The Confidence Shortcut with Niki Sterner

What if the thing holding you back isn’t a lack of talent, time, or luck—but a vision that’s still too blurry to move you? We walk you through a clear, practical way to turn foggy goals into a vivid plan you can see, feel, and act on, even while you’re still nervous. This is about crafting your Wildest Yes Life, not the safe, watered-down version you’ve been settling for.

We start with a quick recap of the Confidence Shortcut framew...

What if confidence isn’t something you find, but something you feel when your life finally matches your values? We go straight at the heart of fear, numbness, and overthinking to show how clarity and courage can flip the switch from “fine” to fully alive. Through personal stories of depression, exposure therapy, and creative risks, we map the three values that rebuilt a brave life—joy, connection, and growth—and explain why alignme...

What if the fastest way to confidence isn’t waiting to feel ready, but modeling what already works? In this episode, we explore The Success STAR Model, a repeatable process for reverse-engineering the paths of Issa Rae, Brené Brown, and Ed Sheeran into Soul Goals you can act on this week.

It’s not about copying, it’s about alignment: matching your values to proven patterns so you can start messy, share boldly, and turn consistency i...

Episode 20 is Season 2 Episode 2. 

Your dream has been leaving clues—names you can’t stop admiring, ideas that scare you in all the right ways, and moments when you surprised yourself with courage. We unpack a simple framework to spot those clues and turn them into action you can actually take today: the star list, the scared list, and the success list. Think of it as a real-time map from overthinking to motion, where writing down w...

Episode 19 is the PREMIERE of Season 2!!!

If you had all the confidence, time, energy, and money in the world, what would you be doing? When I asked 110 people this question, most gave surprisingly safe answers. They'd tucked away their wildest dreams just like I once did.

Remember when you were a child and dreamed without limits? Watching Julia Roberts made me want to be an actor. Seeing Paula Abdul sing and dance on MTV sparke...

Ever feel like money is that dusty corner of your life nobody taught you how to clean? You're not alone. In this enlightening conversation with Lindsay Cressy, Oxford graduate, dual-qualified lawyer and teacher, and financial empowerment coach, we shine a light on why women's relationship with money deserves a complete makeover.

Lindsay reveals the startling truth: despite receiving elite education, she was never...

Emmy-winning casting director Cathy Reinking pulls back the curtain on what really happens in the audition room and reveals the unexpected career path that took her from NBC's casting offices to coaching actors on creating their own breakthrough opportunities.

Drawing from her decades casting iconic shows like "Frasier," "The Office," and "Arrested Development," Cathy shares the intimate ...

Every artist knows the feeling - that persistent call of a dream you've set aside. For Pam Heffler, it was dance. Though she began her career as a professional dancer, confidence struggles led her to walk away from movement entirely in her mid-twenties. But the dream never disappeared.

During one of life's most challenging chapters when she "could have lost everything," Pam experienced a profound realiz...

Big news—Jesse Jensen’s debut book, Throw Your Hat Over The Fence, launches on Amazon this Thursday, August 28th! 

In this week’s episode of The Confidence Shortcut, Jesse shares the life philosophy behind the book—a simple but powerful commitment mechanism that can propel you toward your biggest dreams.

What if the secret to achieving your dreams isn't waiting until you feel confident, but taking action that forces you to move ...

What would life look like if you stopped dimming your light to make others comfortable? Jeovana Davis knows this journey intimately. As a creative consultant, intuitive strategist, and performer who radiates authenticity, Jeovana has navigated the challenging path from people-pleasing to soul-centered expression.

"I'm super passionate about being vulnerable," Jeovana shares early in our conversation. Unlike ...

What happens when life knocks you down with a diagnosis you never expected? For Pam Sandrock, a breast cancer diagnosis at 37 became the catalyst for a complete transformation in how she approached life, decision-making, and personal boundaries.

Pam shares her powerful journey from devastation to empowerment, revealing how cancer forced her to confront mortality and reimagine her priorities. "I made a commitment to live long an...

Jodie Bentley, powerhouse coach in the entertainment world, shares how she transformed from a struggling actor to helping thousands of creatives pursue their dreams through strategic branding and self-confidence techniques.

• Jodie has coached over 2,300 actors across 17 countries since 2008, helping them book major gigs and build thriving careers
• Breaking through limiting beliefs is crucial; Jodie struggled with fee...

Comedian Simon Huebner shares how he transformed his Asperger's diagnosis into comedy gold through developing quick comebacks, studying other comedians, and taking action before feeling ready. He reveals the mindset practices and habits that helped him overcome social anxiety and build authentic confidence on and off stage.

• Started comedy through YouTube algorithms that led him down a rabbit hole of stand-up perform...

Former ballet dancer Faye Laroux shares her journey from perfectionism to authenticity through her Three Bodies methodology, helping sensitive, purpose-driven people embody healing and confidence. Through personal stories of trauma and transformation, Faye reveals how aligning our physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies can unlock our most authentic expression and highest potential.

• From professional ballet at 17 with ...

What if confidence is something you uncover through surrender? Julie Kendall, an award-winning actress who left corporate America to pursue her creative dreams, reveals how letting go opened doors she never imagined.

"This is our one shot in this body. Why not go for it as far as you possibly can?" Julie's philosophy has guided her through bold moves like packing her car and moving to Atlanta with no safety ...

Ever wonder how some creatives seem to make massive progress while you're still waiting to feel "ready"? This conversation with Izzy Stevens blows the lid off that myth. As an award-winning director, Netflix trilogy lead, and founder of Indie Spunk, Izzy has mastered the art of taking bold action before confidence arrives.

"Walk in like you belong there," Izzy advises about entering intimidating sp...

What happens when you've spent decades building a successful career only to realize it's not the life you want? Micah Caldwell faced this question head-on when, after nearly twenty years as a high-powered telecommunications lawyer in Washington DC, she hit a breaking point. Managing multi-billion-dollar government programs during the pandemic had pushed her to her limits, and when asked to rebuild an entire program from s...

Ever felt stuck waiting to feel ready before taking that big leap? Niki Sterner discovered the secret isn't waiting for confidence to arrive—it's taking courageous action first and letting confidence follow.

The Confidence Shortcut revolves around three essential pillars: mindset, path, and action. When these elements align, transformation happens faster than you might believe possible. Niki vulnerably shares how...

Redefining confidence might be the key that unlocks your potential. While many of us believe confidence means feeling certain we'll excel, host Niki Sterner offers a liberating alternative: true confidence is simply believing you can take action when you say you will. This perspective shift removes the paralysis of perfectionism and opens the door to real growth.

Niki shares her remarkable journey from hesitation to a...