to write, collecting more than 80 rejections from literary agents, and learning to trust a creative path she never imagined for herself.

In this conversation, Ashley and Laura explore the power of reinvention, why success can make the next project even more challenging, and how experiences that may seem unrelated often become the foundation for our greatest work. Ashley also shares the surprising storytelling lessons she learned while photographing weddings, the visual process she uses to build intricate psychological thrillers, and why she believes one simple mindset has shaped her entire career: "Just assume you can."

Whether you're navigating a career pivot, building something new, or looking for the confidence to begin before you feel ready, this conversation offers practical wisdom and an encouraging reminder that meaningful reinvention can happen at any stage of life.

In this episode, Laura and Ashley discuss:Ashley's journey from wedding photographer to bestselling author
The 85 rejections that never convinced her to quit
Why being self-taught became one of her greatest strengths
The unexpected connection between photography and storytelling
Writing First Lie Wins and Anatomy of an Alibi
Managing self-doubt after major success
Ashley's unique visual process for organizing complex plots
Creativity, curiosity, and learning new skills
Why reinvention is available at every stage of life
The advice Ashley gives anyone considering a big career or life change

Books MentionedFirst Lie Wins
Anatomy of an Alibi

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be considering a new chapter of their own.

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Episode 368: Dana Perino on her new book Purple State, Creative Vulnerability, Values Alignment & The Power of Listening
Part of our She Said/She Said Podcast Summer Beach Reads Series for 2026

Dana Perino, bestselling author of multiple books including Everything Will Be Okay, host of Fox News's The Five, and author of the debut novel Purple State, joins Laura to discuss her creative leap into fiction—and what that vulnerability unlocks about character, choice, and personal growth.

In this episode:
Why a veteran journalist and multi-time bestselling nonfiction author chose to write fiction—and what the creative leap teaches you about risk and vulnerability
The difference between political alignment and values alignment (and why it matters in love and leadership)
Listening as the most undervalued skill in leadership today
How non-linear career paths become the raw material for meaningful character work

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FEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:
Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.
LET’S CONNECT!
Instagram: @lauracoxkaplan
LinkedIn: Laura Cox Kaplan
Contact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.com
Email: info@shesaid.media

LOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.com

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Love the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!

Note: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media.

SHOW NOTES
Episode 367: Alexandra Andrews on Reinvention, Creativity, and The Fine Art of Lying

What happens when a dream refuses to stay tucked away?
In Episode 367 of She Said/She Said, part of our Summer Beach Read Series, Laura sits down with bestselling novelist Alexandra Andrews, author of “The Fine Art of Lying,” Reese's Book Club's May selection, and the acclaimed, bestselling thriller “Who Is Maud Dixon?”

While this conversation begins with Alexandra's irresistible, twist-filled novel set in the art world, it quickly becomes something more. Together, Laura and Alexandra explore the questions that resonate far beyond the pages of a great beach read: What do we do with ambitions we've postponed or outgrown? How do creativity and identity evolve through motherhood, career pivots, and life's unexpected detours? And what happens when the thing we once dreamed of becoming won't stop calling us back?

Alexandra shares her winding path from journalism and copywriting to becoming a bestselling novelist, the perfectionism she had to overcome, and the practical habits that helped her finally finish the book she'd always wanted to write.

In this conversation, you'll hear:
• Why Alexandra gave herself an ultimatum that ultimately changed her life
• The surprising connection between creativity, identity, and fulfillment
• How motherhood and the pandemic helped shape The Fine Art of Lying
• Practical advice for anyone struggling to make time for a dream they've put on hold
• Why finishing something may matter even more than succeeding at it

The Summer Beach Read Series isn't just about great books. It's about the women behind them: their reinventions, pivots, risks, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you're looking for your next page-turner or contemplating a dream of your own, this conversation will leave you inspired to take the next step.

FEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:
Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.

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LET’S CONNECT!
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LinkedIn: Laura Cox Kaplan
Contact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.com
Email: info@shesaid.media

MORE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST LISTENERS: 
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Episode 366: Graduation Advice That Actually Works at Every Career Stage
Solo episode with host Laura Cox Kaplan

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:
Graduation season is here! Inspired by her own high school senior’s big milestone, Laura Cox Kaplan revisits the most valuable lessons for graduates—but emphasizes that these lessons matter at any life stage. In this solo episode, Laura shares advice on how to approach the unknown next chapter, build what she calls “experience equity,” and cultivate the mindset and habits that create success and meaning, even (and especially) when the road ahead isn’t clear.

KEY TOPICS AND WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:
MINDSET MATTERS MOST: Discover why your mindset, and how you respond to setbacks or challenges, is the single most important thing you can control. Laura contrasts the “fixed” versus “growth” mindset and gives examples of how your outlook determines gained value (and skills!) including from tough experiences 03:54.

THE POWER OF INTENTION: Before setting your direction, set your intention. Laura shares a daily habit of deciding how to show up, and why this tiny but powerful practice changes what you notice and how open you are to opportunities 06:20.

ASK YOURSELF THE RIGHT QUESTIONS: Instead of only asking “What should I do with my life?”ask “How do I want to show up?”and why this framing is crucial for new grads and anyone starting a new chapter 08:22.

BUILD EXPERIENCE EQUITY: Learn why the best jobs, especially early in your career, aren’t always the highest-paying ones but can be investments in your experience equity account 10:05.

EVERY CHAPTER COUNTS: From failures to unexpected connections and even detours add “interest” to your personal and professional growth account. No single experience needs to define everything; it’s the accumulation and diversity of experiences that eventually pay dividends 14:24.

THE NON-LINEAR JOURNEY: Drawing from both personal experience and recent podcast interviews with authors, Laura Cox Kaplan explains why careers are not ladders, but accounts that grow as long as you stay curious and lean in 17:49.

Whether you’re fresh out of school or navigating your third career pivot, you’ll walk away with a new way to think about progress, value, and building a meaningful life. We love hearing from you! What resonated most in this episode? Share your thoughts with us!

LET’S CONNECT!
Instagram: @lauracoxkaplan
LinkedIn: Laura Cox Kaplan
Contact: shesaidshesaidpodcast.com
Email: info@shesaid.media

PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW SHE SAID/SHE SAID PODCAST
Love the show? Please consider leaving a review on Spotify, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Your feedback helps shape the podcast and brings more amazing content your way!

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FEEDBACK & COMMUNITY:
Which part of this episode resonated with you most? We’d love to hear! Contact us using the links below.

LOOKING FOR MORE SHE SAID/SHE SAID? You’ll find all our episodes & lots more content: shesaidshesaidpodcast.com
Note: She Said/She Said Podcast is a weekly production of She Said/She Said Media.