Today marked the first Sunday of the YouBeYou.Live Podcast, and if you missed it, let me tell you—it was electric. The discussion was lively, the engagement was incredible, and time moved so quickly that by the end of it, I was left wanting more. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many viewers chiming in with thoughtful comments, insights, and perspectives.

We covered a range of topics, but where we ended is where things got really interesting. As we wrapped up, we found ourselves asking a question that lingers in the air like a stubborn fog—one that isn't easily answered but absolutely needs to be explored.

We were discussing the 2016 and 2024 U.S. election results, and one of our attendees mentioned how both outcomes seemed to be driven by the country's dissatisfaction with its direction. A fair point. But I took the conversation a step further and asked:

Were the election results about the country rejecting the current leadership, or was it something deeper—something unspoken, yet glaringly obvious? Was it about America not being ready for a female president?

The Pattern That Can’t Be Ignored

This isn’t about party lines. This isn’t about who you voted for. This is about a pattern—one that cannot be ignored.

Think about it: If we strip away names and focus purely on qualifications, both female candidates in 2016 and 2024 were nothing short of exceptional. Their résumés were stacked, their experience undeniable. Yet, despite their qualifications, their opponents—men with glaring controversies, questionable ethics, and a laundry list of red flags—emerged victorious.

And how were these women judged? Not on their policies. Not on their leadership skills. But on their laugh, their smile, their demeanor.

  • “I don’t like the way she laughs.”

  • “There’s something about her that I can’t put my finger on.”

  • “I don’t trust her.”

Not because of evidence of dishonesty, but because of a feeling. Meanwhile, their opponents had very real, very public scandals—everything from tax evasion to felony convictions, yet they were still deemed the "better option."

Why?

The Fear of Power Shifting

Is it possible that the real issue isn't about left vs. right, but about the deep-rooted fear of power shifting from men to women? The idea of a woman being Commander-in-Chief, the most powerful person in the world, the ultimate decision-maker—does that unsettle a society that has been historically governed by male leadership?

If we reflect on history, we see this pattern repeated time and time again. Every step forward for women has been met with resistance, ridicule, and an attempt to discredit their abilities. Women in corporate boardrooms, women in science, women in sports, women in politics—the struggle remains the same.

When the stakes are at their highest, when the job in question is the President of the United States, do we still collectively doubt that a woman can lead?

The Conversation Continues

I don’t have the answer, but I think it’s a conversation worth having. And we will have it—whether it’s on the next episode of YouBeYou.Live or in one of our future series.

Because here’s what we know:

  • Different women. Same responses.

  • Different election. Same outcome.

Coincidence? Or something more?

These are the things that make you go, hmm.

Join us next time, and let’s keep the conversation going.

Thanks for reading,

William Rochelle, but you can call me Bill

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