The Awfully Quiet Podcast

Today I'm speaking with Lauren Currie OBE, founder of UPFRONT, an organization on a mission to change confidence, visibility, and power for 10 million women.We explore the quiet moments behind stepping onto a stage, leading change, and taking up space in ways that actually feel like you. We talk about the unlearning that has to happen before confidence becomes real, letting go of the pressure to be louder, bigger, shinier… or smaller, softer, easier.Lauren shares her journey building UPFRONT and helping thousands move into rooms, conversations, and opportunities that feel scary but transformative. We get into the tiny language shifts, reframes, and practical tools that make confidence feel less overwhelming and more human.If you’ve ever felt torn between wanting to be “more confident” or worrying you’re “too much,” this conversation is a deep exhale.Connect with Lauren:InstagramLauren’s Book: The TrickFollow & Support the Pod:InstagramYouTubeIf this episode resonates, please share it with someone who needs it.And leave a generous ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating, it helps more quiet people find the show.

Someone on a Teams call says, “Let’s do quick introductions,” and suddenly your brain goes… blank.It’s not nerves, it’s that micro-freeze when your instinct to reflect meets a moment built for performance.In this episode, we unpack what’s really happening beneath that silence, and how to introduce yourself in a way that feels grounded, effortless, and distinctly you.No more robotic “corporate bio” voice. Just clear, intentional language that lands.This is part of the Subtle Scripts mini-series: practical, ready-to-use language for real moments at work. Get the full set of 200+ scripts to use in interviews, reviews, coffee chats, and those high-pressure spotlight moments: https://subtlecareers.thrivecart.com/subtle-scripts-pack⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and leave a five-star rating on Spotify, it truly helps the show grow.

Two years into Awfully Quiet, it was time for a subtle rebrand.In this behind-the-scenes episode, I take you inside my little home studio recording an episode of the podcast, reflecting on how far it has come, and sharing the story behind the rebrand.From the new photoshoot to what this next era means creatively and personally, this episode is part studio vlog, part reflection, part permission slip for anyone ready to evolve without losing their quiet.Hit subscribe to not miss an episode of this new era. ⭐ Rate five stars wherever you listen, it makes a huge difference.

Quiet is getting a rebrand.For everyone who’s ever been called shy, reserved, or too quiet at work.This is where you stop waiting to be seen and start shaping how you’re seen.Seven steps.Seven quiet power moves.To shift the story about you, without changing who you are.My resource line-up:Quiet Flex FrameworkSubtle Scripts PackSelf-Promo Cheat SheetHit subscribe if you’re ready to rebrand your quiet (because more to come).⭐ Rate five stars wherever you listen, it makes a huge difference.

This one’s for you if you’re building something, a dream, a project, a business, a new version of yourself, and can’t help but wonder: Will this ever work?You already know the advice: trust the process, stay consistent, enjoy the journey.But some days, that’s not enough. Some days, you just need a new thought, one that keeps you moving when the effort feels pointless, or the outcome feels far away.In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my own “in-between” season, sharing the reflections, reframes, and quiet mental shifts that help me stay in it, even when the results aren’t visible yet.Tune in for a raw, honest reflection on patience, self-belief, and what it really takes to keep showing up when no one’s clapping yet.

What does running a half marathon have in common with unlocking your next career level?More than you think.Both test your endurance, not just physically or professionally, but mentally.Both ask you to stay on top of the story you tell yourself when things get tough, slow, or uncertain.In this episode, I talk about a moment mid-run when I remembered who tf I really am, and how that same energy is what gets you unstuck in your career, especially if you’re the quiet, introspective type.Because showing up as yourself, truly, deeply, unfilteredly yourself, isn’t a switch.It’s a muscle. One that needs training, practice, and repetition, just like a long run.If you’re ready to explore how you thrive, communicate, and lead in your quiet way, this episode nods right toward the Quiet Flex framework.It’s the work that helps you understand and rebrand how you’re seen and how you show up at work.✨ Learn more or start your own Quiet Flex at https://www.subtleseries.com/subtleseries/quietflexTune in for a quiet reminder that your next level doesn’t come from becoming louder. It comes from meaning it.

I’m not a natural networker, but this one approach has opened more doors for me than anything else. It’s how I landed podcast guests I never thought would say yes, secured interviews for my master’s thesis, and even stepped into corporate positions.In this episode, I share the simple networking hack that works — not by promoting yourself endlessly, but by knowing exactly what you want from a conversation and being able to say it clearly.If networking has ever felt awkward, self-serving, or impossible to get right, this one’s for you.

Have you ever wanted something so badly (a role, an opportunity, someone’s approval) that your energy tipped from ambition into… desperation?Maybe you kept saying yes, tried to be impressive, shaped yourself into whatever you thought they wanted, and somewhere in the process, you disappeared a little.This episode is a quiet reflection on that feeling, what drives it, how it sneaks into our behaviour, and how we can shift from “please choose me” into quiet self-trust.If you’ve ever worried that you want it too much, this one is for you.If you liked this episode and enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star rating and subscribe wherever you listen.

Ever had your name called in a meeting and your mind just… blanks?Your heart races, your face feels hot, and by the time you think of what you should have said, it’s already two hours later on the train home.If that’s familiar, you’re not alone. Freezing in the moment doesn’t mean you’re incompetent. It just means your nervous system is overloaded. And the good news? You can learn subtle ways to handle it.In this episode, I share three scripts that save you when your mind goes blank in a meeting.How to stall with grace (and actually look more composed)How to flip the spotlight and lead the conversationHow to find your way in, even if your answer isn’t “perfect” yetThese are small phrases with a big impact. They shift you from panic to presence, so you can contribute with clarity instead of silence or regret.And if you want to go deeper, I’ve created Subtle Scripts, a collection of 200+ phrases for the exact moments we overthink, freeze, or hold back at work. You can grab the full pack for just 29€ here: https://subtlecareers.thrivecart.com/subtle-scripts-pack/

Join me for a conversation with Anaïs Nebel, Business Strategist & Founder of The Confidence Agency, as we explore a side of confidence you may have never considered.Instead of the loud, extrinsic version of “what confidence should look like,” we dig into how confidence is actually built: through self-esteem, self-belief, self-image, and self-expression. Anaïs shows us how to treat confidence not as a personality trait, but as a habit and skill to nurture.She brings great energy, raw life stories, and research-backed tools that feel refreshingly different from the usual confidence talk.If it resonates with you, I’d love to hear, maybe leave a quiet 5-star note, or just tag me @awfullyquietpodcast if you happen to listen while out on a walk.Anais on LinkedIn:The song she talks about: https://open.spotify.com/track/5rKxI1AJkhtgJyvqWKDgr4

100 episodes later 👀 here’s what I’ve learned from some of the most brilliant, awkward, and iconic humans I’ve had on the mic.From Emmy-award winner Chris Do to TEDx curator Maryam Pasha, these conversations reshaped how I think about introversion, work, and creativity. In this milestone ep, I break down 5 lessons that prove being quiet, awkward, or introverted is the career hack you didn’t know you had.Subscribe & stick around because there's more to come. Thank you for listening! If you're feeling generous, leave a five star review, it makes my day.Referenced episodes:Ep. 06 Chris Do: Awkward is an AdvantageEp. 02 Heather Morrison: Public Speaking for IntrovertsEp. 81 Hayley Dawson: Introverts & NetworkingEp. 04 Matt Abrahams: Think Faster, Talk SmarterEp. 44 Maryam Pasha: TEDx & Speaking with ImpactEp. 21 Nadia Gabrielle: Projectors InvitedEp. 85 Soph Hirst: You’re Special… and Not That Special

What does career fulfillment even mean?We chase it like it’s a fixed point: the perfect job, the dream of freedom, the safety of stability. But the goalpost always moves. And that’s why we never feel settled.In this episode, I share how my idea of success has shifted, and the one quiet skill that’s made my career unshakable through every change.It’s not the job title. It’s not the lifestyle. It’s the thing underneath it all.If this hit something in you, leave a review. It helps more quiet people find this.And if you’re sitting with a thought after listening, DM me. I read every single one: @awfullyquietpodcast

Some of the things you shrug off as “just doing my job” are the exact things leadership notices. It’s time you start giving them credit for what they are: quiet power moves.In this episode, I’m sharing 5 quiet flexes almost every introvert has but overlooks. The ones that feel tedious, admin-y, “early career,” obviously not what’s going to put you on the map, until they do.This isn’t about bragging louder or faking confidence. It’s about naming what’s already true… and refusing to let it stay invisible.✨ Quietly obsessed? Leave a 5-star rating so more people can find us.💌 Have a thought? DM me: @awfullyquietpodcast

We all love the idea that everything works in our favor. But let’s be honest: it doesn’t always feel that way. Doors close, plans unravel, and sometimes the role you wanted goes to someone who makes you roll your eyes.In this episode, I offer a gentler reframe: that favor isn’t about always getting what you want, but learning to trust what unfolds when you don’t.✨ quietly obsessed? leave a 5-star rating so more people can find us💌 have a thought? DM me: @awfullyquietpodcast

This episode is meeting gold for the quiet and introspective. If you keep being told you need to “speak up more” in meetings but hate the idea of cutting people off or forcing yourself to jump in, this is your quiet playbook to slay your next one.Showing up at work isn’t about being loud — it’s about knowing when and how to show up. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what to do before, during, and after a meeting to get invited into the conversation, share your perspective naturally, and be remembered — without pretending to be a loud extrovert.These are small, strategic moves that make your contributions impossible to miss without changing your personality. They’re simple, repeatable, and (honestly) wildly underused. Whether you want to make a point that lands, have your ideas stick after the meeting, or finally get credit for the work you’re doing, this is your subtle, non-cringe guide to running the room in your own way.Quietly obsessed? Leave a 5-star rating so more people can find us.Have a thought? DM me: @awfullyquietpodcast

What do high-energy spin classes and introverts have in common? They both want out of the box they’ve been put in.You probably know me as calm. Thoughtful. Subtle.The one who writes those quietly intense carousels. The one who takes her time before speaking. Grounded. Measured. Deliberate. (At least, I hope.)And then there’s… spin class me.Unhinged, in the best way.I go a couple times a week, and in that room? I’m not quiet.I’m a front row girlie. I “woo.” I high-five strangers. I scream along to Taylor Swift like the Millennial I am.And mid-sweat the other day, I realized: if someone only knew me online, this would look completely off-brand. But it’s not.Because that version of me? She’s also real.She’s not the one you meet in meetings or on Instagram. But she’s me. And I bet you have a version of that too — a contradiction that doesn’t quite fit the label.You’re not just “the introvert.” You’re not just the calm one, the quiet one, the one who thinks before she speaks.You’re a mix. A combination. A pattern that only you can pull off.This episode is about leaning into those contradictions — and why the parts of you that feel “off-brand” might actually be the most magnetic.It's your permission slip to break your own label — even just once this week.Quietly obsessed? Leave a rating so more people can find us.Have a thought? DM me: @awfullyquietpodcast

This week, I’m talking about the summer I turned quiet — and why the most powerful reinventions often begin in the stillness no one sees.As we move into that “back to school” energy, it’s tempting to launch straight into the doing: new routines, new projects, new versions of ourselves. But the truth is, every big change I’ve ever made has started inward first — in the quiet days, in the thinking no one claps for, in the recalibration that doesn’t look productive on paper. This summer reminded me that solitude isn’t the opposite of momentum; it’s the foundation of it.Whether you’ve had your own season of going quiet, or you’re stepping into one now, this episode is an invitation to see that inward work as the most essential work you’ll ever do.And if part of your own quiet glow up is about how you show up at work, my latest creations — Quiet Flex and The Subtle Scripts Pack — were designed exactly for this season. Quiet Flex is your career brand kit for building presence without the performance. The Subtle Scripts Pack gives you 200+ plug-and-play phrases so you can stop freezing when the spotlight hits you — and start being remembered for all the right reasons. Together, they’re the practical side of a quiet reinvention: the tools that help you match your inner shift with outer momentum.The things you discover when you’re still — your truest ideas, your next moves, the version of you you’ve been becoming all along — are never wasted. They’re the quiet beginnings of everything you’ll one day be loud about.Quietly obsessed? Leave a rating so more people can find us.Have a thought? DM me: @awfullyquietpodcast

Ever freeze when someone says, “So, what do you do?” Or worse — you’re in one of those awkward round-the-room intros and suddenly forget what you even do for a living. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. We’re not talking about performing. We’re talking about positioning — and why the difference matters.I’ll walk you through three go-to sentence starters you can borrow when the pressure’s on. When done right, they don’t just share your role. They share your approach, your energy, and what it’s like to work with you.You’ll also get a quick reflection ritual (bring your Notes app) to start building your own low-key standout intro. And if you’re tired of blanking when it matters most, and you want a personal brand that actually feels like you? That’s what I built Quiet Flex for. Quietly obsessed? Leave a rating so more people can find us.Have a thought? DM me: @awfullyquietpodcast

Ever seen someone crush it at work or drop a dreamy new project and thought, “Must be nice”? Same.This episode’s about jealousy, pressure, privilege—and the invisible effort behind what looks like success. Corporate superstars. Glamorous wins. The myth of the effortless rise. And the kind of grit no one claps for—the quiet kind. Bring your comparison spiral. Your self-doubt. Your “ugh, why not me?”You’re not alone. And you’re not wrong for feeling it.Quietly obsessed? Leave a rating so more people can find us.Have a thought? DM me: @awfullyquietpodcast

What does it look like to build a business that honors your energy instead of draining it? In this episode, I sit down with Isobel Griffin and Samara Bortz — the quietly iconic duo behind In Tandem Studios, where copywriting and design meet intentional, introspective strategy. We go deep on what it really takes to co-run a business as two naturally quiet people — from setting boundaries to finding your creative rhythm, to designing client experiences that feel like a deep exhale. Isobel and Samara share how they’ve gently broken the rules of traditional “client attraction” in favor of something more human, more intuitive, and way more sustainable.If you’ve ever felt overstimulated by the “shoulds” of business or unsure how to show up in a way that feels true — this conversation is your permission slip. Share it with the person you’d build something quietly iconic with, and don’t forget to leave that soft five-star seal of approval wherever you’re listening.🔗 Follow In Tandem Studios @intandem.studios.If this episode lands with you, share it with someone who needs it.And if you’re feeling generous, a 5-star rating or review helps way more than you know.