The Confident Podcast

The Confident Podcast
  • 4.7 (88)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

The Confident Podcast with host Lisa Tarkington, a certified coach, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. Lisa brings her contagious energy, real conversations, and the signature leadership support to help you navigate the mindset, strategy, and habits required to have confidence in today’s world. Whether you’re navigating imposter syndrome, facing a tough transition, or simply ready to grow, you’ll find motivation, clarity, and the confidence to lead yourself and others well. Each episode blends practical tools, powerful stories, and adventure-inspired insights to help you strengthen your self-awareness, protect your time, operate in your genius, and lead with more confidence and clarity—without burnout or second-guessing.This isn’t just talk, it’s your playbook for becoming the kind of leader people trust, respect, and remember. Subscribe now and start stepping into your full potential—one bold action at a time.

  1. Oct 6

    EP 227 | Whose Definition of Success Are You Chasing?

    Success sounds like a finish line, until you realize you might be running a race you never chose. In this episode, we’re getting honest about how easily our definition of success gets hijacked by comparison, social media highlight reels, career “shoulds,” and the quiet pressure to look like we’re winning. Our host, Lisa Tarkington, share what she has seen in her own life, from seasons that looked impressive on paper to moments that quietly felt like real freedom. We dig into why the “once I get X” mindset can leave you stressed or empty even after you hit the goal, and how burnout can be a sign that your scoreboard is broken, not that you are. You’ll hear research that challenges the idea that everyone is chasing fame and fortune, plus a simple way to reset your confidence: stop borrowing other people’s metrics and start building your own. Episode is in partnership with Skills Analysis. Take their 'Are you a transformational leader?' Assessment today for just $97. Use the code CONFIDENCE and save more than $300.  Chapters: 0:00: The Real Question Behind Success0:52: Life Update And Dropping The Mask3:09: A New Brand And A New Era7:21: Comparison Hijacks Your Definition11:07: The Once I Get X Trap14:32: Burnout And Childhood Success Scripts18:08: Use Envy As Data21:00: Define Success By Your Days28:01: The Question That Changes Everything More than just a podcast:  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Subscribe to our Newsletter Apply to be coached by Lisa and receive a free call

  2. Sep 8

    EP 226 | Are you ready for what the next chapter requires?

    In this episode, we get honest about the question that changes everything: are you actually ready for what the next chapter requires, or are you only in love with the destination? I walk through a simple but confronting framework I use with leaders and coaching clients. When someone describes their “next version,” they light up, but the real test is the middle. That messy middle is where you have to let go of what used to work, stop performing, set boundaries, and make decisions with clarity.  To make it practical, I lay out the soft skills that help you navigate change management and personal growth without burning out.  You don't become who the next chapter requires after the hard part. You become them in the middle of it. If this resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s ready to stop daydreaming and start building their next chapter. What is one thing you’re willing to let go of today? Chapters: 5:50: What The Next Chapter Requires8:18: Letting Go Lessons From Bungee Jumping14:52: Why People Stay Stuck22:27: Eight Skills For Real Change31:24: Pick One Thing And Take Action More than just a podcast:  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Subscribe to our Newsletter Apply to be coached by Lisa and receive a free call

    EP 226 | Are you ready for what the next chapter requires?

  3. Aug 4

    EP 225 | How to Let Go When Change Feels Hard

    Change doesn't usually break us. What keeps us stuck is holding on to the habits and beliefs that no longer serve us. After taking a short break, I share a few personal updates before diving into my new Let Go Model: Let Go. Level Up. Let's Go. We explore why letting go is often the hardest part of change, the signs you're still holding on, and practical ways to move forward with more confidence, clarity, and intention. If you're navigating a career transition, leadership challenge, or a new season of life, this episode will help you stop waiting for certainty and start taking your next step. Chapters: 0:00 The Truth About Change0:54 New Era Updates And Growth6:29 Why Change Triggers Resistance8:09 How The Let Go Model Began9:45 Sponsor Fresh Set11:10 Signs You Haven’t Let Go16:54 Level Up With Five Skills23:09 Your Let’s Go Muscle28:31 Share This And Stay Connected If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's ready to let go and level up. More than just a podcast:  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Subscribe to our Newsletter Apply to be coached by Lisa and receive a free call

  4. Jul 7

    EP 224 | How to Give Feedback Without Fear with Sarah Maday

    How many of us say we want honest feedback, then avoid it the moment it feels uncomfortable? Lisa is joined by her friend Sarah Maday, a Learning and Development leader, former professor, and passionate advocate for personal growth, to talk about why feedback feels so difficult and how we can approach it with more confidence. Together, they unpack why so many of us avoid difficult conversations, what it costs our relationships and teams, and how small shifts can make feedback feel like a conversation instead of a confrontation. Lisa and Sarah talk about the WRAP framework for giving meaningful feedback, how to move from criticism to feedforward, and why psychological safety is about so much more than a workplace buzzword. We get real about choosing the right timing, reading emotional cues, communicating with intention, and separating our self-worth from someone else's feedback. Sarah also shares why having trusted mentors and advisors can help us process feedback with confidence instead of letting it define us. Chapters: 1:02: Feedback Fears And What They Cost7:06: The WRAP Method Explained14:19: Timing Feedback Without Making It Worse18:48: Make Feedback Feel Like Conversation23:25: Sponsor Break Fresh Set Hair24:58: Psychological Safety For Both Sides34:20: Choose The Right Feedback Channel37:22: Growth Mindset And Trusted Advisors43:48: WRAP Recap And Quickfire Questions49:31: Takeaways And How To ConnectSubscribe for more confidence and leadership conversations, share this with someone who could use a better way to approach feedback, and leave a review to help more people find the show. More than just a podcast:  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Subscribe to our Newsletter Apply to be coached by Lisa and receive a free call

  5. Jun 2

    EP 223 | The Power of "And": Breaking Free from a Single Identity with Lauren Boss

    How many of us have an identity that maybe is wrapped into our career?Lauren Boss knows that moment firsthand and she also knows what can grow from it. After nearly a decade in the corporate world, she’s navigated motherhood, freelancing, self-publishing a memoir, and an unexpected leap into business ownership that put her in the CEO seat. Lisa and Lauren talk about the confidence of being an “and,” not an “or.” We get real about the identity shift that happens when you stop being “the corporate girl,” the quiet ways we lose our voice over time, and how you rebuild it through small, brave actions. Lauren shares how journaling, meditation, faith, and quiet reflection helped her find clarity, trust her intuition, and redefine success on her own terms, not someone else’s checklist. Chapters: 2:40: Corporate Life And Identity6:45: Layoff Reset And Freelancing11:50: Becoming An And Not Or15:25: Writing A Memoir From Journals18:29: Finding Your Voice Again28:55: Motherhood And Not Feeling Alone32:26: Buying A Business With Your Husband35:41: Real Work Life Logistics40:52: Advice For Women Feeling StuckSubscribe for more confidence and leadership conversations, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review to help more women find the show. Check out Lauren's book here: https://www.amazon.com/All-Girls-Was-Before-Motherhood/dp/B0FRS8XTZR  More than just a podcast:  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Subscribe to our Newsletter Apply to be coached by Lisa and receive a free call

  6. May 5

    EP 222 | How to start to trust your intuition more with Libby Rapin

    Your body is giving you information all day long, but most of us are moving too fast to hear it. In this episode, I sit down with my friend Libby Rapin, a leadership and conscious living coach for high-achieving women, to talk about the kind of confidence that comes from inside your nervous system, not from hype or hustle. We get real about why intuition can feel so subtle, why it often arrives without the “how,” and what it takes to strengthen self-trust through stillness, presence, and practice. We also unpack signs, timing, and the way guidance can show up in unexpected forms when you’re willing to slow down and notice. If you’ve been asking for clarity in your business, leadership, or relationships, this conversation will help you recognize what might already be in front of you. Chapters: 3:43: Building And Closing A Business13:47: How Intuition Speaks Through The Body23:20: Asking For Signs And Noticing Them26:55: Sponsor Fresh Set Hair Mist28:17: You Are The Medicine Slowing Down39:54: Nervous System Tools For Hard Moments53:16: Zone Of Genius And Life Lessons58:37: Final Takeaways And How To ConnectIf this resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who needs a reminder to trust themselves, and leave a review so more people can find the show.  More than just a podcast:  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Subscribe to our Newsletter Apply to be coached by Lisa and receive a free call

  7. Apr 7

    EP 221 | The Freedom of Not Caring What People Think

    If you’ve ever replayed a conversation in your head at 2 a.m. wondering if you sounded “too much,” “too direct,” or “not nice enough,” this one is for you. I sit down with my dear friend Stephanie Greene, President of the Greater Michigan Construction Academy, to talk about the real work behind confidence: filtering outside voices without losing your empathy. We dig into how people-pleasing can slowly distort your identity and why approval can feel like safety even when it is costing you your peace. Stephanie shares what it looked like to outgrow old versions of herself, how direct honesty gets misread by people who don’t yet know your heart, and why the “spotlight effect” makes us believe everyone is judging us far more than they are. Stephanie opens up about having a health scare and how stress and overwork forced a reset in priorities.  If you’re navigating change and feeling your confidence shake, you’ll walk away with clearer questions to ask yourself, stronger self-trust, and a more grounded way to lead. Subscribe for more conversations on confidence and leadership, share this with someone who needs a healthier filter, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Chapters: 6:00: People-Pleasing And Losing Yourself12:30: Direct Feedback Without Being Misread17:01: Stress, Health Scare, And A New Priority List19:50: Leading With Boundaries And Accountability23:55: Family First And Filtering The Noise31:30: Who You Are & Quieting The Voices More than just a podcast:  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Subscribe to our Newsletter Apply to be coached by Lisa and receive a free call

  8. Mar 24

    EP 220 | Building Confident Female Athletes with MSU Volleyball Coach Kristen Kelsay

    The loudest voice in your life is rarely the wisest one and for athletes and leaders right now, the noise is constant. In this episode, I sit down with Kristen Kelsay, head coach of Michigan State University volleyball. We talk about pressure, confidence, and the question that keeps coming up for high performers: whose opinion matters and how do you keep the rest out? Kristen shares the real path to becoming a Big Ten head coach, from getting a rare opportunity at 22 to returning to MSU with a deeper sense of peace, purpose, and leadership clarity. We talk about women in sports and the growth of volleyball, along with many other amazing topics. If you’re a coach, leader, parent, manager, or competitor, this is a grounded look at emotional safety and what it takes to protect it. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who’s carrying too much noise, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one voice you need to stop letting in today? Chapters: 3:08: Kristen’s Road To Head Coach11:35: Women’s Sports Growth And Pressure17:40: Parenting, Empathy, And Emotional Safety28:13: Conflict Stories And Clear Communication33:30: Saying No And Holding Standards41:35: Youth Sports Systems And Parent Choices49:19: Hope For Women In Athletics More than just a podcast:  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Subscribe to our Newsletter Apply to be coached by Lisa and receive a free call

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About

The Confident Podcast with host Lisa Tarkington, a certified coach, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. Lisa brings her contagious energy, real conversations, and the signature leadership support to help you navigate the mindset, strategy, and habits required to have confidence in today’s world. Whether you’re navigating imposter syndrome, facing a tough transition, or simply ready to grow, you’ll find motivation, clarity, and the confidence to lead yourself and others well. Each episode blends practical tools, powerful stories, and adventure-inspired insights to help you strengthen your self-awareness, protect your time, operate in your genius, and lead with more confidence and clarity—without burnout or second-guessing.This isn’t just talk, it’s your playbook for becoming the kind of leader people trust, respect, and remember. Subscribe now and start stepping into your full potential—one bold action at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    The Confident Podcast
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    227
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Confident Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Confident Podcast

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