The Introverted Misfit Podcast: Connection & Communication with an Awkward, Introverted Twist

Have you ever heard the saying, “Out of the frying pan into the fire?”Think of the last time you finished something or succeeded at a goal and you let out a big sigh of relief, and you thought, “Finally, I’m in a good place. I can rest. I can move forward with my life.” And then, CRASH! Like a train coming at full speed, you get hit with another trial, obstacle, roadblock, that just makes the finish line seem further and further away.Welcome to life. Hard times are going to happen. Obstacles will prolong your success. Everything will not be easy. And that goes for your social confidence journey, too. When you’re attempting to climb out of the trenches of shyness, social anxiety, and social awkwardness, it often feels like one bad thing after the other; that one awkward, cringey thing you can’t stop doing; that feeling of being socially rejected that happens every time someone side eyes you or chuckles at something you said; that hit to your self-esteem when you leave another social event with no new connections, no new friends, and not even one successful conversation.Join me in this week’s episode as I discuss what it takes to keep trying for success even when things get in your way.⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> 60-Minute Social Confident Booster: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/sessions>> JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear someone described as having a “thriving” social life?You probably picture a very extroverted socialite who can make connections at the drop of a hat, or maybe they’re more of an introvert but they still have managed to create a strong social circle for themselves that keeps them happy and motivated.Maybe you feel badly about your lack of a “thriving” social life as you understand that to be; the fact that you don’t go out every weekend, you don’t host parties and get-togethers all that much; and you usually leave social events without any new connections or phone numbers.Well, what if I told you that as an introvert, you shouldn’t strive for a “thriving” social life; you should strive for a manageable one — one that doesn’t overwhelm you and make you drag your feet as you’re getting ready to go.Join me as I talk about what steps you can take to create a manageable social life for yourself, including some things you should not do.⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> 60-Minute Social Confident Booster: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/sessions>> Join the Misfit Meet-Up Mailing List: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/misfit-meet-ups>> JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

Do you ever hang out with a certain group of people, and you immediately feel like a fish out of water? Or maybe a Zebra trying to blend in with a bunch of horses?If you happen to be one of my autism spectrum listeners, you’re probably thinking, “Uh, yeah! Pretty much describes my entire life.” But even if you’re not on the spectrum, whatever it is that makes you a misfit has probably contributed to this feeling of being a social outcast. And as a result, you may have tried to fit in where you aren’t really welcome. I think it’s time to stop trying to force yourself where you don’t fit and be yourself so that you can find an accepting community.⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Register for ‘Dating With Confidence (For Quiet, Quirky Women): https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/quirky-dating>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

Have you ever felt invisible when you’re in social settings and surrounded by more extroverted peers? Me too. But what I’ve learned is that while being introverted sometimes means you don’t get noticed as quickly as others might, you will make your mark when it’s your time to shine!Make no mistake about it; when a confident introvert is in in the right environment and knows how to use their communication strengths the right way, we are a force to be reckoned with!This podcast explores just how introverts can cope with being invisible at first, but how you can use your strengths to make the right connections with people who see your value and appreciate your personality!⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Register for ‘Dating With Confidence (For Quiet, Quirky Women): https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/quirky-dating>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

You want to be seen. But every time you think about starting a conversation, you freeze. You overthink what to say and how to act. You worry you’ll come off as awkward, thirsty, too much — or not enough.You’re not alone and you’re not broken, although it may seem that way right now.If you’re anything like I used to be, you’ve spent years watching other women date and get a man’s attention with no problem, wondering if you’d ever even figure out how to start.You’ve got silent crushes, fantasy relationships you’ve dreamed up in your head, and a long list of reasons why you probably don’t stand a chance.Well, I’ve got some good news: You DO stand a chance, and that’s exactly what my upcoming workshop, Dating With Confidence (For Quiet, Quirky Women) is going to help you understand!⭐REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP⭐>> Dating With Confidence (For Quiet, Quirky Women): https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/quirky-dating

What happens when you believe all of those miserable, untrue things you tell yourself? The things like, “I’m not worth more than what I have now.” “I don’t deserve things like respect, love, and relationships like everyone else has.” “I’m too quiet, quirky and weird to have friends.” “My life is destined to be this lonely.”You create that very reality, because you do things every day that perpetuate those negative beliefs. You stay in miserable relationships way longer than you should because you don’t think you deserve more, you don’t make the kind of solid friendships that keep you motivated and energized, and you live a miserable life when you don’t even have to (most times)!This week’s podcast episode is all about how to transform your mindset from one of doom and gloom to one of hope and abundance so that you can live a life worth living!⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

Are you tired of being a social outcast? Well the first step to social confidence is to break free from The Curse of Perfectionism!When your social life is being controlled by the need to be perfect, you’re too afraid to live your life. You avoid putting yourself out there for dating and relationship-making because you think you should have it all together first.You’re too afraid to invite people over to hangout because you’re convinced they will be overly judgmental and critical of your place.You’re too afraid to start a conversation with someone, go to social events, and hang out with people you know, because your social skills aren’t 100% perfect.This episode is all about how waiting until your social skills and confidence are perfect will keep you friendless, dateless, and lonely. Confidence and improved social skills come with PRACTICE, so it’s time to embrace the mistakes and awkward moments along to road to becoming socially confident.⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

Have you ever been doing really well in a certain area of your life and making major improvements, only to one day backslide and fall back into old ways, then you find yourself right back where you started?That’s what can happen when you believe the illusion of lasting change, which is the idea that you can have the life you want and the lasting results you want forever without having to work for it. That’s not how real life works. Nothing is permanent unless you do the work to make those things last — including making it through life’s unavoidable setbacks. That’s what this week’s episode is about.Here are the high points I talk about:— Being intentional about maintaining the things you want in life, like health, happiness, and well-being — even amidst the unexpected setbacks— Why you should expect and prepare for many ups and downs along the road to success— 3 ways you can push through life’s setbacks: community, perseverance, and keeping your eyes on the prize⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

Sometimes, we can convince ourselves that people care about our mistakes, failures, and insecurities more than they actually do. As a result, we are hesitant to try new things, pursue relationships, and live in our purpose because we are afraid of what people may say.Here’s the good new: Nobody cares as much as you think they do, and that gives you permission (with some important exceptions) to live your life the way you want and need to live it.Here’s what I talk about in this week’s podcast episode:— How the realization that nobody cares about you that much can be the most liberating advice— What’s at the root of your obsession with other people’s opinions of you— Some important exceptions to this advice that should be considered⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

Your introverted personality can either be your most valuable tool for communication or a hinderance: When you know how to use it the right way, it helps you to survive and thrive in the real world, but when you don’t know how to use it, it can become a roadblock to success.Maybe you’re not creating the fulfilling relationships and social connections that you want.Maybe you’re not progressing in your career or your business.Maybe you can’t find solid friends on whom you can rely and who actually like your quiet, introverted personality.All because you don’t know the power that your introverted personality holds.We need to fix that, introvert!Here’s what I talk about in this week’s podcast episode:— How to stop hiding behind your introverted personality— How to harness the power of your introverted communication strengths— How to communicate with quiet confidence as an introvert instead of quiet fear⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> JOIN MY NEWSLETTER: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter>> 3 Simple Ways to Start a Conversation: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/how-to-start-a-conversation

What do you call a world without conflict? Delusion; fantasy land; the land of unicorns and rainbows; whatever you call it, that place does not exist on earth.Conflict is an unavoidable part of human relationships, which means that if you are one of those people who consistently tries to avoid conflict to keep the peace, I’m betting that you are not getting what you want out of life.You’re not getting the relationships you want, and even when you do manage to create relationships, they fizzle out or remain stagnant because you’re afraid to ask those tough questions and have those difficult conversations.In this episode, I want to offer you a better, less scary outlook on conflict than what you currently have, so that you can see just how much addressing conflict can strengthen your personal and professional relationships (and maybe even end relationships that are not serving you).⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

What do you call a world without conflict? Delusion; fantasy land; the land of unicorns and rainbows; whatever you call it, that place does not exist on earth.Conflict is an unavoidable part of human relationships, which means that if you are one of those people who consistently tries to avoid conflict to keep the peace, I’m betting that you are not getting what you want out of life.You’re not getting the relationships you want, and even when you do manage to create relationships, they fizzle out or remain stagnant because you’re afraid to ask those tough questions and have those difficult conversations.In this episode, I want to offer you a better, less scary outlook on conflict than what you currently have, so that you can see just how much addressing conflict can strengthen your personal and professional relationships (and maybe even end relationships that are not serving you).⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

Your voice is one of your most intrinsically valuable attributes as a human, and yet you're treating it like it's something to hide and be ashamed of.Your voice allows you to connect and communicate; to form and maintain relationships; to move forward in your career and make more money; to advocate for yourself; and more, but for some reason you just can’t build up the courage to speak up and let people hear it.Well, the good news is that just how you learned to be afraid of it, you can learn to embrace it!In this episode, I’ll reveal the real reason you are so afraid of using your own voice, and I’ll explain my 3-step blueprint you can follow to start using your voice with confidence.⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/newsletter

Social burnout can be draining, whether you’re an introvert, autistic, or both simultaneously.We’ve all been in that situation where we’re at a social event that started off great with our social batteries on 100%, but as we begin to feel our social battery drain, we start to stare off into the distance and suddenly go quiet among company, which doesn’t always make us fun to be around.How can we manage our social battery during a social event without coming off as stand-offish and looking like we dislike present company, and afterwards ensure we have plenty of alone time to recharge between social gatherings and events?That’s what this episode is all about! Listen in as I use my recent work trip to Las Vegas, NV where I talked to around 100 people a day for 3 days straight without completely losing my mind (mostly).⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> A Comprehensive Guide to Socializing in Group Settings: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/blog/how-to-socialize-in-a-group-setting

Self-reflection is having tough conversations with yourself about yourself. It is crucial in order for us to keep our own egos in check and prevent poor decisions from making our lives worse, but would you believe me if I told you that there is a right and a wrong way to self-reflect? It’s true!In this episode, I’ll talk about how to do do self-reflection the right way so that your acts of self-reflection are not unproductive or worse, counterproductive, as well as my own experience with self-reflection as a once socially anxious introvert who was hiding behind my introversion. We’ll talk about removing major distractions during self-reflection, clearing and calming your mind for better meditation sessions, and we’ll discuss why self-reflection is not meant to be done purely by yourself, despite what the term “self” implies.WARNING: Don’t listen unless you’re really ready to take a good long look in the mirror!⭐Resources Mentioned in This Episode⭐>> Book Your FREE Connection Call: https://calendly.com/caroline-theintrovertedmisfit/intro-call>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> 60-Minute Social Confidence Booster: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/sessions

When you think of an extrovert, you probably think of words like lively, charismatic, loud, exuberant, exciting, and fun. When you think of an introvert, however, we can seem boring and less confident next to our extroverted counterparts.In this podcast, I’ll explain what it means to communicate with quiet confidence instead of quiet fear as an introvert so that you can stop feeling like being an extrovert is the only way to exude confidence!⭐Work With Me⭐>> Learn More About Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> 60-Minute Social Confidence Booster: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/sessions⭐Free Resources for Shy, Awkward Introverts⭐>> 6-Step Guide to Small Talk: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/guide-to-small-talk>> Full Library of Resources: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/resources>> A Comprehensive Guide to Socializing in Group Settings: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/blog/how-to-socialize-in-a-group-setting

The concept of being “likeable” is a sore spot for many misfits who don’t really fit into what’s considered normal social behavior, including myself at one point in my life. It can feel like you are putting on a performance for people just so that they will want to be your friend, which of course is not a great feeling to have about yourself.In fact, some people are so fed up with putting on this performance that they have chosen a life of seclusion and emotional withdrawal because they have been so scarred by social exclusion, rejection, and even outright bullying, for simply behaving in a way that’s natural for them.I even did a poll on Facebook among neurodivergent adults on the autism spectrum asking what their initial reaction was to the phrase, “Be more likeable,” and the general consensus was not great.This episode is dedicated to all of you misfits who want to learn how to be “likable” without feeling like a fraud. You’ll learn my 3 best tips for being someone that people enjoy being around without feeling like you are constantly performing for people’s approval, specifically neurotypical people.⭐Work With Me⭐>> Book Your FREE Discovery Call:https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> * Learn More About Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching⭐Free Resources for Shy, Awkward Introverts⭐>> 6-Step Guide to Small Talk: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/guide-to-small-talk>> Full Library of Resources: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/resources

Are you jealous of extroverts? I recently did a poll of shy and socially awkward introverts on Facebook, asking if they struggled with feeling jealous of extroverts who can talk to people with ease and charisma, and the overwhelming majority of them, about 72%, answered, “Yes.” That means that quite a bit of you could use some help from someone who was formerly jealous of extroverts (me, including my own sister at one point)!This episode is for those of you shy, socially anxious, socially awkward introverts who find yourself looking at the extroverts in your life and wishing and praying that you had even an ounce of the charismatic, larger-than-life personality that many of them possess. I’m going to demonstrate to you how you can get rid of those feelings of jealousy by building confidence in and harnessing the power of your introverted qualities.⭐Work With Me⭐>> Book Your FREE Discovery Call:https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching⭐Listen to Singer-Songwriter Ashleigh Smith⭐>> Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ashleigh-smith/545294469>> Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7GtSY1OWdyW2qunbOfX9Tw?si=uBPxZTd9RieF2MGuPTqQnQ&nd=1>> Website: https://www.theashleighsmith.com>> Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theashleighsmith>> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theashleighsmith

My Grandma Ann always tells me, “Just keep living, and it’ll all make sense.” That's what inspired this episode, which is all about the myth of quick fixes for every problem in life. In the current age of instant gratification and high-tech smartphones that give us quick and easy access to everything 24/7, it can be hard to “trust the process” without expecting everything to happen right away. We order things from Amazon overnight, we pay other people to do our grocery shopping so that we can sleep in, and of course we expect to see the fruits of our labor immediately.The tough truth is that no matter how many technological advances we make for ourselves, we can’t always find quick fixes for the struggles we face in life — at least not without some downsides. So, in this episode, I’ll talk about why quick fixes aren’t always the best solution and I’ll share a 4-step solution you can use to stop rushing the process and instead trust the process, all tied together with my Grandma’s age-old advice, “Just keep living, and it will all make sense.”⭐Work With Me⭐>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence:https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> 60-Minute Social Confidence Booster: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/sessions⭐Free Resources for Shy, Awkward Introverts⭐>> FREE Downloadable Resources for Introverts: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/resources

Happy New Year! 2025 is officially here, and I wanted to share with you some useful advice that I think every introvert — especially shy and socially awkward introverts — can use to become more socially confident this year.Join me as I talk about the 4 limiting beliefs that you should stop having as an introvert, including how introverted qualities are just as valuable as extroverted ones, why it is not more difficult for introverts to find and keep friends, why you should stop trying to be 100% perfect in every single social interaction, and how introverted does not automatically mean shy and socially awkward; and we will create your personalized gameplan for how to be more social in 2025 in an introvert-friendly way using my free fillable and printable template.⭐Work With Me⭐>> Communicate With Quiet Confidence: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/coaching>> 60-Minute Social Confidence Booster: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/sessions⭐Game Plan for Introverts⭐>> FREE Gameplan Template to Be More Social in 2025: https://theintrovertedmisfit.com/gameplan