How to Chase Sustainable Ambition & Find Your Purpose with Amina AlTai
What if ambition didn’t mean chasing the next title, paycheck, or performance review? In this episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with executive coach, podcast host, and author Amina AlTai (The Ambition Trap) to unpack what ambition really means—and why it might need a full rebrand.
Together, Amanda and Amina get real about how culture (and capitalism) have warped our relationship with ambition—especially for women—and how to reclaim it on our own terms. From the “core wounds” that drive our overachieving tendencies to the importance of rest, self-awareness, and setting boundaries, this episode is your permission slip to stop chasing and start living.
✍️What you’ll learn
Why ambition is cyclical (seasons of push + rest)
The five core wounds (Lise Bourbeau) & how they show up at work
“Painful” vs “purposeful” ambition—and how to shift
The five "whys" to separate ego goals from what truly lights you up
The resentment line: naming needs, stating them, and negotiating
How to spot toxic individualism and reframe success as a team sport
Why identity is a prism (you’re more than your job title)
Whether you’re deep in your hustle era or learning to rest without guilt, this convo will help you spot what’s fueling your ambition—pain or purpose—and redesign it for something sustainable, joyful, and yours.
00:00 Intro
02:14 Two camps of ambition
03:58 Core wounds & masks
08:10 Untangling identity from achievement (and capitalism’s worthiness trap)
14:17 Desire, shame, and policing women’s wants
18:34 Toxic individualism vs. team sport mentality
22:38 Mistaking passion for purpose
26:50 Finding your purpose
32:45 Living above the resentment line
GUEST LINKS
Amina AlTai: https://www.instagram.com/aminaaltai/?hl=en
Read The Ambition Trap: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780593655306
https://www.aminaaltai.com/
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Lise Bourbeau’s Five Core Wounds framework
Stephen Cope’s The Great Work of Your Life
FOLLOW THE PODCAST
IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss
Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/
https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast
SIGN UP
Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/
For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/
ABOUT AMBITION 2.0
Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.
ABOUT HER WORKPLACE UNFILTERED
Listen to Her Workplace Unfiltered—a podcast about what it really means to be a woman in the workplace.
Instagram: @herworkplaceunfiltered @herworkplace
TikTok: @herworkplaceunfiltered @herworkplace
Watch on YouTube
Join Her Workplace
Follow Her Workplace on LinkedIn
Subscribe to their newsletter
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
42:44
--------
42:44
Invisible Labor: Why Women Still Do It All—and How to Reclaim Your Time with Eve Rodsky
In this episode, Amanda Goetz sits down with Eve Rodsky—the New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space—to unpack one of the most important (and under-discussed) topics for ambitious women today: the invisible labor that keeps households running and the systems needed to make ambition sustainable.
In a world where the lines between home, work, and personal ambition are constantly blurred, understanding the dynamics of domestic labor has never been more vital.
Eve gets real about:
💭 The unseen emotional labor women carry every day—and why it drains ambition
💡 How to redefine success through systems, boundaries, and honest conversations
🔥 Why “having it all” isn’t the goal—and what fulfillment actually looks like
🦄 The power of “unicorn space” and how to carve out time for joy and creativity
❤️ How to reset relationship dynamics using the Fair Play Framework
Let’s dive into what happens when ambition collides with expectation—and how to tactfully rewrite those rules for yourself.
From invisible labor to emotional burnout, from systems thinking to radical self-care, this episode explores how women can reclaim their time, redefine ambition on their own terms, and build lives rooted in equity, purpose, and joy.
00:00 Intro
02:08 Defining modern ambition
03:41 The blueberry story that nearly ended a marriage
08:09 Advice for young women who are dating and are on the fence about kids
11:42 The importance of “unicorn space”
21:37 Navigating relationships and “fair play”
25:15 The oppressive nature of “finding time”
26:35 Boundaries and systems for balance
29:18 The role of “fair play” in relationships
30:39 The practice of setting boundaries
36:30 Radical generosity and protecting your time
38:46 Seasons of life and self-care
GUEST LINKS
Eve Rodsky: https://www.instagram.com/everodsky
Read Fair Play: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780525541943 Read Find Your Unicorn Space: https://bookshop.org/a/116169/9780593328033
FOLLOW THE PODCAST
IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss
Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/
https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast
SIGN UP
Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/
For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/
ABOUT AMBITION 2.0
Powered by Girlboss, Ambition 2.0 is a podcast where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it. Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition. They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
45:26
--------
45:26
From Dorm Rooms to $8 Million in Funding: Life Lessons from the Founders of Phia
In the debut episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni—the visionary co-founders of Phia, the AI-powered shopping assistant backed by Hailey Bieber, Kris Jenner, Sheryl Sandberg, and other major investors.
From meeting as college roommates at Stanford and launching Phia as a class project to raising an $8M seed round for their company, Phoebe and Sophia have been through it all together. They get candid about building a tech startup from scratch, navigating friendship as co-founders, and learning how to set boundaries to avoid burnout.
They open up about:
The real meaning of work-life balance (and does it even exist?)
Why personal branding is a superpower for founders
The “ground rules” that keep their friendship—and business—thriving
Lessons from their fundraising journey and startup leadership
The creative philosophy behind their own podcast, The Burnouts
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or just love a good founder origin story, this episode dives deep into ambition, friendship, and what it takes to build something groundbreaking.
(00:00) Intro
(03:50) The origin story of Phia
(05:18) Building the Phia team and shaping company culture
(11:50) Raising $8M with high-profile investors
(14:15) Friendship “ground rules” for co-founders
(23:10) Burnout, boundaries, and balance
(28:42) Work-life balance
(30:45) Why personal branding matters more than ever
(32:00) Rapid-fire questions
(38:23) Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
GUEST LINKS
Phoebe Gates: https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates/
Sophia Kianni: https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni/
Phia: https://www.instagram.com/phiaco/
The Burnouts Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts/
FOLLOW THE PODCAST
IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss
Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/
https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast
SIGN UP
Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter, filled with career inspiration and intel for ambitious women: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/
For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/
DISCLAIMER
This episode is sponsored by Semrush.
Check out Semrush One, the only solution built for the next era of search. It unites Semrush’s leading traditional SEO tools with powerful AI search capabilities, all in one place, so you can make smarter, faster marketing decisions. Search moves fast, and you should have the right solution to stay ahead of the curve. Trusted by 10M+ marketers worldwide, try it today at semrush.com.
#Ambition2Point0 #PhoebeGates #SophiaKianni #PhiaAI #GirlbossPodcast #WomenInBusiness #AIShopping #Startups #FemaleFounders
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
41:04
--------
41:04
Girlboss Presents: “Ambition 2.0 with Amanda Goetz”
A new era of ambition is here. Welcome Ambition 2.0, the new podcast from Girlboss, where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it.
Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition, like author Eve Rodsky, money and wealth expert Rachel Rodgers, Phia founders Phoebe Gates and Sophie Kianni, and businesswoman and former Barstool Sports CEO Erika Ayers Badan, with additional powerhouse guests to be revealed throughout the season.
They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.
Hosted by Amanda Goetz, a 2x founder, 4x CMO, mom of three, and author of the new book, Toxic Grit. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Premiering October 29.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
0:55
--------
0:55
#GirlbossRadioReplay: How Dayna Isom Johnson Asked For Her Dream Role: Trend Expert at Etsy
If you’re in New York City or are planning a visit before January 5, 2025, you’re going to want to head to the Music Box Theatre to see Suffs The Musical. Get your tickets now at https://suffsmusical.com/
On this episode of Girlboss Radio, Avery chats with Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy's resident trend expert. If that job sounds really cool, that's because it is.
Dayna spends her days interpreting data and trend insights and talking about creativity to uplift and promote Etsy's 5.4 million makers. She makes frequent TV appearances and talks to the media about emerging design trends. Yup, she knew about cottagecore way before the rest of us did.
Dayna did not apply for the job she has now—but she created it by zeroing in on what she loved to do and asking Etsy's leadership to create a role that fit her talent and excitement.
Avery and Dayna talked about the unusual way Dayna figured out her dream job, how to tell if a company will be a great place to work from the interview stage, and play a special round of In or Out: Design Trends Edition.
🤝 Keep up with Dayna here: https://www.instagram.com/daynaisomjohnson/
📈 Check out Dayna’s Etsy picks here: https://www.etsy.com/featured/dayna
💌 Never miss an episode by subscribing here: girlboss.com/pages/girlboss-radio-subscribe
📷 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlbossrally/
💻 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/girlboss
💼 Find your dream job or post open roles: https://jobs.girlboss.com/
📚 Did you know Girlboss has courses? Check them out here: https://course.girlboss.com/collections
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome Ambition 2.0, the new podcast from Girlboss, where we’ll be exploring what it really means to “have it all” in work, family, identity, and self… and if it’s actually worth it.
Each week, you'll hear from hardworking women who’ve walked the tightrope of ambition, like author Eve Rodsky, money and wealth expert Rachel Rodgers, Phia founders Phoebe Gates and Sophie Kianni, and businesswoman and former Barstool Sports CEO Erika Ayers Badan, with additional powerhouse guests to be revealed throughout the season.
They'll share their costly mistakes, lessons learned, and practical tips for how to have it all and actually love what you have.
Hosted by Amanda Goetz, a 2x founder, 4x CMO, mom of three, and author of the new book, Toxic Grit. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Premiering October 29.
Italia