Podcast
Who Do You Think You Are Talking To Podcast
Hosted by Jenny Maxwell · EN
Hey, I'm Jenny, and if you're stuck in the cycle of overthinking, shutting down, snapping at people you love, or crying at work (again), Who Do You Think You Are Talking To is for you.
This is the podcast for people who want to stop reacting on autopilot and start responding with emotional intelligence, especially in tough conversations.
You'll learn how to:
- manage emotional triggers in real-time
- calm your nervous system when you're overwhelmed
- stop spiralling after conflict or silence
- speak with clarity and confidence—even when it's hard
- hold boundaries without over-explaining
- repair relationships without losing yourself
Whether you freeze, explode, or go into full people-pleasing mode when things get tense, this show will help you feel more grounded, in control, and connected, to yourself and to the people who matter.
Every episode offers honest insights, practical strategies, and tools for communicating under pressure, building emotional resilience, and actually enjoying the relationships in your life.
If you're ready to change how you show up in conversations, from your partner, to your boss, to your own inner critic, hit follow now so you never miss an episode.
Let's take the shame out of speaking up and give you the tools to talk like the grounded, clear, powerful person you already are.
41episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
87. What I did when the rug got pulled
2w ago00:17:38Tap to summarizeSometimes life changes in an instant. A relationship shifts. A client leaves. A conversation changes everything. It's in those moments that your mindset is tested the most. What do you do when life takes an unexpected turn? In this episode, I open up about a recent experience that completely caught me off guard. While I'm not sharing the details of what happened, I am sharing something far more valuable, how I chose to respond. Instead of trying to change someone else, questioning my worth, or slipping into victim mode, I leaned on the habits, mindset and boundaries I've spent years building. We explore why difficult moments don't define us - they reveal us. You'll discover how to protect your peace, stay grounded in the middle of uncertainty, and shift your perspective from "Why is this happening to me?" to "What if this is happening for me?" If you're navigating change, disappointment, conflict or uncertainty, this episode will remind you that your greatest strength isn't avoiding life's challenges - it's how you choose to meet them. What You'll Learn In this episode, you'll discover: * Why life's hardest moments test the inner work you've already done. * How to stop trying to change people who aren't willing to change. * Why protecting your personal power is more important than proving you're right. * The difference between reacting emotionally and responding intentionally. * Practical ways to look after yourself when life feels overwhelming, from movement and creativity to rest and reflection. * How shifting from "This is happening to me" to "This is happening for me" can completely change your perspective. * Why the people around you are always learning from how you handle life's challenges. * How choosing wisdom over woundedness can shape the life you create next. Resources Mentioned Free Video Guide: *How to Have the Conversation You've Been Avoiding* If this episode resonated with you, I've created a free video guide to help you take the next step. Inside, I'll walk you through: My MAP framework for difficult conversations. A simple tool that replaces assumptions with information. A practical three-part framework you can use straight away in the conversation you've been avoiding. You can download it at jennymcoaching.com, or simply click this link https://jennymcoaching.com/conversation/ Remember Life will always present moments that challenge us. The question isn't whether difficult things will happen - it's who we choose to become when they do. If this episode helped you feel a little less alone or reminded you of your own strength, I'd love for you to follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who needs to hear it today. And remember... Your calm is your superpower. Protect it, trust it, and let it guide your next step. This episode was produced by www.keystepsupport.com
Transcribe →
86. You Were Right. So Why Does It Feel So Bad?
2w ago00:18:32Tap to summarizeI Told You So: Why Being Right Can Cost You the Relationship Have you ever watched someone ignore your advice, only for everything you warned them about to happen? That little voice inside your head screams, "I told you so." It feels justified. It feels deserved. But does saying it ever bring you closer to the people you care about? In this episode, I'm sharing why resisting those three words has transformed my relationships—and why choosing connection over being right might be one of the most powerful habits you ever build. We all want to feel heard, valued, and respected. But when someone ignores our advice, it's easy to slip into frustration, resentment, and the temptation to prove we were right. In this episode, I share a personal story about my son, Danny, whose long road trip took an unexpected turn when his truck broke down hundreds of miles from home. It would have been the perfect moment for an "I told you so." Instead, I chose something different—and that single decision created a deeper conversation and stronger connection than I ever expected. Together we'll explore why resentment isn't the real problem, what it's trying to tell us, and how learning to pause before reacting can completely change the way we communicate with the people we love. What You'll Learn * Why saying "I told you so" rarely gives us the satisfaction we expect. * How being right can quietly damage trust and connection. * What resentment is really trying to communicate. * The powerful question I now ask myself before reacting emotionally. * How one small pause can completely change the outcome of difficult conversations. * Why awareness is the first step towards lasting habit change. * Practical ways to respond with compassion instead of proving a point. * How choosing connection over validation strengthens every relationship in your life. The goal isn't to stop feeling frustrated. It's to stop letting those feelings decide what comes out of your mouth. Every time you pause before reacting, you create the opportunity for a different outcome—one built on understanding instead of resentment, and connection instead of conflict. This week, notice the moments when you feel the urge to say, "I told you so." Ask yourself what matters more: proving your point, or protecting the relationship. That one question could change everything. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to **follow the show** so you never miss a new episode. And if you know someone who always has the perfect "I told you so" waiting on the tip of their tongue, share this episode with them—it might be exactly the perspective they need. Resources Mentioned Free Video Guide: *How to Have the Conversation You've Been Avoiding* If this episode resonated with you, I've created a free video guide to help you take the next step. Inside, I'll walk you through: My MAP framework for difficult conversations. A simple tool that replaces assumptions with information. A practical three-part framework you can use straight away in the conversation you've been avoiding. You can download it at jennymcoaching.com, or simply click this link https://jennymcoaching.com/conversation/ This episode was produced by www.keystepsupport.com
Transcribe →
85. The Automatic Yes - Why You Say It Before You've Even Thought About It
3w ago00:16:02Tap to summarizeWhen Your Automatic "Yes" Is Costing You More Than You Realise Are you saying "yes" before you've even had a chance to think? Have you ever agreed to something you didn't really want to do, only to feel exhausted, resentful or completely overwhelmed afterwards? In this episode, I share a very personal experience that forced me to stop and listen to what my body had been trying to tell me. After breaking out in hives twice in just 30 days, I realised that stress wasn't just affecting my mind - it was showing up physically. We explore why so many of us automatically say "yes", where that habit comes from, the hidden cost of constantly putting everyone else first, and how learning to recognise your body's warning signs can help you create healthier boundaries before burnout takes hold. If you've been feeling stretched too thin, struggling to say no, or avoiding a conversation you know you need to have, this episode is for you. What You Will Learn: * Why we automatically say "yes" before we've even thought about it. * How people-pleasing can quietly lead to stress, resentment and burnout. * The surprising ways your body warns you when something isn't right. * Why overwhelm often starts long before you realise you're struggling. * How learning to pause can completely change your decision-making. * A simple awareness exercise you can start using today. * How to stop ignoring your own needs without feeling guilty. * Why difficult conversations become harder the longer we avoid them. Resources Mentioned **Free Video Guide:** *How to Have the Conversation You've Been Avoiding* If this episode resonated with you, I've created a free video guide to help you take the next step. Inside, I'll walk you through: My MAP framework for difficult conversations. A simple tool that replaces assumptions with information. A practical three-part framework you can use straight away in the conversation you've been avoiding. You can download it at jennymcoaching.com, or simply click this link https://jennymcoaching.com/conversation/ If this episode resonated with you... The automatic "yes" isn't a personality flaw—it's a habit. And like any habit, it can change. The first step isn't saying no. It's noticing. Pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you this week. That small pause before you answer could be the moment that changes everything. If you found this episode helpful, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who always puts everyone else first. It could be exactly what they need to hear. This episode was produced by www.keystepsupport.com
Transcribe →
84. You Knew Exactly What to Say. So Why Did You Say Nothing?
Jul 800:14:28Tap to summarizeFIRST Check out this free video - https://jennymcoaching.com/conversation/ Now to the episode Have you ever rehearsed a conversation over and over again, knowing exactly what you wanted to say... only to freeze when the moment finally arrived? If you've ever driven home thinking, "Why didn't I just say it?" this episode is for you. Today, I'm talking about what really happens in those moments when your nervous system takes over, why it isn't a confidence problem, and how you can finally stop the freeze before it stops you. Episode Description In this episode, I'm exploring something I see all the time with my coaching clients—and something I've experienced myself. That moment when you know exactly what you want to say, you've practised the conversation a hundred times in your head, but when you're standing in front of the person, your mind goes blank. Or you say something completely different. Or you say nothing at all. The truth is, this isn't because you don't know how to communicate. It's because your nervous system has decided that speaking your truth feels unsafe. I share real client stories about people who looked confident on the outside but still found themselves freezing, people pleasing or taking responsibility for someone else's emotions. I'll explain why this happens, what your brain is doing in those crucial few seconds, and the one simple tool I come back to again and again that can completely change the outcome of a difficult conversation. If you've ever struggled to set boundaries, speak up at work, say no without guilt or have the conversation you've been avoiding, I hope this episode helps you understand what's really happening—and gives you a practical way forward. What You'll Learn → Why you freeze during difficult conversations, even when you know exactly what you want to say. → Why this isn't a communication problem—it's a truth-telling problem. → What's happening inside your brain and nervous system in the seconds before you shut down. → Why people pleasing often shows up as fixing, rescuing or taking responsibility for other people's emotions. → How to recognise "the charge" before it pulls you back into old habits. → Why I believe the pause is one of the most powerful communication tools you can learn. → The difference between being ready to have a difficult conversation and being willing to have it. → How to stop replaying conversations afterwards and start saying what you really mean in the moment. Resources Free Video Guide: How to Have the Conversation You've Been Avoiding If this episode resonated with you, I've created a free video guide to help you take the next step. Inside, I'll walk you through: My MAP framework for difficult conversations. A simple tool that replaces assumptions with information. A practical three-part framework you can use straight away in the conversation you've been avoiding. You can download it at jennymcoaching.com, or simply click this link https://jennymcoaching.com/conversation/
Transcribe →
83. How to Start Investing (Even If You Think You Can't) with Investment Expert Martin Macleod
Jul 100:51:57Tap to summarizeCan anyone learn to invest? According to investing educator Martin Macleod, absolutely. In this episode, Jenny and Martin explore why so many people avoid investing, the hidden beliefs that keep us financially stuck, and why understanding your relationship with money matters just as much as understanding the stock market. From overcoming fear and information overload to recognising spending triggers and creating financial freedom, this conversation offers practical insights that anyone can apply, whether you're investing £25 a month or planning for early retirement. What You'll Hear In This Episode → Why most people don't avoid investing because of money -but because of fear → The biggest myths that stop people from ever starting to invest → Why investing isn't about being good at maths → How childhood beliefs quietly shape your financial decisions as an adult → Why your bank account reveals what you truly value → The surprising psychology behind impulse spending and Amazon purchases → Why "I don't have enough money to invest" is often not the real problem → How visual reminders and pattern interrupters can stop emotional spending → Why successful investing is more about consistency than picking the perfect stock → How investing creates more freedom, more choices and more time—not just more money → Why Martin believes every child should learn about investing → The simple mindset shift that helps people finally get started Quotable Moments "You don't need to be good at maths to become a successful investor." "Most people don't have a money problem. They have a spending pattern problem." "Your bank account tells you what you truly value." "Investing isn't about getting rich. It's about creating more choices." "Money is simply a tool that buys you more freedom and more time." "We all start with nothing. Every investor made their very first investment once." "You're climbing the ladder... but is it leaning against the right wall?" "Delayed gratification changes everything." "The stock market isn't rocket science. It's something anyone can learn." "Confidence comes from understanding—not guessing." Resources Connect with Martin Macleod LinkedIn - @martin-macleod Website - https://financialhealthclub.co.uk/ Email martin@financialhealthclub.co.uk Link to his beginner course: https://learntoinvest.financialhealthclub.co.uk/beginnersinvestingcourse Follow Jenny • Website: https://jennymcoaching.com • Instagram: @jennymcoaching Subscribe to Who Do You Think You Are Talking To? on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. This episode answers questions like: How do I start investing for beginners? Why am I afraid to invest my money? How much money do I need to start investing? Can anyone learn how to invest? Is investing difficult? How do I stop wasting money? Why do I keep impulse spending? How do I build wealth over time? What's the difference between saving and investing? How can I make my money work for me? Why is mindset important when it comes to money? What are the biggest investing mistakes beginners make? How do I become financially confident? How do I stop reacting emotionally to money? Can investing help me retire earlier? This podcast is produced by www.keystepsupport.com
Transcribe →
82. How to Stop Giving Your Time and Expertise Away for Free
Jun 2400:15:11Tap to summarizeHow many times this week did you give something away for free? Not money. Not a product. Your time. Your knowledge. Your expertise. Your energy. In this episode I share a real client story about a man who kept answering calls he shouldn't have been taking — not because he didn't know better, but because somewhere along the way he learned that being available was the same as being valuable. He's not alone. This episode is for anyone who keeps picking up the phone when they shouldn't. For the expert who keeps explaining things for free. For the professional who stays on calls too long because ending them feels rude. For the person who has ended up in the friend zone with clients, colleagues or anyone else — and doesn't know how to get out. This is the people pleasing pattern. Just in a different context. What You'll Hear in This Episode → Why giving your time away for free is a people pleasing problem not a business problem → The client who had spoken to the same person ten times without charging a cent — and what was really underneath it → Why we end up in the friend zone with clients and what it actually costs us → The Michael Jordan analogy that reframes everything → How we teach people that our time has no value — without ever realising we're doing it → The simple boundary that changes everything — and why most people resist it → Your action step for this week Quotable Moments "How many times this week did you give something away for free? Not money. Your time." "We are always teaching people how to treat us. And when we keep picking up — we teach people that our time is free." "Every call you take for free is time you're not spending on the things and the people that actually matter." "You can't be everybody's person. And neither can you." "The friend zone feels generous. But here's what it actually creates. Resentment." "The people who truly value what you do will not go anywhere. And the ones who only stayed because you were free? Let them go. They were never your people." "I just need to be about me a little bit more." Resources Get on the waitlist for The Reset — starting Tuesday September 15th 2026: jennymcoaching.com/group Not sure if people pleasing applies to you? Take the 2 minute quiz: bit.ly/notapeoplepleaser Follow Jenny on Instagram and LinkedIn: @jennymcoaching Subscribe to the podcast: Who Do You Think You Are Talking To — weekly on Spotify and Apple Podcasts This episode directly answers: 'How do I stop giving my time away for free?' · 'Why do I keep answering calls I shouldn't?' · 'How do I set boundaries with clients?' · 'What is people pleasing in business?' · 'How do I stop being available to everyone?' · 'Why do I feel guilty charging for my time?' · 'How do I get out of the friend zone with clients?' · 'How do I stop over-giving?' · 'What does people pleasing look like at work?' · 'How do I start valuing my own time?' · 'Why do I keep helping people for free?' · 'How do I charge what I'm worth?' This podcast is produced by www.keystepsupport.com
Transcribe →
81. How to Stop Overworking Before It Stops You
Jun 1700:15:11Tap to summarizeThis episode is about how to stop overworking, and start asking for what you actually need. Do you know you're overworking but can't seem to stop? You're not lazy. You're not bad at time management. You've just never been taught that it's okay to ask for what you actually need. In this episode, I share a real client story about a woman who was working around the clock — not because anyone asked her to, but because somewhere along the way she learned that her value came from how much she could handle. She kept going. And going. Until she couldn't anymore. This episode is for anyone who has ever pushed through exhaustion and called it being professional. For anyone who has never once said out loud — this isn't sustainable. For anyone who is waiting for the right time to slow down and suspects it's never going to come on its own. Spoiler: it won't - but this will help. What You'll Hear in This Episode → Why overworking is a people-pleasing problem not a time management problem → The moment a client sent a boundary setting message live in a session — and why it took thirty seconds → How we teach people how to treat us without ever realising we're doing it → The simple three part framework for asking for what you need at work — calmly, clearly and without guilt → Why knowing you need to change something and actually changing it are two completely different things → Your action step for this week — simple, doable and more powerful than it sounds Key Themes & Keywords Overworking · burnout · people pleasing at work · how to stop overworking · work life balance · setting boundaries at work · how to ask for what you need · over-functioning · emotional exhaustion · people pleaser recovery · trigger pause respond · communicating needs at work · how to set boundaries without guilt · quietly resentful · automatic yes · personal development podcast · habit change coaching Quotable Moments "She wasn't overworking because anyone asked her to. She just never learned it was okay to stop." "We are always teaching people how to treat us. Always." "When we keep saying yes to things that are breaking us — we teach people that yes is always available." "Not a time management system. Not a productivity hack. Just the truth said simply and calmly." "The pattern didn't happen overnight. And it won't shift overnight either. But it will shift." "That noticing is where it starts." Resources & Links 🎟 Join The Reset — founding member rate $997, cart closes June 23rd midnight CT: jennymcoaching.com/thereset/#CHECKOUT 🧠 Not sure if people pleasing applies to you? Take the 2 minute quiz: bit.ly/notapeoplepleaser 📲 Follow Jenny on Instagram and LinkedIn: @jennymcoaching 🎙 Subscribe to the podcast: Who Do You Think You Are Talking To — weekly on Spotify and Apple Podcasts This episode directly answers: 'How do I stop overworking?' · 'Why can't I stop working even when I'm exhausted?' · 'How do I ask my boss for better working hours?' · 'What is people pleasing at work?' · 'How do I set boundaries at work without feeling guilty?' · 'Why do I always put work before myself?' · 'How do I communicate my needs at work?' · 'What is the trigger pause respond method?' · 'How do I stop over-functioning?' · 'Why do I feel guilty taking time off?'
Transcribe →
80. Keeping It Quiet Is Not Keeping The Peace
Jun 1000:16:27Tap to summarizeHave you ever gone along with something you didn't want to do — just to avoid making a fuss? Smiled and said you didn't mind? Told yourself you'd persevere? In this episode, I share a real client story about a walk, a muddy path, the wrong shoes and a whole lot of things that weren't being said. It's a deceptively simple story about one of the most exhausting patterns I see in her work — the gap between what we're thinking and what we're actually saying. And what happens in that gap. Spoiler: it's not peace. It's resentment. Quietly building. While the other person has absolutely no idea. This episode is for anyone who has ever kept it quiet to keep the peace — and wondered why the tension never actually goes away. What You'll Hear in This Episode → The walk she didn't want to go on — and what it cost her → Why keeping it quiet is not the same as keeping the peace → How the other person fills in the gap when you don't say the true thing — and why they almost never get it right → The file text message — and what happened when she asked one clarifying question instead of solving everything automatically → How Trigger → Pause → Respond shows up in the smallest everyday moments → Why 45 seconds is all you need to change the dynamic → Your action step for this week — simple, doable, no drama required Key Themes People pleasing in relationships · Keeping the peace · Avoiding conflict · Resentment in relationships · Honest communication · People pleasing patterns · Why can't I speak up · Fear of confrontation · Trigger pause respond · Emotional reactivity · Over-functioning · Automatic assumptions · Communication coach · Personal development podcast · How to stop people pleasing · Quietly resentful · Setting boundaries without guilt Quotable Moments "You weren't keeping the peace. You were just keeping it quiet. For now." "The other person fills in the gap. And they almost never fill it in correctly." "You have two people carrying two completely different stories about the same walk. Neither of them true. Both of them exhausting." "Becoming someone who pauses long enough to ask — what do I actually need here?" "The discomfort isn't a sign you're doing it wrong. It's a sign you're doing something new." "That's where your voice comes back." Resources & Links Join The Reset Info Session — free live event, June 16th: jennymcoaching.com/group Not sure if people pleasing applies to you? Take the 2-minute quiz: bit.ly/notapeoplepleaser Follow Jenny on Instagram and LinkedIn: @jennymcoaching This episode directly answers: 'Why does keeping quiet cause more conflict?' · 'How do I stop avoiding difficult conversations?' · 'Why do I feel resentful even when I don't say anything?' · 'What is people pleasing in relationships?' · 'How do I speak up without causing conflict?' · 'What is the trigger pause respond method?' · 'Why does resentment build in relationships?' · 'How do I stop assuming what other people need?' Jenny Maxwell Coaching · jennymcoaching.com · @jennymcoaching This podcast is produced by www.keystepsupport.com
Transcribe →
79. What Belonging Does for a Child That Achievement Never Can
Jun 300:17:07Tap to summarizeWhat does it actually mean for a child to belong somewhere? Not to succeed there. Not to be the best there. But to walk in and feel completely, quietly safe to be themselves. In this episode, I share the story of how a community of dedicated music teachers transformed my sons' experience of school — and of themselves. From a 2nd grader who almost missed his chance at the orchestra, to a senior year that could have broken my son Danny, to the word that stopped me in her tracks: haven. This episode is about what belonging really does — and why its absence is where so many adult patterns of people-pleasing, over-performing, and emotional exhaustion begin. What You'll Hear in This Episode → Jonah in 2nd grade — the moment I almost closed a door she didn't even see → Who Rachel Saldana is, and what she saw that I didn't → How belonging in the music department changed both boys — not just musically, but as people → Danny's senior year: the weight of it, and how his teachers reached in when it mattered most → The one word Danny used that I had never forgotten: haven → Why belonging matters more than achievement for long-term emotional health → How the absence of belonging in childhood creates the people-pleasing patterns I sees in her adult clients → The letter I wrote to the school district — because I wanted them to know what they had Resources & Links Join The Reset Info Session — free live event, June 16th: jennymcoaching.com/group Not sure if people pleasing applies to you? Take the 2-minute quiz: bit.ly/notapeoplepleaser Follow Jenny on Instagram and LinkedIn: @jennymcoaching This episode directly answers: 'Why is belonging important for children?' · 'What does belonging do for a child?' · 'How does childhood environment affect adult behaviour?' · 'Why do kids need emotional safety?' · 'Where does people pleasing start?' · 'How do teachers impact student wellbeing?' This podcast is produced by www.keystepsupport.com
Transcribe →
78. Why Pushing Kids to Be 'On Track' Creates Adults Who Can't Say No
May 2700:15:37Tap to summarizeWhat does it actually cost to raise a child on someone else's timeline? In this episode, I get honest about the pressure parents feel to keep their kids 'on track' - the sports schedules, the AP classes, the invisible race nobody signed up for. Drawing on my own experience watching my two boys find their own paths later than most, I explore what happens when kids are pushed to perform before they're ready — and why those early patterns of saying yes, pushing through, and ignoring what they feel show up decades later in exhausted, people-pleasing adults. This episode is for every parent who has quietly wondered whether they're doing too much — and for every adult who is only now starting to recognise where their people-pleasing patterns actually began. What You'll Hear in This Episode → Why nearly 70% of kids drop out of organised sports by age 13 - and what that number is really telling us → My sons Jonah and Danny: what starting late actually taught them (and why they still love their sports) → The real financial and emotional cost of over-scheduling children → How childhood pressure to perform plants the seeds of adult people-pleasing → The difference between reacting automatically and pausing to choose your response → What I actually wanted for her kids - and why it had nothing to do with grades or trophies Resources & Links Join The Reset Info Session — free live event, June 16th: www.jennymcoaching.com/group Not sure if people pleasing applies to you? Take the 2-minute quiz: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/816991/188539643660076178/share Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn: @jennymcoaching This podcast is produced by www.keystepsupport.com
Transcribe →