We all want community. We search to belong, but we don’t always want the messy parts that come with it. In this episode, we explore a simple but powerful truth Kathie read on an Instagram post by therapyforwomen: “Annoyance is the price you pay for community.”

When we long for frictionless relationships, we actually rob ourselves of growth. Real community means learning to live with differences, the quirks, interruptions, and small frustrations that stretch our patience and deepen our empathy. A “perfect” group, where everyone thinks and acts the same, might sound peaceful, but it creates an echo chamber that limits learning and connection. The only other option to some friction is isolation, and that is good for no one.

But there is an antidote to ease some of the friction. Tune in to find out.

Have you ever worried that people will “find out” you’re not as capable as they think? If you have ever felt like an imposter, you are in good company, as Maya Angelou, Tom Hanks, Michelle Obama, and other successful people have also.In this episode, Kathie opens up about her own battle with imposter syndrome, how fears about not being a “real writer” held her back from leading a workshop and sharing her first book. She discusses how imposter syndrome is really a form of comparison that keeps us from showing up fully and explains how to use her SOAR method to move past it.

This episode will help you stop letting comparison define your worth, and start showing up with confidence, even when doubt tries to whisper otherwise.

Have you ever heard a piece of advice that everyone seems to love, but it just doesn’t sit right with you? In this episode, Kathie explores why not every message is meant for every person. She shares the story behind her “Do what makes you happy” sweatshirt, how it encourages her to stop people-pleasing, but made someone else cringe, and unpacks how the same message can help or hurt depending on who we are, what we’re struggling with, and what season we’re in.

Through real examples like “You are enough,” “Hustle harder,” and “Let it go,” Kathie helps you recognize which messages are worth holding onto and which ones you can gently set down. Because wisdom isn’t about taking in every message, it’s about knowing which ones are meant for you.

Bonus episode! Kathie introduces her new Soaring Past Comparison booklet—a hands-on guide to help you move beyond comparison with confidence. Listen for a quick overview and grab your free shipping code while it lasts!

In this episode, I share my embarrassing moment about not knowing the real words to the Star-Spangled Banner and the lesson we can take from it: how easy it is to take well-intentioned words and our brain twists them into something limiting or discouraging — without even realizing that wasn't the message intended.

We don’t all respond to life the same way—and that’s a good thing. In this episode, I talk about how our reactions can look very different, even opposite, and still be "right." Too often, we label a response as “wrong” just because it doesn’t match our own, and wish others would respond the same way we do. But different perspectives and reactions can benefit us all.

Relationships don’t always stay the same—and when they shift, it can feel like grief. Too often, we compare what we had to what we have now, or what we had envisioned for the future, with what became reality, which only deepens the bitterness. In this episode, I talk about how comparison shows up in changing relationships and how the SOAR method can help us acknowledge the loss, release resentment, and embrace what is. Instead of staying stuck in “what used to be,” we can move toward appreciation, inspiration, and recognition in the relationships we have today.

In this episode, I share one of my silliest but most effective coping strategies: singing songs in my head. From Never Enough when I feel unappreciated, to Let It Go when I’m frustrated, to One More Day when life feels overwhelming. Each song helps me acknowledge my feelings, process them, and then move on. Plus, music has a way of lifting my mood (and in my head, I’m a phenomenal singer!). Join me for a fun conversation about how a simple soundtrack can turn everyday struggles into moments of confidence and contentment

In this episode, I share a personal story about my son’s oral motor dysfunction and the way it opened my eyes to how often our judgments of others are really comparisons in disguise. When we assume, criticize, or label someone, we’re often measuring them against how we think they should be, and that steals compassion from our connections and builds walls of hurt. Join me as we explore how shifting from judgment to understanding can free us from comparison and help us build more confident, content relationships.

We’ve all heard of “Resting B-Face”—that label slapped on someone whose neutral expression looks unapproachable or unfriendly. In this episode, I unpack why it’s really just another form of comparison that damages confidence and keeps us from genuine connection. Instead of judging others against how we think their face should look, we can challenge those snap judgments and give people a chance. Let their actions, not their resting expression, speak for who they are.

In this episode, SOARing in Real Life, I refresh the SOAR steps for overcoming comparison and walk through two real-world scenarios: a neighbor bringing homemade bread and scrolling through social media seeing a friend’s summer trip. Hear how to apply each step to turn comparison into appreciation, inspiration, and recognition.

In this episode of Project Confidence, Kathie gets real about the pressure to have a “perfect summer,” especially when everyone else’s feeds are full of waterfalls, beach days, and golden-hour glow. She shares her own behind-the-scenes moments, from falling and straining a muscle to kids bickering over snacks and a phone that took an unexpected swim.

Social media might show the sunshine, but it rarely shows the stress, mess, and everyday chaos. Tune in to hear why comparing your summer to someone else’s highlight reel can steal your joy, and how to reclaim it with appreciation, gratitude, and confidence in your own unique story.

In this episode of Project Confidence, we delve into how comparison in the workplace, particularly when it becomes ingrained in company culture, can subtly undermine collaboration, morale, and employee retention. While some comparison is natural behind closed doors during hiring or promotions, bringing it out into the open (like public rankings or performance charts) can do more harm than good.

I share a real-life story about a company that posted everyone's billable hours each week, hoping to inspire productivity, but instead it sparked rivalry, project hoarding, and burnout. Rather than motivating employees, it created a toxic environment where competition replaced connection.

Tune in for practical tips on how to remove harmful comparison from your workplace and build a culture of collaboration, appreciation, and shared success.

Comparison isn’t just a woman’s issue—it’s a human one.
This week on Project Confidence, we’re exploring how men experience comparison. It often hides behind ambition or the pressure to succeed, disguised as the rat race, the trophy wife, the perfect body, or the high-paying job.

From status and career to sports and fatherhood, comparison affects men in powerful and harmful ways. Recognizing it is the first step toward rising above it.

Tune in and discover how we can all begin to SOAR past it.

In this episode, Kathie shares two contrasting stories of youth soccer coaches, one who used comparison to motivate, leaving his players discouraged and defeated, and another who turned the game around by using appreciation, inspiration, and recognition. You’ll learn how powerful a leader's words can be, and how replacing comparison with encouragement can shift a team’s energy, build confidence, and lead to greater connection and performance. Whether you’re coaching on the field, in the workplace, or at home, this episode will help you lead with impact, without comparison.

Have you ever loved something, but comparison kept stealing your joy?

In this episode of Project Confidence, Kathie shares a personal story about starting Zumba and how constant comparison to the more experienced dancers nearly ruined it for her. Despite showing up week after week, the insecurity didn’t go away… until she tried something different: she moved to the front of the room.

Sometimes, when comparison keeps showing up in the same setting, the solution isn’t to push through; it’s to change the way you engage with it. Whether it’s shifting your physical space, your focus, or your habits, doing things a new way can help you reclaim the joy and confidence that comparison tries to take.

Tune in to hear how this small change made a big difference, and learn how to apply the same principle to your own life.

In this episode, Kathie shares a powerful story from a family race where her youngest daughter crossed the finish line last—and proudly declared, “I’m the last winner!” It’s a reminder we all need: competition doesn’t have to come with comparison.

Kathie breaks down the difference between healthy competition and harmful comparison, and why tying your self-worth to someone else’s performance is a losing game. You’ll learn how to shift your focus from trying to “win” against others to growing toward your own milestones. Plus, how to let others' success inspire you instead of intimidate you.

Whether you're chasing goals in work, parenting, or personal development, this episode will help you stay driven without losing your confidence along the way.

When my daughter came home raving about the crepes she ate at a friend’s house and then said she’d never tried them because I was so lazy, I felt that familiar pang of mom guilt. But instead of spiraling into comparison, I took a step back. In today’s episode, we’re talking about what to do when someone else invites us into a comparison trap. Whether it’s a comment from a child, a post on social media, or a friend’s offhand remark, we always have a choice: to join the comparison or to replace it.

We also talk about walking our kids through when they invite us into a comparison. It can be a powerful teaching moment for us all when we talk through the SOAR steps together.

In this episode of Project Confidence, we explore how to let go of the pressure to be super mom (or dad) and find confidence in your parenthood by embracing your unique strengths. Instead of comparing ourselves to the picture-perfect lives we see online or the achievements of other moms, we learn how to recognize what we do well. From being the calm in chaos to the bedtime storyteller or the memory-maker, this episode is a reminder that doing what you do best is more than enough. We also talk about how the myth of “doing it all” is damaging—and how releasing that pressure opens the door to more joy, connection, and confidence in your parenthood journey.

Social media can be a breeding ground for comparison. But just because it naturally happens doesn't mean you have to let it drag you down and drown you in comparison. In this episode of Project Confidence, we explore how to turn social media comparison into meaningful connection. Instead of allowing highlight reels to chip away at your confidence, you’ll learn how to shift your mindset and use socail media to build community, not self-doubt.