Episode #52: The Audacity to Celebrate—Why Women Are Taught to Play Small

"How dare you not only win but have the audacity to celebrate?!"

Too often, women are shamed for owning their success and taking up space. In this powerful conversation with Dr. Sagashus Levingston, we unpack why bold energy makes people uncomfortable, how conformity keeps us small, why motherhood should not be rooted in sacrifice, and why sisterhood is the key to breaking free.

You can find Dr. Sagashus Levingston on LinkedIn and Instagram at Infamous.Mothers. 

 

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Episode Breakdown:

2:46 – Meet my guest, Dr. Sagashus Levingston—her journey, expertise, and impact 4:20 – How I met Sagashus and knew the meeting was "divine" 6:57 – What Serena Williams' Crip Walk really symbolized at the Super Bowl 14:29 – The backlash against winning: "How dare you not only win, but celebrate?!" 16:15 – Why celebrating success can trigger others’ feelings of inadequacy 17:54 – Why we all need to show up as the Pink Highlighter in a world that wants us to blend in 24:11 – What is your Crip Walk? (The thing you were once shamed for but could reclaim today) 26:00 – The destruction that followed when Sagashus bought her dream home 28:47 – New Level, New Devil: The resistance I faced at our last retreat 30:14 – Why attacks in our lives are often tied to our greatest gifts  34:10 – The power of perspective: Nothing is wasted 37:09 – How Sagashus used her truth to unlock healing and growth 43:15 – The Power of Grit—how resilience shapes our path 47:29 – Redefining motherhood: Strength, mobility, and collective care over self-sacrifice 52:55 – The most sincere compliment I’ve ever received 1:02:30 – When pushback almost made Sagashus retreat, but she built a sisterhood instead 1:12:24 – How society tries to prevent women from forming sisterhoods and instills fear around Life After 40 Final Takeaways – Sagashus shares her wisdom and a message for listeners

This is your permission slip to stop playing small. Let’s break free, claim our space, and celebrate our wins—without apology!