Episode Summary: "Yell for Help | Unfiltered & Unhinged"
Podcast: This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil
Host: Nicole Kalil
Date: January 16, 2026
Overview
In this concise, honest, and spirited episode, Nicole Kalil dives into the transformative power of asking for help, drawing inspiration from her daughter's middle school basketball team. She uses this courtside observation to challenge deeply ingrained expectations—particularly those impacting women—to “do it all” alone. The episode is a call to redefine "woman's work" by embracing vulnerability, community, and unapologetic support, reinforcing that the strongest, smartest move can sometimes be to simply yell: "Help!"
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Basketball Court Epiphany
(00:40–01:34)
- Nicole sets the scene at her daughter JJ’s basketball game, humorously admitting, “I genuinely do not know what's happening half the time. But this doesn't prevent me from yelling bad call at the refs on occasion. Because that's part of being a parent, right?”
- She notes she learned her “absolute favorite lesson so far” from observing a specific behavior among the girls on the court.
2. Unapologetic, Direct Requests for Help
(01:35–02:39)
- When a player is outmatched or in trouble, “they yell help. Help. Help. They don't whisper. There is absolutely no apology tour. There's no shrinking. There's no hiding, finger pointing, no fixing or shaming. They don't even really ask for help. They call for it loudly and clearly and they fully expect their teammates to show up.”
- Help always arrives, without judgment or post-mortem analysis. “No eye rolling, no judgment, no post play analysis of what they could have done better or how they should have handled it on their own. No keeping score of how many times they asked or gave help. They just show up the very best that they can every time they call out for help and help arrives.”
3. Contrast with Adult Behavior
(02:40–03:40)
- Nicole highlights how differently adults, especially women, tend to approach asking for help:
“We convince ourselves that we should be able to handle it on our own. We whisper, hint, and play mind games with our needs. We apologize for taking up space and we feel bad for even asking...”
- She emphasizes the cost of this reluctance—waiting until exhaustion or burnout before seeking support.
4. The Lesson and the Challenge
(03:41–04:40)
- Nicole expresses deep hope that these girls “carry it off the court” as they grow.
- She distills the core message:
“Sometimes you score. Sometimes you pass. Sometimes you square up and take what's coming at you. And sometimes, just sometimes, the smartest, strongest thing that you can do is yell help. Help. Help. And trust that your people will show up to cover you.” — Nicole Kalil (04:18)
- She universalizes the lesson: “That's basketball. It's also life and it's love. And it's all a team sport. And you are covered. Because none of us are meant to do this alone.”
5. Redefining Woman's Work
(04:41–05:06)
- Nicole asserts that showing up for each other is “absolutely woman's work,” cementing the episode’s link to the broader podcast theme.
- She gives a motivating sign-off: “Now go ask for help. Go do woman's work.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Nicole Kalil (01:46):
“They just show up the very best that they can every time they call out for help and help arrives.”
- Nicole Kalil (02:55):
“We apologize for taking up space and we feel bad for even asking. We wait until we're already overwhelmed, burnt out and exhausted before we admit we're in trouble. We hesitate. We over explain, we minimize.”
- Nicole Kalil (04:18):
“Sometimes, just sometimes, the smartest, strongest thing that you can do is yell help. Help. Help. And trust that your people will show up to cover you.”
- Nicole Kalil (04:55):
“Around here, we answer when somebody yells for help, because showing up for your people is abso lutely woman's work.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:40 – Nicole’s courtside introduction; the basketball context
- 01:35 – The lesson: young girls unabashedly yelling for help
- 02:40 – Contrasting with how adults seek (or don’t seek) help
- 03:41 – The core takeaway and Nicole’s personal hopes
- 04:18 – The episode’s most resonant quote: sometimes the strongest thing is to call for help
- 04:41 – Redefining "woman’s work" as communal support
- 05:06 – Episode content ends (ads begin)
Tone and Language
Nicole’s tone is candid, unfiltered, and relatable, blending humor with deeply personal reflection. She champions imperfection and authenticity, and her language is accessible, encouraging, and direct—reflective of the "Unfiltered & Unhinged" episode style.
In Summary
Nicole Kalil reframes asking for help not as a weakness, but as a radically honest act of strength, drawing from the everyday wisdom of middle school girls. She challenges listeners, especially women, to reject outdated expectations, embrace vulnerability, and redefine “woman’s work” as showing up for each other, loudly and without apology.