F*ck Confidence: The Empowerment Studio Podcast

Y’all, we are kicking off another Selfie Challenge this summer and this episode is your official backstage pass and hype session all in one. I sat down with Rachael to talk about why we’re doing this challenge, what it actually means to exist in photos, and how something as simple as taking a selfie can lead to huge shifts in how you see yourself. We get into the real stuff -- like how showing up...

In this episode of the Empowerment Studio Podcast, I’m joined by my dear friend Rachael for a heartfelt and real conversation, where grief, laughter, and community care all sit at the same table. Rachael shares the story of losing her mom and the complex, layered experience of moving through grief -- from the bittersweet moments of caregiving to the unexpected gifts of being truly seen and loved....

This episode dives into the surprisingly juicy world of dishes —but trust, it’s more than suds and soap. Kinzie and Donnie (partner, co-parent, collaborator, and all-around rad human) unpack how their neurodivergent household navigates shared chores, weirdly effective emoji codes, and the art of creative domestic systems. From redefining who does what in the kitchen to rethinking room layouts and...

In this episode, Rachael Cady (she/her) and I (Kinzie, they/she 🙋🏻‍♀️) hit record mid-ramble (as usual) while we were talking about that quiet inner glow that helps you hold space for yourself and the people you care about. We cover a lot of ground: the ripple effects of a boudoir session (because it’s so much more than just a few cute photos), how music and memory and even the most random, sill...

This week, I’m bringing you into a real-life moment: my partner Donnie and I hit a tough patch—one of those stretches where feelings pile up, miscommunications swirl, and connection feels just out of reach. We knew we needed to talk… but we didn’t want to just spiral. Enter: RADAR. It’s a conversation structure we learned from the amazing folks at Multiamory, and honestly? It was a game changer. I...

BUCKLE UP FOR A FUN ONE, FOLKS! In this episode, I invited my partner and current D&D campaign DM -- Donnie (he/they) -- to join me and Rachael (she/her) for a fun chat about the intersection of identity and role play in Dungeons & Dragons. We reflect on our long-running campaigns, personal connections to our characters, and how storytelling in D&D allows for self-exploration. Donnie,...

Wanna hear two photographers nerd out about bodies together?  Kinzie chats with Shay (she/they), a past client and fellow photographer, about the magic of photography—how it’s not just about snapping pretty pictures but about capturing presence, identity, and joy. Shay shares their journey with Golden Door Photography, spilling the tea on rebrands, wedding photography, and their dream of docu...

Doors to the Empowerment Experience close this Friday, March 14, so get your butts in there while you can. Let’s do this together. Hey, it’s Kinzie! I’m bringing you a throwback episode—this was recorded right before we kicked off the very first round of the Empowerment Experience in 2024. And fun fact? Tiffany, who you’ll hear in this conversation, went on to be an amazing part of that group. In...

This is one of the episodes I would personally want to listen to if I was thinking of joining the 2025 cohort but hadn't made up my mind yet! Together, with a round-one Empowerment Experiencer joining me, we really get into the specifics of the program. If you're anything like me, and you're considering investing in something, you want to know as much as you can before you take the leap. In this e...

Let’s get straight queer to the point: you’ve got the power. You’re just not using it. It’s time to stop standing on the sidelines and start taking up the space you deserve. The world isn’t waiting for you to feel ‘ready.’ It’s waiting for you to own your power. If you’ve been holding back, it’s time to break through. In the Empowerment Experience , we guide you through the Grow Method step-by-ste...

BONUS EPISODE -- you get two this week! Your body isn’t the problem. Your relationship with it is. (And really, it’s the systems and structures at play that taught you to have a relationship like that.) Some of you listening might already feel good in your body—but maybe you’re wondering, what’s next? Others might just now be realizing, wait, I don’t have to hate myself? Wherever you are in your j...

Come to our workshop on Thursday night ! You don't want to miss this one. Here's why -- It’s 2025. Our country is on fire (literally and figuratively), and many of you listening are fighting just to exist. And whether you're feeling the impact of the current climate on a very personal level, or you're watching it attack people you love -- it's easy to feel like now isn’t the time to focus on yours...

This episode is all about the power of being seen—what it means, why it matters, and how it can be both terrifying and life-changing, especially for trans folks, and especially today. Rachael shares her journey from hiding (even from herself) to fully embracing visibility as a trans person, and how photography (both selfies and photoshoots in the Empowerment Studio) played a huge role in her self-...

This is one of those episodes that we recorded a little bit ago, and then as we're getting ready to publish it for all of you, and I'm looking at our show notes, I'm like, "oh, I probably need to listen to exactly this episode right now." Funny how that works. We've learned, if nothing else, to trust our timing here in the Empowerment Studio! Here's Part 2 from last week's episode (in which I conf...

This episode is TENDER AF. I almost didn't release it, to be totally honest with you. We recorded it back in October. Right after I'd gotten home from France. Right before my birthday. Right before going to my favorite music festival. And I caught myself saying, "I don't feel like I deserve to be celebrated." "I don't deserve to go on this trip." "I don't deserve rest." WHAT???!! That's not how we...

Kinzie here, with a spontaneously recorded episode the day after Inauguration Day. Here's the deal - we've GOTTA figure out ways to pour into ourselves. We cannot and will not get through the next four years without taking good care of ourselves and each other. So here are some actionable tips, and a peek into the impulsive boudoir flash sale we're offering. (It's called the A-Lot-of-Things-Suck-a...

We're back! Happy 2025 y'all!! I’m so pumped to share this episode with you! We’re diving into selfies, and how showing up in them can totally shift your relationship with your body and your confidence. But selfies are a pretty nuanced thing -- not everyone loves them. So in this episode, w e're responding to real struggles that people have shared with us about taking selfies, and then exploring h...

The title of this episode is "I Can't Believe People Think this about Boudoir" -- but the fact is, I really CAN. Because boudoir is a bit of an unknown for so many people, and it's only once you really understand what's going on that you realize just how expansive it can be. Tune in to hear why I think "being sexy" is the absolute wrong thing to aim for in your boudoir session, and two other boudo...

I feel like I say this every time, but I loved this conversation! Once again, we (Rachael, she/her, and Kinzie, they/she) welcomed Audy Avery (they/them) to the mic, and we had an incredible, exploratory chat.  Audy and I (Kinzie) talked about Polyamory and Relationship Anarchy (and how we both started out identifying as polyamorous, but more and more often, Relationship Anarchy rings more tr...

I (Kinzie) love this episode. We really get into it -- Rachael asks me about jealousy within polyamory, the abundance that polyamory offers, and rules and boundaries that keep my relationships nourishing and safe-feeling. I answer everything openly and honestly -- I was honestly kind of surprised by how much I shared. You're listening to an extended episode preview. The whole episode (which gets a...

I (Kinzie) get asked all the time: "Hey, I know you're polyam -- can I buy you coffee some time and pick your brain?" Here's the episode where you get to listen in on one of those conversations. Rachael Cady (she/her) gets nosy (with consent!) and Kinzie Elizabeth (they/she) doesn't hold anything back. You're listening to an extended episode preview. The whole episode (which gets a LOT more person...

Y'all, this interview was fascinating. I (Kinzie, they/she) got the chance to talk to Nettie Zan (they/them), who is a brand new friend of mine here in Kansas City. We did a deep dive into community, ritual, and gender. We also explored Nettie’s upcoming Non-Binary Zine Distro Project—a creative and educational initiative designed to foster understanding and connection beyond the gender binary. Th...

In this episode, Kinzie Elizabeth (they/she) reflects on the first round of the Empowerment Experience, a six-month program combining boudoir photo shoots and community support to help clients embrace their confidence and take up space. Kinzie shares how the program evolved from a concept into a life-changing experience, with activities like vision boards, dessert nights, and paint-alongs helping...

Join Kinzie Elizabeth in a solo episode where they share exciting updates about the Empowerment Studio’s pop-up Facebook group and upcoming events! The group opens on November 5th (that's TODAY if you're listening on the day this episode is released!), just in time for a day when community matters most. This episode dives into how this pop-up community makes it a safe, uplifting space to exist in...

In this episode, Kinzie Elizabeth (they/she), Rachael Cady (she/her), and Audy Avery (they/them) dive into their journeys of exploring and embracing gender identity. We hope it feels like you're just sitting around on a porch with us as we chat and explore these topics together. Audy also reflects on how the Empowerment Studio has been a space to explore who they truly are after growing up in a ri...