Tired of playing by the rules? The She Who Dares Wins podcast is for the women who reject convention, challenge expectations, and carve their own damn way through life. Hosted by Michelle Hands—former construction engineer turned fearless storyteller—this podcast dives deep into the raw, unfiltered journeys of women who refuse to fit the mold.
If you've ever battled imposter syndrome, hesitated to take a risk, or felt the pressure to conform, this is your space. Expect bold conversations with trailblazers, adventurers, and industry disruptors who share their real stories of breaking barriers, building confidence, and rewriting success on their own terms.
🚀 What You'll Get:
✔️ No-fluff, high-impact conversations with women pushing boundaries
✔️ First-time experience stories & unconventional career pivots
✔️ Tactical steps to crush fear & own your confidence
✔️ Insights into thriving in male-dominated spaces
✔️ The perfect mix of adventure, risk-taking, and personal growth
This isn't your typical self-help show—it’s a call to action for women who want more. More adventure. More freedom. More hell yes moments. Tune in and join a community of unstoppable women who dare to win.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tired of playing by the rules? The She Who Dares Wins podcast is for the women who reject convention, challenge expectations, and carve their own damn way through life. Hosted by Michelle Hands—former construction engineer turned fearless storyteller—this podcast dives deep into the raw, unfiltered journeys of women who refuse to fit the mold.
If you've ever battled imposter syndrome, hesitated to take a risk, or felt the pressure to conform, this is your space. Expect bold conversations with trailblazers, adventurers, and industry disruptors who share their real stories of breaking barriers, building confidence, and rewriting success on their own terms.
🚀 What You'll Get:
✔️ No-fluff, high-impact conversations with women pushing boundaries
✔️ First-time experience stories & unconventional career pivots
✔️ Tactical steps to crush fear & own your confidence
✔️ Insights into thriving in male-dominated spaces
✔️ The perfect mix of adventure, risk-taking, and personal growth
This isn't your typical self-help show—it’s a call to action for women who want more. More adventure. More freedom. More hell yes moments. Tune in and join a community of unstoppable women who dare to win.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After 28 years on air, Yorkshire radio legend JoJo Kelly swapped early mornings and microphones for the Welsh mountains — and a brand new chapter.
In this laugh-out-loud and deeply relatable chat, JoJo opens up about her accidental start in radio (thanks to a guy in a dress and a nightclub), the confidence it took to survive male-dominated breakfast shows, and why she’s now embracing the unknown with open arms.
From her days at Kiss 105 and Galaxy FM to her recent move to rural Wales, JoJo’s story is a masterclass in joy, resilience, and reinvention.
You’ll hear:
Whether you’re standing at a crossroads or just craving proof that it’s never too late to pivot, this episode will leave you laughing, nodding, and maybe planning your own wild next chapter.
0:00 – Meet JoJo Kelly: 28 years on air and counting
2:00 – How a nightclub encounter launched her radio career
7:00 – Crashing the boys’ club: early lessons in confidence and ego
12:00 – The power of joy and surviving 4:30am starts
16:00 – Dealing with trolls before social media was a thing
18:00 – Losing anonymity as a radio host
25:00 – Moving to Wales & embracing the unknown
36:00 – Menopause, confidence, and finding your voice again
46:00 – Ageism, reinvention & why JoJo’s not done yet
52:00 – What’s next: hosting, acting, and making friends with goats
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What If You’re Closer Than You Think?
In this episode of She Who Dares Wins, Michelle reflects on a recent moment that stopped her in her tracks — checking the podcast analytics and realising that, against all odds, the show is steadily growing. She looks back at those first, shaky recordings and realises: she could have quit before it ever got good. And almost did.
This isn’t just a story about resilience — it’s about the messy, uncomfortable middle that most people run from. Backed by psychology and philosophy, this week’s episode explores why consistency is one of the hardest, most underrated skills — and why you’re probably closer than you think.
Stick with it — especially if it’s not working yet.
Pick one thing you’ve been tempted to give up on… and recommit to it for one more week.
Join Dare Club: https://stan.store/shewhodareswins
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Two months after losing her baby Charlotte to SIDS, Clare opened a laptop, named a business on the back of a credit card bill, and started. In this raw, no-fluff conversation, she shares how grief, debt, and a surprise pregnancy became the backdrop to building Sunshine Digital, landing FirstGroup as her first client, and later clawing back from heart failure (8% function) to cold-water swim guide. It’s survival turned agency — and a blueprint for doing it afraid.
Key Takeaways
Timestamps
About Claire
Founder of Sunshine Digital and the Shine Online Club, Clare Clifford helps small businesses level up content and strategy while championing community in Leeds and beyond. She’s also a volunteer swim guide with Mental Health Swims.
Resources Mentioned
Connect
Trigger/Content Note: child loss (SIDS), grief, hospital/medical discussion.
Shop Merch www.shewhodareswins.com
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This week’s dare is all about swapping certainty for curiosity.
Because the truth is — every bold move, every new chapter, every unexpected success… starts with one small “what if?”
In this episode, Michelle talks about how following curiosity (instead of waiting for clarity) has shaped her own career — from leaving construction to building She Who Dares Wins, to now stepping into filmmaking with zero guarantees and a whole lot of faith.
You’ll also hear stories from two incredible women who dared to follow the pull of curiosity and built something extraordinary:
Together, these stories prove that curiosity isn’t about knowing — it’s about trusting.
And it’s often the start of everything worth doing.
Do one thing purely because you’re curious.
Not because it’s productive, smart, or part of a plan.
Because it excites you.
It’s not about control — it’s about trust.
Join the Dare Club to get weekly dares and mindset boosts straight to your inbox → https://stan.store/shewhodareswins
Check out the Merch www.shewhodareswins.com
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From Nearly Crushed to Carving Cathedrals: Rachel’s Story of Reinvention
At 29, Rachel decided to become a stonemason — but that wasn’t where her story began.
Before carving stone for Lincoln Cathedral, she was literally hit by a truck. The accident left her learning to walk again, questioning everything, and ultimately rebuilding her life from the ground up (quite literally).
In this episode, Rachel joins Michelle for round two — a raw and funny catch-up on recovery, resilience, and rediscovering purpose. They talk about learning patience through craft, why boredom might actually be a skill, and what it’s like to leave your mark (literally) on a piece of history.
They also dig into:
It’s honest, unexpected, and proof that sometimes the slow path is the one that lasts the longest.
00:00 – Intro & “How have you dared and won?”
01:18 – The accident: hit by a truck, rehab, learning to walk again
06:17 – Apprenticeship decision & career at Lincoln Cathedral
07:58 – Why boredom is a core skill in stonemasonry (training process)
14:49 – Mason’s marks explained + Rachel’s “witch’s hat” mark
23:53 – Rachel’s 1944 Willys Jeep “Dottie”
29:53 – Returning to university & Master’s in Historic Buildings
40:05 – Media features: Woman’s Hour, Look North & surprise BBC Breakfast segment
🎧 Listen now to hear how Rachel turned being broken into building something timeless.
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Episode Summary:
This week, Michelle dares you to do something most people avoid — embrace the unknown.
After 17 years in construction, Michelle opens up about what it’s really like to walk away from stability and step into filmmaking with no guarantees. She shares how reading about Stoicism helped her stop waiting for certainty and start trusting action instead.
Backed by neuroscience, this episode breaks down why our brains panic when things feel uncertain — and how leaning into discomfort can literally rewire you for resilience.
You’ll also hear from two past She Who Dares Wins guests who’ve lived this dare in their own lives:
💥 Jenni, the former police detective who left her pensioned career to work in close protection — learning to rely on instincts instead of procedure.
🌊 Zoe, the teacher-turned-cold-water-swim-retreat founder, who discovered that the same practice that chilled her body also strengthened her mind.
And this week’s dare is a practical one — no “trust the universe” fluff. It’s about building your confidence through rejection and action.
Do something that carries a real chance of rejection.
Send the pitch. Ask for the opportunity. Share the idea you’ve been sitting on.
The goal isn’t to get a yes — it’s to prove you won’t crumble if you get a no.
Because rejection isn’t failure — it’s evidence you’re in the right arena.
If you’re ready to start acting on these dares — not just thinking about them — join the Dare Club.
You’ll get the weekly dare straight to your inbox every Thursday, plus behind-the-scenes updates from the She Who Dares Wins journey.
👉 Sign up via the link in Michelle’s Instagram bio or at shewhodareswins.com → Dare Club.
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At 30, most jockeys have been riding professionally for over a decade — but not Jo Mason. In this episode, Michelle sits down with Jo to talk about breaking into the world of horse racing later in life, the brutal realities of injury and recovery, and how she turned a pandemic setback into the moment she finally went pro.
From breaking her back to breaking barriers for women in racing, Jo’s story is one of resilience, grit, and pure love for the sport.
0:00 – 3:00
Introduction and Jo’s journey from sports nutrition to racing.
3:00 – 7:00
Growing up in a racing family and the path from amateur to professional.
7:00 – 13:00
The fall that broke her back and the long road to recovery.
13:00 – 17:00
Turning professional during Covid and proving herself on the track.
17:00 – 25:00
Racing against legends and breaking barriers for women in sport.
25:00 – 37:00
Life behind the scenes: training, travel, pressure, and pay.
37:00 – 54:00
The physical and mental toll — weight, nutrition, and injury resilience.
54:00 – 1:03:00
Lessons learned, sacrifices made, and Jo’s message to women chasing their dreams.
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This week, Michelle dives into one of the hardest — and most freeing — parts of growth: getting to know yourself.
After diving into Stoicism and reflecting on the “tick-box” culture we’re all trapped in, she shares how she’s learning to tune out the noise of social media, stop chasing external validation, and focus on what actually brings her joy
Through powerful guest stories — from Zoe, the para-surfer who rebuilt her identity after losing her leg in a car accident, to Emma, the ethical beekeeper who turned a career of false starts into a business built on passion and purpose — this episode explores what happens when we stop performing for the world and start listening to ourselves again.
Backed by neuroscience and psychology, Michelle breaks down how true self-knowledge reshapes your brain, boosts confidence, and helps you make decisions that feel right, not just look right.
Spend one hour alone — no phone, no music, no podcast.
Ask yourself:
Write it down. Sit with it. Your next chapter starts there.
Zoe: From athlete to para-surfing world champion — rediscovering identity through courage and flow.
Emma: From Mars Chocolate sales to ethical beekeeping — finding purpose in curiosity and slow progress
If this episode hit home, come join our Dare Club a community for women who are brave enough to know themselves and dare anyway.
👉 Drop “Dare Club” in the comments or DM @shewhodareswins on Instagram to get your invite or click the link below
Join the Dare Club: https://stan.store/shewhodareswins
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After 20 years as a physicist, Kellye left her career in science to follow a completely different path — one guided by creativity, craftsmanship, and courage.
From building cancer research sensors at Cambridge to hand-stitching rhinestone suits for country icons in Nashville, Kellye’s story is a masterclass in daring to start again when the life you built no longer fits.
In this episode, we talk about identity, creativity, and the uncomfortable—but liberating—truth about change.
0:00 – 04:00 | From Texas Farm to Physics Prodigy
Kellye shares her childhood on a working farm in Texas, where fixing things and understanding how machines worked first sparked her curiosity — the early signs of both a scientist and a maker.
04:00 – 10:00 | Cambridge and the World of Academia
How Kellye was recruited into university at just 16, worked her way to Cambridge, and built a 20-year career in physics researching cancer sensors — all while quietly craving something more creative.
10:00 – 16:00 | When Success Doesn’t Feel Like Success
The moment she realised academia’s version of “making it” wasn’t hers — and what happens when your dream job stops feeling like a dream.
16:00 – 23:00 | The Pivot: From Labs to Leather & Lace
Why Kellye and her husband quit their jobs to start a furniture business, and how that side-step opened the door to her lifelong love of sewing, tailoring, and Western wear.
23:00 – 33:00 | Saving a Dying Craft
Kellye dives into her obsession with vintage embroidery machines — how she tracked, restored, and mastered 100-year-old equipment to keep a lost art alive.
33:00 – 41:00 | From Savile Row to Nashville
How a leap of faith (and a lot of self-belief) led Kellye from a tailoring course in Macclesfield to Nashville, where her first project was sewing a suit for Johnny Cash’s son.
41:00 – 50:00 | The Art of Storytelling Through Stitching
How she now creates bespoke, hand-embroidered suits that carry her clients’ stories, and why every stitch is a piece of living history.
50:00 – 59:00 | Reinvention, Ego Death & The Artist’s Way
What it really feels like to walk away from an identity that once defined you — and how Kellye rebuilt her life and confidence through creative discipline, journaling, and community.
59:00 – End | Finding Your People & Following the Pull
The importance of surrounding yourself with people who “get it,” and the power of community when you choose the road less travelled.
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Episode Title: Stop Doing It Alone – The Power of Community & Courage
Ever feel like you’ve got to prove yourself by doing everything solo? In this bonus episode, Michelle shares why that mindset is holding you back — and why true courage is built in connection.
Drawing on her own story of launching She Who Dares Wins, plus the inspiring journeys of:
Michelle unpacks how community changes everything — not just emotionally, but biologically. With insights from neuroscience and psychology, you’ll learn how connection fuels courage, lowers stress, and even rewires your brain for resilience.
💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
🔥 This Week’s Dare:
Stop doing it alone. Pick one challenge you’ve been carrying solo and ask for support — from a friend, a mentor, or a community like The Dare Club.
👉 Ready to step up? Share your dare and join the conversation inside The Dare Club.
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What happens when you throw a total beginner (Michelle) into the world of fly fishing with someone who knows what they’re doing (Aime)? A lot of laughs, a few surprises about what’s actually living under the water, and a whole lot of lessons about patience, presence, and letting go.
This episode isn’t just about learning how to cast a line — it’s about stepping outside your comfort zone and seeing life through a completely different lens.
If you’ve ever wondered what fly fishing is actually like or you’re curious about how trying something new can shift your mindset, this episode is part tutorial, part comedy, and part meditation. Aime shares her knowledge, Michelle shares her shock, and together they uncover why standing in a river with a rod can teach you more about yourself than you’d expect.
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This week’s dare is all about resistance — that invisible wall that shows up the second you try something bold. Spoiler: it’s not laziness, it’s fear in disguise.
In this episode, Michelle shares her own battle with resistance when starting the She Who Dares Wins podcast, plus powerful stories from past guests:
We’ll dig into the science of why your brain resists change, how procrastination is just dopamine tricking you, and why resistance gets loudest right before your breakthrough.
This week’s dare: Identify your resistance and give it 10 messy minutes a day. Write one page, record one voice note, plant one seed. Imperfect action beats perfect avoidance every time.
🔗 Join the Dare Club:
📲 Connect on Instagram: @shewhodareswins
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Episode: Making Our First Sea Film (and Surviving It) — with filmmaker Zoe East
What it’s about: behind the scenes of our mini-documentary about Ash, a female fisherman. Two women, one working boat, the hottest day of the year, and a very real lesson in saying yes before you’re “ready.”
You’ll hear about:
Key takeaways:
Gear & constraints (for the film nerds):
Timestamps (light, skimmable):
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Episode Summary:
In this week’s Thursday Dare Challenge, Michelle opens up about one of the most personal themes yet: starting over when the world tells you it’s too late. From her own experience of burnout and reinvention to the inspiring stories of past guests like Amanda, Rachel, and Jo, this episode proves that new chapters don’t come with an age limit.
Michelle dives into the science of neuroplasticity, the power of transferable skills, and why fear and judgment often hold us back. She also shares practical dares to help you take the first steps towards your own fresh start—without burning your old life down overnight.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
This Week’s Dare:
Write down:
Inspiring Late Bloomers Mentioned:
Join the Dare Club:
Want to go deeper? Sign up for the Dare Club waiting list at shewhodareswins.com/dareclub. You’ll get weekly dares straight to your inbox plus early access to the full Dare Club experience when it launches.
Support the Podcast:
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At 29, Christina Theodonna decided she wasn’t done with fighting. She booked a flight to Thailand, trained through monsoon heat, ran 8k mornings, and stepped into the ring with zero notice. In this episode, we dig into her journey from childhood martial arts to becoming “Muay Panda”, and her mission to expand women’s weight classes so more fighters get the recognition they deserve.
If you’ve ever thought it was “too late” to start or felt like you didn’t fit the mould, Christina’s story proves otherwise.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Chapters
00:00 Christina’s comeback: deciding to fight again at 29
02:15 From karate kid to Muay Thai fighter
07:00 Thailand training camp: runs, heat, and culture shock
12:10 Surprise fight in Hua Hin & lessons from losing
19:30 Motorbike crashes, Thai culture, and staying safe abroad
23:20 From bullying to confidence: why martial arts matters for girls
29:50 Muay Thai as moving meditation & mental health benefits
36:00 Fighting for change: women’s weight classes and rankings
44:50 The story behind “Muay Panda” & what’s next
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Episode Summary
In this engaging bonus episode of She Who Dares Wins, Michelle dares you to break a rule this week. Not for the sake of rebellion, but to challenge the invisible boundaries shaping your life. From her own unconventional start in construction to examples like Liquid Death’s rule-breaking approach to branding, Michelle shows how questioning norms can unlock innovation, identity, and freedom.
She unpacks the psychology behind rule-following — from normative influence to the black sheep effect — and explores how mindful defiance can spark both personal growth and cultural change. This is your call to spot one invisible rule that feels heavy, break it, and discover what happens when you choose self-definition over conformity.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Notable Quotes
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What does it take to run into chaos when everyone else is running out?
In this episode of She Who Dares Wins, I sit down with Molly, a former gymnastics coach who pivoted her career in a single conversation — and went on to become a firefighter. Six years in, she’s part of a technical rescue team dealing with rope rescues, large animal incidents, overturned vehicles, and more of the calls you’d never believe until you hear them.
We dive into:
This one is raw, funny, and packed with insights about resilience, grit, and finding your place in a job most people could never imagine doing.
👉 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
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In this week’s She Who Dares Wins Thursday Dare, Michelle flips the idea of confidence on its head. Instead of striving to look polished and flawless, she argues that true confidence comes from being willing to look like an idiot. Through her own story of stepping into a CrossFit gym for the first time, Michelle shows how embracing clumsy, awkward beginnings can lead to growth, self-compassion, and real confidence. You’ll also hear the science behind why we think everyone’s watching us (they’re not), and four practical dares to help you lean into imperfection and boost your confidence.
Key Takeaways:
Timestamps:
👉 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
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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
Timestamps
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This week on She Who Dares Wins, Michelle is joined by poet Jem for a powerful conversation about creativity, survival, and showing up authentically. From homelessness at 16 to reading poetry on stage at the Southbank Centre, Jem’s story is about resilience, play, and the healing power of words.
Jem talks openly about neurodivergence, family estrangement, and breaking cycles as a parent, while also reminding us why art doesn’t always have to be monetised — sometimes it’s simply about joy and expression.
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