Your Confidence Podcast

In this episode, I’m joined by bestselling author, performer and comedian Tova Leigh for a brilliantly honest conversation about confidence, authenticity and finally caring less about other people’s opinions. Tova shares how motherhood pushed her to speak openly about the things women were thinking but rarely saying, and why being yourself matters more than looking confident.

We also talk about body image, handling criticism, facing change with curiosity and doing scary things before you feel ready. From posting the video to wearing the bikini, Tova’s approach is refreshingly simple: start small, see what happens and remember that most people are far too busy thinking about themselves anyway.

Highlights:

(02:23) - Why confidence can look a lot like simply not caring

(04:10) - The motherhood moment that pushed Tova to tell the truth

(14:18) - What really happens in her head before she walks on stage

(24:49) - Redefining failure when the likes, laughs or sales do not come

(32:54) - How curiosity can make change feel far less frightening

(36:33) - The small body confidence experiment that changed everything

Connect with Tova HERE

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I’m joined by the brilliant Alistair McGowan for an honest, funny and wonderfully thoughtful conversation about confidence, reinvention and knowing when it is time to try something new. Alistair shares how he moved from award-winning impressions and acting into classical piano and poetry, despite having plenty of doubts along the way.

We talk about why confidence can disappear when we stop enjoying what we do, how repetition quietly builds self-belief, and why honest feedback matters more than empty praise. Alistair also reveals why performing on stage can feel easier than walking into a party, which makes me feel much better about avoiding awkward small talk.

Highlights:

(02:20) How poetry, piano and impressions became one wonderfully unexpected show

(05:30) Why losing your love for something can shake your confidence

(08:13) The backstage message that completely changed Alistair’s performance

(14:50) Why doing the scary thing repeatedly really does make it easier

(21:19) The tiny choices that can make a huge difference to self-belief

(39:13) How to handle criticism without letting one opinion define you

Connect with Alistair HERE

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In this episode, I’m joined by celebrity makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur Sean Maloney, who shares how he went from stocking shelves in Boots to working with stars, leading international pageant teams and building an award-winning academy. We talk about the moments that demanded courage, including four-minute makeovers at London Fashion Week and a life-changing decision made from a hostel bunk bed.

Sean also opens up about comparison, online criticism and the pressure to look confident when you are quietly paddling underneath. His story is a brilliant reminder that confidence is not about feeling fearless. It is about focusing on your own path, saying yes to opportunities and remembering why you started.

Highlights:

(03:01) The confidence switch Sean learned to turn on

(07:13) Creating a catwalk look in just four minutes

(12:51) How a random Boots job launched his beauty career

(20:29) The hostel stay that changed the direction of his life

(24:21) Why posting on Instagram is not enough to build a career

(33:01) How Sean recovered when one bad photo went viral

Connect with Sean:

https://seanmaloney.co.uk/

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Serial entrepreneur Maxine Laceby, the co-founder of Absolute Collagen, joins Sian to share how a late-in-life fine art degree, a raw self-stripping art project, and a pan of bone broth led to a £30 million business.

Maxine opens up about feeling invisible as a stay-at-home mum, rebuilding her self-worth, and the Post-it note mantra that changed everything: “Everything you need is inside you. You are enough.”

She talks candidly about being an “underestimated everyday woman,” raising confident daughters, leading with values, and why the first step to being seen is to stop underestimating yourself.

(03:00) - The art project that stripped away every mask and changed Maxine’s life

(08:00) - Standing on the edge of the cliff and saying “sod it” to regret

(10:30) - Hiring on instinct: why values matter more than CVs

(25:16) - “You’ll leave when it hurts enough”: raising confident, resilient daughters

(34:32) - Stop underestimating yourself and look in the mirror with no armour

(38:20) - Being the owl in the nest: embracing who you really are to change your life

Find out more about Absolute Collagen HERE

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