The Confidence Shortcut with Niki Sterner
The Confidence Shortcut is your permission slip to start before you’re ready. Hosted by actor, comedian & producer Niki Sterner, each episode is packed with honest conversations, mindset tools, and practical shortcuts to help you silence your inner critic, develop a growth mindset, and get unstuck.Designed for high-achieving creatives, performers, visionaries, and entrepreneurs, this podcast helps you build the habit of courage in the face of fear—so you can finally share your voice with the world.If you’ve ever wondered how to build confidence, overcome self-doubt, or stop overthinking and start taking action, this show is your weekly...
#24: Niki Sterner | A Day in the Life of Your Wildest YES Life | An Energetic Rehearsal for Your Future
Ever feel like your dream is floating just out of reach—beautiful, but foggy and far away? In this episode, we bring it down to earth with a grounded, sensory practice: writing a Day in the Life of your Wildest YES Life through all five senses. Because when you can see it, hear it, and feel it, your brain starts wiring it as real.
This isn’t about fantasy—it’s an energetic rehearsal for the future you’re creating. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between imagination and memory, so each vivid detail becomes a cue that bui...
#23: Niki Sterner | From Foggy Dreams to Fierce Clarity | How to Craft Your Wildest YES Life
What if the thing holding you back isn’t a lack of talent, time, or luck—but a vision that’s still too blurry to move you? We walk you through a clear, practical way to turn foggy goals into a vivid plan you can see, feel, and act on, even while you’re still nervous. This is about crafting your Wildest Yes Life, not the safe, watered-down version you’ve been settling for.
We start with a quick recap of the Confidence Shortcut framework: the four-area life audit (health, relationships, career and creative expression, fun and adventure...
#22: Niki Sterner | When Your Life Finally Matches Your CORE VALUES | How Alignment Sparks Real Confidence
What if confidence isn’t something you find, but something you feel when your life finally matches your values? We go straight at the heart of fear, numbness, and overthinking to show how clarity and courage can flip the switch from “fine” to fully alive. Through personal stories of depression, exposure therapy, and creative risks, we map the three values that rebuilt a brave life—joy, connection, and growth—and explain why alignment is the real shortcut to confidence.
You’ll hear how shutting down feelings to avoid pain also shuts out joy, and how carefully leaning into fear ca...
#21: Niki Sterner | The Success STAR Model | Confidence by Design
What if the fastest way to confidence isn’t waiting to feel ready, but modeling what already works? In this episode, we explore The Success STAR Model, a repeatable process for reverse-engineering the paths of Issa Rae, Brené Brown, and Ed Sheeran into Soul Goals you can act on this week.
It’s not about copying, it’s about alignment: matching your values to proven patterns so you can start messy, share boldly, and turn consistency into courage.
We’ll break down:
Issa Rae’s self-starter approach, how to launch with what you have ri...
#20: Niki Sterner | The 3S Lists | Invite in the Cringe
Episode 20 is Season 2 Episode 2.
Your dream has been leaving clues—names you can’t stop admiring, ideas that scare you in all the right ways, and moments when you surprised yourself with courage. We unpack a simple framework to spot those clues and turn them into action you can actually take today: the star list, the scared list, and the success list. Think of it as a real-time map from overthinking to motion, where writing down what matters trains your brain to recognize opportunities and claim them.
We start by decoding admiration and even jealousy as si...
#19: Niki Sterner | Season 2 Premiere | Dream Bigger with the Dream Detective Method
Episode 19 is the PREMIERE of Season 2!!!
If you had all the confidence, time, energy, and money in the world, what would you be doing? When I asked 110 people this question, most gave surprisingly safe answers. They'd tucked away their wildest dreams just like I once did.
Remember when you were a child and dreamed without limits? Watching Julia Roberts made me want to be an actor. Seeing Paula Abdul sing and dance on MTV sparked my desire to perform. Witnessing Oprah's transformative conversations lit something up in my soul. But...
#18: Lindsay Cressey | Oxford Graduate & Dual-Qualified Lawyer | Teaching Women to Enjoy Money Without the Bro Jargon
Ever feel like money is that dusty corner of your life nobody taught you how to clean? You're not alone. In this enlightening conversation with Lindsay Cressy, Oxford graduate, dual-qualified lawyer and teacher, and financial empowerment coach, we shine a light on why women's relationship with money deserves a complete makeover.
Lindsay reveals the startling truth: despite receiving elite education, she was never taught about money. "I had the highest education you could go for, and yet at no point was I taught about money," she shares. This educational blind spot leaves most of us operating from...
#17: Cathy Reinking | Emmy-Winning Casting Director Turned Actor Coach | Unlocking Charisma & Creating Your Own Spotlight
Emmy-winning casting director Cathy Reinking pulls back the curtain on what really happens in the audition room and reveals the unexpected career path that took her from NBC's casting offices to coaching actors on creating their own breakthrough opportunities.
Drawing from her decades casting iconic shows like "Frasier," "The Office," and "Arrested Development," Cathy shares the intimate details of how actors were discovered in the pre-self-tape era. She vividly describes the electric atmosphere of in-person auditions at Paramount Studios, where she would personally direct actors before bringing the most promising candidates to face network executives. Her insights...
#16: Pam Heffler | AWAKEN Your Passion, Pleasure & Purpose | “Dancing Home” to Your Dreams
Every artist knows the feeling - that persistent call of a dream you've set aside. For Pam Heffler, it was dance. Though she began her career as a professional dancer, confidence struggles led her to walk away from movement entirely in her mid-twenties. But the dream never disappeared.
During one of life's most challenging chapters when she "could have lost everything," Pam experienced a profound realization: "I need to dance again." This awakening not only rekindled her relationship with movement but transformed into something even more powerful - a methodology for helping others connect with their bodies...
#15: Jesse Jensen | Pilot, Poet, and Performer | Throw Your Hat Over The Fence
Big news—Jesse Jensen’s debut book, Throw Your Hat Over The Fence, launches on Amazon this Thursday, August 28th!
In this week’s episode of The Confidence Shortcut, Jesse shares the life philosophy behind the book—a simple but powerful commitment mechanism that can propel you toward your biggest dreams.
What if the secret to achieving your dreams isn't waiting until you feel confident, but taking action that forces you to move forward? In this illuminating conversation, Jesse reveals how "throwing your hat over the fence" creates a powerful...
#14: Jeovana Davis | Musician & Healer | Turning Sensitivity into Superpower
What would life look like if you stopped dimming your light to make others comfortable? Jeovana Davis knows this journey intimately. As a creative consultant, intuitive strategist, and performer who radiates authenticity, Jeovana has navigated the challenging path from people-pleasing to soul-centered expression.
"I'm super passionate about being vulnerable," Jeovana shares early in our conversation. Unlike the carefully curated success stories flooding our feeds, she's committed to showing the process—the messy, beautiful journey of becoming. This commitment to transparency reveals her current focus: resetting her nervous system after years of conditioning that kept her perpetually in "go...
#13: Pam Sandrock | Rooted in Resilience | Thriving Through Life’s Toughest Turns
What happens when life knocks you down with a diagnosis you never expected? For Pam Sandrock, a breast cancer diagnosis at 37 became the catalyst for a complete transformation in how she approached life, decision-making, and personal boundaries.
Pam shares her powerful journey from devastation to empowerment, revealing how cancer forced her to confront mortality and reimagine her priorities. "I made a commitment to live long and live strong," she explains, describing how this mantra has shaped everything from her physical habits to her emotional responses. Her story isn't just about surviving—it's about finding clarity through crisis.
...#12: Jodie Bentley | Branding Meets Belonging | Coaching 2,300+ Actors to Own Their Power
Jodie Bentley, powerhouse coach in the entertainment world, shares how she transformed from a struggling actor to helping thousands of creatives pursue their dreams through strategic branding and self-confidence techniques.
• Jodie has coached over 2,300 actors across 17 countries since 2008, helping them book major gigs and build thriving careers
• Breaking through limiting beliefs is crucial; Jodie struggled with feeling undeserving of success until she tackled her mindset
• Branding isn't limiting, it's empowerment—take control of how you're perceived rather than letting others define you
• Understanding yourself from your perspectiv...
#11: Simon Huebner | From Asperger’s to Authenticity | Turning Schoolyard Comebacks Into Comedy Gold
Comedian Simon Huebner shares how he transformed his Asperger's diagnosis into comedy gold through developing quick comebacks, studying other comedians, and taking action before feeling ready. He reveals the mindset practices and habits that helped him overcome social anxiety and build authentic confidence on and off stage.
• Started comedy through YouTube algorithms that led him down a rabbit hole of stand-up performances
• Discovered using humor as a defense mechanism reduced bullying in school
• Focuses on authenticity in his comedy while playing with story details for maximum impact
• Practices one bit at a time to refine h...
#10: Faye Laroux | The Ballerina & the Wild Dog | Embodying the Three Bodies to Heal
Former ballet dancer Faye Laroux shares her journey from perfectionism to authenticity through her Three Bodies methodology, helping sensitive, purpose-driven people embody healing and confidence. Through personal stories of trauma and transformation, Faye reveals how aligning our physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies can unlock our most authentic expression and highest potential.
• From professional ballet at 17 with the American Ballet Theater in New York City, to walking away 4 years later after experiencing the dark side of the elite ballet world and perfectionism
• How rescuing and rehabilitating a wild dog became a profound metaphor for human healing
• Unders...
#9: Julie Kendall | Confidence Is Surrender | Let Go, Light the Candle, and Trust the Flame
What if confidence is something you uncover through surrender? Julie Kendall, an award-winning actress who left corporate America to pursue her creative dreams, reveals how letting go opened doors she never imagined.
"This is our one shot in this body. Why not go for it as far as you possibly can?" Julie's philosophy has guided her through bold moves like packing her car and moving to Atlanta with no safety net. That leap of faith led to unexpected opportunities, including a specially-created position with a former employer who had been quietly admiring her acting journey from afar...
#8: Izzy Stevens | Walk In Like You Belong | Make the Industry Pay Attention
Ever wonder how some creatives seem to make massive progress while you're still waiting to feel "ready"? This conversation with Izzy Stevens blows the lid off that myth. As an award-winning director, Netflix trilogy lead, and founder of Indie Spunk, Izzy has mastered the art of taking bold action before confidence arrives.
"Walk in like you belong there," Izzy advises about entering intimidating spaces. She shares how she crashed Sundance Film Festival without an official selection, armed only with a bold pitch that started with "The world operates like a sex cult for women." By confidently presenting...
#7: Micah Caldwell | From Law to Laughter | The Leap into a Creative Life
What happens when you've spent decades building a successful career only to realize it's not the life you want? Micah Caldwell faced this question head-on when, after nearly twenty years as a high-powered telecommunications lawyer in Washington DC, she hit a breaking point. Managing multi-billion-dollar government programs during the pandemic had pushed her to her limits, and when asked to rebuild an entire program from scratch, something inside her simply said: enough.
This conversation takes us through Micah's courageous decision to walk away from everything she had built—her career, community, and the identity she had cultivated fo...
#6: Niki Sterner | Raising Kids While Rising Myself
Ever felt stuck waiting to feel ready before taking that big leap? Niki Sterner discovered the secret isn't waiting for confidence to arrive—it's taking courageous action first and letting confidence follow.
The Confidence Shortcut revolves around three essential pillars: mindset, path, and action. When these elements align, transformation happens faster than you might believe possible. Niki vulnerably shares how she spent years playing small until she developed a system that helped her reconnect with her dreams and take bold action despite her fears.
One particularly powerful ritual Niki describes is her "burning ceremony," where sh...
#5: Niki Sterner | Jump First, Opportunities Will Follow
Redefining confidence might be the key that unlocks your potential. While many of us believe confidence means feeling certain we'll excel, host Niki Sterner offers a liberating alternative: true confidence is simply believing you can take action when you say you will. This perspective shift removes the paralysis of perfectionism and opens the door to real growth.
Niki shares her remarkable journey from hesitation to action, including a pivotal moment when she submitted her comedy to a Hollywood festival despite minimal experience. Not only did she perform, but she unexpectedly hosted her comedy block when another performer...
#4: Niki Sterner | From Fixed Mindset to Growth
When was the last time you let fear of failure stop you from pursuing something important? This candid conversation dives deep into the paralyzing effects of a fixed mindset and reveals how believing "if I'm bad at something, that's my forever thing" can keep us stuck for decades.
Through vulnerable storytelling, we explore a transformative approach to rediscovering and pursuing long-buried dreams. The "three lists" exercise—identifying childhood heroes (Star List), acknowledging natural talents (Success List), and confronting fears (Scared List)—creates a roadmap for authentic growth. Rather than waiting to feel ready, we discover how deliberately seek...
#3: Niki Sterner | Embracing the Courage Quest
Super grateful to my conversation partner and dear friend, Micah Caldwell. She’ll be joining me on a future episode, and her story is one you won’t want to miss. @micahonmic
Most of us have it backwards. We wait for confidence to arrive before taking action, but what if that's precisely why we stay stuck? In this intimate and powerful episode, I reveal my personal turning point that came from a simple question from my acting coach - and how it launched what I call a "Courage Quest" that completely transformed my life.
After deca...
#2: Niki Sterner | From Health Crisis to Creative Breakthrough
Niki Sterner shares her personal journey from feeling stuck and uncertain to finding true confidence through action rather than endless preparation. After years of playing small despite extensive training, she discovered that the key obstacle wasn't external factors but her mindset.
• Suffered from a health crisis caused by breast implants and mold exposure that created a limbic system injury
• Discovered Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS) which helped rewire her brain from danger-scanning to joy-seeking
• Found clarity by identifying her true desires and developing a 20-year vision that she reverse-engineered
• Realized the power of shifting from vic...
#1: EXCLUSIVE TRAILER: The Confidence Shortcut with Niki Sterner
Hey there! Welcome to The Confidence Shortcut podcast. I’m your host, Niki Sterner. I’m a mom, a wife, an actor, comedian, and a writer. But for years, I avoided the stage, turned down opportunities, and told myself I wasn’t ready. Just one more class or online program. But eventually, I got sick of playing small. So in 2024, I went on a Courage Quest, facing everything that scared me, and along the way, I figured out a shortcut to confidence. Now, I help ambitious women and creatives like you, stop overthinking, take bold action, and finally step i...
