Burnout to Backbone: The Story Behind She Who Dares Wins

Bex flips the script and puts Michelle in the hot seat. We get into the messy middle: pivoting from acting to construction to podcasting, the burnout that forced a reset, money honesty, why community matters, and how to build something you care about without losing your mind (or your keys).

Key takeaways

• You don’t need to burn it all down to pivot—build the bridge while you’re still on it.
• Self-awareness is a double-edged sword; pair it with action and data, not doom-scroll metrics.
• Ask for help. Community is a strategy, not a weakness.
• Defiance gets you to the start line; consistency gets you to the finish.
• “Enough” is a number and a feeling—separate business goals from ego.
• Use “What’s the evidence?” to challenge your inner critic (and your hype).
• Purpose = entertain + storytelling + empower — let it steer decisions.
• Stoicism (and tiny proofs) beat perfectionism.
• Women: price your value like “the average white guy” energy you joked about—confident and clear.
• IRL > online: in-person conversations and live shows build loyalty faster than another Zoom.

Timestamps

• 00:00 Tables turn—Bex takes the host chair; why new listeners need Michelle’s backstory
• 03:30 Regret & return: film/directing dreams, auditions, and circling back to storytelling
• 06:30 The hard truth about building a show: ups/downs, data over dopamine
• 13:10 Counting the invisible work: two episodes, a shoot, kids, and keeping perspective
• 17:40 The email exercise that changed everything (friends define you at your best)
• 19:30 From geography grad to construction—“fake it till you make it” and finding your edge
• 23:10 Burnout → pivot to podcasting; choosing the hardest thing on purpose
• 28:30 Learning from guests (Tim Ferriss vibe) and stitching lessons into tools for listeners (great mid-roll slot)
• 31:45 Seasick on a fishing boat: why terrible days make great stories
• 36:00 Marathon mindset: hubris vs. habits; micro-wins beat impulse
• 39:15 ADHD, dopamine, and doing the boring bits your future self needs
• 50:00 Stoicism, Ryan Holiday, and the “Daily proof > daily mood” approach
• 52:00 What “winning” means now; the three-word filter: entertain, storytelling, empower
• 55:10 Clothing with meaning vs. “just merch”; why the brand has to feel like a tribe
• 56:30 What’s next: live shows with community Q&A; collab with Laura (BRB)
• 
  

👉 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shewhodareswins/membership (Bonus episodes for less than a coffee a month!)

👉 Substack: https://shewhodareswins.substack.com (Full insights & key takeaways from every episode!)

👉 She Who Dares Wins Newsletter: www.shewhodareswins.com

🚨 10% OFF all SWDW clothing! Use code POD10 at www.shewhodareswins.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.