She Talks Confidence Podcast

How can women succeed in business without changing who they are?

In this episode of the She Talks Confidence Podcast, my conversation with business owner, Kelly Stanaway, explores the fine line between fitting into a professional environment and staying true to yourself. The discussion focuses on confidence for women in business, workplace expectations, male-dominated industries, authenticity, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, leadership, boundaries, and burnout.

The conversation examines what it takes to enter a workplace with confidence while also understanding the culture, hierarchy, expectations, and people in the room.

One key message is simple: know your value, but also know what you don’t know.

The discussion also explores how women can build credibility through experience, prepare for difficult professional situations, maintain their integrity, and avoid pretending to have every answer. Admitting “I don’t know” can create more trust than trying to appear perfect.

Three Biggest Takeaways

Know your value and what you don’t know.
Confidence doesn’t require having every answer. Recognizing your limits, asking questions, and being honest can strengthen professional credibility.

Learn how to read the room without losing yourself.
Understanding workplace dynamics, company culture, and professional expectations can help women navigate business environments while staying authentic and grounded in their principles.

Set boundaries before burnout sets in.
A successful career should not require being available every hour of the day. Clear communication, supportive systems, and realistic boundaries can help women protect their personal time and maintain balance.

This episode is for women navigating confidence issues at work, entering the workforce after college, managing imposter syndrome, dealing with perfectionism, seeking leadership opportunities, or trying to succeed without sacrificing their identity.

Listen for practical insight on:

Women in business and workplace confidence

How to be authentic at work

Fitting in without losing your identity

Confidence after college

Imposter syndrome and perfectionism

Women in male-dominated industries

Knowing your value

Building credibility and professional confidence

Integrity in the workplace

Leadership and vulnerability

Setting boundaries at work

Preventing burnout

Women supporting women

Career transitions and personal growth


Contact Kellie Stanaway

Email: [email protected]

Company: Fertig and Gordon


Contact Tony Dufresne

Confidence website: theconfidencedoc.com

Email: [email protected]

#SheTalksConfidence #WomenInBusiness #WorkplaceConfidence #CareerConfidence #ImposterSyndrome #AuthenticityAtWork #WomenInLeadership #ProfessionalConfidence #WorkplaceBoundaries #BurnoutPrevention #WomenSupportingWomen #PersonalGrowth #ConfidenceForWomen #MaleDominatedIndustries #FittingInAndBeingYourself

Why do high-performing women still feel like they have to prove they’re good enough?

In this episode of the She Talks Confidence Podcast, Coach and Author, Kay Tear and Tony explore how imposter syndrome, perfectionism, workplace pressure, and burnout can keep women caught in a cycle of seeking approval.

The discussion challenges the idea that imposter syndrome is simply a confidence problem and examines what may be happening underneath self-doubt.

You’ll hear how a busy mind can amplify fear, why external praise often disappears as women move into senior leadership, and how personal values, clear boundaries, and a stronger understanding of your inner world can reduce the pressure to perform for approval.

Three Key Takeaways

Imposter syndrome isn’t a medical syndrome or simply a lack of confidence. It can be connected to repetitive thinking, fear of being exposed, and the need for external validation. 08:35

High achievement can create performance pressure when recognition becomes part of your identity. As career responsibilities grow, it becomes important to define your own standards instead of waiting for someone else’s approval. 15:47

Stress and burnout often build through accumulated boundaries that were never set. Understanding your mood, noticing stressful thoughts, and redirecting your attention can create more space and clearer thinking. 31:06

This episode is for women navigating imposter syndrome, perfectionism, self-doubt, burnout, workplace confidence, leadership pressure, relationship transitions, anxious attachment, and the desire to live and work in greater alignment with their values.

Connect with Kay Tear:

Website: businessreimagined.co.uk
Email: [email protected]

Learn more about the She Talks Confidence Podcast and connect with Tony:

Website: theconfidencedoc.com
Email: [email protected]

Keywords

imposter syndrome, eliminate the pressure to prove yourself, women’s confidence, workplace confidence, perfectionism, burnout, self-doubt, high performers, women in leadership, leadership confidence, performance pressure, fear of failure, confidence at work, corporate women, setting boundaries, anxious attachment, emotional burnout, clear mind, busy mind, personal growth, women’s empowerment, She Talks Confidence Podcast

#ImposterSyndrome #WomensConfidence #Perfectionism #Burnout #WomenInLeadership #WorkplaceConfidence #SelfDoubt #LeadershipConfidence #SheTalksConfidence

Welcome to the She Talks Confidence Podcast, where Tony explores confidence, self-love, imposter syndrome, and personal growth with women who are finding their voice and creating meaningful change.

In this episode, Tony talks with Shateryn Lampkin, Miss Black Royal International, about overcoming imposter syndrome, building self-confidence, and owning your own story.

At just 22, Shateryn shares how she learned to speak with confidence even while still growing into her own identity. She opens up about being a Black, plus-size woman in pageantry, facing self-doubt, and using her personal experiences to encourage other women and young girls to step into their power.

This conversation also explores the impact of social media on women’s self-esteem, the importance of supportive relationships, the value of mentorship, and why confidence doesn’t mean feeling comfortable every day. Shateryn explains that confidence can mean choosing to do something difficult or frightening, even when you don’t feel fully prepared.

Three Biggest Takeaways

Confidence is action, not perfection.
You don’t have to love yourself every day or feel completely ready. Confidence grows when you choose to do the hard thing while fear is still present.

Your story gives your voice value.
Shateryn's experience with imposter syndrome shows that you don’t need to be a lifelong expert to share a meaningful message. Your lived experience, perspective, and personal growth matter.

Community and mentorship strengthen self-esteem.
Building a supportive circle, helping others, and becoming a safe person for someone else can create confidence on both sides.

Listen for an honest conversation about imposter syndrome, self-love, body confidence, social media and self-esteem, women’s empowerment, pageantry, mentoring, finding your voice, and owning your own story.

You can connect with Shateryn on Instagram:
@missblackroyalintl
@shaylampkin

Visit Tony at:
www.theconfidencedoc.com

Timestamp

00:00 Start

02:00 Impact of social media on self-esteem

03:57 Building confidence through sports

07:52 Building self-confidence through mentoring

10:01 Feeling inadequate in your 20s

14:38 Confidence workshops and clothing drive

18:30 Boosting confidence through pageantry

22:33 Confidence vs. Competence

24:49 Connecting with the Confidence Doc

imposter syndrome, owning your own story, women’s confidence, self-love, self-esteem, body confidence, social media and confidence, overcoming self-doubt, finding your voice, confidence for women, personal growth, women’s empowerment, mentorship, Black women’s confidence, plus-size confidence, pageantry, Miss Black Royal International, public speaking confidence, emotional support, confidence podcast.

#ImposterSyndrome #WomensConfidence #SelfLove #OwnYourStory #ConfidencePodcast #WomenEmpowerment #BodyConfidence #PersonalGrowth #FindYourVoice

In this episode of the She Talks Confidence Podcast, Tony speaks with therapist Allison Brenner about self-awareness, confidence, feedback, hidden strengths, blind spots, and the gap between our intentions and our impact.

Allison explains how her Interview system helps people compare their self-perception with anonymous feedback from the people who experience them in different areas of life. The system gathers information across 14 skills and behaviors, offering insight into how you show up with family, friends, colleagues, leaders, mentors, and your wider community.

This conversation explores why we often guess how we came across in a meeting, relationship, or social situation, and how that uncertainty can lead to overthinking and self-doubt. Instead of treating feedback as a judgment or permanent label, Allison encourages curiosity and a willingness to understand the experience we create for others.

Allison  and Tony discuss:

The difference between self-perception and external feedback

How hidden strengths can affect confidence and self-esteem

Why intention and impact don’t always match

The connection between self-awareness and relationships

How women can adjust their communication without abandoning who they are

Why “just be yourself” doesn’t account for context

How anonymous feedback can reveal patterns without shame

The importance of learning when to turn your personal “amplifier” up or down

How constructive feedback can support personal and professional growth

If you’ve ever wondered how you come across to other people, struggled with overthinking, or questioned whether your confidence matches the way others experience you, this episode offers a practical way to look at yourself with more clarity.

Three Biggest Takeaways

Self-awareness includes understanding your impact on other people.

Knowing your intentions isn’t enough. Confidence grows when you understand how your words, actions, and behaviors actually land with the people around you.

Feedback can reveal strengths you’ve been overlooking.

Other people may value you for qualities you don’t recognize in yourself. Learning about those hidden strengths can change how you see yourself and how confidently you move through the world.

Curiosity makes personal growth more useful than defensiveness.

Feedback isn’t a verdict on who you are. It reflects patterns in a particular season of your life and can help you decide what you want to strengthen, adjust, or express differently.

Contact Allison Brenner

Website: yourinnervue.com

And, you can use code: CONFIDENCE20 for 20% off Allison's program!

Allison Brenner shares that Interview is also available through social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Threads under Your Interview.

Contact Tony

Website: theconfidencedoc.com

Email: [email protected]

Keywords

how you see yourself vs how others experience you, self-awareness, confidence, women and confidence, personal growth, external feedback, self-perception, blind spots, hidden strengths, intention vs impact, confidence for women, imposter syndrome, overthinking, perfectionism, emotional intelligence, communication skills, workplace confidence, women in leadership, relationships and communication, constructive feedback, anonymous feedback, personal development, professional development, organizational psychology, Interview assessment, understanding how others experience you, She Talks Confidence Podcast, Tony Dufresne, Allison Brenner

What if the voice in your head could help you move through fear instead of keeping you small?

In this episode of the She Talks Confidence Podcast, Tony talks with Sarah Jakle, a trauma-informed women’s leadership educator, about how to train your inner best friend and quiet the inner critic.

Sarah explains how the amygdala can interpret unfamiliar opportunities, leadership roles, and professional spaces as threats. That response can appear as imposter syndrome, perfectionism, hesitation, and the belief that you need one more certification before taking action.

The conversation offers practical confidence tools for women navigating self-doubt, career transitions, leadership, adversity, and personal growth.

Three Biggest Takeaways

Identify your inner critic without letting it control your choices:
The inner critic may be trying to protect you, but acknowledging it creates space to choose a different response.

Create an inner best friend who offers unconditional support: Ask, “What would my inner best friend say?” This supportive voice can help soothe the amygdala and reconnect you with your values and ambitions.

Train your brain to notice positive experiences: Through “savoring the good,” you can consciously recognize moments of beauty, joy, and encouragement instead of allowing criticism to dominate your attention.

Sarah Jakle also shares how she used these tools after being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and told she would never work again. Her experience led her to develop practical training for women and high school girls who want to pursue opportunities they may have previously considered too frightening or out of reach.

If you’re working through imposter syndrome, perfectionism, nervous system dysregulation, fear of failure, or uncertainty about your next step, this episode offers a practical way to build a more supportive inner voice.

Connect with the Guest

Learn more about the training at democrashe.org.

You can connect with Sarah Jakle on LinkedIn or follow @innerbestfriend on Instagram.

Connect with the Host

Visit theconfidencedoc.com or email Tony at [email protected].

Time Stamp

00:00 Start

02:00 Talking about emotional regulation

05:28 Challenges women face in politics

08:26 Programs for Empowering Young Girls

11:48 Listening to your inner best friend

15:27 Finding Your Inner Best Friend

17:46 Immersing in neuroscience for resilience

22:01 Choosing positivity over negativity

#SheTalksConfidence #InnerBestFriend #ImposterSyndrome #WomensConfidence #NervousSystemRegulation #TraumaResiliency #WomensLeadership #Perfectionism #InnerCritic #PersonalGrowth

Why do women still feel stuck after therapy, coaching, journaling, mantras, self-help books, and years of personal growth work?

In this episode of the She Talks Confidence Podcast, Tony speaks with Christine Agro, founder of Intrinsic Energy Institute and creator of Patriarchal Encodement. Together, they explore the hidden conditioning beneath self-doubt, over-giving, difficulty setting boundaries, fear of using your voice, and the struggle to trust your intuition.

Christine explains why knowing your patterns isn’t always enough to change them. She introduces the idea of patriarchal encodement as an underlying operating system that can influence confidence, self-worth, inner knowing, body image, power, and control.

The conversation also explores why women may confuse intuition with doubt, how early experiences can weaken trust in what they know, and why bringing subconscious patterns into awareness is a crucial part of healing and personal transformation.

Three Biggest Takeaways

Self-awareness is the first step, not the final step. Recognizing a repeating pattern can create change, but Christine Agro explains that you also have to work with the underlying programming, doubt, guilt, overwhelm, and fear attached to it at 11:13.

Intuition and self-doubt can feel similar. Women may know something internally, then immediately question it because past experiences taught them not to trust their own perception. Christine Agro discusses how this pattern develops and how to begin reclaiming inner knowing at 07:38.

You don’t have to give away your personal power to heal. Support, guidance, therapy, community, and skilled practitioners can help you go deeper, but the goal should be to give you tools and greater ownership of your own healing process. Christine Agro explains her approach at 17:24.

Listen to the full episode for a deeper conversation about women’s confidence, subconscious programming, patriarchal conditioning, intuition, boundaries, emotional healing, and reclaiming personal power.

Contact Christine Agro

Website: christineagro.com

Midlife Workbook: midlife.christineagro.com

Patriarchal Encodements Workbook: christineagro.com/pe-workbook

Email: [email protected]

Contact Tony

Website: theconfidencedoc.com

Email: [email protected]

Keywords

why women feel stuck, women doing everything right, women’s self-doubt, women’s confidence, subconscious programming, patriarchal conditioning, patriarchal encodement, trusting your intuition, intuition versus self-doubt, how to trust your intuition, women and self-worth, setting boundaries, overgiving, people pleasing, finding your voice, fear of speaking up, emotional healing, personal growth, therapy and self-help, confidence podcast, women’s empowerment, subconscious patterns, healing trauma, inner knowing, reclaiming personal power, She Talks Confidence Podcast

Time Stamp

00:00 Start

02:00 Why women feel stuck

06:32 Healing and reclaiming personal truth

10:17 Breaking the cycle of self-sabotage

13:02 Working on subconscious programming

16:22 Importance of support and therapy

18:52 Taking small steps for change

22:32 Understanding emotional triggers

25:49 Finding true reasons for staying

Picking up the pieces after losing someone can change your identity, confidence, relationships, and vision for the future.

In this episode of the She Talks Confidence Podcast, Tony speaks with certified grief coach and author Aimee Suyko about losing both of her parents and learning how to move forward while continuing to carry grief.

Through honest stories about caregiving, depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, and rebuilding her life, Amy explains how writing became part of her healing journey and eventually connected her with thousands of people experiencing loss.

Three Biggest Takeaways

Grief has no fixed timeline: You can continue grieving for the rest of your life while still taking steps toward a new version of your future.

Moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting: Small actions, such as taking a walk, returning to a favorite restaurant, or saying yes to something difficult, can help rebuild momentum.

Loss changes your identity: Whether you’re grieving a death, divorce, breakup, illness, or another major life change, you don’t have to become the person you were before. You can begin discovering who you are now.

Connect with Aimee Suyko through the In Their Footsteps Blog on Facebook, or find her book, What Remains? Reflections on Losing, Loving, and Learning to Live Again, on Amazon.

Visit Tony at theconfidencedoc.com or email him at [email protected].

Time Stamp

00:00 Start

02:00 Discussing identity and confidence after loss

04:58 Sharing honest feelings through writing

08:21 Sharing Vulnerability in Writing

10:09 Coping with grief and moving forward

13:58 Shifting from blogging to book writing

17:36 Moving forward after grief

20:48 Grieving family milestones

25:21 Importance of therapy and self-reflection

27:49 Adapting to Life after Change

30:16 Sharing contact info and guest invite

grief and loss, picking up the pieces after losing someone, coping with grief, healing after loss, rebuilding your identity, grief and confidence, moving forward after loss, grief after losing a parent, life after loss, grief recovery, grief coaching, grief support, learning to live again, grief after divorce, grief after a breakup, imposter syndrome, mental health and grief, personal growth after loss, She Talks Confidence Podcast, Amy Suyko, What Remains Reflections on Losing Loving and Learning to Live Again.

In this episode of the She Talks Confidence Podcast, Tony talks with author and caregiver Rachel Schneider about grief, caregiving, confidence, and leading a family through devastating illness without pretending everything is normal.

After Rachel Schneider’s husband, John, was diagnosed with ALS, she had to navigate caregiving, parenting, leadership, faith, and profound loss. She shares why women need permission to acknowledge what hurts, ask for help, take a break, and respond honestly to life’s hardest moments.

Rachel Schneider explains why resilience is a muscle, why capability and capacity are different, and how self-trust develops before a crisis arrives. She also discusses survivor guilt, the isolation of caregiving, and the emotional impact illness can have on an entire family.

Three Biggest Takeaways

Stop pretending everything is fine: Rachel Schneider challenges the pressure to maintain a positive attitude while facing grief, illness, and caregiving. “This is my life and it has changed. There’s nothing normal about this” 11:32.

Capability doesn’t mean unlimited capacity: Women may be capable of handling difficult responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean they can keep taking on more without support. Rachel Schneider explains the difference between what you can do and what you can sustainably carry 17:05.

You still have a choice in how you respond: Even when circumstances feel uncontrollable, Rachel Schneider believes the choice to pause, grieve, ask for help, and decide how to move forward is still there 22:03.

Connect with Rachel Schneider at spiritedprosperity.com

Rachel Schneider’s book, The Widow Chose Red: My Journey with Jesus, John, and ALS, is available on Amazon, Audible, Spotify, and wherever you buy books.

Connect with Tony at theconfidencedoc.com or email [email protected].

Timestamp

00:00 Start

02:30 Building resilience and perseverance

06:10 Coping with family crisis

06:52 Coping with ALS diagnosis

10:47 Balancing family and personal growth

13:51 Struggling with survivor guilt

17:05 Balancing capability and capacity

20:37 Dealing with pressure and expectations

23:49 Celebration of Life Service Photo

Stop pretending you’re fine, rebuilding confidence after loss, grief and caregiving, confidence after trauma, women and resilience, leadership through crisis, self-trust, survivor guilt, ALS caregiving, family crisis, emotional resilience, women’s confidence, caregiver burnout, capacity versus capability, grief recovery, confidence podcast, She Talks Confidence Podcast, Rachel Schneider, The Widow Who Chose Red, Tony Dufresne.

Recalibrating Your Life Around What Truly Matters

What if burnout isn’t only about having too much to do? What if it’s also a sign that your life has drifted away from what truly matters to you?

In this episode of the She Talks Confidence Podcast, Tony speaks with Dr. Judith Wright, who has spent decades helping high-achieving women move beyond external success and reconnect with inner fulfillment.

Dr. Judith Wright explores women’s confidence, self-worth, burnout recovery, people-pleasing, authentic leadership, social media “soft addictions,” and the deeper yearnings that create a meaningful life. She explains why constant achievement and dopamine-driven distractions can provide temporary relief without creating genuine satisfaction.

This conversation is for women who feel burned out, disconnected, overextended, or unsure what they want beyond meeting everyone else’s needs.

Three Biggest Takeaways

Recalibrate your life around your deeper values and yearnings. Fulfillment comes from identifying what truly matters, including being seen, heard, valued, creative, connected, and able to make a difference.

Stop treating exhaustion as recovery. Mindless scrolling may offer a brief dopamine boost, but it can numb feelings and replace real nourishment with temporary comfort.

Build self-efficacy instead of waiting to feel completely confident. You may feel uncertain or “shaking in your boots,” yet still trust that you can learn, adapt, and figure things out.

Connect with Dr. Judith Wright

Website: livewright.com/contact

Connect with Tony

Website: tonydufresne.com

Email: [email protected]

Timestamp

00:00 Start

02:00 Recognizing women's hidden strengths

06:41 Understanding Deep Motivational Forces

09:21 Eudaimonia and fulfilling potential

11:17 Creating boundaries at work

16:47 Rise of Women in Leadership

18:50 Finding and Following Your Inner Compass

22:24 Discussing personal core ideologies

26:02 Importance of self-efficacy for women

27:39 Appreciating women guests

#WomenAndConfidence #BurnoutRecovery #SelfWorth #WomenEmpowerment #PersonalGrowth #AuthenticLeadership #SelfEfficacy #InnerFulfillment #MentalWellness #SheTalksConfidence

In this episode, "Advice for Women in Male-Dominated Professions", host Tony Dufresne, PhD sits down with renowned criminal trial attorney Nicole Knox.

As a leader in the legal industry and former president of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association, Nicole Knox offers candid insights and practical steps for overcoming obstacles that women face in environments where men hold the majority of leadership positions.

Together, they break down confidence barriers, discuss the illusion of equality, and share proven methods for women to claim space, set boundaries, and build each other up.

Three Biggest Takeaways

The Power of Support and Mentorship
Building strong networks with other women and finding mentors is crucial for thriving in male-dominated professions. Nicole Knox shares how organized leadership classes and community can dramatically boost confidence and career satisfaction.

Owning Your Voice and Setting Boundaries
Speaking with clarity, authenticity, and assertiveness—plus practicing setting boundaries against interruptions and dismissiveness—are core skills. Nicole Knox gives scripts and actionable advice to handle these moments powerfully.

Embracing Imperfection and Conquering Fear
Confidence isn’t about perfection, it's about resilience. Nicole Knox encourages women to take risks, learn from stumbles, and push past the fear of not having all the answers.

Contact Information
Guest:
Nicole Knox — nicoleknoxlaw.com

Host:
Tony — theconfidencedoc.com | [email protected]

Time Stamp
Start: 00:00
The Impact of Mentorship & Support: 00:00
Facing Gender Gaps in Law: 01:25
The Realities of Women Advocating for Women: 03:39
Building Tools for Confidence and Communication: 06:41
Strategies for Handling Male-Dominated Meetings: 10:01
Scripts for Handling Interruptions & Setting Boundaries: 11:55
Conquering Fear & Letting Go of Perfectionism: 13:43
Developing a Personal Constitution & Knowing What Matters: 19:49
The Power of Honest ‘I Don’t Know’ and Authenticity: 20:55

Listen, learn, and share! Tag us with your own experiences: #SheTalksConfidence #WomenInLeadership #BreakTheBias