Podcast
Ordinary To Badass
Hosted by Marie Sonneman · EN
A podcast for women who are capable—but tired of being overlooked in rooms not built for them. Hosted by Marie Sonneman, a law enforcement lieutenant turned leadership coach, this podcast delivers unfiltered conversations, practical career advice, and leadership strategies for women in predominantly male industries.
From quiet confidence to strategic visibility, you’ll hear how women rise without shrinking or burning out—and how to build a life that doesn’t disappear in the process. If you’re ready to be unmistakable at work and protect what matters outside of it, you’re in the right place.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
451: What Nobody Tells Women About Their First Promotion
2w ago00:20:06Tap to summarizeGetting promoted is exciting… until you realize nobody prepared you for what comes next.Most women spend years working toward their first leadership role. But once you get there, the challenges change.In this episode, I share the 8 things nobody told me before my first promotion, including:Why leadership can feel lonelier than you expectedHow your relationships with coworkers change overnightWhy hard work alone won't make you successful anymoreWhy being trusted matters more than being likedHow to navigate the pressure, self-doubt, and shifting expectations that come with leading othersIf you're preparing for your first promotion—or you've recently stepped into leadership—this is the conversation I wish someone had with me years ago.Resources:📩 Join the free community for women in predominantly male industries: DM "community" to @OrdinaryToBadass on Instagram.
Transcribe →450: The Truth About Being "That Girl" at Work
3w ago00:58:50Tap to summarizeShe spent two and a half years watching the guys around her get away with the exact same mistakes that were landing her in someone's file — and the whole time, one thought kept running the show: I don't want to be that girl.Attorney and former undercover narcotics deputy and SWAT operator Bridget Truxillo joins Marie to talk about what staying quiet actually costs women in predominantly male industries — the discipline nobody talks about, the exact legal line between "a jerk being a jerk" and illegal discrimination, and the thirteen years it took her to stop protecting everyone else's comfort but her own.This one covers how to tell if what's happening to you is actually illegal (and what to document if it is), why "everybody already knows" is never the same as it being on record, and the leadership habit — six praises for every one reprimand — that changes whether people actually hear you.Listen if you've ever decided not to make a big deal out of something that's already been quietly costing you for years.
Transcribe →449: Don't outshine the master
Jul 2000:48:14Tap to summarizeShe spent 20 years earning a seat that was never built for her — and found out the hard way that being good at the job doesn't make you safer. It makes you a bigger threat....Retired Fire Chief Deena Johnson Lee joins Marie to talk about what actually happens once you start winning in a predominantly male industry: the "belonging trust" nobody tells you about, the women who turn against other women, and the moment a boyfriend in the academy told her, "I just don't want you to be better than me at anything."...This one covers the unwritten rules nobody hands you on day one, why competence alone never gets you accepted, and the question that changes everything: would you rather be liked, or respected?...Listen if you're tired of doing everything right — and still getting picked apart for it.
Transcribe →448: You Don't Get What You Deserve—You Get What You Ask For
Jul 800:20:54Tap to summarizeYou were told to wait your turn. Be patient, keep your head down, and eventually it'll be your time. Here's the problem: the person who got promoted last quarter didn't wait for anything....In this episode, Marie breaks down why "wait your turn" is one of the most dangerous pieces of advice a woman in a predominantly male industry can follow — and why time in your seat only makes you eligible, never chosen.Key takeaways:Time in your position makes you eligible. Being chosen is a completely different decision your boss makes about risk — and eligibility alone doesn't win it.Waiting doesn't remove workplace bias against ambitious women — it just delays the moment you have to face it.Your boss sees a fraction of your work. If you're not making your impact visible, "wait your turn" quietly becomes "wait forever."Four shifts to make instead of waiting: from waiting → asking, time served → building a case, hoping to be noticed → being known, and fair → strategic.You're allowed to want the next seat, ask for it, and build your case before anyone tells you it's your turn.Resources mentioned: The Obvious Choice™ (Marie's program on positioning yourself for promotion)If this hit home, share it with someone who's been "waiting their turn" a little too patiently — subscribe and leave a review so more women find the show.
Transcribe →447: The Rules of the Game No One Explains
Jun 2300:30:15Tap to summarizeHave you ever watched a man get credit for an idea that came out of your mouth five minutes earlier?...Or noticed that the women around you somehow became the party planner, office therapist, note taker, and scheduler—on top of the job they were actually hired to do?...In this episode, we're talking about the rules of the game nobody explains when you work in a predominantly male industry. The unwritten rules. The invisible expectations. The things that affect your career, credibility, and leadership opportunities—but somehow never make it into the training manual....You'll learn:Why many women end up with a second, unofficial job descriptionWhat to do when your ideas are ignored until someone else repeats themHow to walk the tightrope between being "too soft" and "too aggressive"Why some people get exceptions—and others don'tHow to adapt to the room without losing yourself in the process...I also share a personal story about advocating for myself during one of the hardest periods of my career and what it taught me about speaking up, asking for help, and navigating systems that weren't built with us in mind....If you've ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or exhausted from carrying responsibilities nobody acknowledges, this episode is for you....Because you're not behind.You're probably just missing the guidebook nobody gave you.Connect with Marie:DM "COMMUNITY" on Instagram @ordinarytobadass to join the free community for women in predominantly male industries.Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonates. The more women we get in the room, the faster we change it.
Transcribe →446:You Keep Waiting Until You're Ready—But Confidence Doesn't Work That Way
Jun 1500:44:05Tap to summarizeHow many opportunities have you talked yourself out of because you didn't feel ready?...In this flashback episode, I sit down with mindset coach, personal trainer, and Girls on the Run Long Island Chairperson Nancy Feinstein to talk about confidence, self-doubt, and why waiting until you feel ready might be the very thing keeping you stuck....Nancy shares how she rebuilt her life after divorce, overcame stage fright, transitioned into a completely new career, and learned that confidence doesn't come before action—it comes because of it.We also dive into:✔ Why "yet" might be the most powerful word in your vocabulary✔ The hidden cost of waiting for perfect timing✔ How to stop comparing yourself to everyone else✔ Why messy action beats perfection every time✔ Practical mindset shifts that can help you move forward even when you're scaredIf you've been waiting for more confidence before making your next move, this conversation is your reminder that confidence is built in the doing—not the waiting.Connect with Marie:Instagram: @ordinarytobadassEnjoying the podcast?Leave a review and share this episode with a woman who needs the reminder that she doesn't have to feel ready to get started.
Transcribe →445: You Were Raised to Be Polite… But Leadership Requires Directness
Jun 800:14:39Tap to summarizeIf being direct feels mean, this episode is for you....Many women are taught from a young age to be agreeable, accommodating, and keep the peace. Then they step into leadership and discover that clarity, accountability, and difficult conversations are part of the job. That tension can make leadership feel uncomfortable....In this episode, Marie Sonnemann breaks down why directness often feels so hard for women, how passive communication creates more anxiety than clarity, and why avoiding conflict doesn't make you kind, it makes you unclear....You'll learn:Why directness is often the kinder leadership choiceHow passive-aggressive communication damages trustWhat employees really need during difficult conversations.The difference between being nice and being clearWhy strong leaders create clarity while weak leaders create confusionHow to stop worrying about being perceived as "too much" and start leading with confidenceMarie also shares a personal story about navigating a grumpy week, the power of resetting when you're off your game, and why getting back up after a setback is one of the most badass things you can do....If you've ever softened your message, over-explained yourself, or worried that being direct would make people dislike you, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership and communication....Because leadership isn't about being harsh. It's about respecting people enough to tell them the truth.
Transcribe →444: You Were Taught Not to Brag—Now Leadership Can't See Your Impact
Jun 100:23:19Tap to summarizeYou were taught not to brag.Keep your head down. Work hard. Be humble.And for a lot of high performers—especially women—that sounds like good advice.The problem?Leadership can't advocate for work they can't clearly remember.In this episode, we're talking about one of the biggest career mistakes strong employees make: assuming hard work speaks for itself.Because evaluations, promotions, and opportunities aren't just based on effort. They're based on what leadership can see, explain, and defend.✨ Theme: Visibility & AdvocacyWe're talking about why great employees often get weaker evaluations than they deserve, why documenting your impact isn't bragging, and how to make sure your contributions don't disappear into someone else's memory.You'll hear:🔥 Why your boss remembers far less of your work than you think💡 The "fraction problem" that causes high performers to get overlooked💬 How to document your impact without sounding arrogant, awkward, or self-promotionalIf you've ever felt like your evaluation didn't fully reflect your contributions—or you've wondered why someone with similar performance seems to get more recognition—this episode is for you.🎁 Grab the free resources at ordinarytobadass.com💬 DM me on Instagram @ordinarytobadass and tell me: What's one accomplishment your boss might not know about?⭐ And if this episode helped you rethink visibility, I'd love for you to rate and review the show. It helps more women find the strategies they need to become the obvious choice for promotion—without becoming someone they're not.
Transcribe →443: Hard Work Is Killing Your Promotion Chances
May 2500:05:54Tap to summarizeMost employees think:“if I work hard enough, leadership will notice.”That’s not how promotions work.In this sprint episode, I break down:why high performers get stuckhow bosses actually evaluate leadershipthe “fraction problem”and why hard work alone can quietly sabotage your career.
Transcribe →442: You Were Taught Not to Brag… But Your Boss Can’t Back What They Can’t See
May 1800:12:57Tap to summarizeMost women were taught:“Keep your head down.”“Work hard.”“Don’t brag.”Meanwhile… promotions are being decided in conversations happening behind closed doors. 👀In this episode, I’m breaking down:⚡ Why visibility feels so uncomfortable for high-performing women⚡ The difference between bragging vs. strategic communication⚡ Why your boss can’t confidently back what they can’t clearly explain⚡ The mistake I made with a future leader that later hurt my promotion opportunities⚡ The “flashlight” analogy that changed how I think about career growth foreverPlus…I share a leadership fail involving one of my best employees that taught me a brutal lesson:👉 Silence creates stories.If you’ve ever struggled to talk about your accomplishments without feeling cringey, fake, or egotistical…This episode is for you. 💥Listen now. You can join the masterclass Behind Closed Doors by clicking the link belowgo.ordinarytobadass.com/joinbcd
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