In this episode, I explore one of the hidden drains on our confidence, relationships, and opportunities: silence.

We often think we’re playing it safe by holding back, but the truth is, staying silent comes with a cost.

I open up about my own journey from being the shy, quiet girl who silenced herself, to becoming someone who now teaches others how to speak with courage.

Along the way, you’ll hear stories of clients, everyday examples, and simple tools to help you notice where fear, judgment, or self-doubt might be keeping you silent — and how that’s impacting your life and business.

Using your voice isn’t just about public speaking. It’s about the everyday moments where you ask for what you want, give honest feedback, or say yes to being visible.

Your voice influences your presence, energy, and authority.

And when you choose silence instead, the opportunities, connections, and impact that could have been yours often slip away.

This episode is an invitation to stop paying the hidden cost of silence - and to start speaking up with courage.

Because your voice doesn’t just matter, it can change lives, starting with your own.

Key takeaways:

o Your voice is so much more than words and sound.

o Silence has a price.

o Asking for what you want is an act of courage.

o The real barrier to speaking isn’t speaking - it’s something else.

o Simple things you can do to feel more courageous using your voice.

o Being direct with your words is the kindest thing you can do.

o Your voice is tied to your worth and influences how people experience you.

** Courageous Speaking Masterclass – Wed 22 Oct 2025 **

If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or professional who knows speaking is the ONE skill that could change the game for your business or career, this is for you.

~ Find out more or grab your spot here. ~

Where to find me:

Website: Kim Payne

LinkedIn: Kim Payne

Instagram: @iamkimpayne

Facebook: KimPayneBiz

Book a FREE 45 min Call to Action to work out how you can use your voice with more impact.

What does it really take to move from “I’ve got an idea for a book” to becoming an author?

In this inspiring conversation, I reconnect with intuitive writing coach, editor, and publisher Ruth Fae to explore what it means to find your voice and courageously put your words into the world.

Ruth unpacks what “being an author” truly means, and why so many of the excuses we cling to (“I’m not a writer,” “my message isn’t worthy”) are simply myths.

She explains how writing is a creative muscle that grows stronger with use, why collaboration makes the process more powerful, and how writing circles give women the confidence, structure, and safe space to write.

I also share my own vulnerable journey of handing Ruth my first manuscript, facing fears of imperfection and discovering that authorship begins long before a book is published.

If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book, or doubted whether you had it in you, this episode will shift your perspective, release the pressure, and remind you that your words matter.

By tuning in, you’ll discover:

o Why you’re already an author even if your book isn’t published yet.

o How intuitive editing helps your real voice and message shine through.

o The difference between planners and “pantsers” in writing (and how to find your flow).

o Why collaboration and safe creative spaces make writing easier and more fun.

o How to move past perfectionism and start with what you’ve got (even messy brain dumps).

o The importance of structure in shaping stories without stifling creativity.

o Ways to overcome resistance when the words don’t come.

o Why courage, community, and consistency matter more than rules when it comes to writing.

! Sign up for inaugural The Author in You. An 8 week writing course and bring the book inside you to life.

Learn about Ruth’s Writing Circles.

Find out more or get in touch with Ruth:

Website: Fae Blood Publications

Facebook: Ruth Fae-Writer

Instagram: @ruth_fae_writer

LinkedIn: Ruth Fae

Tiktok: @ruthfaewriter

Listen to Ruths first appearance on the podcast, episode 13 Rediscovering your identity through hope, healing, and storytelling.

Where to find me:

Website: Kim Payne

LinkedIn: Kim Payne

Instagram: @iamkimpayne

Facebook: KimPayne9Biz

Book a FREE 45 min Call to Action to help you get to the starting line.

If you’ve ever faced loss or change and wondered how you could stay open to life and find joy, this is for you.

In this moving conversation, we hear from mindset coach Kathleen Quinn, who at 56 reinvented herself after retiring from a 35-year career at Stanford University.

Just as she was embracing her new path, Kathleen faced the devastating loss of her husband, Michael, during the pandemic.

Before he passed, he left her with a simple but profound request: “Struggle to stay open to life.”

Those words became the compass that guided her through grief, heartbreak, change, and loss, and eventually helped her rediscover joy.

Now at 63, Kathleen is living proof that it’s never too late to change your identity, feel deserving of abundance, and say yes to opportunities beyond your wildest dreams.

From honouring her husband’s wisdom to becoming a mindset coach, to stepping into authorship and public speaking, Kathleen’s story is a powerful reminder that courage isn’t about having it all figured out; it’s about staying open to what life places before you, even when it scares you.

Kathleen’s purpose is to help people feel grounded, free, and fulfilled, and this episode will inspire you on your way.

Key takeaways:

o How Kathleen’s husband’s final wishes became her guiding principle.

o What it takes to start a new career at 56 and take on a completely different identity.

o What grief can teach us about growth and understanding.

o The freedom that comes from releasing expectations of others.

o The difference between wealth and abundance.

o Why friendships may play different roles and how to accept them.

o The importance of asking for what you deserve and breaking old scarcity patterns.

o How living by your values keeps you aligned, even when resistance shows up.

Where to find Kathleen:

Website: Kathleen Quinn

LinkedIn: Kathleen Quinn

Get a copy of her book (where she’s a featured author).

Infinite Impact – Stories of Alignment

Where to find me:

Website: Kim Payne

LinkedIn: Kim Payne

Instagram: @iamkimpayne

Facebook: Kim Payne Biz

Book a FREE 45 min Call to Action