High Heels Higher Standards
High Heels, Higher Standards is a bold, unfiltered podcast where two executive women get real about power, purpose, and the pressure to play small in careers, relationships and life. Ashley & Heidi blend ambition with authenticity and humor with hard-hitting advice to help high-achieving women own their voice, set the bar higher, live unapologetically, and level up.
High Heels Higher Standards
Emotional Vampires ( & Narcissists) Are Real: The Neuroscience of Emotional Contagion
Ever walk out of a meeting, happy hour, or family dinner feeling completely drained? You might’ve just met an emotional vampire. In this episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, Heidi Hushak and Ashley Werner break down the science and spirituality behind energy drain—and how to protect your personal power from toxic people, workplace burnout, and emotional exhaustion.
The Science: Learn how mirror neurons, cortisol co-regulation, and social contagion theory explain why other people’s moods, stress, and energy literally affect your body and brain. Discover how emotional contagion impacts your workplace, your relationships, and even your success.
The Witchy Wisdom: Ashley brings in energetic protection practices like aura shielding, cord cutting, and the Grey Rock Method to help you stay grounded and unshakable. Whether you call it neuroscience or aura management, it’s all about mastering your energetic boundaries.
The Real Talk: From micromanaging bosses to drama-fueled coworkers and narcissistic partners, this episode unpacks how to recognize emotional vampires, reclaim your confidence, and stop letting other people’s chaos drain your peace.
✨ What You’ll Learn:
- The neuroscience of energy exchange and emotional contagion
- How to recognize and neutralize toxic people and narcissists
- Daily grounding, boundary-setting, and energy-clearing tools
- Why women in leadership must protect their emotional bandwidth
- Practical scripts for saying no without guilt
Affirmation of the Week:
“Your energy is currency. Spend it with intention. Protect it fiercely. Not everyone deserves access to your power.”
If you’re ready to stop absorbing other people’s stress and start owning your vibration, this episode is your science-meets-soul toolkit for reclaiming your power.
🎧 Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
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Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast
Thank you for listening, lovelies!
