Courageous Me

Kim Payne
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Fortnightly

Hi, I’m Kim Payne. Welcome to the Courageous Me podcast—your go-to for incredible stories and practical tips to add more courage to your life. Imagine what’s possible if courage wasn’t reserved for heroic moments but became part of your everyday life. Whether you're dreaming big, going through a rough patch, or are ready to reignite the fire in your belly, this podcast is for you. Because courage is life’s secret source—it turns the ordinary into magic. And it all starts with you.

  1. 3 days ago

    171. Have you become too grown up to dream? With Kim Payne

    When did we become so good at doing reality…that we forgot how to dream? Somewhere between being an imaginative kid and the realities of adult life, many of us stopped dreaming.  And even when a dream does appear, we're often incredibly quick to tell ourselves why it’s unrealistic, impractical, or just plain ridiculous. In this episode, I explore what happens when we give ourselves permission to dream again, without needing to know how it will happen, whether it makes sense, or even if we’ll ever act on it.  Inspired by a conversation with a friend who spent one fabulous night imagining a different life, I started thinking about the dreams we allow ourselves to explore... and the ones we shut down before they’ve had a chance to breathe. I share some of my own seemingly far-fetched dreams, including those that disappeared, those that resurfaced years later, and those that became part of the life and work I’m living today.  Not every dream needs to become a goal.  And some of the things that feel impossible today might not be as far-fetched as we think. This episode invites you to spend a little less time asking, "How would that ever work?" and a little more time asking, "Imagine if…"   Key takeaways: o   Why so many of us stop dreaming as we get older. o   What happens when reality and responsibility take over. o   Why a dream doesn’t need to be realistic to have value. o   What can happen when you let yourself stay in “imagine if…” mode. o   Why the dreams you once squashed might be worth revisiting. o   How something that once felt far-fetched can take on a life of its own. o   What you might discover when you allow yourself to dream again.   💖 SOMEDAY to TODAY – event  A one-day transformational experience for women who are done waiting for 'someday'. Friday 9 October 2026. Find out more and grab your spot here.          A huge shout out to our main event partner, Michelle Roberts, Financial Adviser from BCV Financial Solutions. You’ve got one life...make the most of it.    Awesome product partner mentioned: Salty Vibes - Self care without the wellness BS.     COURAGEOUS ME – THE BOOK  Grab your copy of Courageous Me – The courage to turn someday into today.   Where to find me:  Website: Kim Payne    LinkedIn: Kim Payne Instagram: @iamkimpayne   Facebook: KimPayneBiz

  2. 19 Aug

    170. What if moving forward means not going back? With Melissa Gough

    In this episode, I talk to Melissa Gough, a storyteller, educator, and stroke survivor whose life changed unexpectedly at 48 when she suffered a brain haemorrhage. Melissa takes us inside what happens when you believe you may be taking your last breath and find yourself reflecting on the life you've already lived. We explore what happens when the crisis is over, but life doesn't simply return to the way it was before. How do you move forward when everything—even your sense of identity—has shifted? And do you really need to become the person you were before... or can you learn to value who you are now? Melissa shares what it has taken to live with cognitive challenges others can't see, advocate for herself when she feels misunderstood, and stop allowing other people's opinions to overshadow her own.  We also talk about her powerful shift from focusing on her limitations to recognising her strengths and learning to work with her brain, rather than against it. And we uncover how curiosity and small acts of courage can take your life somewhere completely unexpected. It's a beautiful conversation about accepting what has changed without letting it define you, owning your value even when life looks different from what you imagined, and recognising that your next chapter doesn't have to look anything like your last one.   Key takeaways: o   What goes through your mind when you think you may be taking your last breath. o   What it means to own your strengths without being defined by your limitations. o   What happens when surviving the crisis is only the beginning. o   How one email can lead you in a whole new direction. o   Why moving forward isn't always about becoming who you were before. o   What it means to work with your brain, not against it. o   How you can shine in life while living with hidden challenges.   Find out more about Melissa: Website: The Brain Game Changer    Instagram: @thebraingamechanger    LinkedIn: Melissa Gough     Substack: The Brain Game Changer     SOMEDAY to TODAY – event  A one-day transformational experience for women who are done waiting for 'someday'. Friday 9 October 2026 Find out more and grab your spot here.          COURAGEOUS ME – THE BOOK  Grab your copy of Courageous Me – The courage to turn someday into today.   Where to find me:  Website: Kim Payne    LinkedIn: Kim Payne Instagram: @iamkimpayne   Facebook: KimPayneBiz

  3. 12 Aug

    169. What happens when the path you’re expected to follow doesn’t feel right? With Chiza Westcarr

    What happens when the life that’s expected of you isn’t the life you want for yourself? In this episode, we hear from clinical nutritionist, dermal clinician, menopause coach, and researcher Chiza Westcarr, whose life has been shaped by a series of courageous decisions to choose the path less travelled. Growing up in a high-achieving family, the expectations were clear: law or medicine. Her siblings followed those paths. Chiza didn’t. Instead, she forged her own path, taking her across countries and careers, and eventually into the work she does today, supporting women through menopause. Chiza shares the self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and uncertainty behind some of her biggest decisions, what it takes to back yourself when there’s no roadmap, and how choosing differently can impact the relationships that matter most. We also explore what can happen when you question the way things have always been done, why Chiza challenged the aesthetics industry’s approach to menopausal skin, and how that led her to create her own menopause conference and now undertake a PhD in menopause research. And we look at why midlife can be an extraordinary opportunity rather than something to endure, especially when we could have another 40 or 50 years ahead of us. If you’ve ever felt pulled towards a path others don’t quite understand, this conversation is a powerful reminder of what can be possible when you back yourself and take it anyway.   Key takeaways: o   What it takes to choose your own path when others expect something different. o   Why fear and imposter syndrome don’t disappear with courage. o   How taking the path less travelled can change your relationships. o   How questioning the status quo can lead to something bigger. o   Why midlife could be the beginning of your next chapter. o   What women need to understand about their health through menopause. o   Why the path others don’t understand may be the right one for you.   Find out more about Chiza: : Website: Chiza Westcarr    Website: FloraBiome      Instagram: @chizawestcarr_ Instagram: @flora_biome     Instagram: @thrivingthroughmenopausebycw     Facebook: Chiza Westcarr     LinkedIn: Chiza Westcarr    *Thriving Through Menopause Symposium 2026        COURAGEOUS ME – THE BOOK  Grab your copy of Courageous Me – The courage to turn someday into today.   SOMEDAY to TODAY – event  A one-day transformational experience for women who are done waiting for 'someday'. Friday 9 October 2026 Find out more and grab your spot here.          Where to find me:  Website: Kim Payne    LinkedIn: Kim Payne Instagram: @iamkimpayne   Facebook: KimPayneBiz

  4. 5 Aug

    168. When you see yourself differently, everything changes. With Kim Payne

    We spend so much time focusing on where we haven't arrived yet that we rarely stop to recognise just how far we've come. In this episode, I share a powerful exercise I’ve been using in recent workshops with people of all ages, industries, and backgrounds.  The results were extraordinary.  As people reflected on the past five years of their lives, many reflected on their achievements, challenges they'd overcome, relationships they'd built, and personal growth they'd completely forgotten. But this isn't just about looking backward. It's about seeing the evidence of your progress and how it changes how you see yourself... and why that shift might be the very thing that unlocks your next chapter. I talk about why we often minimise our own progress, how our past can become proof of what's possible, and ask one simple question that could completely change the way you think about your future. If you've been feeling stuck, questioning yourself, or wondering whether you're capable of something bigger, this episode offers a fresh perspective that may change far more than you expect.   Key takeaways: o   Why looking back may be the fastest way to move forward. o   The surprising reason we forget just how much we've already overcome. o   How one simple exercise can completely change the way you see yourself. o   What your past reveals about what you're capable of next. o   The question that helps you create your next five years with intention. o   Why your future isn't built by achievements alone... but by who you become along the way. o   How seeing yourself differently can change everything that comes next.   SOMEDAY to TODAY – event  A one-day transformational experience for women who are done waiting for 'someday'. Friday 9 October 2026. Find out more and grab your spot here.          COURAGEOUS ME – THE BOOK  Grab your copy of Courageous Me – The courage to turn someday into today.   Where to find me:  Website: Kim Payne    LinkedIn: Kim Payne Instagram: @iamkimpayne   Facebook: KimPayneBiz

  5. 29 July

    167. Is your conditioned mind stopping you from growing with Linda Stocco

    What if the voice you've been trusting is your conditioned mind... repeating everything it's ever known?  This conversation with holistic coach and leadership mentor Linda Stocco explores the kind of courage needed to trust yourself when the answers don't come from your head, but from somewhere much deeper. Linda shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped the way she now works with people, from losing her father at just 23 and making a life-changing decision about how she wanted to approach relationships, to recovering from a serious spinal injury that challenged everything she thought she knew about healing.  Along the way, she unpacks the powerful connection between our body, mind, emotions, and intuition, and why true transformation rarely happens through logic alone. Together, we uncover why your conditioned mind may be keeping you stuck in old patterns, what becomes possible when you learn to trust the wisdom of your body instead, and how slowing down can become the catalyst for your greatest growth.  We also explore why perimenopause can be an unexpected invitation into a new chapter, and how seeing another person's perspective can completely change the conversations that matter most. If you've ever felt torn between what your head is telling you and what your heart or gut already knows, this conversation will help you decide what’s right.    Key takeaways: o   Why your body may already know the answer before your mind does. o   What losing someone can teach you about how you choose to live. o   How healing begins long before the physical symptoms disappear. o   How your conditioned mind may be holding you back without you even realising it. o   The shifts that happen when you truly see another person's perspective. o   How trusting your intuition can transform the way you lead, work, and live. o   The hidden cost of ignoring your inner voice... and what changes when you finally listen. o   Why perimenopause can become the beginning of your next chapter. Find out more about Linda: Instagram: @linda_stocco     Facebook: Linda Stocco     LinkedIn: Linda Stocco       SOMEDAY to TODAY – event  A one-day transformational experience for women who are done waiting for 'someday'. Friday 9 October 2026 Find out more and grab your spot here.          COURAGEOUS ME – THE BOOK  Grab your copy of Courageous Me – The courage to turn someday into today.   Where to find me:  Website: Kim Payne    LinkedIn: Kim Payne Instagram: @iamkimpayne   Facebook: KimPayneBiz

  6. 22 July

    166. How a curious mind helps you make life's decisions with Jane Lim

    What happens when your gut knows the answer... but your head hasn't caught up yet?  In this deeply honest conversation, I sit down with financial planner, university lecturer, podcaster, and ultramarathon runner Jane Lim to explore what courage really looks like when life asks you to make some of its biggest decisions. Jane shares her journey of rebuilding her life after leaving her marriage, and how important decisions can feel right even if they don’t make sense on paper.  We also talk about how watching her family lose everything shaped her relationship with money, why a curious mind has become one of her greatest strengths, and how a simple daily walk after separation eventually led her to running ultramarathons. This isn't just a conversation about making decisions It's about learning to trust yourself when certainty isn't available, backing yourself one small step at a time, and discovering that action is often the catalyst that changes everything. If you've been sitting on a decision, wondering whether to stay where you are or step into the unknown, this episode is a beautiful reminder that you don't need all the answers before you take the next step.   Key takeaways: o   Why some of life's biggest decisions never make sense on paper. o   How to trust your gut when your mind hasn't caught up. o   How daily walks led to ultramarathons... and changed Jane's life. o   Why a curious mind can be your greatest superpower. o   Why the hardest things shouldn't be done alone. o   What it really means to back yourself when everything feels uncertain.   Find out more about Jane: Website: Prosper Financial Planning    LinkedIn:  Jane Lim     Janes teaching and MBA journey – YouTube    Breadwinning Mums Podcast Breadwinning Mums    Breadwinning Mums (and Dads)        Instagram: @breadwinningmums          SOMEDAY to TODAY – event  A one-day transformational experience for women who are done waiting for 'someday'. Friday 9 October 2026 Find out more and grab your spot here.          COURAGEOUS ME – THE BOOK  Grab your copy of Courageous Me – The courage to turn someday into today.   Where to find me:  Website: Kim Payne    LinkedIn: Kim Payne Instagram: @iamkimpayne   Facebook: KimPayneBiz

  7. 15 July

    165. Faith, trust & intuition to follow what you can’t explain with Michelle Gardiner

    Have you ever had a feeling you couldn't explain... but knew you needed to follow it?   In this conversation, I talk with Michelle Gardner, founder of The Aspire Series, about finding the courage to follow your calling, even when the next step makes no logical sense. What began as a short trip to Bali unexpectedly became a life-changing journey that took Michelle around the world, challenged everything she thought she knew about success, and ultimately reshaped the work she's now doing with women across the globe. Together, we unpack the relationship between courage, faith, trust, and intuition, and why some of the most significant moments in our lives begin long before we have all the answers.  We also explore the power of listening to yourself, embracing uncertainty, and allowing life to flow in ways you never could have planned. If you've ever felt pulled towards something you can't put your finger on, questioned whether to follow your instincts, or sensed there's another chapter waiting for you, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that courage doesn't need certainty... it simply needs you to trust yourself enough to take the next step.   Key takeaways o   Why faith, trust, and intuition often lead us where certainty never can. o   How one idea became a global movement connecting women from 52 countries. o   What 225 women's stories revealed about what we all have in common. o   The unexpected lesson Bali taught Michelle about surrender and success. o   Why your purpose is often hidden inside your own story. o   The difference between building a successful life... and an aligned one. o   How trusting what you can't explain can change everything.   Find out more or follow Michelle: Website: The Aspire Series    Instagram: @michelle_gardiner_au     Facebook: The Aspire Series      LinkedIn: Michelle Gardiner     The Aspire Summit - BALI 15-19 August 2026.      COURAGEOUS ME – THE BOOK  Grab your copy of Courageous Me – The courage to turn someday into today.   SOMEDAY to TODAY – event  A one-day transformational experience for women who are done waiting for 'someday'. Friday 9 October 2026 Find out more and grab your spot here.          Where to find me:  Website: Kim Payne    LinkedIn: Kim Payne Instagram: @iamkimpayne   Facebook: KimPayneBiz

  8. 8 July

    164. Do you really need to do the hard thing first? With Kim Payne

    We've heard the advice: Do the hard thing first. But what if that isn't always the best approach? In this episode, I question the popular mantra that urges us to tackle the hardest task first and explain how, for many, this can hinder momentum, self-trust, and our ability to take action. Through personal examples, I share how small acts of follow-through can create the self-trust you need to take on the bigger things you've been putting off. And I unpack the difference between avoidance and intentionally building evidence that free you to follow through on your commitments.  If you've ever procrastinated on an important conversation, delayed putting yourself out there, or wondered why you know what to do but still struggle to do it, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on building courage in a way that works for you. Whether you're someone who lives by eating the frog first, or someone who needs momentum before taking the leap, this episode will help you rethink how you approach the hard things that matter most.   Key takeaways: o   Why "do the hard thing first" isn't always the best advice, and when it could actually work against you. o   The subtle difference between helpful procrastination and plain old avoidance. o   How small wins create the self-trust needed to tackle the bigger, scarier things. o   What your approach to deadlines and accountability reveals about how you're wired. o   The simple mindset shift that could finally help you turn your "someday" into today.   COURAGEOUS ME – THE BOOK  Grab your copy of Courageous Me – The courage to turn someday into today.   SOMEDAY to TODAY – event  A one-day transformational experience for women who are done waiting for 'someday'. Friday 9 October 2026 Find out more and grab your spot here.          Where to find me:  Website: Kim Payne    LinkedIn: Kim Payne Instagram: @iamkimpayne   Facebook: KimPayneBiz

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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Hi, I’m Kim Payne. Welcome to the Courageous Me podcast—your go-to for incredible stories and practical tips to add more courage to your life. Imagine what’s possible if courage wasn’t reserved for heroic moments but became part of your everyday life. Whether you're dreaming big, going through a rough patch, or are ready to reignite the fire in your belly, this podcast is for you. Because courage is life’s secret source—it turns the ordinary into magic. And it all starts with you.

Information

  • Creator
    Kim Payne
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    171
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kim Payne
  • Show Website
    Courageous Me

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