Ordinary To Badass

She spent 20 years earning a seat that was never built for her — and found out the hard way that being good at the job doesn't make you safer. It makes you a bigger threat.
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Retired Fire Chief Deena Johnson Lee joins Marie to talk about what actually happens once you start winning in a predominantly male industry: the "belonging trust" nobody tells you about, the women who turn against other women, and the moment a boyfriend in the academy told her, "I just don't want you to be better than me at anything."
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This one covers the unwritten rules nobody hands you on day one, why competence alone never gets you accepted, and the question that changes everything: would you rather be liked, or respected?
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Listen if you're tired of doing everything right — and still getting picked apart for it.

You were told to wait your turn. Be patient, keep your head down, and eventually it'll be your time. Here's the problem: the person who got promoted last quarter didn't wait for anything.
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In this episode, Marie breaks down why "wait your turn" is one of the most dangerous pieces of advice a woman in a predominantly male industry can follow — and why time in your seat only makes you eligible, never chosen.
Key takeaways:
Time in your position makes you eligible. Being chosen is a completely different decision your boss makes about risk — and eligibility alone doesn't win it.
Waiting doesn't remove workplace bias against ambitious women — it just delays the moment you have to face it.
Your boss sees a fraction of your work. If you're not making your impact visible, "wait your turn" quietly becomes "wait forever."
Four shifts to make instead of waiting: from waiting → asking, time served → building a case, hoping to be noticed → being known, and fair → strategic.
You're allowed to want the next seat, ask for it, and build your case before anyone tells you it's your turn.
Resources mentioned: The Obvious Choice™ (Marie's program on positioning yourself for promotion)
If this hit home, share it with someone who's been "waiting their turn" a little too patiently — subscribe and leave a review so more women find the show.

Have you ever watched a man get credit for an idea that came out of your mouth five minutes earlier?
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Or noticed that the women around you somehow became the party planner, office therapist, note taker, and scheduler—on top of the job they were actually hired to do?
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In this episode, we're talking about the rules of the game nobody explains when you work in a predominantly male industry. The unwritten rules. The invisible expectations. The things that affect your career, credibility, and leadership opportunities—but somehow never make it into the training manual.
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You'll learn:
Why many women end up with a second, unofficial job description
What to do when your ideas are ignored until someone else repeats them
How to walk the tightrope between being "too soft" and "too aggressive"
Why some people get exceptions—and others don't
How to adapt to the room without losing yourself in the process
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I also share a personal story about advocating for myself during one of the hardest periods of my career and what it taught me about speaking up, asking for help, and navigating systems that weren't built with us in mind.
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If you've ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or exhausted from carrying responsibilities nobody acknowledges, this episode is for you.
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Because you're not behind.
You're probably just missing the guidebook nobody gave you.
Connect with Marie:
DM "COMMUNITY" on Instagram @ordinarytobadass to join the free community for women in predominantly male industries.
Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode resonates. The more women we get in the room, the faster we change it.

How many opportunities have you talked yourself out of because you didn't feel ready?
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In this flashback episode, I sit down with mindset coach, personal trainer, and Girls on the Run Long Island Chairperson Nancy Feinstein to talk about confidence, self-doubt, and why waiting until you feel ready might be the very thing keeping you stuck.
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Nancy shares how she rebuilt her life after divorce, overcame stage fright, transitioned into a completely new career, and learned that confidence doesn't come before action—it comes because of it.
We also dive into:
✔ Why "yet" might be the most powerful word in your vocabulary
✔ The hidden cost of waiting for perfect timing
✔ How to stop comparing yourself to everyone else
✔ Why messy action beats perfection every time
✔ Practical mindset shifts that can help you move forward even when you're scared
If you've been waiting for more confidence before making your next move, this conversation is your reminder that confidence is built in the doing—not the waiting.
Connect with Marie:
Instagram: @ordinarytobadass
Enjoying the podcast?
Leave a review and share this episode with a woman who needs the reminder that she doesn't have to feel ready to get started.

If being direct feels mean, this episode is for you.
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Many women are taught from a young age to be agreeable, accommodating, and keep the peace. Then they step into leadership and discover that clarity, accountability, and difficult conversations are part of the job. That tension can make leadership feel uncomfortable.
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In this episode, Marie Sonnemann breaks down why directness often feels so hard for women, how passive communication creates more anxiety than clarity, and why avoiding conflict doesn't make you kind, it makes you unclear.
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You'll learn:
Why directness is often the kinder leadership choice
How passive-aggressive communication damages trust
What employees really need during difficult conversations.
The difference between being nice and being clear
Why strong leaders create clarity while weak leaders create confusion
How to stop worrying about being perceived as "too much" and start leading with confidence
Marie also shares a personal story about navigating a grumpy week, the power of resetting when you're off your game, and why getting back up after a setback is one of the most badass things you can do.
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If you've ever softened your message, over-explained yourself, or worried that being direct would make people dislike you, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership and communication.
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Because leadership isn't about being harsh. It's about respecting people enough to tell them the truth.