Soft Power Project

Djennie Falle was three years old the first time she left Paris to live with a Dutch family she barely knew. She adapted. She always adapted. Different language, different rules, different mother. By the time she was 24, she'd gotten so good at fitting in that she couldn't find herself underneath it all.

In this episode of The Soft Power Project, Sherry talks with Djennie about the quiet cost of being the person who adjusts. What it felt like to constantly say goodbye to friends on both sides of a border. The breakup that finally exposed how little of her life she'd actually chosen. And the 10-year journey that followed, through leaving religion, sitting with a therapist who told her to do nothing for five minutes, and discovering that dance could release what her body had been holding for years.

Djennie's definition of belonging has nothing to do with place. It starts with feeling at home in your own body. If you've ever wondered whether your ability to adapt is a gift or a shield, this one's for you.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Growing up between cultures
0:33 - Meet Djennie: Paris to the Netherlands
4:11 - The first time she felt different
6:51 - Lessons from growing up between classes
8:57 - Making adaptation look easy
11:30 - The cost of always saying goodbye
17:00 - A breakup that started rediscovery
20:39 - Leaving religion, finding spirituality
23:15 - Dance as emotional release
26:29 - Movement beyond the dance floor
28:29 - Confident at work, cautious in life
34:03 - Burnout and learning to sit still
35:28 - What belonging really means
37:26 - Masculine protecting feminine energy
41:17 - Advice: sit in the silence

ABOUT DJENNIE FALLE-DJEDJE:
Djennie Falle is a multilingual professional and movement advocate based in the Netherlands. Born in Paris with roots in Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Spain, she speaks four languages and uses dance and movement as tools for emotional processing and self-expression.
Instagram: instagram.com/dj.ennie/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/djennie-falle-djedje-55b76187/

CONNECT WITH THE SOFT POWER PROJECT:
Instagram: instagram.com/soft_power_project/
YouTube: youtube.com/@SoftPowerProject
Email: [email protected]

#SoftPowerProject #SoftPower #CulturalIdentity #Belonging #PersonalGrowth #WomenPodcast #FeminineEnergy #Movement #WomenEmpowerment #Healing #SelfDiscovery #Reinvention

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✨About the Soft Power Coaching Program✨

For women who were told they were too sensitive, too nice, too quiet, or never enough, my coaching provides a safe and empowering space to:

Channel anger into clarity and action (not chaos).

• Define their own power. Soft, bold, or a blend of both.
• Build strong self-connection and boundaries that protect their energy.
• Transform from fixing everyone else’s life to fully living their own.

This isn’t about becoming harder. It’s about becoming whole.

✨Fill out the form and start reinventing! Free for limited time. ✨
https://forms.gle/w4hA9zB1MNCWTfjL8

As a communication trainer for close to 10 years, I'd like to think that we can smooth out all issues with better communication skills.

However, most of the problems we see today cannot be solve with communication skills simply because they are ego problems. In 2026, knowing how to holding our peace and setting boundaries become the most important soft skills in the workplace.

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm5etbvm00a1i01sl6k6h99de/comments
Youtube
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✨About the Soft Power Coaching Program✨

For women who were told they were too sensitive, too nice, too quiet, or never enough, my coaching provides a safe and empowering space to:

Channel anger into clarity and action (not chaos).

• Define their own power. Soft, bold, or a blend of both.
• Build strong self-connection and boundaries that protect their energy.
• Transform from fixing everyone else’s life to fully living their own.

This isn’t about becoming harder. It’s about becoming whole.

✨Fill out the form and start reinventing! Free for limited time. ✨
https://forms.gle/w4hA9zB1MNCWTfjL8

Ellie Foden dreamed of London Fashion Week her whole life. Then one night on her sewing machine, a thought showed up that changed everything.

Sherry and Ellie talk about what happens when you follow the pull instead of the plan. From fashion to yoga to closing a business during COVID to building something new. This conversation goes somewhere unexpected.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction: Creativity as curiosity
0:40 - Meet Ellie Foden, host of Maverick Mind
1:37 - Redefining creativity beyond talent
3:17 - From sneaking into Fashion Week to a midnight pivot
6:06 - How yoga healed what fashion broke
8:38 - Building a brand, then losing it to COVID
10:09 - Perfection vs. refinement: the fine line
11:35 - "Perfectionism is trying to control how others perceive you"
15:27 - The intuitive thought that wouldn’t leave
18:14 - A Stormzy interview becomes a lightbulb moment
19:29 - What Ember is and who it’s for
29:54 - Tapping into intuition through your body
36:16 - Ellie’s "Soft Power" course and what the phrase means to her
39:18 - Soft power ebbs and flows, and that’s the point

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Ember (Ellie’s creativity platform): https://www.studio-ember.co/
Maverick Mind Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sUoOXLa89KLbUiofwkCtU
Tim Castle (author): https://www.timjscastle.com/
Ellie’s website: https://elliefoden.com/

ABOUT ELLIE FODEN:
Ellie Foden is a creativity coach, yoga teacher, and the founder of Ember. She studied fashion design in London, built a sustainable yoga clothing brand featured in Vogue and Tatler, and pivoted into coaching creatives through perfectionism, burnout, and finding their authentic voice. She hosts the Maverick Mind Podcast.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliefoden/
Ember: https://www.instagram.com/studio__ember/
Website: https://elliefoden.com/

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm5etbvm00a1i01sl6k6h99de/comments
Youtube
Instagram

✨About the Soft Power Coaching Program✨

For women who were told they were too sensitive, too nice, too quiet, or never enough, my coaching provides a safe and empowering space to:

Channel anger into clarity and action (not chaos).

• Define their own power. Soft, bold, or a blend of both.
• Build strong self-connection and boundaries that protect their energy.
• Transform from fixing everyone else’s life to fully living their own.

This isn’t about becoming harder. It’s about becoming whole.

✨Fill out the form and start reinventing! Free for limited time. ✨
https://forms.gle/w4hA9zB1MNCWTfjL8

In this solo episode, I share the quiet but powerful shift I’ve experienced in my 40s, from constantly trying to improve to intentionally unlearning. I open up about letting go of control, the need to be right, the urge to perform, and the habit of playing roles in other people’s stories.

This is a personal reflection on choosing peace, trusting myself, and finally coming back to who I am. If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to be everything for everyone, this is your invitation to return to yourself.

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm5etbvm00a1i01sl6k6h99de/comments
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In this compelling interview, Laura Behnke shares her journey from sports media insider to outspoken advocate against misogyny and systemic sexism. The conversation explores the challenges women face in male-dominated industries, the importance of speaking out, and the power of vulnerability and authenticity in driving change.

Chapters
00:00 Breaking the Silence: Laura Behnke's Journey
13:06 The Struggles of Women in Male-Dominated Industries
25:51 Unpacking Internalized Misogyny and Its Impact
28:16 Navigating Misogyny in Sports Media
29:15 The Importance of Self-Reflection
30:33 Breaking Free from the System
33:07 Facing Backlash and Finding Courage
39:28 The Power of Speaking Out
42:28 Redefining Soft Power

About Laura
https://thelifeactually.substack.com/
https://www.instagram.com/laurabbehnke/

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm5etbvm00a1i01sl6k6h99de/comments
Youtube
Instagram

✨About the Soft Power Coaching Program✨

For women who were told they were too sensitive, too nice, too quiet, or never enough, my coaching provides a safe and empowering space to:

Channel anger into clarity and action (not chaos).

• Define their own power. Soft, bold, or a blend of both.
• Build strong self-connection and boundaries that protect their energy.
• Transform from fixing everyone else’s life to fully living their own.

This isn’t about becoming harder. It’s about becoming whole.

✨Fill out the form and start reinventing! Free for limited time. ✨
https://forms.gle/w4hA9zB1MNCWTfjL8

In this episode, I share profound life lessons from my personal experiences: my relationship with money, my sense of self-identity, and navigating custody battles. Through it all, I reflect on resilience, self-awareness, and emotional well-being, in hopes that my journey offers guidance to others.

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm5etbvm00a1i01sl6k6h99de/comments
Youtube
Instagram

✨About the Soft Power Coaching Program✨

For women who were told they were too sensitive, too nice, too quiet, or never enough, my coaching provides a safe and empowering space to:

Channel anger into clarity and action (not chaos).

• Define their own power. Soft, bold, or a blend of both.
• Build strong self-connection and boundaries that protect their energy.
• Transform from fixing everyone else’s life to fully living their own.

This isn’t about becoming harder. It’s about becoming whole.

✨Fill out the form and start reinventing! Free for limited time. ✨
https://forms.gle/w4hA9zB1MNCWTfjL8

Rebecca Blacker shares her journey from childhood aspirations to successful real estate entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of empathy, relationships, and authentic leadership. Discover how she navigates rejection, sets boundaries, and manifests her entrepreneurial dreams while balancing family life.

Chapters
00:00 The Entrepreneurial Spark
04:19 Family Legacy and Business Foundations
09:24 Adapting to Change in Business
12:19 Women in Leadership: A Different Approach
15:59 The Personal Touch in Business Relationships
19:16 Setting Boundaries as a Woman Entrepreneur
21:46 Navigating Boundaries in a People-Oriented Career
22:33 The Realities of Real Estate: More Than Glamour
24:37 The Emotional Labor of Real Estate
26:00 Building Resilience: Handling Rejection in Sales
29:16 Empathy in Leadership: Balancing Warmth and Authority
32:38 Inspiring the Next Generation: A Mother's Journey
35:21 Defining Soft Power: The Strength of Empathy

Contact Rebecca Blacker
https://cbwarburg.com/agent/rebecca-blacker
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccablacker/

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm5etbvm00a1i01sl6k6h99de/comments
Youtube
Instagram

✨About the Soft Power Coaching Program✨

For women who were told they were too sensitive, too nice, too quiet, or never enough, my coaching provides a safe and empowering space to:

Channel anger into clarity and action (not chaos).

• Define their own power. Soft, bold, or a blend of both.
• Build strong self-connection and boundaries that protect their energy.
• Transform from fixing everyone else’s life to fully living their own.

This isn’t about becoming harder. It’s about becoming whole.

✨Fill out the form and start reinventing! Free for limited time. ✨
https://forms.gle/w4hA9zB1MNCWTfjL8

In this deeply personal solo episode, I explore the concept of the internalized male gaze not as something external, but as a voice I’ve carried within myself.
I reflect on how growing up in a patriarchal system shaped my subconscious beliefs about worth, relationships, and identity. From marrying on a timeline driven by perceived value, to the long emotional journey of processing my divorce, to experiencing rivalry and insecurity in female workplace dynamics, I began to see that these patterns weren’t random, but conditioned.
I’m not sharing this as someone who has it all figured out, but as someone still in the process of unlearning. This episode is about becoming aware of the beliefs I inherited, questioning them, and slowly rebuilding a sense of self that feels true to me.
If anything, this is an invitation to notice the invisible narratives you might be carrying, and to ask whether they’re really yours.

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm5etbvm00a1i01sl6k6h99de/comments
Youtube
Instagram

✨About the Soft Power Coaching Program✨

For women who were told they were too sensitive, too nice, too quiet, or never enough, my coaching provides a safe and empowering space to:

Channel anger into clarity and action (not chaos).

• Define their own power. Soft, bold, or a blend of both.
• Build strong self-connection and boundaries that protect their energy.
• Transform from fixing everyone else’s life to fully living their own.

This isn’t about becoming harder. It’s about becoming whole.

✨Fill out the form and start reinventing! Free for limited time. ✨
https://forms.gle/w4hA9zB1MNCWTfjL8

In this conversation, retired US Air Force Colonel DeDe Halfhill shares her journey of transitioning from a traditional leadership style to one that embraces authenticity and vulnerability. She discusses the challenges of self-doubt, the importance of setting boundaries, and the need for clarity in communication. Dede emphasizes the significance of soft power in leadership, which focuses on building relationships and fostering a supportive environment. The discussion also touches on the loneliness often felt by leaders, particularly men, and the role women can play in creating safe spaces for emotional expression. Overall, the conversation highlights the evolving nature of leadership in today's world and the importance of being true to oneself.

02:09 The Journey of Authentic Leadership
06:56 Realizations in a Combat Environment
10:43 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Fear
15:04 Navigating Uncertainty in Leadership
20:03 The Year of the Snake: Shedding Old Skin
24:00 Setting and Holding Boundaries in Leadership
28:34 The Importance of Boundaries
31:04 Clear Communication in Leadership
35:08 Understanding Loneliness in Leadership
37:58 Emotional Labor and Support
41:43 Self-Acceptance and Personal Growth
45:42 Defining Soft Power in Leadership

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How to contact DeDe Halfhill
Website: https://dedehalfhill.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dedehalfhill/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/dedehalfhill/

In this enlightening conversation, Wren Morrow, a boudoir photographer, shares her journey of embracing sexuality, embodiment, and the importance of balancing masculine and feminine energies. Discover how slowing down, deep listening, and structure can enhance self-love, pleasure, and personal growth.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Boudoir Photography
01:15 Wren's Personal Journey with Boudoir
04:16 Embracing Sexuality and Body Positivity
09:35 The Role of Nature in Self-Discovery
18:15 Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies
19:16 Creating Supportive Structures in Relationships
26:46 Understanding Embodiment and Emotional Data
28:33 The Balance of Passion and Boundaries
29:42 Navigating Relationships and Personal Trauma
32:00 The Importance of Structure in Emotional Expression
36:27 Integrating Feminine and Masculine Energies
40:41 Creating Space for All Aspects of Self
42:53 Building Comfort in Vulnerability
47:59 The Transformative Power of Photography
52:10 Remembering Our Aligned Goodness
54:30 Defining Soft Power Through Listening


Wren Morrow's Website
https://www.wrenmorrow.com/wren
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/_wrenmorrow/


Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cm5etbvm00a1i01sl6k6h99de/comments
Youtube
Instagram

✨About the Soft Power Coaching Program✨

For women who were told they were too sensitive, too nice, too quiet, or never enough, my coaching provides a safe and empowering space to:

Channel anger into clarity and action (not chaos).

• Define their own power. Soft, bold, or a blend of both.
• Build strong self-connection and boundaries that protect their energy.
• Transform from fixing everyone else’s life to fully living their own.

This isn’t about becoming harder. It’s about becoming whole.

✨Fill out the form and start reinventing! Free for limited time. ✨
https://forms.gle/w4hA9zB1MNCWTfjL8