Creating Confidence with Heather Monahan

Most people don’t realize they’re building a job until it’s too late. In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist Candy Valentino to break down the difference between being self-employed and building a business that creates freedom, wealth, and optionality. Candy shares why so many entrepreneurs end up in golden handcuffs, how social media glamorizes entrepreneurshi...

What if everything you’ve been taught about leadership is outdated? In this episode, I sit down with CNBC senior correspondent and author, Julia Boorstin, to break down what she discovered after interviewing hundreds of the world’s most innovative CEOs. Julia shares why women receive only a fraction of venture capital funding, how “pattern matching” quietly shapes who gets opportunities, and why t...

Confidence isn’t something you earn, it’s something you build. In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Kalil, aka the “Confidence Sherpa,” to talk about the biggest lie that has been told that confidence comes from promotions, paychecks, perfect bodies, or other people’s approval. Nicole shares why confidence is rooted in trust, how living inauthentically drains your self-belief, and why mistakes,...

What if the pressure to be “special” is actually what’s keeping you stuck? In this episode, I sit down with bestselling author Mark Manson to talk about why success doesn’t cure anxiety, how your ego fights change, and why transformation feels long before it feels empowering. Mark shares the thinking behind The Subtle Art of Not Giving an F-bomb documentary, the personal stories that shaped it, an...

What if the thing that feels like your biggest setback is actually the doorway to your purpose? In this episode, I sit down with Sprinkles Founder, Candace Nelson, to talk about how alignment, intention, and a bigger WHY fueled everything from launching the world’s first cupcake bakery to creating the iconic Cupcake ATM. She also breaks down the mindset behind her new book, Sweet Success, offering...

What if the life you’re living right now is only a tiny sliver of what’s actually possible? In this powerful episode, I sit down with spiritual trailblazer Michael Beckwith to talk about what it means to awaken your consciousness and reclaim your mind. Michael shares his extraordinary awakening experience and breaks down spiritual practices you can use to shift your mindset, elevate your vibration...

Success isn’t about grinding harder, it’s about shifting how you think, who you surround yourself with, and how you show up every single day. In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur, investor, and podcast host Chris Harder to talk about the mindset shifts that completely transformed his life after losing everything during the 2008 recession. Chris shares how being fired became his greatest g...

Confidence isn’t about being polished, it’s about being believable. In this episode, I sit down with Kim Rittberg, a former media executive turned content strategist, to break down why video feels so intimidating and how to use it anyway to grow your business, build trust, and stand out online. We talk about why the camera triggers self-doubt even in high performers, how to stop overthinking your...

Change doesn’t knock politely. It shows up fast, disrupts your identity, and forces you to question what’s next even when you thought you’d finally “made it.” In this episode, I sit down with Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine to break down why change feels so destabilizing and how to move through it without panic, paralysis, or clinging to the past. Jason shares the 4 phases e...

Life rarely unfolds the way we expect, and that’s exactly where the MAGIC lives. In this episode, Kelley Tyan and I talk about what happens when people change for the better, how forgiveness frees you more than anyone else, and why staying OPEN to possibility can shift everything even after years of tension, unanswered questions, or unmet expectations. We also dive into faith versus religion, the...

You don’t need all the answers, you need alignment. In this episode, I sit down with mentor and speaker Suzanne Adams to break down what frequency means, why your LOGICAL mind often blocks your biggest breakthroughs, and how to create results by leading from your HEART instead of force. We talk about moving through burnout, depression, and disconnection, learning how to feel again instead of numbi...

Most people chase opportunities, but the most successful people create them by how they show up for others. In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend and performance coach Jordan Montgomery to break down the real mechanics of connection, influence, and service. We talk about why the most connected people are the ones constantly promoting others, connecting people to opportunities, and giving...

Feel stuck? This episode is all about thinking bigger than the problems in front of you. Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis, co-authors of Both/And Thinking, are back to explore how the toughest challenges in leadership, work, and life often aren’t either/or problems, they’re paradoxes. We talk about how to shift the questions you’re asking, why confidence is built through discomfort, and how “yes, an...

Success gets a lot quieter at the top and that’s exactly the point. In this episode, I sit down with business strategist and seven-figure CEO Kelly Roach to break down why so many driven entrepreneurs stay stuck, burned out, or second guessing themselves long after they’ve “done everything right.” We talk about the perception gap that keeps people grinding when they’re actually growing, why buildi...

The same thoughts that surface when you avoid silence are often the ones quietly controlling your confidence, decisions, and direction. In this episode, I sit down with mindset expert Colin O’Brady to talk about how the thoughts you avoid in silence are often the same ones quietly shaping your decisions, confidence, and direction in life. We dive into why most people fear stillness, how responsibi...

If you’ve ever held yourself back because you’ve felt like an imposter, this episode is for you! My guest, Michelle “Mace” Curran, shares her story of breaking through self-doubt, fear, and imposter syndrome performing at the highest level as a former Lead Solo for the Air Force Thunderbirds. She breaks down powerful lessons in asking for help, seeing your differences as your strengths, and buildi...

Our relationships often are a reflection of who we are. Today, I’m joined by Kathryn Gordon, relationship expert and best-selling author, to unpack how we can take our relationships (romantic or platonic, professional or personal) to the next level. We dive into powerful communication tips to help you reconnect, open up, and feel loved & supported in each of your relationships, whatever they may l...

When a crisis hits, you don’t get a practice round, you get a choice. In this episode, Dr. Richard Winters, Mayo Clinic emergency physician and Director of Leadership Development, breaks down how exceptional leaders move between rapid-fire crisis decisions and group problem-solving. He shares frameworks that help you decide when to call an expert, when to lead from the front, and when to slow down...

Confidence is something you can train just like a muscle. In this episode, Peloton Head Instructor and Vice President of Fitness Programming Robin Arzón shares life-changing strategies to help YOU build confidence, rewrite your story, strengthen your discipline, and create a life anchored in intention, energy, and purpose. Robin breaks down how to ditch the labels holding you back, how micro-habit...

The secret to winning any negotiation isn’t aggression, but connection. In this episode, I sit down with Molly Fletcher, the former sports agent known as the female Jerry Maguire, who negotiated over $500 million in deals and represented hundreds of the biggest names in sports. Molly shares how she broke into one of the most male-dominated industries in the world, how she reframed being “the only...

What if the missing ingredient in your leadership playbook is simply being real? In this episode, I talk to sales leader Andrew Metz about how vulnerability on LinkedIn, relentless front-line experience, and small-scale intimacy tactics (think lunches, micro Q&As, mentor pairings) turn average teams into high-performing ones. Andrew shares repeatable ways to build trust, scale connection, and grow...

You’ve heard people say “just be grateful” a million times, but what happens when life is falling apart, you’re in real pain, and that kind of gratitude feels fake? In this episode, I sit down with USA Today’s “Gratitude Guru” Chris Schembra to talk about a completely different and honest approach to gratitude, one that doesn’t ignore your hardest moments, but starts with them. Chris shares how pr...

What if the traits you’ve been told make you “too emotional” or “too soft” are actually your greatest leadership strengths? In this episode, I sit down with leadership expert and former global marketing executive Dalia Feldheim to talk about the power of leading with purpose, empathy, and humanity, especially in workplaces that reward the opposite. Dalia shares the story behind the iconic Like a G...

Your funnel isn’t broken, you’re just missing the right data. In this episode, I sit down with business growth expert Stacy Tuschl, the woman behind The Foot Traffic Formula and Well-Oiled Operations, to talk about the systems and mindset shifts that turn followers into paying customers. Stacy shares how to spot what your competitors are missing, transform visibility into real revenue, and create...

When was the last time your integrity was tested? In this episode, 11x New York Times bestselling author Jon Gordon and speaker Alex Demczak share the lessons behind their new book, The Sale, a powerful fable about character, choices, and success. We talk about how to build integrity into your daily habits, the importance of mentorship, and what it really takes to leap from safety into purpose. I...