Awfully Quiet

You’ve probably been told to “speak up more” at work. 

And you try. But it never quite works the way people say it will.

This episode is about why that advice doesn’t really work for quiet people. And actually… why it can make things worse.

We talk about:

Chapters

00:00 The worst advice quiet people keep getting

00:47 Why visibility wa...

It’s Monday morning. Someone asks how your weekend was. And suddenly you’re performing.

Because you feel like you need to sound interesting… without saying that your weekend was actually quite quiet.

In this episode of Awfully Quiet, we talk about the version of you that shows up at work. The one that’s polished, professional, reliable. And somehow… a bit hard to connect with.

Not because something’s wrong with you. But because you’ve shaped yourself into a version that works. Just not one that people fully feel.

I started shar...

You don’t get seen at work just by doing great work.

You get seen because people understand what you’re doing, remember it, and talk about it when you’re not in the room. Most of us were never taught how that part actually works.

In this episode of Awfully Quiet, we get into the unwritten rules of who actually gets seen at work and why visibility has very little to do with extrovert-coded networking tactics.

We talk about why good work doesn’t speak for itself, how advocacy actually works (and how to q...

What do you do when your mind is wired for big ideas but your energy tells a completely different story?

In this solo episode, I get honest about the two sides constantly at war in my head: the quiet, introspective one that wants to slow down, and the achiever who refuses to.

Building a podcast, a corporate career, digital products and more, all while wondering why I was given a visionary’s mind but not the operator energy to match.

This one’s for everyone who’s ever felt too ambitious for their own go...

If introduction rounds make you slightly uncomfortable… this one’s for you.

We’re talking about the 30 seconds at the start of a call, and why they quietly shape how people involve you after.

Most of us default to our job title. Which sounds fine… but doesn’t actually tell anyone how we think or where we add value.

We’ll get into:

If you’ve been feeling ov...

If you’ve ever thought, “If I were really confident, this wouldn’t feel so hard,” or felt pressure to sound more impressive than you actually feel, this episode might gently challenge that entire narrative.

In this episode of Awfully Quiet, I sit down with Dr. Dan Rosenfeld, psychologist, comedian, and author of The Confidence Equation, to explore why trying to sound confident might be the very thing keeping you stuck in self doubt.

Born with cerebral palsy, Dr. Dan has navigated barriers most of us will never face. Through that lived experience, he developed a ground...

Your ideas deserve better than your notes app. But I understand why they end up there.

What feels layered and sharp on the inside rarely comes out that way on the first try. And most advice about “putting yourself out there” sounds the same: be louder, be faster, be more extroverted than you actually are.

So you keep your thinking to yourself. Not because it isn’t good. But because you don’t want to break character to express it.

Your idea.

Your perspective.

Your creative instinct.

It becom...

If you’re quiet, introspective, and don’t consider yourself good at “selling yourself,” this conversation will change how you think about job search.

This week, I sat down with Anna Belyaeva to talk about how jobs actually happen now, especially for people who think deeply, do solid work, and don’t rely on loud self-promotion.

Anna is a Stanford-certified career coach and job search strategist who works with ambitious professionals to help them land high-paying roles they genuinely enjoy.

In this conversation, we get into:

In this episode, I walk through four concrete moves that help make your thinking visible at work, especially if you tend to be on the quieter side.

Not by speaking more, pushing yourself to perform confidence, or explaining yourself all the time.

But by making your judgement, direction, and intent easier for other people to follow.

We look at:

– why quiet thinking so often stays invisible by default

– what people actually look for when they’re trying to gauge competence

– how to anchor your thinking to judgement, directio...

Quiet doesn’t get overlooked because it’s weak.

It gets overlooked when other people don’t know what to make of it.

In this episode, we move past why quiet gets misread at work and into the more useful question: when does quiet thinking actually start working?

You’ll hear why two people can think quietly in the same room, and yet only one is read as smart, trusted, and pulled into bigger conversations.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever felt:

– capable, but underestimated

– trusted...

You do solid work. People rely on you. And still, you’re easier to overlook than you should be.

This episode looks at how that happens.

How perception forms at work. Why some people get read as “ready” early, while others keep delivering without being pulled forward.

It’s not a confidence issue. And it’s not about motivation.

It’s a quieter mechanism most people never name.

The quietest big dream behind this show is to change how quiet is read and understood at work.

That only happens...

Quiet people are often told the same things: Speak up more. Be more confident. Put yourself out there.

But what if none of that is actually the real problem?

In this episode, we look at something far more uncomfortable + far more powerful: the fact that quiet behavior creates cognitive and evolutionary discomfort in other people.

Not because you’re doing anything wrong. But because the human brain is wired to distrust what it can’t read.

This episode isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about understanding the invisible forces shaping how you’...

I’ve been questioning something I always thought was non-negotiable: consistency.

This week, I reflect on the pressure of releasing an episode every single week, the tension between quality and output, and the fear of stopping when consistency feels like the only thing holding momentum together. It’s a conversation about podcast growth, but also about careers, ambition, and visibility.

I draw a parallel to my early corporate career, where I learned that doing excellent work wasn’t enough if no one beyond my immediate team could see it. Quiet people are often told to “be more...

In this episode, I reflect on my first year as a Senior Brand Manager and the quiet unlearning that came with it. From letting go of performative “senior behaviour,” to learning when not to speak, this is an honest look at what leadership starts to require as your scope grows.

We talk about finding your senior voice, steering instead of telling, facilitating decisions rather than forcing them, and why quiet, observational people often come into their power later, but more sustainably.

If you’re ambitious, capable, and stepping into more responsibility without wanting to change who yo...

Before you disappear into the well-earned nothingness, take these eight quiet minutes to gently close the work year. A soft bridge between what you’ve just wrapped up and the rest that’s waiting on the other side.

No goal-setting. No performance. Just you, taking a moment to let your system settle before the holidays take over. This short pause is an invitation to exhale the noise, remember what worked, release what didn’t, and return to yourself so you can actually enjoy the break you’ve earned.

And if you know someone who’s crawling t...

There’s a moment when you realise the opportunity you wanted all year… might not have known where to sit if it arrived. This episode looks at the subtle difference between wanting something and actually being ready for it, and how the smallest adjustments change the way opportunity finds us.

Through two simple, everyday metaphors, we explore how shifts in our environment, habits, and clarity create the kind of space where what you want would actually feel at home. Not through force or hustle, but through intention.

A gentle, precise reflection on readiness, desire, and the...

We often assume our reputation at work is shaped by the big moments. The presentations. The milestones. The “official” opportunities.

But most people form their opinion of us in the tiny, forgettable interactions — the “how was your weekend,” the quick update in the hallway, the accidental coffee machine moment with someone senior.

Because these conversations feel insignificant, we wing them or downplay them.

But this is where presence is actually built.

These micro-moments become small stages, not for performance, but for clarity. And when you use them with intention, something shifts: people hea...

Today I'm speaking with Lauren Currie OBE, founder of UPFRONT, an organization on a mission to change confidence, visibility, and power for 10 million women.

We explore the quiet moments behind stepping onto a stage, leading change, and taking up space in ways that actually feel like you. We talk about the unlearning that has to happen before confidence becomes real, letting go of the pressure to be louder, bigger, shinier… or smaller, softer, easier.

Lauren shares her journey building UPFRONT and helping thousands move into rooms, conversations, and opportunities that feel scary but transformative. We ge...

Someone on a Teams call says, “Let’s do quick introductions,” and suddenly your brain goes… blank.

It’s not nerves, it’s that micro-freeze when your instinct to reflect meets a moment built for performance.

In this episode, we unpack what’s really happening beneath that silence, and how to introduce yourself in a way that feels grounded, effortless, and distinctly you.

No more robotic “corporate bio” voice. Just clear, intentional language that lands.

This is part of the Subtle Scripts mini-series: practical, ready-to-use language for real moments at work.

Get the full...

Two years into Awfully Quiet, it was time for a subtle rebrand.

In this behind-the-scenes episode, I take you inside my little home studio recording an episode of the podcast, reflecting on how far it has come, and sharing the story behind the rebrand.

From the new photoshoot to what this next era means creatively and personally, this episode is part studio vlog, part reflection, part permission slip for anyone ready to evolve without losing their quiet.

Hit subscribe to not miss an episode of this new era.

⭐ Rate five stars wh...

Quiet is getting a rebrand.

For everyone who’s ever been called shy, reserved, or too quiet at work.

This is where you stop waiting to be seen and start shaping how you’re seen.

Seven steps.

Seven quiet power moves.

To shift the story about you, without changing who you are.

My resource line-up:

Quiet Flex Framework

Subtle Scripts Pack

Self-Promo Cheat Sheet

Hit subscribe if you’re ready to rebrand your quiet (because more to come).

⭐ Ra...

This one’s for you if you’re building something, a dream, a project, a business, a new version of yourself, and can’t help but wonder: Will this ever work?

You already know the advice: trust the process, stay consistent, enjoy the journey.

But some days, that’s not enough. Some days, you just need a new thought, one that keeps you moving when the effort feels pointless, or the outcome feels far away.

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my own “in-between” season, sharing the reflections, reframes, and...

What does running a half marathon have in common with unlocking your next career level?

More than you think.

Both test your endurance, not just physically or professionally, but mentally.

Both ask you to stay on top of the story you tell yourself when things get tough, slow, or uncertain.

In this episode, I talk about a moment mid-run when I remembered who tf I really am, and how that same energy is what gets you unstuck in your career, especially if you’re the quiet, introspective type.

Because sh...

I’m not a natural networker, but this one approach has opened more doors for me than anything else. It’s how I landed podcast guests I never thought would say yes, secured interviews for my master’s thesis, and even stepped into corporate positions.

In this episode, I share the simple networking hack that works — not by promoting yourself endlessly, but by knowing exactly what you want from a conversation and being able to say it clearly.

If networking has ever felt awkward, self-serving, or impossible to get right, this one’s for you.

Have you ever wanted something so badly (a role, an opportunity, someone’s approval) that your energy tipped from ambition into… desperation?

Maybe you kept saying yes, tried to be impressive, shaped yourself into whatever you thought they wanted, and somewhere in the process, you disappeared a little.

This episode is a quiet reflection on that feeling, what drives it, how it sneaks into our behaviour, and how we can shift from “please choose me” into quiet self-trust.

If you’ve ever worried that you want it too much, this one is for you.

If yo...

Ever had your name called in a meeting and your mind just… blanks?

Your heart races, your face feels hot, and by the time you think of what you should have said, it’s already two hours later on the train home.

If that’s familiar, you’re not alone. Freezing in the moment doesn’t mean you’re incompetent. It just means your nervous system is overloaded. And the good news? You can learn subtle ways to handle it.

In this episode, I share three scripts that save you when your mind goes blank i...

Join me for a conversation with Anaïs Nebel, Business Strategist & Founder of The Confidence Agency, as we explore a side of confidence you may have never considered.

Instead of the loud, extrinsic version of “what confidence should look like,” we dig into how confidence is actually built: through self-esteem, self-belief, self-image, and self-expression. Anaïs shows us how to treat confidence not as a personality trait, but as a habit and skill to nurture.

She brings great energy, raw life stories, and research-backed tools that feel refreshingly different from the usual confidence talk.

If i...

100 episodes later 👀 here’s what I’ve learned from some of the most brilliant, awkward, and iconic humans I’ve had on the mic.

From Emmy-award winner Chris Do to TEDx curator Maryam Pasha, these conversations reshaped how I think about introversion, work, and creativity.

In this milestone ep, I break down 5 lessons that prove being quiet, awkward, or introverted is the career hack you didn’t know you had.

Subscribe & stick around because there's more to come. Thank you for listening! If you're feeling generous, leave a five star review, it makes my day.

What does career fulfillment even mean?

We chase it like it’s a fixed point: the perfect job, the dream of freedom, the safety of stability. But the goalpost always moves. And that’s why we never feel settled.

In this episode, I share how my idea of success has shifted, and the one quiet skill that’s made my career unshakable through every change.

It’s not the job title. It’s not the lifestyle. It’s the thing underneath it all.

If this hit something in you, leave a review. It h...

Some of the things you shrug off as “just doing my job” are the exact things leadership notices. It’s time you start giving them credit for what they are: quiet power moves.

In this episode, I’m sharing 5 quiet flexes almost every introvert has but overlooks. The ones that feel tedious, admin-y, “early career,” obviously not what’s going to put you on the map, until they do.

This isn’t about bragging louder or faking confidence. It’s about naming what’s already true… and refusing to let it stay invisible.

✨ Quietly obsessed? Leave a...

We all love the idea that everything works in our favor. But let’s be honest: it doesn’t always feel that way. Doors close, plans unravel, and sometimes the role you wanted goes to someone who makes you roll your eyes.

In this episode, I offer a gentler reframe: that favor isn’t about always getting what you want, but learning to trust what unfolds when you don’t.

✨ quietly obsessed? leave a 5-star rating so more people can find us

💌 have a thought? DM me: @awfullyquietpodcast

This episode is meeting gold for the quiet and introspective. If you keep being told you need to “speak up more” in meetings but hate the idea of cutting people off or forcing yourself to jump in, this is your quiet playbook to slay your next one.

Showing up at work isn’t about being loud — it’s about knowing when and how to show up. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what to do before, during, and after a meeting to get invited into the conversation, share your perspective naturally, and be remembered — without pretending to...

What do high-energy spin classes and introverts have in common? They both want out of the box they’ve been put in.

You probably know me as calm. Thoughtful. Subtle.

The one who writes those quietly intense carousels. The one who takes her time before speaking. Grounded. Measured. Deliberate. (At least, I hope.)

And then there’s… spin class me.

Unhinged, in the best way.

I go a couple times a week, and in that room? I’m not quiet.

I’m a front row girlie. I “woo.” I high...

This week, I’m talking about the summer I turned quiet — and why the most powerful reinventions often begin in the stillness no one sees.

As we move into that “back to school” energy, it’s tempting to launch straight into the doing: new routines, new projects, new versions of ourselves. But the truth is, every big change I’ve ever made has started inward first — in the quiet days, in the thinking no one claps for, in the recalibration that doesn’t look productive on paper. This summer reminded me that solitude isn’t the opposite of momentum; it’s t...

Ever freeze when someone says, “So, what do you do?” Or worse — you’re in one of those awkward round-the-room intros and suddenly forget what you even do for a living. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. We’re not talking about performing. We’re talking about positioning — and why the difference matters.

I’ll walk you through three go-to sentence starters you can borrow when the pressure’s on. When done right, they don’t just share your role. They share your approach, your energy, and what it’s like to work with you.

You’ll also...

Ever seen someone crush it at work or drop a dreamy new project and thought, “Must be nice”? Same.

This episode’s about jealousy, pressure, privilege—and the invisible effort behind what looks like success.

Corporate superstars. Glamorous wins. The myth of the effortless rise. And the kind of grit no one claps for—the quiet kind.

Bring your comparison spiral. Your self-doubt. Your “ugh, why not me?”

You’re not alone. And you’re not wrong for feeling it.

Quietly obsessed? Leave a rating so more people can find us.

Have a...

What does it look like to build a business that honors your energy instead of draining it? In this episode, I sit down with Isobel Griffin and Samara Bortz — the quietly iconic duo behind In Tandem Studios, where copywriting and design meet intentional, introspective strategy. 

We go deep on what it really takes to co-run a business as two naturally quiet people — from setting boundaries to finding your creative rhythm, to designing client experiences that feel like a deep exhale. Isobel and Samara share how they’ve gently broken the rules of traditional “client attraction” in favor of somethin...

Let’s talk about the piece of feedback that makes every introvert's eye twitch:

“You need to be more visible.”

Thanks. Not helpful.

In this episode, we unpack what visibility at work actually means — especially if you're not someone who thrives in the spotlight or loves impromptu coffee chats with senior leadership.

We’ll go beyond the usual “speak up more” advice and get into what actually works when you’re thoughtful, observant, and quietly ambitious.

Spoiler: It’s not glamorous, but it works.

Quietly obsessed? Leave a rating so more pe...

Isobelle Panton, aka the Corporate Agony Aunt, joins me to slice through modern office life and let go of all the outdated - and honestly, unhelpful - career advice we keep getting fed.

We get into what people wildly misunderstand about corporate culture, how to actually get your work noticed, and how to build meaningful relationships - not by jumping into the spotlight, but by showing up in service to others. Isobelle’s perspective is clear, bold, and at times a little uncomfortable, which feels so necessary (especially for us quiet ones trying to navigate the noise).

We throw around the word introvert a lot, but what does it actually mean? In this episode, I’m breaking down what introversion really is (and what it’s not), why we’re all somewhere on the spectrum, and how powerful it can be to know exactly what fuels your energy, and what drains it.

We’ll bust some myths about introverts at work, talk through how to navigate back-to-back meeting days, and explore why quiet strengths are anything but weak.

If you’ve ever felt like being quiet or reflective was a disadvantage, this one’s for...