In this episode of The Happy HSP Podcast, Kimberly Marshall sits down with author and advocate William Allen to explore the personal and often unspoken journey of being a highly sensitive man. From cultural conditioning to emotional suppression, this conversation shines a light on the challenges and quiet power of high sensitivity in men.

William shares:

• His personal journey later in life of discovering he's an HSP.
• The cost of growing up in a culture that suppresses male sensitivity.
• How he transitioned from IT to writing, advocacy, and community-building.
• The challenges HSP men face with vulnerability and emotional expression.
• Why he believes HSP men can lead the way in redefining modern masculinity.

Topics covered:

• What it means to be a highly sensitive man.
• Emotional suppression and the “man code.”
• The lack of male representation in HSP spaces.
• Creating safe spaces for sensitive men to connect.
• Cultural implications of ignoring male sensitivity.
• The impact of societal expectations on mental health.

About William Allen:

William Allen is a thought leader and educator dedicated to redefining masculinity through the lens of high sensitivity. After a 30-year career in corporate IT leadership, he founded BrainPilots, a hypno-coaching and neurofeedback practice in Bend, Oregon, focused on mental and emotional well-being.

His personal journey as a highly sensitive man led to the creation of TheSensitiveMan.com, a global platform offering resources, community, and support for sensitive individuals. William’s writing — including his acclaimed books Confessions of a Sensitive Man and On Being a Sensitive Man — has helped reframe sensitivity as a strength.

He leads an online men’s group, offers a self-paced course, and co-hosts the podcast Men with S.T.Y.L.E. He also appears in the documentary Sensitive Men Rising, amplifying the voices of sensitive men worldwide.

Follow along with William’s journey:

Website: www.thesensitiveman.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesensitiveman

https://www.facebook.com/zallenw

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/zallenw

Let’s Connect:

🤍 Share your biggest takeaway or follow us on Instagram @happyhsppodcast — we’d love to hear from you!

🎧 Subscribe and leave a review to help more HSPs find this space: thehappyhsppodcast.buzzsprout.com

📩 Want to be a guest on the show? Reach out to Kimberly at: kmarshall@happyhspcoaching.com

📖 Learn about Kimberly’s work: happyhspcoaching.com

About Kimberly:

After 20 years in the publishing industry working for companies like Time Inc., Monster.com, and W. W. Norton, Kimberly Marshall left her corporate work to create a more nurturing career that better suited her as an HSP. After repeatedly struggling with burnout and low confidence in the workplace, she now helps HSPs create careers that bring them lots of purpose, meaning, and joy. With the Happy HSP Podcast, Kimberly hopes to shed more light on the reality of living with high sensitivity and inspire more HSPs to embrace their empathetic, generous, and loving natures.

• Hosted/produced by Kimberly Marshall
• Edited by Fonzie Try Media
• Artwork by Tara Corola

*Content Warning: This episode includes mentions of suicide, which may be sensitive for some listeners.

If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t speak up for your needs in the workplace, doctor’s office, classroom, this episode is for you. Today, I speak with Dr. Sandra Clifton who shares her personal journey realizing she was an HSP after a gift from her sister changed her life. This led to a mission: advocating for highly sensitive students and reframing sensitivity in education and mental health.

Our conversation uncovers how can show up better in the world when we feel comfortable advocating for our needs.

Dr. Clifton shares:

• The gift that changed her entire understanding “self.”
• How naming her sensitivity led to healing, confidence, and purpose.
• The challenges sensitive students face in traditional education systems.
• Her work supporting gifted and twice-exceptional learners.
• What she wants educators, therapists, and doctor’s offices to understand about HSPs.

Topics covered:

• HSP self-discovery and identity.
• High sensitivity often goes unrecognized or misunderstood.
• HSPs in education and student advocacy.
• Tools and support for improved self-acceptance and resilience.
• Building a supportive community for highly sensitive people.
• The importance of safe, validating spaces for HSPs.
• The language and tools needed to thrive as an HSP.

About Dr. Sandra Clifton:

Sandra Clifton is a Board-Certified Educational Therapist, life coach, and former high school English teacher with over 18 years of experience. She has worked with Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence and now runs Clifton Corner, a private practice supporting gifted, sensitive, and twice-exceptional students.

Sandra specializes in helping overwhelmed learners and their families navigate challenges like perfectionism, organization, and school transitions using tools like mindfulness, creativity, and positive psychology. She holds a doctorate in Cognitive Diversity, with research focused on twice-exceptional highly sensitive individuals and has a deep affinity for artists and athletes who shine beyond traditional academics.

Follow along with Dr. Clifton’s journey:

Clifton Corner: www.sensitivestudents.com

Website: www.sandraclifton.com

Let’s Connect:

🤍 Share your biggest takeaway or follow us on Instagram @happyhsppodcast — we’d love to hear from you!

🎧 Subscribe and leave a review to help more HSPs find this space: thehappyhsppodcast.buzzsprout.com

📩 Want to be a guest on the show? Reach out to Kimberly at: kmarshall@happyhspcoaching.com

📖 Learn about Kimberly’s work: happyhspcoaching.com

About Kimberly:

After 20 years in the publishing industry working for companies like Time Inc., Monster.com, and W. W. Norton, Kimberly Marshall left her corporate work to create a more nurturing career that better suited her as an HSP. After repeatedly struggling with burnout and low confidence in the workplace, she now helps HSPs create careers that bring them lots of purpose, meaning, and joy. With the Happy HSP Podcast, Kimberly hopes to shed more light on the reality of living with high sensitivity and inspire more HSPs to embrace their empathetic, generous, and loving natures.

• Hosted/produced by Kimberly Marshall
• Edited by Fonzie Try Media
• Artwork by Tara Corola

In this episode of The Happy HSP Podcast, I’m joined by HSP life coach Louise Smith who, after realizing she was an HSP in her early forties, encountered mixed emotions about her trait. We talk about how difficult it can be to find your footing and confidence as an HSP, and we also explore how HSPs can benefit from inviting our minds, bodies, and souls to our healing conversation in unison.

Listen in as we discuss the HSP journey and how Louise helps others heighten their confidence, self-acceptance, and mind-body connection so they can thrive.

In this episode, Louise shares:

• How she discovered she was an HSP later in life.
• A realization that her sensitivity was both mental and physical.
• Her personal journey with confidence-building and self-acceptance.
• The importance of breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness.
• How the right environment is key for HSPs to thrive.
• How awareness and self-compassion can help.
• Practices for honoring sensitivity and cultivating presence.

Topics covered:

• The intersection of HSP traits and trauma responses.
• How it can take time to process that you’re an HSP.
• Tools and practices for regulating the nervous system.
• Embodiment and breathwork as part of the healing process.
• Slowing down as a spiritual practice.
• Setting boundaries to build confidence and self-trust.
• Self-care and body-awareness for navigating sensitivity.
• The beauty and enjoyment of vantage sensitivity.

About Louise Smith:

Louise is a women’s life coach and a Highly Sensitive Person. She provides life coaching to sensitive women who feel stuck and that their low self-confidence is holding them back and affecting their well-being.

She supports women to achieve confidence and personal growth, empowers and guides them through small steps of action and mindset shifts to overcome self-limiting beliefs, and helps them learn how to regulate the nervous system. Through her support, Louise helps amazing HSP women to thrive rather than just survive.

Follow along with Louise’s journey:

Intagram: @hsp.time.to.thrive

Email: louisehspcoaching@gmail com

Let’s Connect:

🤍 Share your biggest takeaway or follow us on Instagram @happyhsppodcast — we’d love to hear from you!

🎧 Subscribe and leave a review to help more HSPs find this space: thehappyhsppodcast.buzzsprout.com

📩 Want to be a guest on the show? Reach out to Kimberly at: kmarshall@happyhspcoaching.com

📖 Learn about Kimberly’s work: happyhspcoaching.com

About Kimberly:

After 20 years in the publishing industry working for companies like Time Inc., Monster.com, and W. W. Norton, Kimberly Marshall left her corporate work to create a more nurturing career that better suited her as an HSP. After repeatedly struggling with burnout and low confidence in the workplace, she now helps HSPs create careers that bring them lots of purpose, meaning, and joy. With the Happy HSP Podcast, Kimberly hopes to shed more light on the reality of living with high sensitivity and inspire more HSPs to embrace their empathetic, generous, and loving natures.

• Hosted/produced by Kimberly Marshall
• Edited by Fonzie Try Media
• Artwork by Tara Corola