Explore every episode of the podcast High Heels Higher Standards
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emotional Vampires ( & Narcissists) Are Real: The Neuroscience of Emotional Contagion | 15 Oct 2025 | 00:40:21 | |
Ever walk out of a meeting, happy hour, or family dinner feeling completely drained? You might’ve just met an emotional vampire. In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Heidi Hushak and Ashley Werner break down the science and spirituality behind energy drain—and how to protect your personal power from toxic people, workplace burnout, and emotional exhaustion. The Science: Learn how mirror neurons, cortisol co-regulation, and social contagion theory explain why other people’s moods, stress, and energy literally affect your body and brain. Discover how emotional contagion impacts your workplace, your relationships, and even your success. The Witchy Wisdom: Ashley brings in energetic protection practices like aura shielding, cord cutting, and the Grey Rock Method to help you stay grounded and unshakable. Whether you call it neuroscience or aura management, it’s all about mastering your energetic boundaries. The Real Talk: From micromanaging bosses to drama-fueled coworkers and narcissistic partners, this episode unpacks how to recognize emotional vampires, reclaim your confidence, and stop letting other people’s chaos drain your peace. ✨ What You’ll Learn:
Affirmation of the Week: “Your energy is currency. Spend it with intention. Protect it fiercely. Not everyone deserves access to your power.”If you’re ready to stop absorbing other people’s stress and start owning your vibration, this episode is your science-meets-soul toolkit for reclaiming your power. 🎧 Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Everything is Energy | 08 Oct 2025 | 00:37:05 | |
What if you could literally change your life just by shifting your energy? In this powerful episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, hosts Heidi Hushak and Ashley Werner explore the transformative truth behind the phrase “Everything is Energy.” From the science of neural pathways and mirror neurons to the spiritual practices of grounding and energy clearing, this episode bridges neuroscience, spirituality, and self-awareness in a way that’s as empowering as it is practical. Ashley guides listeners through a one-minute grounding meditation designed to help you reset your nervous system, while Heidi unpacks the brain chemistry behind emotions, stress, and intuition. You’ll learn:
**BONUS MINI MEDITATION to Ground your Energy!** This episode is a masterclass in energy awareness, mindset transformation, and feminine power — helping ambitious women reclaim their focus, intuition, and influence. Because once you understand that everything is energy, you stop chasing what you want — and start aligning with it. Tune in to “Everything Is Energy” on High Heels, Higher Standards, where science meets spirituality, and success is always in high heels. Energy, grounding meditation, neuroscience and energy, neuroplasticity, intuition science, vibrational energy, women intuition, how to deal with narcissists, Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Moon Magic & Menstrual Cycles: Rhythms, Hormones, and Influence | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:25:59 | |
Are women really affected by the moon—or are we just being dramatic? 🌙 Spoiler: it’s a little bit of both. In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Ashley and Heidi blend science and spirituality to uncover the powerful connection between menstrual cycles, moon phases, hormones, and women’s leadership potential. From circadian vs. infradian rhythms to ancient lunar rituals, this conversation will change the way you see your body, your productivity, and your power. ✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:
Whether you’re curious about moon magic, cycle syncing, women’s health, or feminine leadership, this episode gives you both practical strategies and a mystical reframe to help you thrive. Because your cycle isn’t a monthly problem—it’s a monthly map. And once you learn to follow it, you unlock productivity, creativity, and leadership that feels effortless. Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Intuition Isn’t Imaginary: The Science of Gut Feelings | 24 Sep 2025 | 00:24:00 | |
Have you ever had a gut feeling about someone—or a situation—that turned out to be right? In this empowering episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, hosts Heidi and Ashley break down the science of women’s intuition, proving it’s more than just a hunch. From the neurobiology of gut instincts and the gut-brain connection via the vagus nerve, to the centuries-old history of women being labeled “witches” for “knowing too much,” this conversation blends science, leadership, and a little bit of magic. You’ll learn: This episode also kicks off our October Spooky Season Series, where we’ll explore the fascinating intersections of science, women’s wisdom, and the mystical. If you’ve ever wondered why intuition feels a little magical, this is the perfect place to start. 🎙️ Tune in to High Heels, Higher Standards for an honest, insightful, and inspiring look at why women’s intuition isn’t imaginary—it’s biology, history, and power combined. Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First! Why self-care isn't Selfish, Its Strategic! | 17 Sep 2025 | 00:28:32 | |
Episode 11: Put Your Own Oxygen Mask On First - Why self care isn't Selfish -- Its Strategic! In this empowering episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Ashley and Heidi unpack one of the most important lessons ambitious women need to hear: self-care isn’t selfish—it’s strategic. Just like the flight attendants say, you have to put your own oxygen mask on first. Too often, women are praised for over-giving, overcommitting, and putting themselves last—at work, at home, and in relationships. But running on empty doesn’t make you a better leader, partner, or mother—it makes you burnt out, resentful, and less effective. Join us as we break down: If you’ve ever felt guilty for saying “no,” struggled with burnout, or wondered how to balance high standards with self-preservation, this conversation will remind you: the most loving thing you can do is breathe first. 🎙️ Tune in, take notes, and share this episode with a woman who needs the reminder that she matters too. Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| The Corporate Woman’s Guide to Solo Global Travel | 10 Sep 2025 | 00:37:35 | |
The Corporate Woman’s Guide to Solo Global Travel In this empowering episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Heidi and Ashley dive into the art of solo global travel for ambitious, career-driven women. Whether you’re flying out for an international business trip or planning a solo adventure, Ashley—who has traveled to over 35 countries—shares her best strategies to pack like a pro, fly well, stay safe, and elevate your experience. Learn how to: This episode is packed with insider stories, practical travel hacks, and empowering advice to help women feel confident, stylish, and safe while exploring the world on their own terms. If you’ve ever dreamed of booking that solo trip but felt nervous, this episode will inspire you to take the leap. Because global travel isn’t just about where you go—it’s about who you become. 🎧 Tune in now, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share with the powerhouse women in your life who are ready for their next adventure. Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Handling Insults with Discernment: Why Only Broke Men will call you a GoldDigger | 03 Sep 2025 | 00:26:39 | |
Why is it that the only people who scream “gold digger” are the ones without any gold to begin with? 👀 This week on High Heels, Higher Standards, Ashley and Heidi dive into one of the oldest, laziest insults aimed at ambitious women: being called a “gold digger.” From broke-boy logic to jealous “pick me” energy, they unpack: This conversation is funny, fiery, and packed with the kind of big sister advice every woman needs. Whether you’ve been called a gold digger by a bitter ex, a broke date, or even someone close to you, Ashley and Heidi will remind you that standards aren’t the problem—settling is. So pour a glass, raise a toast, and join us for a spicy episode that proves: wanting more doesn’t make you shallow, it makes you self-aware. 💋 Keywords: gold digger insult how to handle insults broke men and dating standards women with high standards dating advice for ambitious women broke boy logic dating and money podcast empowering women podcast how to handle being called a gold digger why men call women gold diggers setting standards in relationships Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Define Yourself, Darling | 27 Aug 2025 | 00:29:30 | |
Define Yourself, Darling | High Heels, Higher Standards Are you living by someone else’s definition of you? In this empowering episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, hosts Heidi Hushak and Ashley Werner pull back the curtain on what it really takes to reclaim your identity, silence the nay-sayers, and step boldly into the version of yourself you’ve always dreamed of becoming. Ashley shares powerful personal stories—from shrinking in corporate meetings to breaking free from toxic relationships—and reveals a simple yet transformative three-step framework to audit labels, choose your truth, and rewrite your own definition. Heidi opens up about her own struggles of being told she was "too polished" and how she turned that so-called flaw into her superpower. Together, they’ll show you how to recognize when others are holding the pen to author your own story - and how to take it back. This episode is packed with practical strategies for setting boundaries, building unshakable self-confidence, and shutting down the critics with grace and strength. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, launching your own business, or simply craving more authenticity in your daily life, this conversation will inspire you to define yourself on your own terms—and never again let someone else write your story. If you’ve ever felt “too much” or “not enough,” this is your permission slip to be unapologetically you. Keep your heels high and your standards higher—because ambition looks best in stilettos. Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Bite Sized Brilliance: Overcoming Overwhelm & ADHD Productivity Hacks to Tackle Big Tasks | 20 Aug 2025 | 00:34:15 | |
Feeling overwhelmed by a giant to-do list that looks more like a CVS receipt than a game plan? In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, we're serving up our best productivity tips, ADHD hacks, and breaking down how to “eat the elephant” one fabulous bite at a time. Ashley and Heidi share ADHD-friendly productivity strategies to help you tackle big projects, avoid procrastination, and protect your focus. Whether you’re drowning in paperwork, launching a business, or just trying to keep your sparkle while juggling it all, this episode will give you practical tools to:
This isn’t about hustle or burnout — it’s about consistency, confidence, and clarity. If you’ve ever asked yourself “how am I supposed to do it all?” — this one’s for you. Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Do It Scared | 13 Aug 2025 | 00:29:20 | |
Do It Scared – Why Courage Matters More Than Confidence If you’re waiting to feel “ready,” you’ll be waiting forever. Discover why courage — not confidence — is the key to success, and how taking messy, imperfect action now will get you further than waiting for perfect conditions. Stop waiting to feel “ready.” In this raw and empowering episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Heidi Hushak interviews Ashley Werner on what it really looks like to chase your dreams while scared out of your mind. The reality is that the best time to start was 20 years ago, the next best time to start is right now - even if it scares you. From sweaty palms to 19 failed drafts before hitting “publish,” Ashley shares unfiltered stories of taking messy, imperfect action — and why that’s the only way to build real confidence. You’ll learn why anything worth doing is worth doing poorly, how fear can actually be a growth signal, and the mindset shift that turns perfectionism into progress. If you’ve been holding back — waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan, or the perfect version of yourself — this conversation is your wake-up call to do it imperfectly, to do it scared, and just do it. What you’ll hear in this episode:
Whether you’re launching a business, starting a passion project, stepping into leadership, or making a bold career change, this episode will give you the permission slip to take action now — not someday. Keywords: mindset, motivation, personal growth, imperfect action, entrepreneurship, fear of failure, overcoming fear, confidence building, women in business, empowerment, leadership, career advice, productivity, self-development, courage over confidence, perfectionism recovery Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Setting Boundaries & Saying No With Style | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:34:08 | |
Ready to upgrade your boundaries without apologizing for your ambition? In this empowering, witty, and refreshingly real episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, hosts Heidi Hushak and Ashley Werner get bold about the power of saying “no” in heels, with grace, and without guilt. Ashley, the self-proclaimed Boundaries Queen, breaks down why so many high-achieving women struggle to set limits and how saying “no” can actually be the biggest career flex of the year. From workplace expectations to friendship fatigue and family guilt trips, this episode serves up boundary-setting scripts, real-life role plays, and savvy strategies to help you protect your time, energy, and peace of mind while staying polished and powerful. ✨ Topics we cover 💬 Soundbite-worthy wisdom “Boundaries aren’t walls. They’re velvet ropes. Protect your peace like a luxury brand protects exclusivity.”This is your official permission slip to stop people-pleasing and start protecting your future self. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to reclaim your weekends, this episode will leave you feeling energized, emboldened, and entirely unbothered. 👉 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @TheHW_Co for glam vibes, boss moves, and more boundary-setting inspo Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Happy Women Don't Hate! (4) | 30 Jul 2025 | 00:26:43 | |
Why do some women tear others down? Especially when you're shining the brightest? In this bold and unfiltered episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Ashley and Heidi dive into the real reasons behind female jealousy, mean girl energy, and what happens when confidence triggers insecurity. From toxic friendships to workplace competition, they break down how to spot the subtle signs of sabotage and more importantly, how to rise above it without shrinking yourself. You’ll hear personal stories, honest truths, and the ultimate reminder: happy women don’t hate, and hating women aren’t happy. Whether you’ve felt the sting of being left out, side-eyed, or silently judged for your success, this episode is for every ambitious woman navigating female competition, emotional resilience, and self-confidence in a world that often pits women against each other. ✨ Topics Covered:
Your reminder: You don’t owe anyone smallness. Keep your standards high and your energy higher. Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| Women in Hot Water - How Women Transform through Adversity (Egg, Potato, or Coffee) | 23 Jul 2025 | 00:34:21 | |
In this powerful episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, co-hosts Ashley Werner and Heidi Hushak unpack what it means to transform through adversity, not just survive it. Titled “Women in Hot Water,” this inspiring conversation explores the popular metaphor of the egg, the potato, and coffee, each representing how women respond to pressure, trauma, and life’s toughest moments. Are you hardening from burnout? Melting under the weight of expectations? Or learning to alchemize pain into power? This episode is a must-listen for women navigating high-stress seasons, whether it's heartbreak, career setbacks, identity crises, or personal reinvention. Ashley and Heidi share vulnerable insights, real-life examples, and actionable tools for building emotional resilience, setting boundaries, and finding your voice again. You’ll learn how to:
Packed with empowering affirmations, mindset shifts, and relatable storytelling, this episode is designed for ambitious, self-aware women ready to lead with authenticity—even in the heat. 👉 If you're feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck—this episode will remind you: you don’t have to crumble or harden. You can become something entirely new. Keywords & Concepts: Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| We Don't Date Potential | 23 Jul 2025 | 00:27:29 | |
Episode 1,3: We Don’t Date Potential In this bold and unfiltered episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, co-hosts Ashley Werner and Heidi Hushak unpack the all-too-common trap of dating for potential instead of reality. If you’ve ever fallen for a man’s promise rather than his presence, this one’s for you. Ashley shares personal insights and lived experiences about investing in relationships that look perfect on paper—but leave you emotionally drained. Heidi helps break down the cultural conditioning that leads high-achieving women to become unpaid life coaches, therapists, or personal development mentors in their own love lives. Together, they explore the difference between chemistry and compatibility, the importance of emotional safety, and how to recognize when you're more in love with someone's potential than their actual behavior. You'll get a reality checklist to help you break up with fantasy, stop dating resumes, and start choosing partners who show up—right now. ✨ Topics Covered:
🎧 This episode is for the ambitious, emotionally intelligent woman who’s done settling for “almost.” It’s time to raise your standards—not your tolerance. Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||
| You're not Too Much, they're just Medium | 14 Jul 2025 | 00:28:29 | |
Episode 1: You’re Not Too Much, They’re Just Medium Have you ever been called too intense, too ambitious, too emotional, or too much? In this fiery and affirming episode, Ashley and Heidi break down the backhanded compliments and subtle gaslighting that powerful women face when they dare to take up space. We’re flipping the script on the narrative that asks women to dim their light to make others comfortable. This episode is a love letter to the bold, the driven, the passionate, and a not-so-gentle reminder that the people who say you're “too much” are often just not enough. Get ready for real talk, personal stories, and permission to show up fully, in your career, relationships, and life. Because you’re not too much, they’re just medium. Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast Thank you for listening, lovelies! | |||