Are you ready to dive into an episode celebrating the 1st birthday of The Fire Inside Her podcast with host Diane Schroeder? In this special episode, Diane shares the invaluable lessons she's learned during her first year of podcasting. From the power of courage and action preceding confidence to the art of truly listening with curiosity, not judgment, get ready to be inspired by Diane's journey and the impactful takeaways she's gained. This episode is a riveting exploration of how authenticity is not tied to a title, but rather a profound journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and love. Get ready to be empowered to embrace your own path to authenticity as Diane shares her personal insights and reflections. Trust me, you won't want to miss the wisdom she imparts in this milestone episode!
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Transcripts
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Diane Schroeder [:
Welcome to The Fire Inside Her, the podcast where we explore the incredible stories of individuals who have discovered their inner fire on their journey to authenticity. I'm your host, Diane Schroeder. And I am so grateful that you are here.
Diane Schroeder [:
Today's episode is incredibly special. And like every episode, I'm very excited. But today, we are celebrating the 1st birthday of The Fire Inside Her podcast. And I am grateful to share this big day with you, the community that has helped me grow, but not just through the podcast, in life. And be sure to listen until the end because I have a special opportunity for you to win a free vacation.
Diane Schroeder [:
What did I learn from the 1st year of podcasting? I learned a lot. I mean, a ton. But to narrow it down, there are 3 big lessons that I want to share with you. The first is that courage and action come before confidence. When I decided to start a podcast, I was stepping way out of my comfort zone. I knew that I loved hearing people's stories, and I knew that I wanted to hold space for women who are on their journey to authenticity, and I didn't know anything about podcasting. Fortunately, I was connected to this amazing woman who is getting ready to start her own network for women. And, you know, I love it when the universe helps with alignment.
Diane Schroeder [:
I took action even though I wasn't sure what would happen. It was a leap of faith, and I'm so glad that I did. I spent the 1st several episodes talking to the most important people in my life, my tribe, and my community. These small steps of courage and action helped me become more confident. Did I make mistakes? Absolutely. Did I hate listening to myself when I heard my episodes? Hate is a strong word, and I'm getting used to it. But I have kept a growth mindset. And now I have completed over 60 interviews. I'm finding my confidence. I still get nervous before each episode, and I'm so grateful that I do because it reminds me to stay humble and keep taking the courageous steps forward.
Diane Schroeder [:
The second lesson I have learned over the last year is that when you truly listen, questions come from a curious, not judgmental space. My word for last year was listen. And when I selected that word, my intention was to listen to myself, my gut, my heart. I wanted to listen to what I really wanted, not what others wanted for me or what everyone else thought I should be doing. Turns out I also needed to lean into being an active listener, to listen to what my guests were saying. Holding space meant not thinking about what questions to ask next or follow a checklist. Of course, I send my guests a list of possible icebreaker questions. But beyond that, I listen intently so that I can learn more. I ask questions from a curious space.
Diane Schroeder [:
Think about the last conversation you had with someone. Were you present and listening to what they were saying, or were you forming your reply, counterpoint, or mentally making your grocery list. When another human trusts you to share their story and their time with you, it doesn't cost a thing to be present and listen, then asking follow-up questions to get more information is a beautiful way to let someone know that they are seen and heard, and we all want to be seen and heard. The other benefit of actively listening is connection. You truly can connect with someone even if it's over the Internet and a video call.
Diane Schroeder [:
Finally, the third lesson that I have learned podcasting this last year is that I've come to believe that authenticity is not tied to a title. I used to feel the need to label myself as an authentic leader, believing that I had to broadcast it to everyone. However, the truth is, if you genuinely embody authenticity, you don't need to proclaim it. Just be yourself. Authenticity is a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and love. Becoming your authentic self is a process that involves deconditioning, addressing past traumas, healing wounds, and building trust in yourself. Discovering what truly ignites your soul may involve exploring new things and discerning what doesn't resonate with you anymore. Navigating away from relationships, jobs, or individuals who no longer support your authenticity can absolutely be challenging. Acknowledging that you are a perfectly imperfect human with flaws, who has made mistakes, is a gradual process.
Diane Schroeder [:
It does not happen overnight. Identifying what brings you joy and happiness is an inside job. And, yes, a coach or a therapist can expedite the process. But you have to do the work and put in the effort for the results to truly happen. When you cross paths with an authentic soul, labels become unnecessary. In 2021, I made a vision board. And on that board, I put top ranked podcast on it. And not only did I launch in 2023, but the show has been globally ranked in the top 10% since March of last year.
Diane Schroeder [:
All of that to say, there is power in setting intentions and manifesting your desires. The universe conspires to help you when you are fully committed. And it's a testament to you, my listeners, who show up every week, who provide me with feedback, who support and share this show with the people that you love and care about. I look forward to more incredible conversations with travelers on their journey to authenticity. And look out for more solo episodes, because that confidence that I'm gaining is helping me to distill wisdom from my life experience and my journey.
Diane Schroeder [:
Alright. One last thing. I would love your feedback. So, if you could do me a favor and head on over to thefireinsideher.com/survey to let me know your thoughts on the show. You will also be able to enter a raffle for a free vacation. It's my way of thanking you for your support for the last year and for the future of The Fire Inside Her podcast.
Diane Schroeder [:
Thank you for giving the valuable gift of your time and listening to The Fire Inside Her podcast. Speaking of value, one of the most common potholes we fall into on the journey to authenticity is not recognizing our value. So, I created a workbook. It's all about value. Head on over to thefireinsideher.com/value to get your free workbook that will help you remember your value. Until next time, my friend.
