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 loud
• Thought-to-speech fluency (and how you can train it)
• Why confidence doesn’t come before you speak
• What “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 ceiling
• Why quiet people over-index on output and under-index on visibility
• The difference between value and value people can actually see
• What to do instead of just working harder
• What 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 problem
• what 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 understood
• what 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