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.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
443: Hard Work Is Killing Your Promotion Chances
2w ago00:05:54Tap 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
3w ago00:12:57Tap 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
Transcribe →441: Why Hasn’t This Been Done? (And Why That Pissed Me Off)
4w ago00:11:53Tap to summarizeHave you ever had someone say something at work… and technically it’s fine… but it lands completely wrong?In this episode, I break down the difference between what people say and what they actually imply—and why that’s where so much workplace friction comes from.From a coworker questioning me like he had authority… to a vendor who couldn’t answer a simple question without being condescending… we’re getting into tone, assumptions, and the real reason these interactions feel off....If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “What the hell was that?”—this one’s for you.Plus, I’m sharing how I handle it without blowing things up or staying silent....If you’re realizing this isn’t just a one-off thing—and you want to get better at handling these moments in real time—I’m running a free masterclass on this.I’ll show you exactly how to communicate your value at work without overthinking every word or second-guessing yourself.You can grab your spot here:https://go.ordinarytobadass.com/signs
Transcribe →440: You Learned to Work Twice as Hard… Now You Need to Stop
May 400:19:12Tap to summarizeYou learned to work twice as hard to prove yourself…...…but what if that’s the exact thing holding you back?Think working harder gets you promoted?...Think again.In this episode, I’m breaking down the quiet truth most people don’t realize until it’s too late:👉 The people getting promoted aren’t always the hardest workers...👉 They’re the ones who are easiest to chooseIf you’ve been the one who:Takes on moreHandles everythingKeeps things running behind the scenes…and still gets overlooked?...This episode is going to hit.✨ Theme: Visibility & AdvocacyWe’re talking about the shift from:...👉 working harder → to being seen clearly...👉 proving yourself → to being the obvious choice🔥 Why “working twice as hard” is actually working against you...💡 What your boss is really using to decide who gets promoted...💬 The subtle shift that makes your impact visible—without feeling fake...And if this episode has you thinking:“Okay… so what SHOULD I be doing instead?”...I’ve got you.🎁 Join my free live masterclass:What Actually Decides Promotions (Behind Closed Doors)I’ll walk you through:👉 What your boss is actually looking for before they promote someone👉 Why hard work alone isn’t getting you picked👉 How to make your work visible without being loud or fake👉 The shift that makes you the obvious choice👉 Save your seat here: https://go.ordinarytobadass.com/joinbcd-now💬 If this hit you, DM me “MOVE UP” on Instagram⭐ And if you’ve ever been overlooked but know you’re capable of more—leave a review. You’re not the only one.You’ll hear:
Transcribe →444: You Were Taught Not to Brag—Now Leadership Can't See Your Impact
May 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 →439: You Don’t Have a Confidence Problem — You’re Ignoring Your Intuition
Apr 2700:32:45Tap to summarizeMost people think they need more confidence to take action....But what if that’s not the problem?...In this episode, we’re flipping the script....Because the truth is—you already know what to do. You’ve felt it in those quiet moments, in your gut, in that nudge you keep second-guessing. The issue isn’t a lack of confidence… it’s that you’ve been taught not to trust yourself....We talk about:Why you keep overthinking decisions you already know the answer toHow constantly seeking validation is eroding your self-trustThe real relationship between intuition and confidence (and why most people get it backwards)Simple ways to start reconnecting with your inner knowingIf you’ve ever felt stuck, indecisive, or unsure of your next move—this episode will help you see that you’re not broken… you’ve just been ignoring the most reliable guidance you have.Hit play and start trusting yourself again.
Transcribe →438: You Got Promoted… But Something Feels Off at Work
Apr 2000:10:55Tap to summarizeEver walked away from a work conversation thinking, “Nothing they said was wrong… so why did that feel off?” In this episode, we unpack the quiet, often invisible shifts that happen when you step into leadership—especially the ones no one prepares you for. From changing team dynamics to subtle disrespect, repeated ideas, and that “tone” you can’t quite call out, this is the stuff that stacks up.You’ll hear real stories—from losing casual friendships after a promotion to navigating moments where you’re talked down to without it being obvious. More importantly, you’ll learn how to handle it without shrinking or snapping. Because the real skill isn’t just confidence—it’s having the language to respond in the moment.If you’ve ever replayed a conversation wishing you’d said something differently, this one’s for you. Reach out to me on IG @Ordinarytobadass and tell me if you can relate.
Transcribe →437: You’re Not Broken—You’re Covered Up- From autopilot to alignment with Kathrin Fox
Apr 600:08:53Tap to summarizeWhat if the reason your life doesn’t feel aligned… isn’t because you’re doing it wrong—but because it was never really yours to begin with?Think growth is about becoming better, stronger, more confident?Think again.In this remix episode, Kathrin Fox—a transpersonal psychologist and coach—dives into what it really takes to peel back the layers of conditioning, expectations, and autopilot living… so you can finally reconnect with who you actually are.From feeling unseen and out of place… to building a life rooted in truth, values, and self-trust—this conversation will challenge the way you think about success, leadership, and even yourself.✨ Theme: Mindset BreakthroughsWe’re talking:Why so many high-achieving women still feel disconnectedThe hidden patterns running your life (without you realizing it)How slowing down might be the most powerful move you can makeYou’ll hear:🔥 Why reacting isn’t the same as choosing—and how to take your power back💡 The role your values play in clarity, confidence, and decision-making💬 What it actually looks like to peel back the layers and come home to yourselfThis isn’t about fixing yourself.It’s about realizing…you were never broken to begin with.💬 If this hit you, DM me “BADASS” on IG @ordinarytobadass⭐ And if you loved it, rate + review—it helps more women step into their power
Transcribe →436: You Learned How to Fit In—Here’s How to Stand Out (Without Feeling Fake)
Mar 3000:08:37Tap to summarizeYou did everything right....Worked hard. Stayed low-key. Easy to work with.So why are you still not the obvious choice for promotion?Because this isn’t a confidence problem....It’s a visibility problem.In Part 2 of this series, we flip the script.You’ll learn why being “easy to work with” is quietly holding you back—and what actually gets you promoted instead. (Hint: it’s about becoming the safest bet in the room.)We’re breaking down:The real difference between being liked vs. being trusted with moreWhy promotions are risk decisions (not rewards for hard work)The dangerous gap between what you do and what your boss actually sees3 powerful shifts to go from reliable → promotableHow to start translating your work so leadership gets itAnd if you’ve ever felt overlooked—even though you KNOW you’re capable—this episode is going to change how you show up starting today.Because you don’t need more confidence....You need to be more understood.🎧 Listen now—and then send this to the woman who’s been doing everything right but still isn’t being seen.Click the link below to get in the classhttps://go.ordinarytobadass.com/joinbcd
Transcribe →435: You Learned to Blend In… Now Leadership Requires You to Stand Out
Mar 2300:15:28Tap to summarizeYou learned to blend in to survive… but leadership requires you to stand out....Think working hard, staying low-key, and “fitting in” is the path to promotion?...Think again....In this episode, we’re diving into the invisible rules women learn in predominantly male industries—and how those same rules start working against you the moment you step into leadership....Because here’s the truth:...The behaviors that helped you succeed early on—being agreeable, adaptable, and easy to work with—can quietly hold you back when it’s time to lead....This is career advice most people won’t say out loud.✨ Theme: Mindset + Leadership AwarenessWe’re talking about:The pressure to assimilate at work (and why you didn’t even realize you were doing it)The leadership double bind women face once they step into authorityWhy leadership can feel confusing, exhausting, and like you’re constantly getting it “wrong.”You’ll hear:🔥 Why fitting in feels safe—but costs you more than you think💡 The moment the “rules” flip—and what that means for your career💬 The powerful shift from blending in to leading on your own termsIf you’ve ever felt like you had to shrink yourself to be taken seriously…...or like leadership suddenly changed the rules on you…You’re not broken....You’ve just been playing a game no one explained.🎁 Want to understand how promotion decisions are really made?...Join my masterclass: Behind Closed Doors...👉 ordinarytobadass.com/behind-closed-doors💬 DM me on Instagram @ordinarytobadass and tell me—where have you felt this show up in your career?⭐ And if this episode hit home, share it with another woman who needs to hear this. Because we’re not doing this alone anymore.
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