Stop Doing Everything Yourself, with Alison Fragale

Send us Fan Mail Organizational psychologist Alison Fragale (author of Likable Badass) explains why hiring help is essential for your sanity, not a luxury. She breaks down how she outsources childcare, cleaning, and errands without the guilt, why she hires a "third parent" instead of a nanny, and how to give feedback to the people who help you. In this episode: - Why you should always go first in a negotiation (the $300 couch) - Why going "in the red" on childcare can be an investment - The market reframe: you're not exploiting anyone by hiring help - How to hire a "third parent" and give feedback to people who work in your home - Why 80% done by someone else is a win - Why to keep a bench of five sitters, and overpay them - Why earning your own income doesn't end the "why do we need this?" argument, and what it does change Book of the week: Likable Badass by Alison Fragale \[AMAZON LINK] Connect with Alison: \[LINKS] **Chapters** 0:00 Welcome, Alison Fragale 3:02 What makes a likable badass 4:50 Always go first (the $300 couch) 9:16 It takes a village 12:17 It's not about money, it's a mindset 14:37 Why it's okay to go "in the red" on childcare 18:13 The guilt of outsourcing 21:35 You're not exploiting anyone: the market reframe 22:34 Care.com, TaskRabbit, and the contractor mindset 25:51 Hire a "third parent" 28:00 How to give feedback without the awkwardness 30:22 Ask what they love and hate doing 31:49 Skip the agency? Alison's hiring philosophy 35:14 "If you leave for another nanny job, I failed you" 36:11 Founder's mentality and the 80% rule 39:27 What else can you outsource? 43:14 Where does your husband fit in? 47:44 The day the movers changed his mind 50:36 Keep a bench of five sitters 53:03 Why you should overpay sitters 57:01 Book of the week: Likable Badass 58:54 Give people a to-do list 1:12:18 Time vs. money in the marriage 1:13:50 Meme of the week We’re two New York City women talking candidly about the chaos of modern life, from relationships, parenting, working in and out of the home, to what it takes to stay semi-sane in a world that expects you to hold it all together and be #blessed. We couldn’t find an honest and vulnerable conversation — so we started one! If you need a laugh, a cry, or just want to hear someone else admit their flaws and validate your crazy, you’re in the right place. Be ready to be… Unfiltered, Unafraid, and UnExpert. Please follow, like, review, and share the podcast with your family and friends! - Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/micdandmedicated and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MicdMedicated/podcasts - Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@micdandmedicated - Check out our website: micdandmedicated.com Surgeon General Warning Disclaimer: We are self-prescribed unexperts, so if you have any real questions or need real advice, please call your nearest doctor. © 2025 Eva Heyman & Caroline Leventhal