Conversations with the Inspiring Chrissy McCluskey

Chrissy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started my “babe cave” (a spare room in my home) to escape a house full of boys (ages 14, 13, and 3). At heart, I am a conversationalist. I love pouring a glass of wine, eating some good food and simply talking. I am always fascinated when I find out something new about someone I have known for a long time. I enjoy conversations that dig beneath the surface. In everyday life, we talk about our kids, husbands, & our careers but even if my friends and I are eating at a restaurant, we’ll spend far too much time staring at our phones than we will in meaningful conversation. I love the idea of blogging and sharing my thoughts and ideas with a bigger audience, but we all have to face our strengths and weaknesses, and the simple truth is, I’m not a writer. My husband suggested I try podcasting and after doing a little trial and error with audio equipment, we turned “The Babe Cave” into a podcasting studio. After a few test podcasts my husband and I realized that while podcasting, we could hold a 1-2 hour uninterrupted conversation with one another without ever glancing at our phones. Can you imagine going two hours without scrolling Instagram? And even better, our kids thought it was cool that we were recording, so they were quiet and left us alone! I invited some friends to podcast with me, and I found that my girlfriends and I could have really organic, genuine conversations without any distractions or interruptions. My husband, who is 46, says that podcasting reminds him of the ’90’s before smartphones, that dark era when people had to actually look each other in the face and talk. So, that’s how “The Babe Cave” podcast came to be – it’s a physical place in my home, but through it, I can connect and interact with anyone in the world.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think my two biggest struggles are finding the time and fear of failure. For many women around me regardless if it is parenting, marriage or career we will put things off due to these two things. It tends to keep me from jumping off that cliff and going for it. I say in anything do what you feel best. Stop talking about it and do it! If you’re want to be a blogger, start a business, a podcaster, or an influencer of some type you have to work hard and be patient – results take time. If you have something interesting to say, people will embrace you. Also don’t compromise on the time. Unless something comes up unavoidable, keep the schedule and make it a priority.

What should we know about The Babe Cave? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My podcast is more about girlfriends sitting at a table talking about everything. Life, love, divorce, loss, and our favorite things in pop culture. I think the best part about the content I put out there is it is real and will make everyone feel more connected with my girl gang. Forewarning I am definitely unfiltered so don’t listen until after dropping off the kids.

For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I know that women can do anything they wish to do. They can be CEO’s, admirals, generals, judges, entrepreneurs, religious leaders, politicians, governors, and Presidents. Pay disparity is a huge challenge for women, and I feel like a great deal of positive attention has been brought to this issue in the past few years. Another huge challenge for women is that many are expected to work as well as care for their children. I know that men can worry about making it to their child’s extracurricular activities, school performances, etc. But I don’t hear that worry come from them as much. I grew up watching my own Mom work her tail off and make sure she showed up to everything. They do it all. Women will push themselves to excel in the workplace so that they can get to school in time to pick up the kids, or get home before dinner, or make it to every baseball game and recital. This type of responsibility, organization, and work ethic shows just how capable women are. I think we will see more equitable pay and responsibility for women in the workforce, and things are trending in the right direction, but it will take time.