Social Skills Mastery

Susan Callender
  • 4.7 (43)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Social Skills Mastery Podcast is where High-Performance Social Confidence Coach and Corporate Trainer, Susan Callender helps professionals, business owners, and entrepreneurs stand out in competitive and often high-stakes situations, by raising social capital and using the power of polished people skills to make an impact. Weekly content encompasses what to do, what to say, how to maneuver tricky situations and get it right the first time.

  1. 5D AGO

    268. Compare and Despair: Break the Cycle That's Blocking Your Success

    You're scrolling LinkedIn and see a colleague got promoted. Someone else just keynoted at the conference you've been dreaming about speaking at. Another peer seems to effortlessly command every room they walk into, and that familiar knot starts forming in your stomach that makes you feel like you're falling behind." What if that singular thought pattern is the exact thing blocking you from the success, influence, and visibility you actually want? In this episode, I'm diving into what I call "compare and despair", the sneaky habit of using other people's success against yourself. If you're brilliant at the technical work but struggle with visibility and influence, this conversation is for you. What You'll Learn Why comparison is eroding your confidence and executive presence (even if you don't realize you're doing it) The principle that completely reframes how you see other people's success The difference between comparison that inspires you vs. comparison that destroys you How jealousy is actually showing you what you want (and what to do about it) Three questions to ask yourself every time you catch yourself comparing  ** Don't even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills? Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be? Confidence on Cue: a powerful 5-minute audio that resets your mind before any meeting, presentation, or social interaction. Book a Social Strategy Session HERE Have a question that needs an answer. Email me at Hello@SocialConfidencePro.com  LinkedIn Instagram TikTok

    31 min

  2. FEB 6

    267. The Powerful Framework That Turns Nervousness into Professional Presence

    The promotion went to someone less qualified. The VP never learned about your game-changing idea. That strategic relationship never happened. Not because you weren't capable, but because when the moment came to step forward, you stayed silent. In this episode, I'm breaking down the exact mental framework that separates people who demonstrate social bravado from people who play it safe. You'll discover why what you've been calling "risk" is actually strategic positioning, and how to reframe high-stakes professional moments so they feel like preparation, not danger. You'll learn: The reframe that transforms nervousness into confident action Why "playing it safe" is actually the riskiest career move you can make The Social Bravado Framework to use before any high-stakes interaction Three real-world scenarios with exact thought patterns to adopt How to build social bravado progressively (without jumping into the deep end) The physiology hack that changes your confidence in 2 minutes  **  Don't even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills? Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be? Confidence on Cue: a powerful 5-minute audio that resets your mind before any meeting, presentation, or social interaction. Book a Social Strategy Session HERE Have a question that needs an answer. Email me at Hello@SocialConfidencePro.com  LinkedIn Instagram TikTok

    29 min

  3. JAN 30

    266. Rewire Your Self-Talk for Instant Social & Interpersonal Success

    In this episode, we're dissecting the constant conversations happening in your head, and how it's shaping the way you show up in meetings, at dinners and events, and everyday workplace interactions. Because here's the truth: Your inner dialogue becomes your outer presence. If your self-talk sounds like: "I'll never get the job" "I never know what to say" "I hope I don't mess this up" "Other people are naturally better at this" …then no amount of communication tips or confidence hacks will fully stick. Today, you'll learn how to identify the subtle phrases that are reinforcing a socially hesitant identity and how to replace them with thoughts that align with the confident, respected, and socially at-ease professional you're becoming.   **  Don't even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills? Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be? Confidence on Cue: a powerful 5-minute audio that resets your mind before any meeting, presentation, or social interaction. Book a Social Strategy Session HERE Have a question that needs an answer. Email me at Hello@SocialConfidencePro.com  LinkedIn Instagram TikTok

    22 min

  4. JAN 22

    265. Stop Trying to Win with People: Reprogram Your Social Identity

    Have you ever watched someone walk into a room and it's like everything they touch turns to gold—promotions, opportunities, influence, connection, and wondered how it's even possible? In this episode, we break down the real reason some people seem to "win" socially without effort: they're not trying harder… they're operating from a different identity. Social success isn't created through willpower or forcing yourself to perform—it's created through subconscious programming, beliefs, and an internal "thermostat" that determines what feels automatic and normal for you. You'll learn why trying is the fast track to social exhaustion, why your brain resists behavior that conflicts with identity, and how to reprogram your social operating system so confidence, connection, and presence become effortless. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why people who succeed socially aren't "trying" to succeed (and why that matters) The identity-based reason social skills can feel exhausting and inconsistent How your subconscious runs your interpersonal habits on autopilot Why small talk isn't the problem—your beliefs about it are How to model socially successful people without pretending to be them The "thermostat" concept: how to raise your default level of confidence and ease If you're smart, capable, and successful in your work—but still feel like you're "hit or miss" with people—this episode will help you understand why… and how to change it permanently. **  Don't even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills? Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be? Confidence on Cue: a powerful 5-minute audio that resets your mind before any meeting, presentation, or social interaction. Book a Social Strategy Session HERE Have a question that needs an answer. Email me at Hello@SocialConfidencePro.com  LinkedIn Instagram TikTok

    26 min

  5. JAN 16

    264. Devin Marks: How TED-Style Tools Can Improve Any Message, Anywhere

    When you're ready to become a bona fide thought leader in your zone of genius, Devin D. Marks will uplevel your public speaking game.  DEVIN is the nation's #1 (and world's first) TED-style speaking coach. His firm, CONNECT to COMPEL, has served 100s of short-talk speakers — including Harvard's Dr. Robert Waldinger for his all-time TOP 10 TEDx Talk (50 million views). The result: 100s of millions of views for clients. He helps coaches, authors, and experts spread world-changing ideas. Devin was also the most downloaded episode from this podcast in 2020, and you can find that episode here.   Devin's Gift to You - The Message Temple. Use this framework to shape any talk or message. Coupon Code for 100% off "TheMT-25"   **  Don't even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills? Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be? Confidence on Cue: a powerful 5-minute audio that resets your mind before any meeting, presentation, or social interaction. Book a Social Strategy Session HERE Have a question that needs an answer. Email me at Hello@SocialConfidencePro.com  LinkedIn Instagram TikTok

    33 min

  6. JAN 8

    263. Secrets to Creating a Polished, Professional Speaking Style with Neil Gordon

    Neil Gordon is the bestselling author of The Most Powerful Sentence of All Time. He is a former editor of Dutton, now a division of Penguin Random House, where he worked on books by New York Times bestselling authors such as Eckhart Tolle and Sylvia Browne. He has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Inc., Entrepreneur, NBC, and Fox. In episode #263, Neil reveals the career-defining skill that separates professionals who fade into the background from those who command attention and close deals. You'll discover how to craft your "Silver Bullet"— a deceptively simple elevator pitch that transforms networking from awkward small talk into magnetic conversation.  Whether you're at a conference, client dinner, or investor meeting, this one sentence will make people lean in, ask questions, and remember you long after the conversation ends. If you've ever fumbled through "So, what do you do?" or watched someone's eyes glaze over mid-explanation, this episode will change everything.   Neil's Social Links: https://www.facebook.com/neilcanhelp https://www.instagram.com/neil.can.help/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilcanhelp/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmpRBS2436uw4pzou9IFFw https://www.tiktok.com/@neilcanhelp   Neil's Book page: https://www.amazon.com/Most-Powerful-Sentence-All-Time-ebook/dp/B0DP7M9ZP7   **  Don't even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills? Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be? Confidence on Cue: a powerful 5-minute audio that resets your mind before any meeting, presentation, or social interaction. Book a Social Strategy Session HERE Have a question that needs an answer. Email me at Hello@SocialConfidencePro.com  LinkedIn Instagram TikTok

    35 min

  7. JAN 1

    262. The Under-the-Radar Star: Turn Hidden Work Into Visible Authority

    If you've been told that "your work should speak for itself" and you're still being overlooked, this episode explains why that strategy quietly fails in loud, fast-paced workplaces. Susan shares the real reason smart, capable, socially reserved professionals stay under-recognized, not because they lack talent, but because they're playing by rules that no longer apply. You'll learn why visibility is not self-promotion or personality-driven, but a learned language that shapes how leadership, confidence, and value are perceived. You'll also discover five practical ways to learn the language of visibility without becoming louder, flashier, or inauthentic; from managing the thoughts that keep you silent, to speaking in outcomes, occupying space before you feel ready, and redefining your professional identity on purpose. Episode #262 is a roadmap for turning quiet competence into visible leadership, so your value is no longer hidden behind hard work no one sees.  **  Don't even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills? Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be? Confidence on Cue: a powerful 5-minute audio that resets your mind before any meeting, presentation, or social interaction. Book a Social Strategy Session HERE Have a question that needs an answer. Email me at Hello@SocialConfidencePro.com  LinkedIn Instagram TikTok

    24 min

  8. 12/28/2025

    261. Why You Feel Drained When You're "Doing Everything Right"

    In episode #261, you'll discover why your exhaustion isn't just about workload, long hours, or a packed calendar, and why, even when life looks "successful" on paper, your day-to-day experience can still feel heavy and flat. You'll learn how constant self-monitoring, impression management, over-apologizing, and social over-functioning quietly drain your nervous system, and what to do instead so you feel more steady, present, and energized without becoming louder or someone you're not. If you're intelligent, responsible, and used to being the person who "holds it all together," this episode will help you understand your energy leaks at a nervous-system level and start reclaiming a version of social presence that feels congruent, grounded, and impossible to overlook.  **  Don't even know where to begin in improving your interpersonal skills? Are you ready to leave social stress behind and go from where you are to where you want to be? Confidence on Cue: a powerful 5-minute audio that resets your mind before any meeting, presentation, or social interaction. Book a Social Strategy Session HERE Have a question that needs an answer. Email me at Hello@SocialConfidencePro.com  LinkedIn Instagram TikTok

    29 min
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4.7
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

The Social Skills Mastery Podcast is where High-Performance Social Confidence Coach and Corporate Trainer, Susan Callender helps professionals, business owners, and entrepreneurs stand out in competitive and often high-stakes situations, by raising social capital and using the power of polished people skills to make an impact. Weekly content encompasses what to do, what to say, how to maneuver tricky situations and get it right the first time.

Information

  • Creator
    Susan Callender
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Social Skills Mastery 2022
  • Show Website
    Social Skills Mastery

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