There are podcasts that entertain, and then there are podcasts that get you. The Broad Experience, hosted by journalist Ashley Milne-Tyte, is firmly in the latter camp—and if you’ve ever questioned how gender shapes your experience of work, this one will hit home in the best way.
At SheThrives, we’re always looking for insightful, real-world tools and reflections that support our personal and professional growth. So when we stumbled across The Broad Experience, it felt like the kind of career conversation we wish we’d had at school, at uni, or in that first challenging job.
Here’s why we think it deserves a spot in your playlist.
What’s it About?
Launched in 2012, The Broad Experience is one of the longest-running podcasts to consistently tackle the intersections of gender, work, ambition, and social norms. Each episode runs for 20–30 minutes, making it an easy listen during your commute, while doing the groceries, or winding down before bed.
Milne-Tyte brings journalistic rigour to the topics she covers—from imposter syndrome and burnout to race, motherhood, negotiation, and ageism in the workplace. Episodes feature a diverse range of women (and occasionally men) sharing unfiltered stories of career highs, lows, and everything in between.
It’s not just theory—it’s lived experience.
Start here:
What Makes It So Powerful?
1. It doesn’t sugar-coat.
Milne-Tyte’s style is thoughtful, smart, and never performative. She avoids corporate jargon and speaks directly to the nuance of being a woman in a world not built for us. There’s space for complexity, for discomfort, for different kinds of ambition—and that’s rare.
2. It’s globally relevant.
Although based in the US, The Broad Experience speaks to universal themes. Whether you're navigating return-to-work policies in Australia, flexible working arrangements in Aotearoa, or startup culture anywhere in the world, you’ll find resonance here.
3. It’s intersectional.
The podcast doesn’t treat “women” as a single category. It dives into how race, class, age, sexuality, and motherhood shift our experience of the workplace—and how systems of power interact in ways that are often invisible.
A Safe Place for Reflection
Many listeners describe The Broad Experience as “like talking to a smart friend who gets it.” It’s validating, yes—but also challenging. You might finish an episode questioning some of your own beliefs about leadership, or how you’ve unconsciously adapted to succeed in male-dominated environments.
It’s the kind of show that gently nudges you to think differently—and we love that.
Why We Recommend It
Here at SheThrives, we’re big on creating space for honest, grounded conversations. We don’t do fluffy platitudes or Instagrammable empowerment with no substance.
The Broad Experience delivers the real talk. The stuff you wish you could bring up at Friday drinks, but often hold back for fear of being labelled “too much” or “too sensitive.”
It’s especially helpful if:
- You’ve ever struggled with confidence or self-worth at work
- You’re mentoring younger women and want language that helps
- You’re returning to the workforce and feel out of step
- You want to raise your daughter or niece to expect more
Where to Listen
You can find The Broad Experience on all major podcast platforms:
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to feel alone when navigating the subtle—and sometimes not-so-subtle—realities of being a woman at work. The Broad Experience reminds us that we’re not imagining things, we’re not alone, and there are ways to reclaim our space, our stories, and our sense of self.
We hope it becomes a trusted companion on your own journey, as it has for so many of us.