Business Blasphemy: Success, Ambition & Other Things Women Question After 40

Hosted by Sarah Khan

Business Entrepreneurship Education

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Episodes

125

Latest episode

Nov 2025

Language

EN-US

About the show

Hosted by Sarah Khan | Business Advisor, Leadership Strategist, TEDx Speaker, ------------------------------- For 5 seasons we questioned the sacred status quo of entrepreneurship, and now we're turning the lens inward: to women founders. Business Blasphemy is for accomplished women over 40 who have started questioning the things they once took for granted about success, ambition, work, and what they really want from the rest of their lives. Hosted by Sarah Khan, the show explores what happens when the beliefs that got you here no longer fit where you're going. Expect candid conversations around ambition, identity, career, money, power, relationships, reinvention, aging, and the complicated experience of wanting more when you've already accomplished a lot. Sometimes we challenge conventional wisdom; sometimes we question the rules we've inherited about what women should want and when. But we always start from the premise that changing your mind might be the most interesting thing you do next.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 20, 2026Episode 12519 min

EP125: Who Chose This: When Success Stops Feeling Like Success: Midlife, Identity & Redefining Ambition After 40

Send me a direct message! What happens when you've built a successful business, earned the respect, created the opportunities, and achieved the things you were supposed to want… only to realize you don't want the same things anymore? Welcome back to Business Blasphemy: Success, Ambition & Other Things Women Question After 40. In Episode 125, Sarah Khan returns after nearly a year away from the microphone with a deeply personal conversation about midlife identity, redefining success, changing ambitions, and what happens when the life and business you've worked so hard to build no longer feel like they fit. After 15 years in business, a successful TEDx talk, a strong personal brand, and a thriving entrepreneurial career, Sarah found herself questioning everything. Not because her business had failed, but because she'd changed. What followed wasn't a glamorous reinvention story. It was a messy, uncomfortable period of questioning her identity, experimenting with business models that didn't fit, stepping away from entrepreneurship, and confronting the beliefs about productivity, usefulness, success, and self-worth that had shaped her decisions for decades. In this episode, we explore why accomplished women in midlife can feel restless, frustrated, or disconnected even when everything looks successful from the outside. We talk about the difference between being good at something and still wanting to do it, the pressure to maintain the identity you've built, and why changing your mind doesn't mean you've failed. Sarah also shares what's changing about Business Blasphemy as the podcast enters its next chapter: moving beyond questioning the rules of entrepreneurship to questioning the expectations women have inherited about money, ambition, power, motherhood, aging, work, and what it means to build a meaningful life after 40. In this episode, we explore: Why professional success doesn't always translate into personal fulfillment. The identity crisis that can emerge when you've outgrown the business or career you've built. How societal expectations and inherited definitions of success shape women's ambitions. Why midlife reinvention doesn't have to mean starting over or burning everything down. The difference between what you're capable of doing and what you actually consider worth doing. How to begin redefining success, ambition, and legacy on your own terms. Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been. Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way. The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

November 25, 2025Episode 12416 min

EP124: Why Ambitious Women Never Feel Safe in “Supportive” Spaces

Send me a direct message! In this episode, I break down a truth that ambitious women were never taught to name. The mainstream definition of psychological safety doesn’t work for women who think fast, carry emotional responsibility like a second skin, and lead with conviction. I talk about why our bodies tighten in so-called “supportive” spaces, how early conditioning shapes the way we show up in leadership, and why emotional safety is actually rooted in the absence of self-betrayal, not the absence of conflict. I walk you through how personal history, cultural expectations, and professional norms collide for high-performing women, and how those layers change the way we understand safety, belonging, and power. You’ll hear the real reasons why rooms want us softened, slowed down, or “reasonable,” and why ambitious women instinctively scan for emotional risks before saying a single word. I also name the specific emotional needs ambitious women carry but hide because we’ve been conditioned to believe they’re “too much”: the need for autonomy, honesty, challenge, mental space, directness, and being taken seriously without having to prove ourselves over and over. Finally, I offer five concrete actions you can take this week to stop abandoning yourself and start rebuilding emotional safety from the inside out. If you’re ready for real talk on leadership, identity, boundaries, emotional safety, and what it means to operate at your full capacity without apology, this episode is for you. Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been. Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way. The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

November 18, 2025Episode 1239 min

EP123: Why Identity-Led Leadership Terrifies the System

Send me a direct message! It's time to dismantle the myth of leadership as a performance and drop the truth about leading from identity. No corporate polish. No institutional obedience. No permission required. If you’ve ever been praised for your “executive presence” and still felt invisible. If you’ve ever been told to soften your tone, adjust your message, or wait to speak. This conversation cuts through that noise. Let's dive into the uncomfortable truth that leadership without identity isn’t leadership at all — it’s make believe. And the women who are brave enough to lead from identity? They’re the ones who shift culture, reset standards, and redefine what power looks like. Expect confrontation. Expect self-recognition. Expect clarity on why identity-led leadership is the most disruptive — and powerful — move you can make in a system that rewards compliance over truth. You’ll walk away knowing exactly what it looks like to stop performing leadership and start living it. And why your identity isn’t a liability but is in fact the foundation of legacy. Key takeaways: What “leading from identity” actually means Why performative leadership fails women in the long run How identity-led leadership threatens any system built on conformity A direct challenge to act on your identity now Perfect for ambitious women, cultural disruptors, and every leader sick of being told to tone it down. Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been. Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way. The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

November 11, 2025Episode 12220 min

EP122: Stop Taking Advice Meant for Who You Used to Be

Send me a direct message! This episode dismantles the gap between generic business advice and the strategic depth established women leaders actually need. Sarah breaks down a recent experience that highlighted the disconnect between free advice, context, and advanced leadership goals. She examines why so many programs marketed as “advanced” are built for beginners, what seasoned women really want at this stage, and how to vet anyone selling strategy, masterminds, or high-ticket support. Expect: • Why advice hits wrong when it ignores your lived experience. • The emotional weight experienced women carry and why it makes mismatched guidance feel destabilizing. • How the online industry consistently underserves women with real expertise and leadership ambition. • What advanced women actually want: purpose, impact, depth, and legacy-level influence. • How to evaluate whether a strategist or mastermind is built to support someone at your level. • Five targeted vetting questions you can use immediately. Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been. Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way. The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

November 4, 2025Episode 12136 min

EP121: Women Leading with Values, Power, and Presence with Sarah Gibbons

Send me a direct message! This week, I sit down with executive leadership coach Sarah Gibbons , founder of Sarah Gibbons & Company, to talk about what it really means to lead with depth, connection, and courage . We unpack the outdated definitions of leadership that still dominate corporate spaces, and how women can redefine power, purpose, and presence on their own terms. Sarah shares her journey from Amazon and MySpace executive to founder of a global coaching practice, and we dig into hard work vs hustle, leading from values vs expectations, and so much more. If you’ve ever been labeled “too ambitious,” “too much,” or “too direct,” this conversation will remind you that your voice, your values, and your vision belong at the center of your leadership. Guest Bio: Sarah Gibbons is an executive leadership coach and founder of Sarah Gibbons & Co., a global coaching practice devoted to helping individuals and organizations lead with depth, connection, and courage. With 15+ years of experience, she’s worked with visionary leaders at companies like Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Wieden + Kennedy, Weitz Foundation, The LA Clippers, TBWA\Chiat\Day, BMO Bank and more. She’s the co-author of The Chalk Collective: Drawing the Life You Deserve and co-host of The Tidal Podcast. A mother of three boys and a proud Pacific Palisades resident, Sarah draws strength and insight from her personal experiences, especially in the wake of the devastating fires that touched her community. At the heart of Sarah’s work is a belief: leadership is personal. She helps her clients unlock aliveness, build self-trust, and lead with a legacy that reflects who they truly are. Connect with Sarah: Instagram / www.instagram.com/sarahgibbonsco Facebook / www.facebook.com/sarahgibbons.co LinkedIn / www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlyonsgibbons/ Website / sarahgibbons.com If you want to work with Sarah, this is your shot: applications are now open for The Board — her exclusive leadership coaching experience for creatives, entrepreneurs, and executives. Kicking off February 2026 with just 8 seats, this is a rare chance to be coached, challenged, and championed by one of North America’s top leadership coaches. Apply now! The Board Website to Learn More: https://sarahgibbons.com/the-board Link to Apply: https://hkywt25a0g5.typeform.com/to/ADX8567Z Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been. Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way. The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

October 28, 2025Episode 12011 min

EP120: The 5 Power Leaks Every Woman MUST Seal Now

Send me a direct message! This week, I dismantle the myths about women’s power and expose the five most common ways ambitious women leak it every day. From the language we use to the labor we absorb, the loyalty we misplace, and the likability we chase, let me show you how these patterns quietly erode authority, visibility, and influence. Through two decades of experience working with executives, founders, and change-makers, I bring a brutally honest lens to how power is lost — and how to reclaim it. This isn’t about being louder or more aggressive. It’s about remembering who you are before the world taught you to shrink. You’ll learn: The five “Power Leaks” that drain women’s authority: language, labor, loyalty, likability, and lens. Why invisible work will never lead to visible advancement. How loyalty and likability are often traps dressed up as virtue. The difference between performed power and remembered power — and how to shift into the latter. And, I share what’s coming next: 50 Days of Power — a daily exploration of what embodied leadership really looks like, starting November 3rd. (Make sure you're following on social media so you don't miss a single day!) If you’ve ever wondered why brilliance hasn’t translated into the recognition or influence you deserve, this episode is your wake-up call. Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been. Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way. The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

October 21, 2025Episode 11915 min

EP119: How the Pay Gap Steals More than Money from Women

Send me a direct message! This week, I’m calling out what the gender pay gap really represents: and it’s not a few cents on the dollar. It’s a power gap that has quietly stripped women of wealth, visibility, and recognition for decades. I unpack why women in both corporate and entrepreneurial spaces keep getting excluded from positions of influence, how “equal pay for equal work” misses the point entirely, and why midlife women are waking up to a system designed to profit from their silence. This episode dives into leadership, authority, and what it takes to step outside the system and start architecting your own. Caution: It may trigger you into rebellion. Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been. Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way. The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

October 14, 2025Episode 11826 min

EP118: You’re the Reason It Works: How Women Reclaim Recognition and Authority

Send me a direct message! In this powerful, leadership strategist and speaker Sarah Khan dismantles one of the most ingrained forms of conditioning ambitious women face — being the invisible backbone of other people’s success. Sarah explores how women in midlife have spent decades holding up organizations, leaders, and legacies that rarely hold them back — becoming indispensable but invisible in the process. She unpacks how loyalty, usefulness, and quiet excellence have been weaponized to keep women small, and why recognition, authority, and visibility are not ego, but equity. Listeners will learn how to: Identify where they’ve been supporting instead of leading Reclaim authorship over their brilliance and contributions Set boundaries that re-educate others on their value Redefine visibility beyond performance Restructure power dynamics to claim credit, compensation, and authority This is a call to every midlife woman who’s tired of holding up structures that were never built for her. It’s time to stop being the scaffolding of someone else’s legacy — and start building your own. Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been. Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way. The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

October 7, 2025Episode 11715 min

EP117: From Burnout to Bold: The Rebirth of Business Blasphemy

Send me a direct message! WELCOME BACK, BLASPHEMERS! I was ready to pull the plug. After 116 episodes of calling out the smoke and mirrors of online entrepreneurship, the spark dimmed and I nearly ended the show. That's when the truth smacked me in the face: I wasn’t tired of the mic. I was tired of orbiting the same problem. The mission had outgrown the format. What started as unapologetic myth-busting now asks for something bigger: building women’s power, leadership, and legacy without apology. This episode is the turning point. I share the burnout that nudged me toward a sunset, the quiet that delivered clarity, and the TEDx moment that lit a fire I could no longer defer. I get honest about why manipulative tactics thrive online, not just because of bad actors, but because so many of us were conditioned to outsource authority and doubt our own data. Instead of chasing hype cycles, we return to the source: strengthening self-trust, sharpening discernment, and designing strategy that protects agency. I talk candidly about choosing low-hanging fruit (operations, because it’s safe and in-demand) versus answering the call I’ve felt for decades: women’s leadership and thought leadership that move power, not just metrics. The show remains Business Blasphemy, but the center of gravity shifts. Expect bold truths, practical tools, and real stories from ambitious women building on their own terms. We’ll call out harm when needed, without making harm the headline. We’ll focus on identity, choice, negotiation, structural security, and the kind of operational clarity that lets you take smart risks. The question guiding every topic is simple: does this choice increase your agency? If you’re ready to stop playing for scraps and start building a legacy that looks like you, hit follow, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your leadership starts here — unapologetic, unfiltered, and fully yours. Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been. Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way. The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.

July 8, 2025Episode 11621 min

EP116: Your Business Ain’t Christmas Lights, Stop Pulling Random Bulbs

Send me a direct message! This week I dive deep into the deceptive evolution of modern marketing -- from nostalgic infomercials (my fave) to today's online schemes and shenanigans. I break down how the industry doesn't solve real problems anymore, but instead creates them in order to sell you a solution you didn't ask for. You'll learn why business ecosystems matter more than trendy frameworks, why most "fixes" don't stick, and how to audit your OWN business with brutal clarity so you stop wasting time on bullsh*t bandaids. If you're tired of playing whack-a-mole with your business issues, buckle up. Love what you heard? Let’s stay connected! Subscribe to Business Blasphemy for honest, provocative conversations about women in midlife, entrepreneurship, ambition, identity, and creating a next chapter that reflects who you've become, and not simply who you've always been. Follow me on LinkedIn for more no-nonsense advice on leading with power and purpose. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper, grab a copy of my book Bite-Sized Blasphemy and ignite your inner fire to do life and business your way. The Business Blasphemy Podcast is sponsored by Purple Ember Consulting + Training and Sarah Khan Out Loud.