Doing It Anyway

Jess Hugo
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  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated weekly

The podcast for high achieving women who do it anyway. Hosted by Jess Hugo, known for her 20kg transformation and her grounded, no fluff approach to discipline, confidence, and self-trust. This show is about navigating a full life: ambition, identity shifts, relationships, routines, and showing up for yourself when things aren’t perfect. Expect honest conversations about growth, consistency, and becoming the woman who leads her life, not just her schedule. New episodes every Wednesday. Connect with me on IG @itsjesshugo or visit https://msha.ke/successwithjess

  1. 5 days ago

    There Is a Version of You Waiting to Be Seen

    What if the thing holding you back isn't your body, your confidence, or your circumstances, but the fact that you've spent years hiding? In this episode of Doing It Anyway, we're talking about confidence, body image, identity shifts, and what it really means to allow yourself to be seen. For so many women, life becomes a constant waiting game. We tell ourselves we'll wear the outfit when we lose the weight, take the photo when we're more confident, put ourselves out there when we feel ready, and start fully living once we've finally become the version of ourselves we're chasing. The problem is that confidence doesn't magically appear one day. It isn't something you're given once you've achieved a certain goal, reached a certain weight, or become a different person. Confidence is built through action. I share my own experience with weight loss, the surprising relationship I now have with confidence, and a conversation with my partner that completely shifted the way I saw myself. Despite still having insecurities and moments of self-doubt, he described me as a confident person , and it made me realise that confidence isn't the absence of fear or insecurity. It's the willingness to show up anyway. We also dive into why so many women avoid being in photos, why we struggle to document our lives, and how much of our lives can pass by while we're waiting to feel worthy of being seen. From avoiding the camera to hiding behind other people, many of us are missing memories because we're convinced we need to change before we deserve to take up space. I also share my experience from a recent city photoshoot and why it challenged me in ways I didn't expect. It reminded me that there is something incredibly powerful about seeing yourself differently, celebrating how far you've come, embracing your femininity, and allowing yourself to exist in the frame instead of always standing behind it. Because confidence isn't about looking confident. It's about trusting yourself enough to stop hiding. If you've been working on becoming the best version of yourself, building self-confidence, improving your body image, stepping into your femininity, or creating a life that feels bigger than your fears, this episode will leave you thinking differently about what confidence actually means. In this episode we discuss: • Confidence after weight loss• Body image and self worth• Why so many women avoid photos• Learning to stop hiding• Identity shifts and personal growth• Taking up space unapologetically• Building confidence through action• Femininity, self expression, and self trust• Creating memories instead of waiting for perfection• Becoming the version of yourself you've been waiting for I truly believe every woman deserves to experience feeling genuinely confident in front of a camera at least once. There's something really healing about allowing yourself to be seen. Work with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjesshugo/

  2. 14 Jul

    Stop Waiting For Your Life To Start

    We’re actually really good at knowing what we want. We set the goals, create the vision boards, make the plans and tell ourselves that once we finally achieve those things, we’ll feel confident, happy and like we’ve become the person we’ve always wanted to be. But what happens when you reach the goal and it still doesn’t feel the way you thought it would? In this episode of Doing It Anyway, I’m talking about why women need more experiences, not just goals, and why the biggest transformations often happen in the moments where we learn to actually participate in our own lives. We’re diving into why so many women can achieve incredible things but still feel disconnected from their progress, their confidence and the version of themselves they’re becoming. I’m sharing why confidence isn’t something you find at the end of a goal, it’s something you build through the experiences you have along the way. We talk about the pressure to always be improving, always chasing the next milestone, and why so many women struggle to celebrate themselves because they’re constantly looking at what still needs fixing instead of recognising how far they’ve come. This shows up so clearly in the way we view our bodies, our confidence and our personal growth. Even when things are changing, we can still feel stuck in an old version of ourselves, avoiding photos, waiting to wear certain outfits, waiting to feel “ready” and putting our lives on hold until we become someone different. I share the concept of identity lag and why sometimes the person you’ve become hasn’t caught up with the reality of who you already are. Because becoming your best self isn’t just about achieving goals, losing weight, building confidence or creating a better life. It’s about experiencing yourself doing the hard things, showing up when it feels uncomfortable and allowing yourself to be seen while you’re still growing. This episode is for women who are working on themselves, chasing personal growth, wanting a glow-up, building confidence, improving their health and trying to create their dream life but feel like they’re always waiting for some future version of themselves to finally arrive. Because the real glow up isn’t becoming someone else. It’s finally allowing yourself to experience the life you’re already building. Work with me: msha.ke/successwithjess Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjesshugo/

  3. 7 Jul

    Everything I Wish Someone Had Taught Me About Nutrition

    If you've ever felt confused about nutrition, overwhelmed by conflicting advice online, or like you're constantly starting over every Monday, this episode is for you.For years, I thought I needed a better meal plan, more discipline, more willpower, or some secret piece of nutrition information that everyone else seemed to know. Instead, I found myself stuck in the same cycle so many women experience: trying new diets, cutting foods out, being "good" during the week, overeating on weekends, and feeling like I was constantly failing.The truth is, most of us were never taught the fundamentals of nutrition in a way that actually makes sense. We leave school knowing very little about calories, protein, energy balance, food labels, kilojoules, or how to build a way of eating that supports our goals and our lifestyle. So it's no surprise that so many women feel confused around food.In this episode, I'm breaking down the nutrition basics I wish I had understood earlier, including calories, macros, protein intake, emotional eating, and why so many "healthy" foods can still be surprisingly calorie dense. Most importantly, we're talking about how to simplify nutrition so it feels sustainable instead of restrictive.We also dive into the connection between food, mental health, confidence, and consistency. Because nutrition doesn't just impact your weight loss journey. It affects your energy levels, your mood, your ability to focus, how you handle stress, and ultimately how you show up in your life.When you're constantly under-eating, over-restricting, swinging between extremes, or trying to follow rules that don't fit your lifestyle, it's easy to believe you lack discipline. In reality, many women are trying to build confidence, consistency, and self-trust from a body that simply doesn't feel supported.That's why this episode isn't really about dieting.It's about creating a foundation that allows you to enjoy dinners out, birthdays, holidays, beach days, and social events without constantly stressing about food. It's about understanding nutrition well enough that you can stop obsessing over it. It's about building a healthier relationship with food so you can spend less time worrying about what you're eating and more time living your life.If you've ever felt stuck in an all-or-nothing mindset, struggled with emotional eating, or wondered why weight loss feels so much harder than it should, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters.In this episode we discuss:• Calories and macros explained simply• Why women feel so confused around food• Protein intake and why it matters• Understanding food labels, calories and kilojoules• Why "healthy" foods can still be calorie dense• Emotional eating and weekend blowouts• The all-or-nothing mindset• Why restriction often backfires• The connection between nutrition, confidence and mental health• How simple nutrition creates freedom and consistencyWork with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjesshugo/

  4. 30 Jun

    How To Actually Glow Up: The Habits That Changed My Life

    Every few months there’s a new glow up trend telling you the secret to becoming your best self. A new supplement, a new morning routine, a new aesthetic, or a new list of things you “need” to do to finally become the version of yourself you’ve been dreaming about. But when I look back at my biggest glow up, losing 20kg, rebuilding my confidence, changing careers, becoming more comfortable in my own skin, and creating a life that actually feels aligned, almost none of it came from those things. In this episode of Doing It Anyway, I’m sharing the glow up advice I actually agree with and the lessons that genuinely changed my life. Because the biggest transformation wasn’t just physical. It was learning how to trust myself, take action before I felt ready, and stop waiting for confidence to magically appear. We’re talking about what actually creates a real glow-up, including why confidence isn’t something you find, it’s something you build through the promises you keep to yourself. I share why waiting until you feel motivated, confident, or ready can keep you stuck, and how taking small actions creates the evidence that you are capable of becoming the person you want to be. I also talk about the systems and routines that supported my personal growth, from creating structure around my goals to building habits that made becoming my best self feel sustainable instead of overwhelming. Because the things that change your life are usually not the most exciting things you see online. They’re the simple things you consistently do when no one is watching. We’ll dive into why your future self matters, how to think beyond the next few months, and the habits you’re building now that will shape your health, confidence, and lifestyle long term. I share my thoughts on fitness, nutrition, understanding your body, building strength, and moving away from quick fixes towards creating a lifestyle that actually supports you. This episode is for anyone who wants to level up, create their dream life, improve their mindset, build confidence, become healthier, and stop waiting for the “perfect time” to start. Because the biggest glow up isn’t changing how you look. It’s becoming someone who believes in herself enough to do the things that scare her, take up space, and create a life she’s proud of. Work with me: msha.ke/successwithjess Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjesshugo/

  5. 23 Jun

    Confidence Isn't Something You're Born With

    We hear a lot about confidence, but what if confidence isn't actually the thing you need first? For a long time, I believed confidence was something you either had or you didn't. I thought the confident girls were somehow different; that they were naturally more outgoing, more secure, less self-conscious, and less afraid of being judged. But the older I've gotten, the more I've realised that confidence isn't a personality trait. It's a by-product of keeping promises to yourself, building self-trust, and collecting evidence that you can handle uncomfortable things. In this episode, I'm sharing my thoughts on the relationship between confidence, routine, mental health, and why so many of us feel disconnected from ourselves without fully understanding why. Often, when we're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, unmotivated, or stuck, we assume something is wrong with us. In reality, we've usually drifted away from the habits and routines that help us feel grounded, capable, and like ourselves. We talk about why structure can have such a powerful impact on anxiety, why motivation is one of the least reliable things to build your life around, and how simple things like movement, sleep, nutrition, and meaningful social connection can completely change the way you experience your day-to-day life. I also touch on a side of confidence that doesn't get spoken about enough: the ways we hide when we don't feel good about ourselves. Whether it's avoiding photos, always being the one behind the camera, hiding your body, or convincing yourself you'll start fully living once you've fixed something about yourself, many of us spend years waiting to become confident before allowing ourselves to be seen. The problem is that confidence rarely arrives before action. More often than not, it comes afterwards. Some of the most confident I've ever felt came from doing things I previously would have talked myself out of. Not because the fear disappeared, but because every experience became proof that I was capable of showing up anyway. If you've been feeling disconnected from yourself, struggling to trust yourself, or waiting for confidence before taking action towards the life you want, I think this episode will really resonate with you. In this episode we discuss: • Why confidence is built, not born• The connection between routine and mental health• How structure can reduce anxiety and overwhelm• Why motivation isn't enough for long-term growth• Building self-trust through small daily actions• The hidden ways we avoid being seen• Getting out of survival mode and feeling like yourself again• Creating a life that feels aligned, grounded, and fulfilling Work with me: msha.ke/successwithjess Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjesshugo/

  6. 16 Jun

    The Small Habits That Instantly Reset My Mood When Life Feels Chaotic

    In this episode of Doing It Anyway, we’re talking about the small, almost unglamorous habits that completely change how life feels when everything feels chaotic, overwhelming, or slightly off track. This isn’t about a full life reset, strict routines, or “become a new person in 30 days” energy. It’s about the tiny things that bring you back to yourself in real time. The habits that don’t take motivation, just awareness, and make the next hour, day, or week feel lighter, clearer, and more like you again. If you’ve been feeling stuck in your routine, low on motivation, constantly scrolling, overthinking everything, or like you keep waiting for a “fresh start” that never really comes, this episode will shift the way you think about self improvement, mindset, and consistency. We go through the small daily habits that quietly regulate your energy and help you feel more grounded, focused, and confident without needing to overhaul your entire life. From protecting your mornings so you’re not instantly pulled into everyone else’s world, to reducing decision fatigue around food and routines, to building self trust through the promises you keep to yourself, this episode is really about learning how to feel good again without making life harder than it needs to be. We also talk about why clarity often comes from movement, not thinking harder, and how creating something to look forward to can completely change your mindset and the way you show up in your life. The real takeaway isn’t the habits themselves. It’s learning what brings you back to yourself when life feels messy, busy, or a little out of alignment, and building a version of self improvement that actually fits into your real life as a woman in your 20s. If you’ve been wanting more confidence, structure, discipline, and ease without burning out or overcomplicating everything, this one will land. Work with meInstagram

  7. 9 Jun

    Nobody Has Their 20s Figured Out: The Career Advice I Wish I Had in My Early 20s

    In this episode of Doing It Anyway, we’re talking about something almost every woman in her 20s quietly struggles with but rarely says out loud, feeling behind in life, second-guessing your career choices, and wondering if you’re meant to have it all figured out by now. Whether you’ve changed degrees, started working young and felt lost, questioned your career path, or constantly find yourself comparing your timeline to everyone else’s, this episode will completely reframe how you see your 20s. Because the truth is, your 20s are not meant to be a perfectly mapped out career path or a straight line of success. They’re a season of learning through experience, building self trust, and figuring out who you are by actually living, not just planning. We talk about the pressure of uni, early career expectations, comparison culture, and that underlying fear that everyone else is “ahead” while you’re still trying to figure things out. But underneath all of that, there’s a deeper pattern, how insecurity can quietly shape your decisions, hold you back from opportunities, and affect everything from networking to confidence in the workplace. This episode is really about zooming out and realising that nobody actually has their 20s figured out, even if it looks like they do. And more importantly, how confidence isn’t something you magically gain after choosing the “right” path, it’s something you build by trusting yourself while you’re still figuring it out. If you’ve been feeling lost in your career, unsure of your direction, or like you’re constantly behind in life, this conversation will help you feel grounded, less alone, and more willing to take messy action anyway. Because your 20s aren’t about getting everything right, they’re about learning to back yourself while nothing feels fully certain yet. Work with me Instagram

  8. 2 Jun

    The Truth About My Health Lately (Neurologist Update)

    In this episode of Doing It Anyway, I’m opening up about a side of my life I haven’t fully shared online yet. Over the past few months, I’ve been navigating neurologist appointments, MRIs, blood tests, nerve stimulation testing, medication side effects, PCOS, autoimmune concerns, and trying to understand what’s actually been happening with my body and brain behind the scenes. I talk about the mental load of health anxiety while still trying to build a business, show up online, chase your goals, maintain relationships, and become the best version of yourself when life feels uncertain. This episode is for the girls in their 20s who feel like they’re constantly trying to hold it all together while silently battling things nobody else sees. The girls who are ambitious, driven, trying to level up, create their dream life, and take messy action… but are also exhausted, overwhelmed, and figuring things out in real time. We chat about: • My neurologist update & diagnosis • MRI scans, nerve testing & autoimmune investigations • The side effects of long term medication • PCOS, hormones & the impact on my mental health • Health anxiety & spiralling thoughts • Learning to trust my body again • What this season has taught me about resilience • Continuing to build your dream life even when things feel hard I wanted this episode to feel honest, grounding, and real because healing, growth, confidence, and success are rarely linear. You do not need to have your entire life figured out to keep moving forward. Sometimes becoming the best version of yourself looks like showing up scared, overwhelmed, emotional, uncertain… and doing it anyway. WORK WITH ME: msha.ke/successwithjess INSTAGRAM: @itsjesshugo

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About

The podcast for high achieving women who do it anyway. Hosted by Jess Hugo, known for her 20kg transformation and her grounded, no fluff approach to discipline, confidence, and self-trust. This show is about navigating a full life: ambition, identity shifts, relationships, routines, and showing up for yourself when things aren’t perfect. Expect honest conversations about growth, consistency, and becoming the woman who leads her life, not just her schedule. New episodes every Wednesday. Connect with me on IG @itsjesshugo or visit https://msha.ke/successwithjess

Information

  • Creator
    Jess Hugo
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jess Hugo
  • Show Website
    Doing It Anyway

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