This week’s dare:

Michelle invites you to step out of your comfort zone in the most human way possible: by really listening to someone else’s story. Not half-listening, not waiting for your turn to talk – but giving someone the space, time, and curiosity to share who they are beneath the surface.

In this episode, Michelle talks about:

• Why we think we know people, but usually only know the surface version of their story
• What working in construction taught her about asking one simple question and then just… leaving space
• How her ADHD and love of telling her own story means she has to consciously practice listening as a skill
• A recent controversial USA Hockey / Trump story in the media and why she’s curious about the quiet voice in the back of the room whose perspective we never hear
• The way podcast guests often come on to talk about something totally different to what they’re known for online

Practical questions you can try this week:

• “What’s your guilty pleasure?”
• “If you had a weekend with zero responsibilities, what would you do?”
• “What kind of music are you into – and what was the last gig you went to?”

These questions:

• Take conversation beyond small talk
• Help you see people as multilayered humans, not just job titles
• Make others feel seen, heard, and appreciated

Key takeaways:

• Listening is not passive – it’s intentional and courageous
• Silences and gaps are where the real story often appears
• You don’t need to turn every chat into therapy; just be curious and see where the conversation wants to go
• When you truly listen, both of you walk away feeling more connected

This week’s dare:

Mentioned in this episode:

• Dare Club Newsletter & Waiting List sign up here: https://stan.store/shewhodareswins
• First limited-edition drop of the She Dares Wins clothing range launching mid-March. www.shewhodareswins.com
• Use code POD10 for 10% off at shedareswins.com.

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Claudia joins Michelle to share how someone who is “really, really scared of heights” became a glider pilot, instructor, and member of the British gliding team. From panic on step ladders to flying at 12,000 feet in Australia, Claudia breaks down the reality of gliding: the tactics, the weather, the landouts in farmers’ fields, and the joy of silent flight. She also talks candidly about pressure in competition, being a woman in a male‑dominated aviation world, and how “just going to have fun” transformed her performance on the world stage.

Claudia’s fear and how she flies anyway

• Claudia still has a genuine fear of heights and can have panic attacks on ladders and chairlifts.
• In a glider, however, she feels safe and in control—until a vintage open‑cockpit flight triggered a mid‑air panic attack that she had to talk herself through alone.

How she fell into gliding and never looked back

• She first tried gliding at a small German club while at university in Cologne, after being told, “We’re all scared of heights, don’t worry.”

What competitive gliding really looks like

• Glider racing is like “aerial chess” and often compared to sailing: pilots fly a set task around turning points and back to base; fastest wins.

Field landings and safety in gliding

• Landing in farmers’ fields (“landing out”) is a normal and trained-for part of cross‑country gliding.
• Pilots are taught how to pick safe fields, plan a circuit, and land smoothly; most landouts are “non‑events.”
• Gliders have a single main wheel, can be disassembled on site, and trailered home. August stubble fields are ideal, as they minimise damage to crops and aircraft.

Gliders, engines and why she feels safer without one

• A glider is essentially a normal aircraft without an engine: same controls (rudder, ailerons, elevator), but designed to glide efficiently.
• Many modern gliders have small retractable engines for “limping home,” but Claudia’s 51‑year‑old glider doesn’t.
• She actually relaxes in the motor glider only once she’s in the landing circuit with the throttle closed—“Now I’m in a glider. Now I know what I’m doing.”

Travel, childhood and a life of exploring

• Claudia was born in Afghanistan and grew up in countries like Nigeria, Bangladesh and Ivory Coast due to her father’s work in development projects.
• Returning to Germany at eight, she already knew she wanted to live abroad and travel—and still feels childlike excitement on big commercial aircraft.

Dealing with pressure and rediscovering fun

• After rapid progress—first comp in 2006, first Women’s Worlds in 2013—she began putting huge pressure on herself.
• One nationals with eight amazing flying days was “miserable” because of self‑imposed expectations.
• Her turning point: ignore yesterday’s scores, focus only on today’s flight, and prioritise fun. Once she did that, her flying improved and results followed (including a silver medal at the Women’s World Gliding Championship in the UK).

1. [00:01:34] – Claudia introduced on the “She Who Dares Wins” podcast
2. [00:02:00] – “Really scared of heights… and a British gliding team member”
3. [00:04:16] – First gliding lesson in Germany and signing up the same day
4. [00:07:38] – What competition gliding is and why it’s like sailing
5. [00:13:55] – Landing in farmers’ fields and how gliders are taken apart
6. [00:19:18] – Why she feels safer in a glider than in a powered aircraft
7. [00:28:06] – Winning a silver medal at the Women’s World Gliding Championship
8. [00:33:43] – Women in gliding, “dinosaurs” and the power of allies

Join Dare club: https://stan.store/shewhodareswins

Shop Merch www.shewhodareswins.com

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Episode: Dare Thursday – The Tapestry of Your Career

Host: Michelle (She Who Dares Wins Podcast)

Guest Inspiration: Hattie, the flower farmer (from Monday’s episode)

Overview

In this Dare Thursday mini-episode, Michelle invites you to step back and look at the tapestry of your life and career. Inspired by flower farmer Hattie’s story—near‑death experiences, wild career twists, and ultimately landing her dream job—this episode challenges you to recognize how every experience has prepared you for where you are now (and where you’re going next).

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Hattie’s journey from near‑death experiences and “crazy careers” to owning her dream flower farm
• Why we underestimate the value of our past jobs and life chapters
• Michelle’s own winding path:
• Geography degree
• Film school in LA
• A decade in construction across multiple roles
• Starting a chemical business with her brother in their garage
• Project management, land surveying, and drone work
• Building a YouTube channel and speaking about construction
• The hidden skills these experiences built:
• Storytelling and listening
• Talking to people from all walks of life
• Business skills like accounts, websites, and social media
• Creativity, resilience, and idea‑generation (including long hours on drilling sites with a notebook)

This Week’s Dare

Grab a piece of paper and map out your career (or life) as a tapestry:

• List your jobs, roles, or key life chapters
• Note what you learned in each season—skills, perspectives, resilience
• Look for the thread that connects it all, and notice how much you’ve already done and grown
• Ask yourself: What have I discredited that actually makes me stronger today?

This exercise is all about self-awareness and self-credit: shifting from “I’m not where I want to be yet” to “Look how far I’ve already come.”

Join Dare Club:

If you’re feeling ready for a career move, life pivot, or you’re just a bit burnt out, Dare Club is for you.

• Weekly emails with stories from podcast guests
• Mini dares to keep you moving forward and out of your comfort zone
• A growing community with accountability and future digital products to support your next step

How to sign up for Dare Club: https://stan.store/shewhodareswins

• Head to Instagram @shewhodareswins 

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In this episode, Hattie shares the winding, courageous journey that led her to becoming a full-time flower farmer living on a smallholding in the countryside.

She talks with Michelle about:

• Childhood upheaval and losing her family home at 11
• Surviving bacterial meningitis at 15 and a serious car crash at 19
• Working in waste management, landfill, and wildlife conservation
• Career pivots into events, volunteering, and charity leadership
• Quietly carrying a “one day” dream of a flower farm and wedding flowers
• Finally backing herself during the pandemic to rebuild life around nature

We explore how Hattie’s life “tapestry” was woven from life shocks, resilience, and micro joys, and why she believes purpose, not speed or status, is the truest measure of success.

• Dreams can take a decade (or more) and still be worth it
• Hattie spent over 10 years moving through different roles and industries before landing in the life she’d imagined—proof that slow progress is still progress.
• Life shocks can create deep resilience and clarity
• Losing her home, surviving meningitis, and a near-fatal car accident all became pivotal points that sharpened her sense of what really matters.
• Your career is a tapestry, not a straight line
• Each “random” job—waste management, conservation, city of culture, leadership programs—gave her skills she now uses daily on the farm (from land management to events to people skills).
• Purpose beats prestige
• A lecturer’s challenge—“Do you want low pay doing good, or big money defending harm?”—anchored her to roles with meaning and social/environmental impact.
• Nature is medicine
• Time outdoors has been central to Hattie’s healing from grief and burnout. Her farm is designed as much for wildlife and immersion as for flowers.
• Micro joys can rebuild a broken season of life
• Instead of chasing big highs, Hattie learned to collect tiny, daily joys—a robin in the garden, a bird sighting, a small moment of beauty—and use them to slowly climb out of difficult years.
• You’re allowed to change your mind—and your career
• Hattie repeatedly “started again” in new sectors. Each leap was scary, but reinforced the idea that confidence often comes after you jump, not before.
• Listening to your gut is a skill, not fluff
• From saying yes to the podcast invite to finally starting the flower farm, following her gut has been Hattie’s compass—even when fear and imposter syndrome show up later.

1. 00:00 – Welcome to the show & Hattie’s “She Dares Wins” intro
2. 02:30 – Tapestry vs chapters: how Hattie views her life story
3. 04:45 – Losing her home at 11 and joining a new school mid-year
4. 06:30 – Contracting meningitis at 15 and the “life is short” wake‑up
5. 09:00 – The near-fatal Land Rover crash and a new sense of spirituality
6. 18:30 – From landfill and waste to wildlife conservation and values
7. 26:40 – Pandemic reflections and the decision to finally start a flower farm
8. 34:50 – Nature, micro joys, and inviting others to heal on the farm

Join Dare Club Now:

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In this bonus episode, helicopter pilot Adele returns to share deeper reflections on kindness, fear, emotional intelligence, and crisis management in aviation and life. She talks about why her ideal billboard would simply say “Be kind to each other,” opens up about her fear of public speaking despite a high‑risk job, and describes a pivotal in‑flight engine incident that she calls the day she “actually became a pilot.” The conversation explores expectations placed on pilots, the importance of crew resource management, and how self‑kindness and knowing your own reactions under pressure can transform both work and life.

• Kindness matters more than we think
• Adele’s billboard message would be “Be kind to each other”, highlighting how many problems come from a lack of empathy and taking time to understand others.
• Kindness isn’t just outward-facing—being kind to yourself is crucial for growth and confidence.
• Public speaking can be scarier than extreme physical risk
• Despite being a helicopter pilot, Adele finds public speaking and situations where she might embarrass herself more terrifying than skydiving.
• Confidence in speaking is a muscle that needs practice, even for people who seem naturally comfortable on stage or on mic.
• Travel, beauty, and environmental reality
• Adele loves Indonesia for its culture, people, and nature, calling it a turning point in her life.
• She also notes the shocking plastic pollution, with “confetti beaches” where sand is largely plastic.
• Canada still pulls at her heart, especially the mountains—but brutal winters make her unsure about moving back full-time.
• Helicopter flying: range, routes, and fears
• Most helicopters can fly 2–2.5 hours on one tank, continuing as long as there are fuel stops.
• Ocean crossings are possible via staged routes (e.g., via Iceland), but Adele is not a fan of flying over open water.
• Wildfire flying as a future goal
• Adele is interested in moving into wildfire fighting operations, including vertical reference and longline work, to help communities affected by fires.
• Misconceptions and expectations of pilots
• People often don’t expect Adele to be the pilot, and treat her differently once they find out what she does.
• There’s a strong image of what a pilot “should” look and act like, which she doesn’t fit, and she’s always balancing authenticity with professional expectations.
• Emotional intelligence and crew dynamics save lives
• Adele explains crew resource management (CRM) and why “soft skills” like communication, feedback, and trust are actually critical safety skills.
• She discusses the danger of authority gradients where co‑pilots are too afraid to challenge captains, sometimes with fatal consequences.
• Good crews balance clear leadership with genuine openness, so everyone feels able to speak up.
• The day she “actually became a pilot”
• Adele shares a detailed story of an engine malfunction in a Sikorsky 76, flying single-pilot from remote fishing lodges.
• She had to manage power, monitor for fire, navigate terrain, communicate with ATC, and land safely on one engine, all while alone and out of radio range for part of the flight.
• That incident proved to her she could rely on her training under pressure and shaped her identity as a pilot.
• How helicopters land if the engine fails
• Adele breaks down autorotation: using rotor inertia and airflow so the helicopter can still be controlled and landed without power.
• With training, pilots can pick a spot, flare, and land with control, rather than “falling like a rock.”
• Crisis responses and self-awareness
• Both discuss how people react in crises—fight, flight, or freeze—and the importance of knowing your own default.
• Michelle reflects that she’s often very effective in real crises, even if she feels chaotic day to day.
• Self-kindness as a dare
• For her personal “dare,” Adele commits to being kinder to herself, acknowledging she is her own worst critic.
• With constant negativity in the world, she wants to focus on positive actions and impact.

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Be Kinder to Yourself (Why Self-Criticism Isn’t Helping You Win)

This week, Michelle takes a break from guest interviews to speak directly to something that stopped her in her tracks.

After sending out a listener survey, one result hit hard:

80% of women said they struggle to be kind to themselves.

Including Michelle.

In this solo episode, Michelle unpacks how self-criticism sneaks in, why it feels productive (but isn’t), and how being relentlessly hard on yourself can quietly hold you back — even when you’re achieving on paper.

This isn’t about fluffy self-care or letting yourself off the hook.

It’s about awareness, honesty, and learning how to move forward without constantly tearing yourself down.

00:00 – Why this needed to be said

Michelle explains why she felt compelled to pause guest episodes and talk openly about kindness — and what triggered this realisation.

01:08 – The survey result that changed everything

80% of women said they struggle to be kind to themselves — and why that statistic is both comforting and alarming.

02:41 – Catching the inner voice first thing in the morning

How negative self-talk was showing up before Michelle had even opened her eyes — and why that matters.

03:25 – The ‘holy socks’ analogy

Why we treat other people with more respect than we treat ourselves — and what that says about self-worth.

04:42 – When being “hard on yourself” backfires

Michelle reflects on imposter syndrome in construction and how self-criticism limited her confidence and progression.

06:22 – Building the podcast without trusting herself

Growing a podcast from scratch, hitting big milestones — and still being unable to acknowledge progress.

07:41 – When your worth gets tied to achievement

Why high-achieving women never feel like they’ve “arrived” — and the cost of chasing constant validation.

09:00 – Starting from ‘I am enough’ (without losing your drive)

Insights inspired by Joe Hudson on separating self-worth from outcomes.

09:35 – Fear, paralysis, and second-guessing

How being unkind to yourself fuels procrastination and decision fatigue.

10:45 – The 9-day awareness exercise

A simple but powerful way to notice, track, and challenge self-critical thoughts.

11:58 – Three ways to reframe unkind thoughts

• Acknowledge without agreeing

• Laugh at the ridiculous ones

• Reframe with evidence and context

13:43 – The real cost of self-criticism

Why it doesn’t make you better — just more disconnected, anxious, and distrustful of yourself.

14:58 – Chasing relief instead of alignment

Why achievement doesn’t bring peace if you’re running from fear instead of moving with intention.

16:18 – “My story isn’t good enough”

Why even the most impressive women downplay their journeys — and how common this mindset really is.

17:54 – Living in fight-or-flight without realising it

How self-kindness helped Michelle regulate her nervous system and feel more grounded week to week.

18:43 – A quiet invitation, not a challenge

Michelle encourages listeners to start with one thing: not being unkind to themselves.

19:22 – What’s next with Dare Club

How this work around kindness, alignment, and self-trust is shaping the future of Dare Club.

• Being hard on yourself isn’t discipline — it’s often fear in disguise
• Self-criticism doesn’t fuel progress; it creates paralysis
• High achievement without self-kindness leads to disconnection
• You can accept emotions without agreeing with them
• Awareness is the first step — not perfection
• Starting from “I am enough” doesn’t kill ambition, it steadies it

Sign up to Dare club

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It’s Thursday, which means one thing around here: Dare Day.

This week’s dare is a simple one. No life overhaul. No journaling marathon. Just a few minutes, a song, and a moment of honest reflection.

In this short episode, Michelle shares a story sparked by an unexpected song on a studio car park playlist — a track she hadn’t heard in years, but somehow knew word for word. What caught her off guard wasn’t the nostalgia… it was how relevant the lyrics still were decades later.

That moment opens up a bigger question:

Did the things we loved when we were younger know something about us before we did?

• A personal story from Michelle’s teenage years and early grafting days
• Why certain songs hit differently as we get older
• How lyrics we once screamed for fun can quietly reflect the life warnings we ignored
• Michelle’s own lyric deep-dive into Warning by Incubus — and why it lands harder now than it ever did
• A no-pressure dare designed purely for enjoyment, curiosity, and maybe a little clarity

Pick a song you used to love.

The one you knew every lyric to.

Listen to it. Sing it loudly if you want.

Then ask yourself one question:

Do the lyrics still resonate — or are they just fun noise?

Either answer is valid.

Two to three minutes of joy still counts as a win.

If the lyrics hit you in the chest a bit? Michelle wants to hear about it.

Head over to Instagram and drop her a message with the song and the line that stuck.

Dare Club is where these weekly dares live — alongside behind-the-scenes podcast updates and early access to what’s coming next. Right now it’s a newsletter, but it won’t stay that way for long.

If you want in early, the link’s here: https://stan.store/shewhodareswins

Michelle’s back on Monday with another guest story worth your time.

Until then — enjoy the music, and don’t let life pass you by. 🎶

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Lucy Keeler’s version of “a rough start to the year” is… intense.

After picking up a tropical illness in Thailand, Lucy went from fully independent to unable to walk, dress herself, type, or even hold a pen thanks to brutal joint inflammation that lingered for months. Doctors couldn’t confirm exactly what caused it (possible chikungunya or parvovirus), and recovery was slow, painful, and messy.

But instead of waiting around for life to feel “normal” again, Lucy did what a lot of us do when we’re trapped in the house and losing our minds: she needed something to aim at.

An Instagram ad, a half-delusional spark of hope, and a stubborn refusal to write herself off later… Lucy signs up to run 200 miles across Tajikistan in 7 days — despite not even being able to walk properly when she first saw it.

This episode is about recovery, pushing yourself (without ignoring reality), the power of goals, and why most people quit right before the turning point. Also: periods in the mountains, zero running water, and the kind of camaraderie that makes you feel human again.

00:00 — Lucy’s “dare and win”: unable to walk… then 200 miles across Tajikistan

01:50 — Thailand illness hits hard: fever, shaking, and “is this normal?” moments

03:25 — Back home: arms seize up, can’t move, can’t breathe properly, A&E visit

05:30 — The swelling gets serious: can’t stand, can’t dress herself, tropical disease hospital

06:10 — Possible diagnoses + reality of recovery: months of pain, steroids, and work support

08:45 — The pivot: “I need something to look forward to” (goal-setting in survival mode)

10:00 — The Instagram ad that changed everything + what the Tajikistan run actually is

22:30 — The hardest day: illness, no calories, endometriosis surprise, big climb, and not quitting

• Just because you look “fine” doesn’t mean you are. Lucy talks about that weird limbo where you’re functioning on the outside but in agony underneath.
• A goal can be a lifeline. Not a “new year, new me” goal — a give-me-a-reason-to-keep-going goal.
• Stubbornness is a double-edged sword. It got her through Thailand, through Gatwick, through A&E… and eventually into recovery (but she also admits she should’ve accepted help sooner).
• Fear gets loud right before you do something brave. Lucy’s body starts “hurting again” right before the trip — classic panic symptoms dressing up as logic.
• Community changes everything. This wasn’t a race — it was a shared experience built on support, breaks, check-ins, and people who refuse to let you quit alone.
• Hard days are part of the deal. The breakdown day wasn’t a sign to stop — it was the point most people would stop… and that’s why it mattered.
• Adventure doesn’t require a new identity. Lucy loves her job, loves London, and still makes space for big challenges — you don’t have to burn your life down to expand it.
• The dare is simple (and annoying): push the button on the thing you keep thinking about.

Check out The Great Silk Run! https://bit.ly/4aoNRPw

Shop She Who Dares Wins: www.shewhodareswins.com

Join Dare Club: https://stan.store/shewhodareswins

Youtube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCkCSa96nwEKh-aeAbhXI7PA/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/shewhodareswins

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We spend most of adult life trying to be competent, polished, and vaguely impressive.

This dare asks you to do the opposite.

In this short Dare Day episode, Michelle shares a moment at the kitchen table with her kid that sparked an uncomfortable realisation: kids don’t care if they’re bad at things they care if they’re enjoying them. Somewhere along the line, we lost that.

From sketching terrible T-shirt designs (and loving it anyway) to memories of being absolutely useless at roller skating but showing up regardless, this episode is about reconnecting with joy without turning it into a performance.

Michelle breaks down why doing something you’re “bad at” feels so uncomfortable as an adult, what’s actually happening in your brain when resistance kicks in, and why separating your self-worth from outcomes might be one of the most important skills you can rebuild.

• Why adults avoid activities with no clear “point” or payoff
• How kids naturally enjoy the process — and what we unlearned
• The brain’s resistance response and why it tells you to be “productive” instead
• Why purpose doesn’t need an endpoint
• How practising failure in small, harmless ways builds resilience for the big stuff
• The link between shame, performance, and self-worth

Set a timer for 15 minutes and do something you used to love as a kid — something you stopped because you weren’t very good at it.

Sketch. Dance. Write a poem. Roller skate like Bambi on ice.

No improving. No posting for validation. No turning it into a side hustle.

Just process. Just fun. Just showing yourself that the world doesn’t end when you’re bad at something.

Go be rubbish on purpose.

It might be the bravest thing you do all week.

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How saying yes before you’re ready can quietly change everything

In this episode, Michelle sits down with Amy Seagraves, a former PE teacher who accidentally kick-started a property business after winning £50k on The Cube — and then actually backing herself instead of playing it safe.

This is a proper behind-the-scenes look at the messy middle: imposter syndrome, trades chaos, analysis paralysis, and the identity shift that comes when you build something alongside a “safe” job.

If you’ve been waiting to feel ready — this episode is your sign to stop.

00:00 – Winning £50k on The Cube (and why it wasn’t the real turning point)

Opportunity doesn’t change your life — what you do next does.

04:30 – Quitting teaching to travel and reset perspective

Why stepping off the safe path changed everything.

08:30 – Buying a first investment property with no experience

The reality of starting before you feel qualified.

13:00 – Renovation chaos, imposter syndrome & male-dominated rooms

Learning fast or paying for it.

18:30 – From winging it to building a real business

Why investing in education mattered more than another property.

24:30 – The power of building a team instead of going solo

Three women, different strengths, one vision.

31:00 – Going part-time before it felt sensible

The uncomfortable move that unlocked growth.

38:45 – The biggest lesson: action beats overthinking

Why waiting costs more than mistakes.

• Confidence is built after action — not before.
• You don’t need to quit your job to start changing direction.
• Analysis paralysis is fear wearing a spreadsheet.
• Being a beginner again will mess with your identity — let it.
• The right people > knowing everything yourself.
• Messy progress beats perfect plans. Always.

If you’re sitting on an idea and waiting for permission — this is it.

Shop: www.shewhodaresswins.com

Join Dare club:

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