How to Handle Professional Jealousy


Show Notes

In this solo episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen dives into the often-overlooked topic of professional jealousy. She acknowledges how difficult it can be to admit to feeling envious — especially in a professional setting — but argues that jealousy can serve as a powerful emotional signal rather than just something to feel guilty about. Drawing on personal experiences and reflective questions, Carrie explores how jealousy can indicate misaligned goals, unmet needs or lingering grief over past ambitions.

She outlines three key questions she uses to process jealousy: Am I chasing the right goals? Am I getting what I actually need? And do I need to grieve something I’ve lost? These questions help her reframe jealousy from a toxic emotion into a tool for self-awareness and course correction. From rethinking work priorities to making space for creative ambitions or even accepting that some chapters are closed, Carrie offers thoughtful, actionable insights into how we can all use jealousy to uncover what truly matters in our lives and careers.

About Carrie

Carrie Rollwagen is host of the Localist podcast and cofounder of Church Street Coffee & Books. Currently, she works as Vice President of Strategic Planning at Infomedia, a web development company in Birmingham, Alabama. Find the Localist at @thinklocalist on Instagram and follow Carrie at @crollwagen.

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