Podcast Summary: WORK Unsolicited Advice — More Money More Problems

Podcast: Work with Erika Ayers Badan
Host: Erika Ayers Badan
Episode Air Date: February 11, 2026

Overview

In this episode of the “WORK” podcast, Erika Ayers Badan dives into listener questions sourced from the “Work Like a Girl” Slack community. She shares candid, often humorous, unsolicited advice on handling jealousy in relationships (especially when women are the breadwinners), mastering the art of calm salary negotiations, and navigating workplace camaraderie when one is the “odd woman out” in male-dominated environments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Handling Jealousy from a Partner

(Starts at 00:20)

• Erika reflects on recent online discourse about traditional gender roles, emotional imbalances in relationships, and changing societal norms.
• She observes how expectations of women (as caretakers, cooks, cleaners, etc.) are receiving pushback online, with many championing partnership and mutual respect.
• Raises the idea that the “new gold digger is a man looking for a wife who works,” echoing how financial and emotional responsibilities are being renegotiated.
• Stresses the importance of openly communicating about resentment, jealousy, or imbalance, especially when a woman earns more.
• Drawing from her own household:

  “In my household, I’m like, women just shouldn’t take out the trash. Like, I’m sorry, but that’s just not a woman’s job. Now, that’s a ridiculous thing to say. And of course I take out the trash.” (03:00)

• Suggests that the most successful relationships, romantic or professional, have a shared vision, mutual respect, and clarity around each person’s contributions.
• Advice for addressing jealousy:
  • Call out uncomfortable feelings directly.
  • Establish a vision for the relationship and revisit it together.
  • Recognize the need to renegotiate traditional stereotypes as more women become breadwinners.
• Parallels healthy romantic partnerships to effective professional ones—both require alignment on goals and roles.

2. Negotiating Salary & Calming Your Nerves

(09:15)

• Erika answers a question about how important it is to have a calm nervous system during salary negotiations.
• Points out how it’s often easier to advocate for others than for oneself, and underscores the universality of nervousness in negotiations.
• Practical negotiation prep:
  • Write down your “A position” (your ideal outcome).
  • Determine your fallback:

    “Write what your fallback is. Hey, this is what I really want and I’m going to ask for, but I’d be okay if I end up here.” (11:15)

  • If there’s a big gap between your top and fallback asks, you’re likely flexible; if not, you’re less open to compromise.
  • Understand what the company or counterparty wants and the environment you’re negotiating in.
• Calming Techniques:
  • Prepare thoroughly—writing things down, getting a good night's sleep, wearing comfortable clothes.
  • Ensure a distraction-free setting when making the ask.
  • Physical cues help:

    “I try to sit up straight in my chair. Literally, I try to sit up straight and get my core centered and ready to go.” (13:50)

  • Rehearse the opening lines of your pitch.
  • Embrace a mindset of gratitude and realism:

    “How grateful are you that you’re in this position where you can attain more for yourself and there’s nothing to be afraid of.” (15:32)

3. Navigating Workplace Connections in Male-Dominated Spaces

(16:08)

• Responds to a listener concerned about the ease with which men seem to connect with each other at work.
• Pushes back against the idea that men inherently connect more easily—sometimes their connections are superficial.
• From her Barstool Sports experience, Erika recounts being surrounded by men and not bonding over stereotypically “male” interests (like baseball or golf):

  “I wasn’t going to talk about baseball. I hate baseball. … What I did like to talk about was work. And what I did like to talk about was the future. … Sometimes it’s okay for the connection to be about the work, not about all the other stuff around work.” (18:00)

• Advice for women (or anyone) feeling left out:
  • Don’t force connections over topics you don’t care about.
  • Focus on genuine, respectful interactions and shared work goals.
  • Engage with others as human beings—eye contact, friendliness, curiosity.
  • When in doubt, connect over the work itself.
• Emphasizes that everyone, regardless of gender, can create meaningful connection by being themselves and seeking genuine points of engagement.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Relationship Jealousy:

  “If your spouse is jealous that you make more money than your spouse, then I think you gotta call it.” (06:30)

• On Prepping for Negotiation:

  “The most important thing before you go into a negotiation is to know what you are asking for.” (12:48)

• On Workplace Camaraderie:

  “If you can be genuinely curious in who they are and what they do, it helps you see people as humans and it helps you make a human connection.” (19:42)

• Lighthearted moment:

  “It’s the Marsha Brady—imagine everyone in the audience naked. Everyone’s too young to know what that is, but shout out if you watched The Brady Bunch.” (15:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jealousy in Relationships & Changing Gender Roles: 00:20 – 09:15
• Salary Negotiation & Calming Techniques: 09:15 – 16:08
• Building Workplace Connections Across Gender Lines: 16:08 – 21:00

Final Thoughts

Erika’s candid advice, sprinkled with humor and hard-won wisdom, provides practical and empowering perspectives for women navigating modern work and relationships. She encourages open communication, self-awareness, and authenticity—reminding listeners that the ultimate key is to be clear about what you want and to value yourself and your contributions, whether at home or in the office.

For more from Erika or to join the “Work Like a Girl” community, follow her Substack, Instagram, or join the Slack group.