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I came home from a Monday evening cycling class and immediately sat down to record this. The instructor said something during class that completely stayed with me. And the more I sat with it (or more accurately: sweat through it), the more I realized how much of career ambition, confidence, visibility, and even success seems to come back to that exact thing. Not following what looks impressive externally. Not following the same path as everybody else. But figuring out what actually feels true, warm, strong and deeply yours. This one is very voice-note style. Unfinished thoughts, real time reflections, sweaty gym clothes and all. But if it resonates, let me know.

Apparently, speaking in front of people is one of the most feared things in the world. Which… checks out. Especially if you’re listening to this. This conversation made me want to use my voice more. Not in a performative, “be louder” way. More in a stop overthinking and just say the thing kind of way. This week, I’m joined by Annelise McCarthy: Speaking coach and the voice behind You’re On Mute. She’s just wrapped a national tour across Australia, teaching thousands of women how to speak with confidence. We talk about: Why you’re not actually “bad at speaking”The gap between what you think… and what you say out loudThought-to-speech fluency (and how you can train it)Why confidence doesn’t come before you speakWhat “taking up space” actually looks like (and why it’s not about being louder) We also get into the less visible side of it: the self-doubt, the inner work, and the routines Annelise relies on before she steps on stage. If you’ve ever sat in a meeting, had the thought… and then kept it to yourself, this one’s for you. Send it to someone who’s been told to “just speak up more.” Or save it for the next time you’re about to go off mute. Connect with Annelise: https://www.instagram.com/theannelisemccarthy/ Follow Awfully Quiet: https://www.instagram.com/awfullyquietpod/

Here’s my confession: I worked five years to get to a senior level position in brand management. But whenever I introduce myself in meetings… I always drop the word "senior". Because it feels like I shouldn’t be making a fuss. Stressing this little word would feel ego driven. Like I want to make myself more important than I am. Until I realized… it’s doing myself and the people I introduce myself to a huge disservice. I talk all about this in what feels like a voice note episode to myself, and to the person who downplays their credentials in the same way.

At some point, exceeding expectations stops being impressive… and starts being expected. It becomes your thing. What you’re known for. And more often than not… what quietly keeps you in place. Because your work is strong. Your standards are high. And somehow, you’re still not the one people think of when opportunities come up. We get into: Why exceeding expectations is the floor, not the ceilingWhy quiet people over-index on output and under-index on visibilityThe difference between value and value people can actually seeWhat to do instead of just working harderWhat promotion decisions are actually based on Chapters 00:00 The performance trap quiet people fall into 01:10 Great work was never the differentiator (sorry) 01:19 What “exceeding expectations” actually means at work 03:01 Why quiet people over-index on output and under-index on visibility 04:05 What actually changes how people see you 05:10 The quiet way up 05:49 Next week Send this episode to someone who quietly needs it. Follow along Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awfullyquietpod/ Subtle Series: https://www.instagram.com/subtleseries/

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: why visibility isn’t a volume problemwhat happens when you try to “speak up more”why your thinking stays invisible (even when it’s really good)the difference between talking more and being understoodwhat the quiet version of visibility actually looks like Chapters 00:00 The worst advice quiet people keep getting 00:47 Why visibility was never really built for you 01:28 The assumption that’s setting you up to fail 03:02 Why doing great work still isn’t enough 04:00 The alternative no one really talks about 05:03 What changes when you stop trying to be louder 05:32 Next week If this made something click...share it with one person who needs to hear it. Quiet things spread that way.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Follow along Instagram: @awfullyquietpodcast Subtle Series: @subtleseries

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 sharing one small, genuine part of my life at work. Nothing dramatic. Just real. And it changed more than I expected. People trusted me more. Remembered me differently. Knew how to approach me. Which, it turns out, matters more than being impressive. This isn’t a framework. It’s not a strategy. It’s barely even advice. It’s more like a small shift that quietly changes how people experience you. If you’ve ever felt a bit like a stranger in your own workplace, this one’s for you. And if you know someone who might need this, send it to them. Quiet things spread that way. 🎧

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 quietly set it up), why visibility is often about who comes to mind rather than who works hardest, and why calm often reads stronger than impressive. We also get into the small shifts that quietly change how your work is perceived. If you’re someone who keeps getting told you’re doing great and to keep doing what you’re doing, this episode is for you. Because your next task isn’t doing more. It’s making these subtle shifts. Chapters 00:00 — The Rules Nobody Explains 01:09 — Three Quiet Game Changers 02:22 — The Team Meeting Mistake 03:43 — When Good Work Stops Being Enough 05:21 — Easy Over Impressive 06:33 — Your Job Now Follow the Show AWFULLY QUIET (behind the scenes): https://www.instagram.com/awfullyquietpodcast/ SUBTLE (tools + scripts): https://www.instagram.com/subtleseries/

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 good... and too tired to stop anyway. Shhhh: If this episode made something click, I’d really appreciate you following the show and leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on Spotify (it takes a few seconds). It genuinely helps more thoughtful people find these conversations. And if someone came to mind while listening, send this episode to them. Quietly. AWFULLY QUIET: @awfullyquietpodcast SUBTLE (tools + scripts): @subtleseries

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: why intro rounds feel mildly confrontingthe shift from “performing” to positioninghow to make your thinking visible earlyand real lines you can adapt without sounding rehearsed If you’ve been feeling overlooked in meetings or left out of the more interesting conversations, introductions are a tool to change that. Shhhh: If this episode made something click, I’d really appreciate you following the show and leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on Spotify (it takes a few seconds). It genuinely helps more thoughtful people find these conversations. And if someone came to mind while listening, send this episode to them. Quietly. AWFULLY QUIET: @awfullyquietpodcast SUBTLE (tools + scripts): @subtleseries

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 grounded, unconventional understanding of confidence rooted in self-trust rather than performance. In this conversation, we explore: Why “building confidence” might be a trapThe difference between looking confident and actually feeling itHow to work with your inner critic instead of fighting itThree quiet shifts that move self-doubt toward self-trustWhy introverts may already be closer to real confidence than they think This conversation genuinely shifted how I think about showing up, especially behind the microphone. Instead of trying to sound impressive or polished, Dr. Dan invites us into something far more powerful: self-trust, experimentation, and using the “paint and brushes” already in our hands. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Dan and explore his book The Confidence Equation: Three Keys to Unleashing Self-Confidence as an Introvert. Follow the show: AWFULLY QUIET (bts + reflections): @awfullyquietpodcast SUBTLE (tips + tools): @subtleseries

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 becomes something you enjoy privately. Meanwhile, someone else runs with something half as considered. In this episode, we question the narrative that quiet ambition belongs in a corporate box and unpack what’s actually at stake when your best thinking never leaves your head. We get into: The difference between inward and outward wiringWhy “career advice for introverts” was never the full pictureThe translation problem: when your best thinking stays insideThe creators who bring inner worlds to life without loud tacticsWhy this is about identity, ambition, and culture, not just work If you know you’re not meant to be loud… but you also know you’re not meant to stay small... this conversation is for you. Follow the show: AWFULLY QUIET (bts + reflections): @awfullyquietpodcast SUBTLE (tips + tools): @subtleseries

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: the career skills that matter most, but often get overlookedwhy getting hired in 2026 isn’t about uploading a PDF anymorehow to gather interview intel that helps you stand out without performinghow senior roles often come together without a formal applicationthe quiet truth about “selling yourself”, and why introverts are often better positioned to network than they think Anna is someone whose work I’ve admired for years for her fresh, unconventional take and her honest perspective on the amount of practice, rigour, and effort that actually goes into landing a role that fits, not just pays. 🔗 Learn more about Anna’s work @careerdiet or listen to her Podcast (she recommends Episode 40 in this conversation). If this episode resonated, follow the show and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating. It genuinely makes my day & and it helps the right people find these conversations. Follow the podcast: AWFULLY QUIET (bts + reflections): @awfullyquietpodcast SUBTLE (tips + tools): @subtleseries

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, direction, and consistency – four practical moves that help turn quiet into something others rely on Chapters00:00 — When Quiet Becomes Competence 02:30 — Why Being Quiet Gets Misread 03:28 — Move 1: Letting People See Your Thinking 04:15 — Move 2: Making Your Judgement Visible 05:22 — Move 3: Giving Your Thinking Direction 06:20 — Move 4: Becoming Known for How You Think 07:20 — When Quiet Turns Into Authority Follow along If an episode ever resonates, follow the show and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating. And if you comment or write a review, know that it genuinely makes my day. AWFULLY QUIET (bts + reflections): @awfullyquietpodcast SUBTLE (tips + tools): @subtleseries

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 to deliver, but not to lead – included, but not invited into what comes next You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what your quiet is signaling at work, and how to shift how it’s read, without becoming louder or less yourself. 📌 Follow along: If an episode ever resonates, follow the show and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating. And if you comment or write a review, know that it genuinely makes my day. 🤍 AWFULLY QUIET (bts + reflections): @awfullyquietpodcast SUBTLE (tips + tools): @subtleseries

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 if this work reaches the people it’s meant for. So if an episode ever resonates, follow the show and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating. And if you comment or write a review, know that it genuinely makes my day 🤍 Follow along for more: Instagram (behind the scenes + reflections): @awfullyquietpodcast Subtle career tools & frameworks: @subtleseries