The Hidden Alcohol Shame of Successful Women with Erica Rooney

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In this raw and powerful episode, I sit down with Erica Rooney — founder of Her Collective and former C-suite executive — to expose the "sticky floors" that keep ambitious women trapped in cycles of perfectionism, burnout, and self-destructive behaviors.

From revealing how she used alcohol to mask her C-level burnout to sharing the conversation that saved her marriage, Erica gets brutally honest about the hidden struggles of high-achieving women and the shame that keeps us suffering in silence.

Whether you're a high-powered executive drinking more than you're comfortable with, dealing with toxic workplace dynamics, or struggling to balance career momentum with motherhood, this conversation will give you permission to face your sticky floors and step into your power.

What we cover: 

✔️ Sticky floors decoded: the limiting beliefs and toxic behaviors keeping you stuck 

✔️ The high-functioning alcoholic myth: how success can mask serious problems 

✔️ Why ambitious women are more vulnerable to alcohol dependency 

✔️ The "pitcher plant" effect: how alcohol slowly traps high-achievers 

✔️ From shame to strength: breaking the silence around women and drinking 

✔️ Navigating networking events and business dinners without alcohol 

✔️ Toxic workplace survival: when HR protects the perpetrator, not you 

✔️ Documentation strategies: building your paper trail for workplace abuse 

✔️ The "Bob conversation": how to address workplace anger and inappropriate behavior 

✔️ Momentum vs. Motherhood: navigating the biological clock vs. career ambitions 

✔️ Why "what will people think" is the ultimate sticky floor

Erica doesn't just share her story — she provides tactical strategies for women to recognize toxic patterns, set boundaries, and create careers that don't require sacrificing their sanity or values.

 

👇 Ready to break free from burnout and toxic work culture? Join my signature course: https://charlenegisele.com/burnout-course

 

Timestamps: 

00:00 – What are "sticky floors" and how they keep ambitious women trapped 

03:29 – From wellness instructor to C-suite: the climb that nearly broke her 

07:54 – The alcohol decision: cold turkey vs. moderation for high-achievers 

12:44 – Burnout revelation: when success masks complete life breakdown 

15:26 – Business travel survival: replacing the mini-bar with better coping tools 

17:46 – Toxic workplace dynamics: when HR protects the wrong people 

22:06 – The "Bob conversation": tactical scripts for addressing workplace abuse 

26:17 – Documentation strategies: building bulletproof evidence for HR 

30:01 – Motherhood myths: why having kids enhances rather than limits careers

 

Resources:

• Follow Erica: @ericaandersonrooney on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Website: ericaandersonrooney.com
• Podcast: "Glass Ceiling and Sticky Floor"
• Her Collective: Erica's online community for ambitious women
• Book recommendation: "This Naked Mind" by Annie Grace

 

📲 Connect with Me: 

🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charl%C3%A8ne-gis%C3%A8le-bourliout/