Contagious Confidence Podcast

One thing I love about doing this podcast is that I get to have conversations with people who are much smarter than me and this interview is no exception. I loved getting the opportunity to talk to Dr. Jackie Heller, MD, a psychoanalyst, who is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology.

She recently published a book, now an Amazon Bestseller: Yesterday Never Sleeps: How Integrating Life's Current and Past Connections Improves Our Well-Being, a work that is part clinical, academic, and memoir.  The narrative is informed by her experience as a psychiatrist and as a child of two Holocaust survivors.

Dr. Heller received a BA in Biology from NYU, an MS in Basic Medical Science from NYU, and an MD from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her psychiatry internship and residency were at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. Her psychoanalytic training was at the New Center for Psychoanalysis, formerly known as the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. 

In this episode, we'll be unraveling the mysteries of the conscious and unconscious mind, delving into the significance of being in touch with our bodies, and exploring the art of introspection and making meaningful connections within ourselves and with others.

Throughout the episode, we'll touch on the significance of knowing oneself, understanding physical sensations, and the impact of projecting onto others. We'll explore the connections between self-awareness, empathy, and cultivating healthy relationships, including how knowing ourselves better can make us better people and even parents.

In this episode of the Contagious Confidence Podcast, we talk about:

• Introspection and making connections 
• How to be self-reflective 
• How to become reflective
• How memories recalibrate 
• Understanding physical sensations and connecting to emotion
• Why the most important relationship is with ourselves 

Where to Find Dr. Jackie:

• Book: Yesterday Never Sleeps 
• Website: jacquelineheller.com

Stay Connected:

• Katie’s IG: @katieehawkes
• Podcast’s IG: @contagiousconfidencepodcast
• Email: [email protected]

I'm sharing my birth story! At 6 months postpartum, it was very therapeutic for me to reflect on everything that occurred when I brought my daughter into this world. While it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do physically, mentally, and emotionally, it was the most intense and remarkable experience. Words don't do it justice. 

Whether you're in the midst of creating your birth plan or interested in hearing about my experience, I hope you find hope and encouragement in me sharing my experience. 

In this episode of the Contagious Confidence Podcast, we talk about:

• The importance of a birth plan
• Why you should create a birth plan 
• How to create a birth plan
• What to expect when creating a birth plan 
• Experiencing the unexpected 
• Mindset going into the delivery room 
• Natural birth vs induced birth

Stay Connected:

• Katie’s IG: @katieehawkes
• Podcast’s IG: @contagiousconfidencepodcast
• Email: [email protected]

Being an introvert in the workplace or leadership position can be intimidating, right? In this empowering episode, I am joined by the lovely Julianna Yau Yorgan, a professional coach for introverts. During our conversation, we explore the unique strengths and perspectives of introverted individuals. Julianna even debunks some common misconceptions about introversion and how introverts can embrace quiet confidence. We also talk about how introverts can define success on their own terms. I am so excited for you to meet Julianna. If you’re ready to thrive in an extrovert’s workplace...without being more extroverted - Julianna is your girl. 

As a former Manager and Director at one of Canada’s largest P & C insurers, Julianna helps introverts figure out exactly which job is the right fit and how they can do everything in their control to get it. As an introvert herself, she knows how difficult it is to land the right role.

Get ready for valuable insights and practical tips for introverted leaders. Whether you're an introvert seeking to harness your strengths or a supporter of introverted leadership, listen to this episode to get a fresh perspective on leadership styles and success.

In this episode of the Contagious Confidence Podcast, we talk about:

• What an introvert isn’t 
• What is an introvert 
• Confidence as an introvert 
• Utilizing your strengths 
• Leadership positions for introverts 
• How to lead as an introvert 
• Leadership styles as an introvert 
• Quiet confidence 
• The difference between strengths and value 
• Defining success as an introvert 

Where to Find Julianna:

• LinkedIn: Julianna Yau Yorgan
• Instagram: @julianna_yy
• Website: jyycoaching.com
• Podcast: Daring to Succeed
• Free Masterclass: Networking Like an Introvert

Stay Connected:

• Katie’s IG: @katieehawkes
• Podcast’s IG: @contagiousconfidencepodcast
• Email: [email protected]

In this deeply personal episode, I reflect on my pregnancy journey, detailing the emotional ups and downs, the physical challenges, and the profound lessons I learned along the way. From the initial shock of discovering I was pregnant to navigating the complexities of pregnancy and ultimately welcoming my daughter into the world, I am sharing my raw and honest experience with you. This episode offers insights and encouragement for those on their pregnancy journey or grappling with the complexities of parenthood.

In this episode of the Contagious Confidence Podcast, we talk about:

• Uncertainty surrounding motherhood.
• Societal pressure to become a mother versus genuine desire.
• Physical and mental preparation before getting pregnant 
• Expectations and confronting fears during the early stages of pregnancy.
• Embracing fear and vulnerability as part of the journey.
• Understanding the uniqueness of each pregnancy experience.
• Grappling with the loss of autonomy and the sacrifices inherent in motherhood.
• Shifting your mindset from productivity to self-compassion.
• Recognizing the transformative power of sacrifice and unconditional love.

I'm starting Season 6 with a bang! I hope you enjoy this episode and find it encouraging.

Stay Connected:

• Katie’s IG: @katieehawkes
• Podcast’s IG: @contagiousconfidencepodcast
• Email: [email protected]

Let’s talk about self-worth, shall we? When it comes to confidence, I feel like self-worth is something that is often overlooked, but it’s vital to our confidence.  When we’re born we have so much self-worth. But as we start to grow up, that’s when our self-worth begins to get holes poked in it. There are people and experiences that we all encounter that cause our self-worth to be compromised so by the time we’re full-blown adults, our self-worth is almost non-existent. 

I could not think of a more perfect person to dive into this topic with than my guest, Tiffany Houser. Tiffany is passionate about people and transformation. As an executive & leadership coach, entrepreneur, and woman of color, Tiffany knows firsthand about the roller coaster ride of self-worth. 

As the founder of EVOLVE, Tiffany coaches senior leaders who are ready to experience powerful breakthroughs around their self-worth, authentic leadership style, vision, and purpose. Collaborating closely with key company stakeholders, Tiffany also designs and delivers transformative team experiences and captivating speaking engagements. 

Her vision is to create leaders at all levels in companies and she believes this happens team-by-team, starting with the leader of the team. Leaders who are compassionate, responsible, inclusive, and empowered. 

With her 1:1 coaching clients, Tiffany uncovers the hidden struggles compromising their self-worth, often lurking in their blind spots. Tiffany’s coaching creates massive clarity and confidence by reassuring them they’re not the only senior leader in a top role experiencing this and equips them with tools to unpack and transform their self-worth. 

Tiffany is a Michigan alum, a former SoulCycle Instructor and DJ, and serves on the Board of Becky’s Fund. Tiffany fills her cup with her partner Jay, their dog Coconut, and their adventurous life together.

This conversation is so FREAKIN’ GOOD. Tiffany really breaks down what self-worth is what it has to do with confidence and why it’s so important, especially when it comes to leadership. I could literally talk to Tiffany all day about this and I can’t wait for you to listen.

In this episode of the Contagious Confidence Podcast, we talk about:

• What self-worth is
• What the difference is between self-worth and confidence  
• How to improve your self-worth
• Why the language we use is important
• Why self-worth is important in leadership roles

Where to Find Tiffany:

• Website: evolveeq.com
• LinkedIn: @tiffanyhouser and @evolveeq
• Instagram: @tiffanyhouser

Stay Connected:

• Katie’s IG: @katieehawkes
• Podcast’s IG: @contagiousconfidencepodcast
• Email: [email protected]

Do you find it hard to set boundaries? Girl, me too. I think most people struggle with identifying when a boundary needs to be set AND actually setting that boundary. I’ve learned the hard way why setting boundaries is so important and I am sure many of you have to. We don’t see many great examples of healthy boundary setting and why we all get into those situations where a boundary would have been helpful. Boundaries are a tough subject to talk about and that’s why I am so ecstatic to have my guest, Marina J, on the podcast to talk all about setting boundaries, especially with the people that we love. 

Marina guides women to transform the relationship they have with themselves and painful dynamics with others so they reclaim their freedom, their power, their light, and their lives! She helps women rise with 1:1 coaching, free masterclasses, courses, and her #1 best-selling book and podcast, both called, Turn Yourself On. She has coached in Shadow Alchemy for 20 years and has also taught Japanese yoga and meditation for 25 years. 

Marina’s perspective on boundaries is so unique and needed in this world. She has such a calming, endearing presence and helped me shift my perspective when it comes to setting boundaries. I hope you’ll walk away from this episode ready to step into your power and set some boundaries so you can continue on your journey to becoming your most confident self. 

In this episode of the Contagious Confidence Podcast, we talk about:

• How to identify your own boundaries 
• Signs to look for when you need to set a boundary with someone 
• How to find the emotional support you need 
• How to know when it's the right time to set a boundary 
• Energy exchange 

Where to Find Marina:

• Website: marinaj.net
• Book: Turn Yourself On
• Podcast: The Turn Yourself on Podcast with Marina J.
• Courses: marinaj.net/onlinecourses
• Instagram: @marinajcoaching

Stay Connected:

• Katie’s IG: @katieehawkes
• Podcast’s IG: @contagiousconfidencepodcast
• Email: [email protected]

Denial. It’s not something that anyone wants to talk about, right? But we all have experience with it. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to Dr. Jane Greer. Dr. Jane Greer is a Marriage and Family Therapist, Psychotherapist, author, radio host, and creator of “SHRINK WRAP,” the popular commentary on what we can learn from the trials and triumphs of not only celebrity but all relationships. Through her media collaborations and professional insights, Dr. Greer is recognized as a leading national expert in love and relationships. She’s the author of six books, including her latest, Am I Lying To Myself? How to Overcome Denial and See the Truth. 

My conversation with Dr. Greer was super enlightening. She has a really interesting perspective on denial and why it can hold us back, especially when it comes to confidence. 

In this episode of the Contagious Confidence Podcast, we talk about:

• What is denial? 
• How we can recognize denial in ourselves and others
• How to handle someone who is in denial about a problem or bad behavior
• How denial impacts our confidence 

Where to Find Dr. Greer:

• Website: drjanegreer.me
• Book: Am I Lying To Myself? How to Overcome Denial and See the Truth
• Radio Show: Doctor On Call
• Psychology Today: Shrink Wrap Blog
• Instagram: @drjanegreer

Stay Connected:

• Katie’s IG: @katieehawkes
• Podcast’s IG: @contagiousconfidencepodcast
• Email: [email protected]

Have you been searching for love for a long time? Or does your life feel out of balance? Do things just feel off, or do you feel like something is missing? Well, my friend, this episode is for you! 

I am delighted to introduce you to Feng Shui expert, Patricia Lohan. Not only is she an expert in the art of ancient energy work, but she’s also a manifesting magnet, alchemist, healer, and real-life Irish Celtic Shaman. Some people actually call her the “Mary Poppins of Prosperity”.

Patricia is the creator of PowerHouse Feng Shui and the Author of The Happy Home: A Guide To Creating A Happy, Healthy, Wealthy Life and Become a Business Powerhouse Using Feng Shui. She helps entrepreneurs make their homes & businesses magnetic to money, luck, and blessings. She shows you what they don’t teach in business school, what lies between the lines - your top-secret tool for success. 

She has helped thousands of people across the globe embrace Feng Shui and create lasting changes in their businesses, homes, and lives.  Patricia has seen firsthand the power of the mind, surroundings, and inner healing, clearing and aligning everything so it works holistically. She loves entrepreneurship with 15 years of experience running and growing three successful startups of her own.

Patricia has been featured in media around the world including The New York Times, CNN, Fox, Forbes, The New York Post, She Knows, Essence, Mind Body Green, USA Today, and Elephant Journal.

Y’all. This episode is so juicy! I absolutely loved my conversation with Patricia. Through Fung Shui and some magical manifesting, she actually called her husband into her life. She shares tons of stories of people who have made some simple changes in their lives and homes and have been able to call some amazing things into their lives. I am obsessed with everything we talked about in this episode and I know you will be too.

In this episode of the Contagious Confidence Podcast, we talk about:

• What it means to call in your soulmate
• How energy affects outcomes
• Why the belief that things are possible is essential 
• Setting up your environment to call in love 
• The importance of getting your environment ready for your future 
• How to figure out what you want in a soulmate 
• What is Feng Shui?
• How to balance your house’s energy 
• How Feng Shui can make your life easier 
• How to set up your home to help your confidence 

Where to Find Patricia:

• Books: The Happy Home: Your Guide to Creating a Happy, Healthy, Wealthy Life and BECOME A BUSINESS POWERHOUSE WITH FENG SHUI: How to 10x your results without working any harder.
• Website: patricialohan.com
• Love resource: patricialohan.com/love 
• Instagram: @powerhousefengshui

Stay Connected:

• Katie’s IG: @katieehawkes
• Podcast’s IG: @contagiousconfidencepodcast
• Email: [email protected]

Do you wish you were more confident when it comes to speaking? Whether we’re in front of a group or a single person, a lot of us struggle with feeling confident when we speak. And there might actually be things that we’re doing or saying if we speak that immediately undercut our credibility.

Maybe your voice shakes, or you sway a lot. Or if you’re like me your chest and neck start getting red and your throat starts tightening up. Or maybe you avoid any sort of speaking opportunity like the plague. If you’re listening you might be struggling with feeling comfortable and confident when you’re speaking or giving a presentation and that’s okay! We’ve all got to start somewhere and listening to this podcast episode is a great first step!

I am overjoyed to introduce you to my guest, Marianna Swallow. Marianna is The Speak Easy Coach. Her mission is to make public speaking easy and enjoyable for everyone – one speech at a time. Since 2014, she’s transformed thousands of individuals and teams by teaching them to develop and deliver clear and confident presentations while making the process fun. 

A lifelong performer, she’s a graduate of the Second City Conservatory. She currently performs stand-up and storytelling in Chicago. She holds a BA from Northern Illinois University and an MFA from Goucher College. She splits her time between Chicago and Charlotte.

Marianna goes above and beyond in this episode delving into how to identify some unconscious speaking that we have, how to work on them, create more speaking opportunities for yourself and so much more. Get ready to walk away from the episode challenged and inspired to tackle those speaking fears. 

In this episode of the Contagious Confidence Podcast, we talk about:

• Unconscious speaking habits you need to break
• Things that undercut your credibility as a speaker
• How to stop apologizing 
• How conditioning affects how we present ourselves
• How practicing is important to gain confidence as a speaker
• The difference between thinking and preparation 
• Tips for practicing public speaking 
• How to create more opportunities to practice presentation skills or public speaking 
• Tips for getting over the fear of public speaking 

Resources: 

• mariannaswallow.com/blog
• The Moth

Where to Find Marianna:

• Website: www.mariannaswallow.com
• LinkedIn: @mariannas

Stay Connected:

• Katie’s IG: @katieehawkes
• Podcast’s IG: @contagiousconfidencepodcast
• Email: [email protected]

When was the last time you got what you wanted? Having a hard time thinking about it? Me too! As women, we’ve been conditioned to settle for less and not even take what’s given to us. But guess what- you CAN get what you want and you WILL get what you want after you finish listening to this episode.

I loved the conversation that I had with my guest in this episode, Cindy Watson.  Cindy is the founder of Women on Purpose and the creator of the Art of Feminine Negotiation™ and HERsuasion™ programs. She is also the founder and managing partner of Watson Palmer Law. Cindy has specialized in social justice law for 30 years. She is a TEDx international speaker, award-winning author, master negotiator, and consultant known for her passion, commitment, and ability to inspire. As a world-class women’s empowerment coach, Cindy has a proven track record of motivating women to negotiate their best life. Her new book, The Art of Feminine Negotiation: How to Get What You Want from the Boardroom to the Bedroom,  is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller. Doesn’t she sound great? I can’t wait for you to meet her!

Cindy and I talked about how to figure out what you want, and how to get what you want using your Feminine Energy. Seriously, y’all this episode is packed with so many good tips, so I hope you take notes! 

In this episode of the Contagious Confidence Podcast, we talk about:

• Why getting what you want is really clarity in the process and determining what relationship outcome that you want
• The difference between what you really want and what you've been conditioned to want. 
• Tips for how to tap into your intuition 
• Expectations of women being martyrs and giving up 
• How to dig into your value 
• Redefining compromise  
• What is feminine energy?
• How to use your feminine energy to get what you want 
• How to negotiate the salary 
• Tips for interviews and negotiations
•  How to use our feminine to boost confidence

Resources: 

How to Brag About Yourself with Dr. Winefred Bragg Episode
 
A ssertiveness
R apport building
E mpathy

F lexibility
I ntuition
T rust

F ear
E go
A attachment
R reactivity 

5 W's: Who, what,  where,  when, and why
 
 
Where to Find Cindy:

• Book: The Art of Feminine Negation 
• Free resource: artoffemininenegotiationbook.com 
• Social media: @womenonpurposecoaching
• Website: womenonpurpose.ca  
• Podcast: ART of Feminine Negation

Stay Connected:

• Katie’s IG: @katieehawkes
• Podcast’s IG: @contagiousconfidencepodcast
• Email: [email protected]