This week, Michelle dives into one of the hardest — and most freeing — parts of growth: getting to know yourself.

After diving into Stoicism and reflecting on the “tick-box” culture we’re all trapped in, she shares how she’s learning to tune out the noise of social media, stop chasing external validation, and focus on what actually brings her joy

Through powerful guest stories — from Zoe, the para-surfer who rebuilt her identity after losing her leg in a car accident, to Emma, the ethical beekeeper who turned a career of false starts into a business built on passion and purpose — this episode explores what happens when we stop performing for the world and start listening to ourselves again.

Backed by neuroscience and psychology, Michelle breaks down how true self-knowledge reshapes your brain, boosts confidence, and helps you make decisions that feel right, not just look right.

In This Episode:

• Why Stoic philosophy can help you cut through the noise and focus on what really matters
• How to stop chasing approval and start defining success on your own terms
• The neuroscience of self-awareness — and how reflection literally rewires your brain
• What Zoe’s surfing story teaches us about starting fresh without comparison
• How Emma’s path from Mars sales to beekeeping proves you’re never really “starting over” — you’re collecting clues
• 3 practical ways to get to know yourself again
• This week’s DARE — one hour alone, no distractions, three powerful questions

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• You can’t build confidence on borrowed values.
• True joy comes from alignment, not achievement.
• Self-awareness isn’t fluffy — it’s neurological training for better emotional regulation.
• Every version of you has something to teach the next one.

This Week’s Dare:

Spend one hour alone — no phone, no music, no podcast.

Ask yourself:

1. What actually gives me joy?
2. What am I pretending not to know?
3. Where am I living by someone else’s rules?

Write it down. Sit with it. Your next chapter starts there.

🐝 Guest Highlights:

Zoe: From athlete to para-surfing world champion — rediscovering identity through courage and flow.

Emma: From Mars Chocolate sales to ethical beekeeping — finding purpose in curiosity and slow progress

📚 Referenced in the Episode:

• Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
• Honeybee Democracy — Tom Seeley
• The Gifts of Imperfection — Brené Brown
• Research on the Default Mode Network, interoception, and self-concept clarity
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Join the Dare Club:

If this episode hit home, come join our Dare Club a community for women who are brave enough to know themselves and dare anyway.

👉 Drop “Dare Club” in the comments or DM @shewhodareswins on Instagram to get your invite or click the link below

Join the Dare Club: https://stan.store/shewhodareswins

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