The Nadia Show

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When I was young I felt like I could take on the world, but as I’ve gotten older that confidence has shifted a lot and at times it felt like it had completely gone away. If you’ve experienced something similar this video talks about when I noticed this change and what I do now to feel confident every day.

You can know the answer and still feel entirely unsure about raising your hand. In this episode, I look back at being a fearless kid—like the time I kept my hand up against a teacher in sixth grade and ended up in ISS—versus how that confidence quietly slipped after COVID and during grad school. Now, five months into my public administration fellowship, I'm still navigating imposter syndrome, and I'm sharing the exact habits that help me rebuild self-trust every day.

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In this on-the-road episode, Nadia takes us from delayed flights and Long Beach adventures to thoughtful conversations at the ICMA conference. A conference trip turns into a crash course in leadership, burnout, identity, and what it really takes to build a career in local government.

Nadia meets fellow early-career public servants Karrine, Samsam, and Princess, who share their paths into public service and what they hope to learn. Between conference sessions and candid reflections, Nadia explores psychological safety, women’s experiences in local government leadership, and “presilience”—planning ahead, building strong teams, and recognizing burnout before it takes hold.

The trip also sparks a deeper look at representation in city management and the history of African American leaders in the field. Nadia shares what she learned, what surprised her, and how she’s thinking about balancing ambition with family, rest, and life beyond work.

With beachside moments, good food, networking, and a few scooter adventures along the way, this is a candid and lively conference recap about growing into a career—and staying grounded while you do it.

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During this episode, Nadia sits down with Damarko to get real about the messy realities of real estate investing and reveals how he went from passing his Licensing exam on the first try to competing in Wayne County tax foreclosure auctions. Damarko also opens up about the hidden complexities of auction properties, short-term hard money loans, and navigating major risks like squatters and vacant homes when starting with limited capital in Detroit.

This conversation is a reality check for anyone who thinks real estate is as easy as the licensing classes make it sound. Wherever you are in your entrepreneurial journey, whether you are trying to land your very first deal or figuring out how to build a business without a huge budget, know that the best opportunities often come from testing ideas, pivoting, and trying again (just make sure you know exactly what you are getting into before bidding on an unseen house!)

Since this episode was recorded, Damarko has continued to build out his vision, taking those hard-earned lessons from the field and applying them to his other business ventures like Paintball Warfare, Kyoji Kars, and his family holding company, Affiliated Kin Group. You can follow him on instagram @Dwardrealestate.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @nadiacshelton

Etsy: https://systemsbynadiastudio.etsy.com

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During this episode Nadia gets real about the overwhelming feeling of chasing big dreams and reveals her 90-day system for turning them into manageable steps through brain dumps, goal buckets, and micro-habits.

This episode speaks to the realization that; trying to do everything at once usually leads to getting nothing done at all. Wherever you are in your journey whether you are starting fresh, or trying to get back on track, know that it is okay to focus on just a few things at a time and build your discipline slowly (just make sure you actually set those deadlines!)

Since this episode was recorded, Nadia did in fact package this exact system into a workbook and took the leap to launching her Command Your Chaos: 90-Day Goal Setting Guide. Check out the link below and feel free to contact Nadia with questions or brain-dumps,

Email: [email protected]

Etsy: https://systemsbynadiastudio.etsy.com

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During this episode, Nadia sits down with her sister, Ajalia, to get real about their journey through sisterhood and reveals the experience of buying a house and surviving adulthood with your childhood bestie. Ajalia also opens up about the messy in-between of job hunting, and switching to a career that has nothing to do with her major.

This episode speaks to a very real phenomenon that Nadia hopes more siblings realize; growing up and building independence doesn't mean you have to lose your people. Wherever you are in your relationship with your family, whether you feel distant or closer than ever, know that relationships can evolve and get stronger when both people are willing to grow (just try not to argue over who is the more responsible one!)

Since this episode was recorded, Nadia and Ajalia are now besties from a distance and spend much of their time on the phone with each other for hours doing absolutely nothing.

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During this episode Nadia gets real about her journey through adulthood after graduating from college and reveals that she had 4 different jobs in a span of three years before she finally figured out she wanted to go back to school to get her Masters Degree.

This episode speaks to a very real realization many college graduates have; not being able to find a job in their field and pivoting. Wherever you are in your career whether a fresh grad, or a seasoned professional, know that if a job is no longer serving you, it is okay to leave (just have another job lined up first!)

Since this episode was recorded, Nadia did in fact get offered the Fellowship and took the leap to starting her career in local government.