The “Good Girl” Conditioning That’s Burning Women Out with Dr. Michelle McQuaid

Have you ever caught yourself saying “I’ll just do it,” or “I don’t want to upset anyone,” or you’re simply tired of trying to do it all perfectly? 

This episode is your permission slip to stop being the good girl, and start being YOU.

Dr Michelle McQuaid joins Carina to unpack Good Girl Conditioning, the pressure women feel to perform perfectly, please everyone, and protect others at their own expense. Drawing on her new research across 1,000 Australian women, Michelle reveals the hidden costs of this conditioning - exhaustion, resentment, and loss of self - and offers science-backed strategies to break free.

Together, we explore how this shows up for working mums juggling careers, home, and identity, and discuss practical ways to replace “being good” with being uniquely you.

 

We chat about: 

• What “Good Girl Conditioning” is and why it’s it's showing up more than ever

• The 3 behaviours that keep women stuck: perfection, pleasing, and protection

• How these patterns show up for working mums at home and work

• The powerful antidote: self-compassion, secure attachment, and self-leadership

• Simple nervous system tools to calm your body and respond differently

• Why “you’re not there yet” might be the most powerful mindset shift of all

 

Links and resources 

Take Michelle’s Good Girl Mindset Survey: thegoodgirlgamechangers.com
Follow Michelle on Substack or LinkedIn

 

Follow Working Mumma on Instagram @workingmummacommunity or @workingmummapodcast or on LinkedIn