The False Tradeoff

Hosted by Parentaly

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

The False Tradeoff is a podcast for working parents, HR leaders and anyone committed to proving working parents can be successful at work AND at home - that it’s not an either/or tradeoff. Each week, we dive into some of the most challenging, complex and sometimes controversial topics related to parental leave and navigating life as a working parent. Because in order to break the false tradeoff, we need to address these topics head-on.

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48 recent

June 12, 2026Episode 4731 min

#47: This CHRO Took Five Years Off - And Came Back Stronger

Susan Podlogar spent decades as one of HR's most respected leaders - including nearly a decade as CHRO of MetLife - and she did it after taking five years away from her career to raise her kids. In this episode, she shares what that break taught her, why she still carries guilt from the years she didn't show up the way she wanted to, and why she believes parental leave is one of the most strategically important things a company can get right.Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna VassalloLearn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact UsKeep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

February 26, 2026Episode 4627 min

#46: The “Mental Gymnastics” Of Parental Leave With Suzan Morno-Wade

What happens when a senior executive navigates parental leave during one of the most high-pressure moments of her career? Suzan Morno-Wade shares the emotional and professional tension behind parental leave decisions and explains why organizations often underestimate what’s at stake. This conversation is a masterclass for HR leaders about the real impact leave has on talent retention.Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna VassalloLearn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact UsKeep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

February 12, 2026Episode 4530 min

#45: Parental Leave As A Strategy: Lessons From Mastercard’s Former Chief People Officer Michael Fraccaro

Former Mastercard Chief People Officer Michael Fraccaro recently retired after a decades-long career in HR leadership. So why did he immediately say yes to advising Parentaly? Becoming a grandfather sparked a renewed commitment to supporting employees as they expand their families. This interview is full of advice for HR leaders about how leave has evolved, why second-time parents are a retention risk, and the small changes managers can make that go a long way.Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna VassalloLearn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact UsKeep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

January 15, 2026Episode 4431 min

#44: Tiffany Stevenson On Fixing The Most Overlooked Business Continuity Risk

Treat parental leave like the business continuity issue that it is: This is the mindset of Tiffany Stevenson, Chief People Officer at The RealReal and formerly WeightWatchers, who is also a new member of Parentaly's CHRO Advisory Board. Tune in to hear what she sees companies get wrong about parental leave, why she thinks it's a solvable challenge, and how CFOs, ERGs and people leaders can play a more strategic role in getting it right.Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna VassalloLearn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact UsKeep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

December 18, 2025Episode 4359 min

#43: Your Kid (Probably) Isn’t Going To The Olympics - And Other Truths From Emily Oster

What’s the right preschool schedule? When should kids start competitive sports? Is Cocomelon actually bad? These are just a few of the 100+ questions Parentaly clients asked during our exclusive AMA with economist, NYT-bestselling author and ParentData Founder Emily Oster. And now we’re sharing her data-backed answers in this season two finale.Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna VassalloLearn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact UsKeep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

December 4, 2025Episode 4235 min

#42: #ShowUsYourLeave: Behind The Viral Campaign That Made Companies Rethink Paid Leave

What does it take to turn frustration into impact? Former Skimm Chief People Officer Lisa Dallenbach joins us to share how a failed federal bill sparked one of the most influential leave movements: the #ShowUsYourLeave campaign. She shares how it went viral, why visibility changed corporate policy, and how it shifted the conversation about what paid leave should look like.Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna VassalloLearn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact UsKeep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

September 11, 2025Episode 4132 min

#41: We Were One Vote Away From Passing Paid Leave

Dawn Huckelbridge has spent the last decade inside the fight for paid leave in the U.S. - and was part of the historic push that came just one Senate vote shy of passing national policy. In this episode, she explains what happened and what it’ll take to finally get paid leave across the finish line, sharing personal stories, economic arguments and how state-level wins will keep the pressure on.Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna VassalloLearn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact UsKeep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

August 15, 2025Episode 4036 min

#40: Succeeding At The Highest Levels On Her Own Terms

Amnah Ajmal built a high-impact global career across 11 countries and became a CEO by her early thirties - all before starting her family. Amnah shares how she navigated senior leadership in fintech and made the intentional decision to delay motherhood. She also opens up about postpartum depression, the power of a strong partnership and how her next chapter is focused on helping women thrive at work and at home.Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna VassalloLearn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact UsKeep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

July 24, 2025Episode 3931 min

#39: “Empowered & Equipped To Be A Successful Working Parent” At Hershey

What happens when you extend parental leave and pair it with structured career planning and business support? At Hershey, it helped Laura Cooley return from leave more focused, confident and better positioned to grow with the company. She shares how this support set her and her team up for success - and why companies that take a more strategic approach to leave see stronger results across business performance and team effectiveness.Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna VassalloLearn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact UsKeep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter

June 26, 2025Episode 3857 min

#38: Why Andy Dunn Walked Away From Everything But One Thing

Andy Dunn is well known for building Bonobos, one of the earliest and most influential direct-to-consumer brands. After selling it to Walmart, he entered a new phase of his life: high-level corporate executive, husband and father - and for the first time, someone forced him to slow down. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Parentaly | Allison Whalen | Jenna VassalloLearn more about our parental leave programs: How We Help | Contact UsKeep in touch with Parentaly: Podcast newsletter | Monthly newsletter