Ever notice how one critical remark can overshadow all the praise you’ve received?

For years, I let one critical comment overshadow every compliment I received. In this episode of The Courageous Performer Podcast, I share how I stopped letting negative feedback crush my confidence and started using it to grow. I’ll walk you through the exact three steps I use to decide what to take on board—and what to let go—so I can perform with freedom and self-belief.

🎧 You’ll hear:

• Why our brains are wired to focus on criticism over praise

• How to separate your self-worth from your performance

• Real-life examples of turning harsh feedback into constructive growth

• Simple ways to quiet the inner critic after a comment stings

• The mindset shift that makes feedback feel less personal and more useful

By the end, you’ll know how to sift through criticism, keep the gems, and leave the rest behind—so you can keep showing up with courage and confidence.

This episode is for every performer who’s ever felt they had to earn their right to be seen. Whether you’re onstage, on camera, in the boardroom, or simply trying to show up as yourself - you’ll find something here for you.

👉 Book a free Backstage Review with me: Backstage Review

Let’s talk about how to let go of the fear and find the version of you that doesn’t need to be fixed - just given space to perform

💛 Like, subscribe, and share this with someone whose inner critic is ruining their life!

Do your inner voices whisper things like: “You’re not good enough.” “You’re going to mess this up.” “You’re too much… or maybe not enough?”

Welcome to the club. It’s noisy in here.

In this episode of The Courageous Performer Podcast, I share the story of how I spent decades trying to outperform my inner critic—and how that voice still managed to stop me singing for nearly 20 years. And it didn’t just affect my performances, it shaped how I saw myself everywhere.

I genuinely believed the answer was to try harder, work smarter, and be better. Turns out, I was making things worse not better, like trying to make it easier to climb a mountain by adding bricks to my rucksack.

🎧 You’ll hear:

The reason your inner critic gets so loud in the first place

Why self-criticism feels like a safety strategy (but actually backfires)

The uncomfortable but powerful first step to quietening the noise

And what happens when you stop protecting yourself, and start really performing

This episode is for every performer who’s ever felt they had to earn their right to be seen. Whether you’re onstage, on camera, in the boardroom, or simply trying to show up as yourself - you’ll find something here for you.

👉 Book a free Backstage Review with me: Backstage Review

Let’s talk about how to let go of the fear and find the version of you that doesn’t need to be fixed - just given space to perform

💛 Like, subscribe, and share this with someone whose inner critic is ruining their life!

Ever noticed how you can receive ten lovely compliments… and one slightly arched eyebrow… and somehow that’s the bit that sticks?

In this episode, I’m talking about the sneaky pull of external validation—the kind of feedback we long for but often don’t believe when we get it. I share what I’ve learned (often the hard way) about how needing a certain response from your audience, your peers, or even your loved ones can throw you off balance—and how things change when you start valuing your own opinion just a little bit more.

This one’s especially personal, as I reflect on grief, vulnerability, and the surprising ways old thought patterns can creep back in when life shakes you. It’s not about pretending you don’t care—it’s about learning how to care differently. And kindly.

So if you’ve ever twisted yourself into knots trying to please everyone, or felt lost when praise didn’t land the way it should have, this one’s for you. And if you’d like some practical tools to help let go of that need for praise and reconnect with your authentic performer self, join me on 8th May for my workshop: The Joy of Being a Fearless Performer.