The Bold Not Beige Podcast

Ep 11: What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say

Ever freeze up when someone says something hurtful, crosses a line, or catches you completely off guard — only to find your perfect comeback three hours later in the shower? You're not alone, and it's not a personal failing. In this episode, Erin and Ellen unpack why hard conversations feel so physiologically activating for women, why directness has been unfairly coded as aggression, and how to find your footing when your brain temporarily leaves the building. You'll learn: * Why your nervous system hijacks your words before logic ever gets a chance * The difference between fight, flight, freeze — and the often-overlooked fourth response: fawning * Why women use minimizing language and what it quietly does to self-trust over time * Go-to phrases for buying yourself time, naming a boundary, and disagreeing without apologizing for it * How to receive feedback without letting it collapse into a story about who you are * What assertiveness actually is (hint: it's not what most of us were taught) This week's Bold Not Beige tip: Choose one grounding phrase and practice it before you desperately need it. Start with "I need a moment to think." Connect with us on Instagram @boldnotbeigeco [http://instagram.com/boldnotbeigeco] and at boldnotbeige.com [http://boldnotbeige.com].

Ep 10: How to Ask for What You Want

Asking for what you need sounds simple — until you're standing at a coffee counter holding the wrong drink, convincing yourself it's easier to just drink it. In this episode, Erin and Ellen get into why asking feels so hard (hint: it's not a character flaw), what it actually costs us when we stay silent, and how to break the pattern. Ellen introduces her BOLD Ask Framework — a four-step tool for communicating with clarity and confidence, even when your voice shakes. What you'll hear: * Why so many women were conditioned to stay quiet and keep others comfortable * How people-pleasing turns into resentment (and why the dishes are never really about the dishes) * The difference between dropping hints and actually owning your message * A breakdown of the BOLD Framework: Believe in You, Own Your Message, Listen with Intent, Declare Your Needs & Boundaries * Real-world scripts for asking for deadline extensions, protecting your after-hours time, and pushing back on an overloaded plate * Why assertiveness isn't about being loud — it's about being real Bold Tip of the Week: Think of one ask you've been holding back, the one you've rehearsed in your head but never said out loud. Write it down, run it through the BOLD Framework, and make the ask. Even if your voice shakes. Find us on Instagram: @boldnotbeigeco [https://instagram.com/boldnotbeigeco] Visit us at: boldnotbeige.co [http://boldnotbeige.com]m If this episode resonated, we'd love it if you'd leave a review and hit subscribe — it helps more women find their way to this conversation.

Ep 9: Style as a Power Move

What if the way you dress has been quietly rehearsing invisibility,  and you didn't even know it? In this episode, Erin and Ellen dig into the real reason so many high-achieving women default to neutral, forgettable outfits: not because they lack style, but because they've been conditioned to minimize themselves before they even walk in the room. This one's about a lot more than clothes. What we cover: Why women learn to disappear  and how it shows up visually before you've said a single word. The psychology of color and what your palette is actually communicating (red, blue, green, and what each signals to the room). Ellen's story of wearing a magenta jumpsuit to a keynote when her whole family said it was too pink — and what happened after. The difference between dressing to avoid attention and dressing to express yourself, and the emotional cost of getting that backwards for years. Why visibility feels unsafe for women who grew up people-pleasing, and how style gives you a low-risk place to practice being seen every day. The question that changes everything: not "what will bother people the least?" but "what would allow me to show up most fully as myself?" Bold Tip of the Week: Pick one meeting or moment where you need to be heard and dress for it on purpose. Notice what shifts in your energy, your posture, your tone. Connect with us: Instagram: @boldnotbeigeco Website: boldnotbeige.com Ready for a wardrobe refresh? Slide into our DMs. Stay bold, not beige.

Ep: 8 The Messy Middle

Think you’re stuck, behind, or doing life “wrong”? Think again. In this episode, Erin and Ellen explore the messy middle—that uncomfortable, disorienting space between who you used to be and who you’re becoming. It’s the part of growth most people try to rush through, avoid, or fix. But what if nothing is wrong? What if this is exactly what transformation feels like? They unpack why uncertainty feels so intense for high achievers, how grief often shows up inside identity shifts, and why we confuse performing with becoming. Through deeply personal stories—including Ellen’s experience of being laid off and rebuilding her identity—they reveal what it really takes to stay in the in-between without abandoning yourself. You’ll also hear this week’s Bold Tips: simple practices to help you stay grounded when life feels unclear, including a way to track what actually energizes you and a powerful mantra to anchor you in transition. If you’ve been questioning your direction, your identity, or your next step—this episode is for you. * What the “messy middle” actually is (and why it’s not a problem to fix) * Why uncertainty triggers urgency, overthinking, and control-seeking * The difference between performing your life and actually becoming it * Ellen’s story of identity loss after being laid off—and what shifted * Why grief is often part of growth, not a sign you’re doing it wrong * The “Spark List” and how to notice what’s quietly pulling you forward * Why slowing down is often the most powerful leadership move Follow us on Instagram Instagram @boldnotbeigeco and visit us at BoldNotBeige boldnotbeige.com.

Ep 7: Is Coaching Just Therapy in a Cute Outfit?

Think life coaching is just therapy with better branding? Think again. In this episode, Erin and Ellen pull back the curtain on what coaching actually is — and why it's a completely different kind of partnership than therapy. They break down the real reasons women stay stuck (hint: it's rarely about the thing you think it's about), share vulnerable personal stories about people-pleasing, the "Nice Girl Trap," and the belief that rest has to be earned — and walk through how coaching helped them rewrite those stories from the inside out. You'll also get this week's Bold Tip: one simple question you can ask yourself right now to interrupt the thoughts quietly running your life. If you've ever said "I'll be happy when…" or stayed silent when you had something to say — this episode is for you. In this episode: * What the ICF definition of coaching actually means (and why it matters) * Why feelings aren't random — and what's really underneath them * Erin's "Nice Girl Trap" and how it was keeping her small * Ellen's breakthrough around rest, productivity, and self-worth * The Bold Tip of the Week: "What am I thinking that's causing this feeling?" Follow us on Instagram @boldnotbeigeco [http://instagram.com/boldnotbeigeco] and visit us at boldnotbeige.com [http://boldnotbeige.com]. If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and subscribe — it helps more women find their way here.