Episode 12 - The Cost of Rising: Overcoming Tall Poppy Syndrome

Two sisters talk about their experiences with Tall poppy syndrome. Tall poppy syndrome is a cultural phenomenon, particularly in New Zealand and Australia, where those who are aspirational are brutally criticised – ‘cutting down the tall poppy’. The idea behind the metaphor is that poppies should grow together, and if any surpass the others in height, they get cut down. What it means is that a person gets attacked, undermined and is not well liked because of their success or exceptional abilities. To put it briefly, it’s when people don’t like seeing others succeed. Chick and Kel unpack their recent experience of personal attacks for their success and achievements while also being blamed for others' struggles. They also share some encouraging perspectives on how to overcome Tall poppy syndrome.