Contagious Confidence Podcast

Divorce. Is not a word we love to hear. Right?! If you want a divorce. You’re not the only one. In the United States, between 35%-50% of first-time marriages end in divorce.

Many women have and will face a divorce, which is why when given the opportunity to have my guest, Nanci Smith, Esq on my podcast, I jumped at the chance. Nanci Smith is an attorney licensed to practice in Vermont and New York. She is the chair of the Collaborative Divorce section of the Vermont Bar Association, a leader in her collaborative divorce practice group, and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She frequently writes and talks about divorce, family law, ethics, and collaborative divorce practices. She believes that a good divorce is possible when you show up for it with humility, compassion, and the correct support. Smith is the author of Untangling Your Marriage: A Guide to Collaborative Divorce which is available now.   

In this episode, Nanci and I talk about what it means to have a collaborative divorce, how you can get emotional closure after a divorce, how to take care of yourself during a divorce, and how you can be there for your friends and family who are going through a divorce. 

Divorce can take a huge toll on your self-esteem and if you want to emerge more confident after one of probably the hardest things you’ve faced in your life, you want to know what your options are, right? If you’re considering a divorce, going through one, or have gone through a divorce, I hope you find this episode helpful. 

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

• What is a collaborative divorce? 
• Why you should consider a collaborative divorce
• Signs you should get a divorce 
• The best way to divorce for your kids
• How to take care of yourself during a divorce 
• How to support someone who is going through a divorce

Esther Perel

To Break a Promise by David Whyte

The Book of Joy by Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Where to Find Nanci:

• Book: Untangling Your Marriage: A Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Nanci Smith, Esq.
• Website: https://nancismithlaw.com/ 
• Instagram: @divorceuntangled 

Stay Connected:

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

Because we all need a reminder to be kind to ourselves. 

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

• Why being kind to yourself is important
• Why you're not alone in this
• Giving yourself grace 
• Surrounding yourself with kind people 
• What you're going through right now is temporary

Stay Connected:

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

The word negotiation feels big and scary, doesn’t it? I’m always like– I’d rather not. The thing is, negotiations can make us feel uncomfortable or make us feel like we should already be on the defense. I think a lot of us go ahead and tell ourselves we’re going to lose anyway so we don’t even try. Negotiating is most common regarding jobs, salaries, and job titles but it can also be something that we have to talk about in relationships too. A lot of times, we may feel undervalued or underappreciated or know for a shadow of a doubt that we’re worth more than we’re getting, it’s tough. But these are all stories that we tell ourselves. The key to negotiating with confidence is going into a negotiation knowing what you want and looking at it from the perspective that both parties will win. 

If you want to know the juicy secrets about how to negotiate with confidence, I am so glad you tuned into this episode. I learned so much from my guest, Beth Fisher-Yoshida and I know you will too! Here’s a little more about Beth before we dive into the interview. Beth is a global expert and educator in intercultural negotiation and communication. She’s the program director of Columbia University’s Master of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, a negotiation consultant for the United Nations, and the CEO of the consulting agency Fisher Yoshida International. She works in the U.S. and worldwide, conducting workshops on leadership, culture, workplace conflict, and negotiation, and boasts a client list that includes Fortune 100 companies, nonprofits, military and security forces, governments, NGOs, and educational institutions. Her new book, New Story, New Power: A Woman’s Guide to Negotiation which came out on January 23, 2023, helps women of all ages make successful negotiations a reality.

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

• What negotiation means 
• How to prepare for a negotiation 
• Telling ourselves new stories 
• How to reframe your mindset around negotiations 
• How to negotiate with confidence 

Where to Find Beth:

• Book: New Story, New Power: A Woman’s Guide to Negotiation 
• Website: www.bethfisheryoshida.com 
• Instagram: @bethfisheryoshida
• Podcast: New Story, New Power

Stay Connected:

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

Making friends is hard. Keeping friends is even harder.  Especially as an adult. 

Everyone has their own lives and schedules, and it gets so discouraging at times. When you do try and make time to see a friend or plan something it could be weeks before your schedules actually line up. Friends are such an important part of our lives, but I am starting to hear about an increasing number of people feeling lonely. I’m not going to lie, I feel lonely sometimes. I think all of us feel lonely at times.

I am not a pro and I am still learning. In this episode, I am sharing some friendly reminders and tips that to help you find and keep friends. 

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

• How to make friends as an adult
• How to keep friends as an adult
• Knowing when to let go of the friendship
• How to show up for your friends
• How to friendships are key to confidence 

Stay Connected:

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

When we’re young, we’re taught that it’s not okay to have an ego. That ego is a negative thing.  Right? But the truth is, we all have an ego. No matter how much we don’t want to admit it, we're born with an ego and it never goes away. 

I love how Oprah describes the ego on her Super Soul Sunday podcast she says that ego is …a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance. It’s often referred to as the “false self”. The ego is your self-image, personality, accomplishments, perceived weaknesses, etc. It separates us from everyone else. It makes judgments, longs to feel special, loves conflict, creates enemies, and operates out of fear. 

Oprah also says that “the ego has the power to influence or derail every aspect of our lives.” 

You might be thinking, well the title of this podcast is Becoming Authentically You, why are we talking about ego? And what does this have to do with confidence?

Have you ever heard of the term, Ego Death? I hadn’t until I met my guest in this episode, Nora Shepard. Nora is so interested in Ego Death that she’s even starting a podcast with the name. You’ll find out in this episode what ego death is and why it’s vital to becoming the most authentic and confident self. But before we dive in, I want to tell you a little bit more about my guest, Nora. 

Nora Shepard sits at the intersection of process and people. She is a founding member of the award-winning personal branding firm SimplyBe. Agency and since its inception, Nora has built the frameworks and processes that today serve as the bedrock of the organization. Today she serves as their Head of Business Development, spearheading the expansion into new markets and oversees all new partnerships, growing the company to multi-seven figures alongside its other founders. She is especially passionate about helping others embrace their ego deaths in pursuit of a freer life.

I could literally talk to Nora for hours, as you can tell by the length of this episode, but I promise, it’s worth listening to the full episode!

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

• What ego death is
• How ego can be a good thing
• How to listen to yourself 
• Listening to your intuition  
• Grieving a version of yourself 
• How to break free of the mindset that life is happening to you instead of for you
• How to become your most authentic self

Where to Find Nora:

• LinkedIn: @thenorashepard 
• TikTok: @thenorashepard
• Instagram: @thenorashepard 

Stay Connected:

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

If you feel like you have to be productive all of the time, you're not alone. There's actually a term for it and it is called Internalized Capitalism. Productivity is valued and leisure is not. Why? Because we tie our self-worth to how productive we are.  

You can break free of this mindset. This is something that so many of us struggle with and it starts with awareness. 

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

• What causes us to feel like we have to be productive all of the time
• How our worthiness is tied up in our productivity 
• Tips for breaking free of internal capitalism 

Stay Connected:

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

What do you think of when you hear the word "brave"? I think of people who have, despite their fear, conquered something. It’s also a word that my guest in this episode has chosen to be her word of the year for 2023 and what inspired her to reach out to me to be on this podcast and start her YouTube channel. 

Juliet Rath is a newlywed and young professional who loves all things marketing. And someone who is exploring what it means to have courage in every aspect of her life. Her goal is to motivate women to become more open and honest so we can have deeper, more authentic relationships with ourselves and others. 

To know Juliet is to love her and I can’t wait for you to hear the special conversation we had!

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

• What being brave means
• How to be more brave
• Why creating community is important 
• How to identify your "why"
• Tips for being brave

Where to Find Juliet:

• Instagram: @julietrath
• YouTube: @julietrath

Stay Connected:

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

What is holding you back from pursuing your dreams and desires? If you have an idea or there’s something that you have always wanted to do- what’s stopping you?

Episode mentioned: How Living in Pleasure & Joy will Lead to Financial and Emotional Abundance  with Jen Szpigiel 
Follow my mother-in-law's art journey: @cindyhawkesart

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

• The 4 things that are holding you back from pursuing your dreams and desires
• How to get over the obstacles that are holding you back 
• Why it's important to follow your dreams and desires 
• How to give yourself permission
• How to navigate through your fear

Stay Connected:

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

Beauty and confidence - they have a lot to do with each other. Think about someone you think is super confident. Do they believe they’re beautiful? You bet they do! When you’re your most confident self, believing you are beautiful comes to you a lot easier. It doesn’t mean that you won’t have your moments where you pick yourself apart, but confidence has a lot of influence on how you carry yourself so that your beauty will shine even more than it used to. In this episode, we dive into all of this and so much more, and my hope is that after you listen to our conversation that you will have the encouragement you need to start embracing your beauty. 

Arndreya Price is recognized as one of the world’s most progressive and insightful lifestyle brand luminaries. Her mission to help people feel beautiful and value themselves is achieved through her highly sought-after black Greek apparel brand LNO (Like No Other) Greek which has served thousands of customers and her exotic destination wellness retreats. 

As someone who battled with body image issues since childhood, Arndreya wants people to know they are beautiful and should feel beautiful in their clothes. Contrary to what society tells us, beauty comes in various shades, shapes, and sizes. 

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

• What beauty means 
• How to feel more beautiful 
• Inward vs outward beauty
• The danger of comparison 
• How perception of beauty has changed over time
• How start believing you are beautiful 
• Operating in your fullness 
• Aligning confidence and beauty
• Importance of believing in yourself 
• How to help others feel beautiful 
• The importance of spending time alone 

Where to Connect with Arndreya:

• Personal Instagram: @arndreya
• Business Instagram: @lno_greek
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Website

Stay Connected:

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

A new year is always a good time to start fresh. For many, it’s a clean slate, a good jumping-off point. Some people come up with resolutions, or if you’re like me, you set goals, or finally make the leap and start something you’ve been putting off because a new year always gives us a renewed perspective on things. 

For the first time in a few years, the beginning of a new year actually feels exciting, more than dreadful. 

In this episode, I’m sharing some ways that can help you make this year one of your best years yet.

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

• Tips for making 2023 your best year yet
• How to set goals and intentions 
• How picking a word or the theme for the year can help 
• How to get to know yourself better
• How to stop caring what people think of you 

Goal Setting Podcast Episodes: 

• New Year, New Goals, and New Mindset
• Goal Setting for 2021

Other Resources:

• How Are You Really? Book by Jenna Kutcher 
• @the.holistic.psychologist

Stay Connected:

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