When I invited Nina Manelson onto the Real Confidence podcast, I wasn't prepared for how deeply the phrase "body peace" would hit home. There I was, thinking I'd mastered body image stuff (hello, recent weight loss!), but within minutes I was like, "Wait, she's reading my diary?" The way Nina explained our relationship with our bodies hit me right in the heart.

I've spent DECADES in what Nina calls "body hate." You know that voice, right? The one that whispers "you shouldn't have eaten that" after every damn cookie. The one that blames EVERYTHING on your size. Zipper breaks? Because you're fat. Knees hurt? Fat. Didn't get that job? Definitely because you're fat.

I literally blamed my body for all my problems! Nina nailed it when she said this toxic relationship affects literally everything – from how we show up in bed with our partners to how we pitch ideas in meetings. The mental space this crap takes up is EXHAUSTING.

So there we were chatting, and Nina does this thing where she has me put my hand on my heart and just say "hello body." I'm not even kidding – I felt something shift instantly. It was like... peace. Just simple peace.

It wasn't some complex therapy technique or 30-day challenge. Just acknowledgment. Connection. Nina kept saying body peace isn't about suddenly loving every dimple (though wouldn't that be nice?), it's a practice, like any relationship. Some days you're madly in love, other days you're annoyed as hell, but you stay in conversation.

What really got me was when Nina talked about her clients who stopped obsessing over food rules and body management BS and started, you know, LIVING (one woman who had been spending all her mental energy on clean eating and workouts suddenly freed up so much headspace that she went back to school, got a major promotion, and basically reclaimed her life).

That's when it clicked for me – body confidence isn't just about feeling prettier in photos. It's about the freedom to be a whole damn person again.

Listen to the conversation and:

• Discover why body comparison is actually a form of self-sabotage (and how to catch yourself doing it)
• Understand why the traditional "wellness culture" approach might be keeping you trapped in body management instead of true body connection
• Learn how a simple 30-second practice can begin repairing your relationship with your body starting today
• Find out why Nina believes our relationship with our body is the most important relationship of our life
• Hear about the surprising connection between body peace and professional confidence

Learn more about Nina Manolson at ninamanolson.com and her Body Peace Journal and masterclass.

You know that feeling when you walk into a room and you just know you own it? That’s what true confidence feels like. I don’t mean in the “look at me, I’m the star!” way. I’m talking about being that steady, calming presence that everyone feels comfortable around.

People have told me I have this vibe—like I’m solid and calming. And honestly? I’ve been thinking about how I do that. Spoiler: It’s not just luck. There’s a method to social madness.

Because it’s easy to let nerves take over, right? You start worrying about how you look, if you’re saying the right things, or if you’re coming off okay. But owning the room has nothing to do with that. It’s not about you—it’s about the people in the room with you and how you relate to them.

When you step in with the mindset that you’ve got value to offer—no matter who’s in the room—that’s when people start noticing you and your confidence naturally spikes.

People start to recognize you as the person who’s grounded, reliable, and can handle whatever’s thrown their way. And that’s how you build trust, which is the foundation of all real confidence.

At the end of the day, confidence isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up and making others feel like they’re in good hands in the process.

Ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start stepping into your power? Listen in because owning the room is just the start of owning your confidence.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how fear can show up in our lives in sneaky ways—especially when we don’t even realize it. Maybe you’ve noticed it too, that feeling of snapping at someone or getting defensive when it’s not even necessary. What’s wild is that it’s not really about being angry—it’s fear wearing the mask of aggression, and we often don’t see it for what it is until it's already done damage.

I was having a conversation with my friend Trevor Boylston, who’s a coach and leadership expert, and he put it this way: “Fear makes us fight to protect something we feel we’re losing.”

That stuck with me, because SO OFTEN we disguise our fear behind that sense of aggression because it feels like we can control it. But the truth? It’s a complete disconnect from true confidence.

Trevor’s insight on this is spot on—he helps us understand how fear shows up in subtle ways, like defensiveness or shutting people down before they have the chance to finish a thought. It’s a knee-jerk reaction, but it’s also a learned response that we can unlearn. If we’re not consciously aware of how we’re responding, fear takes the wheel, and the confidence we’re striving for gets left behind.

Confidence gives you the space to not react from a place of fear. It’s like this invisible shield that helps you stay calm and centered when others are spiraling-- staying grounded, rather than escalating things, is a much more powerful response.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself reacting out of fear, snapping at someone, or shutting down in a conversation, this episode is for you. It’s not just about controlling your aggression—it’s about understanding what’s underneath it and building the confidence to face it head-on. Settle in, hit play, and let’s unpack this together.

You’ll walk away knowing:

• How fear turns into aggression and why we don’t always see it.
• What makes us go from zero to angry in the blink of an eye.
• Why emotional intelligence is your secret weapon when things get heated.
• What to do when you feel that aggressive energy bubbling up.
• How to handle tough conversations without letting fear take the wheel.

Trevor Boylston is the guy in the cube next to you who brings the ‘everyman’ perspective to working in a corporate environment as a transgender individual. With experience driving LGBTQ+ empowerment at a leading medical device company, and volunteer service with a leading LGBTQ+ community health center, Trevor brings an authentic view of how to foster an inclusive culture within a corporate structure. Learn more about Trevor or hire him to speak at trevorboylston.com.