In this episode, I open the door to the emotional rollercoaster of coming close to something you’ve wanted for years, and the surprising mix of excitement, doubt, resistance, and raw courage that shows up right alongside it.

From writing 80,000 words of the “wrong” book to the turning points, the wobbles, the whispers, and the exact moment I realised why my manuscript sat unfinished for so long…

I share the inner journey that unfolds when a long-held dream suddenly becomes inevitable.

I unpack how the fear of success quietly sneaks in, why we suddenly start procrastinating at the finish line, and what it really means to take your own medicine when every insecurity decides to show up.

I get honest about my editing ‘meltdown’ in a car dealership, the emotional “oh my goodness” moment of seeing my publishing page for the first time and why getting close to something that matters deeply can feel both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.

This is a conversation for anyone who has ever stood on the edge of their next chapter and thought, “Who am I to do this?”

If you’re getting close to launching something, creating something, or sharing something that truly matters to you… this episode will feel like a deep exhale and a hand on your back reminding you to keep going.

Key takeaways:

o Why the closer you get to a dream, the louder the doubts become.

o What makes us consider abandoning something we’ve wanted for years.

o How to recognise when the fear of success quietly slips in.

o Why the “wrong” version of your dream may lead you to the right one.

o The surprising shift when you move from your head to your heart.

o How to tell if you’re procrastinating… or protecting yourself from being seen in a new way.

o The lesson in asking about the alternative to keep pursuing an important milestone.

COURAGEOUS SHIFT

Want to make the impact you know is possible without having everything figured out?

Get access now to The Courageous Shift – a FREE 90 min audio mini-series to work out your next move.

Where to find me:

Website: Kim Payne

LinkedIn: Kim Payne

Instagram: @iamkimpayne

Facebook: KimPayneBiz

Want to get clear on your courageous next steps in your business or career?

Book a FREE 45 min Call to Action to help you get to the starting line.

What happens when the life you’ve built suddenly falls apart… and then, against all odds, you rebuild it again?

In this breathtaking, emotional, and deeply vulnerable conversation, I chat with author, former attorney, and certified grief coach Stephanie Duran - a woman whose life reads like a novel filled with courage, devastation, reinvention, and the rare kind of love that changes you forever.

Together, we trace some of Stephanie’s journey from an idyllic marriage that slowly eroded, to the courage it took to walk away when the world didn’t understand, to rediscovering her confidence after 15 years out of the courtroom.

Then comes the love story that stops you in your tracks, the magnetic poolside meeting in Las Vegas, the whirlwind connection, the interstate move, the business, the dreams, and the unimaginable twist that followed.

Stephanie opens up about fighting for more time, what it means to love someone through terminal illness, the devastating courage of saying goodbye, and how she found her way back to herself, and eventually, to love again.

This episode asks big questions:

What do we do when life breaks our heart?

How do we rebuild when the story changes?

And what does courage really look like when everything is on the line?

If you need a reminder that life can take everything from you and still offer new beginnings - this conversation will stay with you long after you listen.

Key takeaways:

o How childhood moments can unknowingly plant seeds of courage.

o Why “good enough” can be the most dangerous place to settle.

o How to know when it’s time to leave something the world thinks you should stay in.

o What happens when you start over from scratch - career, identity, confidence etc.

o How an extraordinary love story can begin with one bold statement.

o The unimaginable courage it takes to let go when your heart wants to hold on.

o How opening your heart again can start a whole new chapter in your life.

Get in touch with Stephanie Duran:

Website: Stephanie Duran

Instagram: @stephanieduranofficial

LinkedIn: Stephanie Duran

Facebook: Stephanie Duran

Podcast: Weaving Happiness through Grief with Stephanie Duran

Get her book:

Because I Loved You: Surviving the Unthinkable by Stephanie Duran – updated version released 20 Jan 2026. See all places books are sold.

Audio version available now on all platforms. ie. Audible

Where to find me:

Website: Kim Payne

LinkedIn: Kim Payne www.linkedin.com/in/kimpayne9rok/

Instagram: @iamkimpayne

Facebook: KimPayneBiz

Want to make the impact you know is possible without having everything figured out?

Tune into The Courageous Shift – a FREE 90 min audio mini-series to work out your next move.

Get access now.

What happens when you stop hiding the parts of yourself you’ve been taught to dislike?

In this deeply personal episode, I share an unexpected conversation that began with a woman’s new hairstyle and turned into a raw exploration of self-perception, courage, and the unhelpful nuances we often carry over from childhood.

From teasing in the schoolyard to throwaway comments that stick like glue, I unpack how seemingly small moments can shape the way we see ourselves and how, over time, they can quietly limit how we show up in the world.

With honesty, humour, and a few confessions of my own, I invite you to consider your quirks - the imperfections, oddities, and habits you may have tried to hide, and see them for what they truly are - the most human, relatable, and beautiful parts of you.

If you’ve ever felt “not enough” because of how you look, speak, or show up, this episode will help you uncover how to turn those so-called flaws into your most endearing superpowers.

Key takeaways:

o How vulnerability can open a deeper sense of connection and courage.

o The limitations of holding onto comments made to us as kids.

o How past insecurities can shape subtle choices we make today.

o The surprising way our perceived flaws can become our most endearing features.

o The freedom that comes from owning your unique qualities and quirks.

o A behavioural science concept that shows how your bloopers can make you more appealing.

o The value of normalising our imperfections as part of being human.

Where to find me:

Website: Kim Payne

LinkedIn: Kim Payne

Instagram: @iamkimpayne

Facebook: KimPayneBiz

COURAGEOUS SHIFT

Want to make the impact you know is possible without having everything figured out?

Get access now to The Courageous Shift – a FREE 90 min audio mini-series to work out your next move.

Want to get clear on your next steps in your business or career?

Book a FREE 45 min Call to Action to help you get to the starting line.

In this episode, we meet Adriana Brusi, Managing Director at Crowds Now, in a follow-up conversation that delves far deeper than the first one we recorded (and never released).

This time, Adriana takes off the mask and gets real and raw.

What unfolds is an unfiltered exploration of what it really means to drop the façade of perfection, confront people-pleasing patterns, and reclaim your voice after years of living to meet others’ expectations.

From growing up in Hong Kong chasing achievement as love, to breaking free from a toxic marriage, rebuilding her life as a single mother, and launching a new business born from purpose…Adriana’s story is a masterclass in courage, authenticity, and resilience.

She reveals the paradox of being perceived as confident yet feeling unseen, the pain and power of learning through failure, and the surprisingly pragmatic tool she uses to move through heartbreak and hardship — one that’s as empowering as it is unconventional.

This conversation is for every woman who has ever held herself back, doubted her worth, or wondered what might happen if she finally let the world see the real her.

Key takeaways:

o What happens when you realise your “authentic” self has been performing.

o Why vulnerability and showing the cracks can make you even more endearing.

o The hidden ways high-achieving women trade boundaries for belonging.

o The red flags we don’t see, and how we can end up in places we never intended.

o An unconventional way to move through any emotional storm and why it works.

o The importance of learning to regulate emotions and give yourself space to reset.

o Reclaiming your power so you can turn any past pain into your superpower to serve.

Get in touch with Adriana or learn more about her business, Crowds Now:

Website: Crowds Now

Instagram:

@adrianabrusiofficial

@crowds_now

LinkedIn:

Adriana Brusi

Crowds Now

**COURAGEOUS SHIFT**

Want to make the impact you know is possible without having everything figured out?

Get access now to The Courageous Shift – a FREE 90 min audio mini-series to work out your next move.

Where to find me:

Website: Kim Payne

LinkedIn: Kim Payne

Instagram: @iamkimpayne

Facebook: KimPayneBiz

Want to get clear on your next steps in your business or career?

Book a FREE 45 min Call to Action to help you get to the starting line.

In this episode, I flip the script on how we think about value as it’s not about titles, tasks, or trophies, but about your true contribution: the qualities and energy you bring to any situation simply by being you.

Through a fun and heartfelt story about joining a women’s baseball team at age 48, I share how I had to discover what I really brought to the team, and spoiler alert, it wasn’t about I played the game.

I unpack how getting clear on your natural contributions can completely change the way you see yourself, your work, and your worth.

You’ll hear why we so often downplay what comes easily, how to spot your “value signature” that shows up everywhere you go, and why owning it is one of the most powerful confidence boosters you’ll ever experience.

If you’ve ever wondered, “What do I really bring to the table?” - this episode will help you find the answer, own it, and celebrate it.

Key takeaways:

o Why your value has nothing to do with your job title, and everything to do with who you are.

o The surprising life lesson’s learned playing team sport at age 48.

o How to uncover your “value signature” - the qualities that make you unmistakably you.

o Why we so often dismiss our real gifts (and how to stop).

o A simple way to reconnect with your worth when self-doubt creeps in.

o How your unique contributions create a ripple effect that impacts everyone around you.

o The secret to being your most authentic, and worthy self.

**COURAGEOUS SHIFT**

Want to make the impact you know is possible without having everything figured out?

Get access now to The Courageous Shift – a FREE 90 min audio mini-series to work out your next move.

Where to find me:

Website: Kim Payne

LinkedIn: Kim Payne

Instagram: @iamkimpayne

Facebook: KimPayneBiz

Want to get clear on your next steps in your business or career?

Book a FREE 45 min Call to Action to help you get to the starting line.

In this raw and deeply honest conversation, we meet Dani Zetzer, a family lawyer, founder of Respect Legal, and host of "Diary of a Divorce Lawyer," to explore what courage looks like when life falls apart and you rebuild from the ground up.

From watching her childhood home repossessed to building her own law firm during lockdown, losing millions in crypto trading, and navigating single motherhood with three kids, Dani's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-honesty.

She shares how going on "57 first dates" became the unexpected path back to herself, helping her rediscover what she loves, what she wants, and why rebuilding your life starts with rebuilding your sense of enoughness.

You'll hear how Dani turned pain into purpose, used rock-bottom moments as her greatest teachers, and how she now helps other women access their courage, whether they're leaving a marriage, starting a business, or rediscovering themselves after years of losing their identity in others.

This episode is a masterclass in emotional strength, financial independence, self-trust, and the kind of courage it takes to bet on yourself… again and again.

Key takeaways:

o Why doing scary things builds evidence that you'll be ok.

o The surprising lessons from hitting rock bottom and reframing them for good.

o What losing millions taught her about self-worth, shame, and scarcity.

o Why bubble baths aren't the answer to real self-care, and what is.

o The power of curiosity and trying new things at any age.

o How trusting your gut feeling can save you from years of heartache.

o Why the most courageous choices are the ones made from love.

Get in touch with Dani Zetzer:

Website: Respect Legal

Instagram: @respect_legal_

LinkedIn: Respect Legal

LinkedIn: Danielle (Dani) Zetzer

Facebook: Respect Legal

*COURAGEOUS SHIFT*

Want to make the impact you know is possible without having everything figured out?

Get access now to The Courageous Shift – a FREE 90 min audio mini-series to work out your next move.

Where to find me:

Website: Kim Payne

LinkedIn: Kim Payne

Instagram: @iamkimpayne

Facebook: KimPayne9Biz

Book a FREE 45 min Call to Action to help work out your next courageous move.