The Confident Podcast

Success sounds like a finish line, until you realize you might be running a race you never chose. In this episode, we’re getting honest about how easily our definition of success gets hijacked by comparison, social media highlight reels, career “shoulds,” and the quiet pressure to look like we’re winning. Our host, Lisa Tarkington, share what she has seen in her own life, from seasons that looked impressive on paper to moments that quietly felt like real freedom.

We dig into why the “once I get X” mindset can leave you stressed or empty even after you hit the goal, and how burnout can be a sign that your scoreboard is broken, not that you are. You’ll hear research that challenges the idea that everyone is chasing fame and fortune, plus a simple way to reset your confidence: stop borrowing other people’s metrics and start building your own.

Episode is in partnership with Skills Analysis. Take their 'Are you a transformational leader?' Assessment today for just $97. Use the code CONFIDENCE and save more than $300. 

Chapters:

• 0:00: The Real Question Behind Success
• 0:52: Life Update And Dropping The Mask
• 3:09: A New Brand And A New Era
• 7:21: Comparison Hijacks Your Definition
• 11:07: The Once I Get X Trap
• 14:32: Burnout And Childhood Success Scripts
• 18:08: Use Envy As Data
• 21:00: Define Success By Your Days
• 28:01: The Question That Changes Everything

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In this episode, we get honest about the question that changes everything: are you actually ready for what the next chapter requires, or are you only in love with the destination?

I walk through a simple but confronting framework I use with leaders and coaching clients. When someone describes their “next version,” they light up, but the real test is the middle. That messy middle is where you have to let go of what used to work, stop performing, set boundaries, and make decisions with clarity. 

To make it practical, I lay out the soft skills that help you navigate change management and personal growth without burning out. 

You don't become who the next chapter requires after the hard part. You become them in the middle of it.

If this resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s ready to stop daydreaming and start building their next chapter. What is one thing you’re willing to let go of today?

Chapters:

• 5:50: What The Next Chapter Requires
• 8:18: Letting Go Lessons From Bungee Jumping
• 14:52: Why People Stay Stuck
• 22:27: Eight Skills For Real Change
• 31:24: Pick One Thing And Take Action

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Change doesn't usually break us. What keeps us stuck is holding on to the habits and beliefs that no longer serve us.

After taking a short break, I share a few personal updates before diving into my new Let Go Model: Let Go. Level Up. Let's Go. We explore why letting go is often the hardest part of change, the signs you're still holding on, and practical ways to move forward with more confidence, clarity, and intention.

If you're navigating a career transition, leadership challenge, or a new season of life, this episode will help you stop waiting for certainty and start taking your next step.

Chapters:

• 0:00 The Truth About Change
• 0:54 New Era Updates And Growth
• 6:29 Why Change Triggers Resistance
• 8:09 How The Let Go Model Began
• 9:45 Sponsor Fresh Set
• 11:10 Signs You Haven’t Let Go
• 16:54 Level Up With Five Skills
• 23:09 Your Let’s Go Muscle
• 28:31 Share This And Stay Connected

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's ready to let go and level up.

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How many of us say we want honest feedback, then avoid it the moment it feels uncomfortable?

Lisa is joined by her friend Sarah Maday, a Learning and Development leader, former professor, and passionate advocate for personal growth, to talk about why feedback feels so difficult and how we can approach it with more confidence. Together, they unpack why so many of us avoid difficult conversations, what it costs our relationships and teams, and how small shifts can make feedback feel like a conversation instead of a confrontation.

Lisa and Sarah talk about the WRAP framework for giving meaningful feedback, how to move from criticism to feedforward, and why psychological safety is about so much more than a workplace buzzword. We get real about choosing the right timing, reading emotional cues, communicating with intention, and separating our self-worth from someone else's feedback. Sarah also shares why having trusted mentors and advisors can help us process feedback with confidence instead of letting it define us.

Chapters:

• 1:02: Feedback Fears And What They Cost
• 7:06: The WRAP Method Explained
• 14:19: Timing Feedback Without Making It Worse
• 18:48: Make Feedback Feel Like Conversation
• 23:25: Sponsor Break Fresh Set Hair
• 24:58: Psychological Safety For Both Sides
• 34:20: Choose The Right Feedback Channel
• 37:22: Growth Mindset And Trusted Advisors
• 43:48: WRAP Recap And Quickfire Questions
• 49:31: Takeaways And How To Connect

Subscribe for more confidence and leadership conversations, share this with someone who could use a better way to approach feedback, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

More than just a podcast: 

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How many of us have an identity that maybe is wrapped into our career?Lauren Boss knows that moment firsthand and she also knows what can grow from it. After nearly a decade in the corporate world, she’s navigated motherhood, freelancing, self-publishing a memoir, and an unexpected leap into business ownership that put her in the CEO seat.

Lisa and Lauren talk about the confidence of being an “and,” not an “or.” We get real about the identity shift that happens when you stop being “the corporate girl,” the quiet ways we lose our voice over time, and how you rebuild it through small, brave actions. Lauren shares how journaling, meditation, faith, and quiet reflection helped her find clarity, trust her intuition, and redefine success on her own terms, not someone else’s checklist.

Chapters:

• 2:40: Corporate Life And Identity
• 6:45: Layoff Reset And Freelancing
• 11:50: Becoming An And Not Or
• 15:25: Writing A Memoir From Journals
• 18:29: Finding Your Voice Again
• 28:55: Motherhood And Not Feeling Alone
• 32:26: Buying A Business With Your Husband
• 35:41: Real Work Life Logistics
• 40:52: Advice For Women Feeling Stuck

Subscribe for more confidence and leadership conversations, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review to help more women find the show.

Check out Lauren's book here: https://www.amazon.com/All-Girls-Was-Before-Motherhood/dp/B0FRS8XTZR 

More than just a podcast: 

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Your body is giving you information all day long, but most of us are moving too fast to hear it. In this episode, I sit down with my friend Libby Rapin, a leadership and conscious living coach for high-achieving women, to talk about the kind of confidence that comes from inside your nervous system, not from hype or hustle. We get real about why intuition can feel so subtle, why it often arrives without the “how,” and what it takes to strengthen self-trust through stillness, presence, and practice.

We also unpack signs, timing, and the way guidance can show up in unexpected forms when you’re willing to slow down and notice. If you’ve been asking for clarity in your business, leadership, or relationships, this conversation will help you recognize what might already be in front of you.

Chapters:

• 3:43: Building And Closing A Business
• 13:47: How Intuition Speaks Through The Body
• 23:20: Asking For Signs And Noticing Them
• 26:55: Sponsor Fresh Set Hair Mist
• 28:17: You Are The Medicine Slowing Down
• 39:54: Nervous System Tools For Hard Moments
• 53:16: Zone Of Genius And Life Lessons
• 58:37: Final Takeaways And How To Connect

If this resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who needs a reminder to trust themselves, and leave a review so more people can find the show. 

More than just a podcast: 

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• Sponsor Athletic Greens, click to order and receive a free gift!
  
  

If you’ve ever replayed a conversation in your head at 2 a.m. wondering if you sounded “too much,” “too direct,” or “not nice enough,” this one is for you. I sit down with my dear friend Stephanie Greene, President of the Greater Michigan Construction Academy, to talk about the real work behind confidence: filtering outside voices without losing your empathy.

We dig into how people-pleasing can slowly distort your identity and why approval can feel like safety even when it is costing you your peace. Stephanie shares what it looked like to outgrow old versions of herself, how direct honesty gets misread by people who don’t yet know your heart, and why the “spotlight effect” makes us believe everyone is judging us far more than they are. Stephanie opens up about having a health scare and how stress and overwork forced a reset in priorities. 

If you’re navigating change and feeling your confidence shake, you’ll walk away with clearer questions to ask yourself, stronger self-trust, and a more grounded way to lead.

Subscribe for more conversations on confidence and leadership, share this with someone who needs a healthier filter, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Chapters:

• 6:00: People-Pleasing And Losing Yourself
• 12:30: Direct Feedback Without Being Misread
• 17:01: Stress, Health Scare, And A New Priority List
• 19:50: Leading With Boundaries And Accountability
• 23:55: Family First And Filtering The Noise
• 31:30: Who You Are & Quieting The Voices

More than just a podcast: 

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The loudest voice in your life is rarely the wisest one and for athletes and leaders right now, the noise is constant. In this episode, I sit down with Kristen Kelsay, head coach of Michigan State University volleyball. We talk about pressure, confidence, and the question that keeps coming up for high performers: whose opinion matters and how do you keep the rest out?

Kristen shares the real path to becoming a Big Ten head coach, from getting a rare opportunity at 22 to returning to MSU with a deeper sense of peace, purpose, and leadership clarity. We talk about women in sports and the growth of volleyball, along with many other amazing topics. If you’re a coach, leader, parent, manager, or competitor, this is a grounded look at emotional safety and what it takes to protect it.

If this resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who’s carrying too much noise, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one voice you need to stop letting in today?

Chapters:

• 3:08: Kristen’s Road To Head Coach
• 11:35: Women’s Sports Growth And Pressure
• 17:40: Parenting, Empathy, And Emotional Safety
• 28:13: Conflict Stories And Clear Communication
• 33:30: Saying No And Holding Standards
• 41:35: Youth Sports Systems And Parent Choices
• 49:19: Hope For Women In Athletics

More than just a podcast: 

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What if you could chase big goals without burning out your brain, your team, or your life? I sit down with Julius Thomas, former NFL Pro Bowler turned Health Psychologist and founder of Optimal Performance Systems, to map a science-backed path to sustainable high performance. His story starts with a leap: walking away from the NFL at 30 to pursue a doctorate and build evidence-based systems that help people win without losing themselves.

We unpack some amazing things such as The 4 R's, the 5 keys of performance and striving for 100. Each framework is amazing and easy to adapt into your life. 

If you’re tired of the false choice between hustle and health, this conversation gives you a third way: align goals with behaviors, build environments that protect focus, and let performance and well-being rise together. 

Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with the one habit you’ll change this week.

Chapters:

• 7:40: Faith, Identity, And Choosing Purpose
• 12:45: Life After Football: Doctorate And Reinvention
• 18:10: Zone Of Genius Vs Excellence
• 21:13: The Dual Mandate: Performance Plus Well-Being
• 28:12: Calling Out Broken Performance Models
• 37:20: Four Rs For 1% Leaders
• 41:00: Evidence-Based Systems And Interfering Factors
• 45:24: Presenteeism And Culture Change
• 49:10: Balance Explained: Cognitive Limits And Time
• 54:00: Striving For 100: Five Daily Behaviors
• 1:03:20: Goals And Behaviors Must Match

More than just a podcast: 

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Ever feel like you’re performing your life instead of actually living it? I sit down with best-selling author and keynote speaker, Judi Holler to unpack the courage it takes to stop pleasing, start trusting yourself, and make space for a truer version of success. From her decade-by-decade journey, Judi shows how small brave experiments compound into identity shifts.

We dig into why “make it till you make it” beats “fake it till you make it,” and how to jump with a parachute: savings, skills, support, and a plan. Judi opens up about the cave season that stripped away applause and forced her to find worth without a stage, ultimately birthing her new book, Holler At Your Dreams (which is a must read). We talk about going from hustle and stress to hustle and flow, click bait, protecting your peace, and choosing delayed gratification.

Ready to step out of performance and into a braver, truer life? Hit follow, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the one belief you’re dropping this week. Your future self will thank you.

Chapters:

• 2:15: Judy’s Decade-By-Decade Journey
• 8:12: From Improv Class To Keynote Career
• 12:09: The Leap: Quitting Corporate With A Plan
• 16:36: Make It Till You Make It
• 20:20: Letting Old Selves Go
• 24:14: Stop Outsourcing Your Power
• 27:40: Intuition, Soul Vs Brain
• 31:05: Life As A Creative Laboratory
• 34:44: Holler At Your Dreams: Why She Wrote It
• 39:09: Spirituality As A Success Advantage
• 43:05: Hustle And Flow Can Coexist
• 47:26: Algorithm Anxiety And Reality Checks
• 51:15: Curate Your Inputs, Protect Your Peace
  
  

More than just a podcast: 

• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel 
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• Apply to be coached by Lisa and receive a free call 
• Sponsor Athletic Greens, click to order and receive a free gift!