What if your inner critic isn’t the enemy but a scared part of you trying (very badly) to keep you safe?

In this deeply honest, expansive conversation, I sit down with my very first life coach, Kate Swoboda, to unpack fear, self-doubt, nervous system safety, and what real courage looks like over the long haul.

Together, we explore:

1. why fighting your inner critic only makes it louder
2. how self-compassion is anything but fluffy
3. why alignment—not ease—is the true measure of an unruly life

This episode gives brilliant insight into nuance, integrity, and reclaiming your power without harming yourself.

If you’re done white-knuckling your way through growth and ready for a more humane, sustainable way to live, lead, and create, this one’s for you. Hint: This is exactly how I went from self-loathing to self-loving.

👯‍♀️ Connect with Kate

Find Kate and all her brilliance at 👉 yourcourageouslife.com and checkout her Level 1 ICF Accredited Coach Training (where I got certified) at TeamCLCC.com

📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED

1. The Unruly Collective
2. Kate's books: The Courage Habit and 100% Fully Alive

We the Unruly is building a movement of folks creating their own paradigms of how to live, love, and lead while building lives, businesses, impacts, and legacies built from truth, power, pleasure, rebellion, and the kind of unapologetic self-expression that makes fragile men miss the days of complacent, agreeable women.

We call it living your legacy NOW and if you vibe, you belong. Come join us in The Unruly Collective and be in community with folks who “get” it.

Founder & Head Unruly Jen Vertanen, is a Speaker, Favorite Self Mentor, and Life & Business Strategist for entrepreneurs, founders, thought leaders, artists, healers, coaches, and other super cool humans audacious enough to believe you absolutely can change the world.

She blends 3+ decades of helping people make big visions real with her bold thought leadership on identity, self-trust, and embodied action.

Stay Connected: YouTube | Website | Facebook | Instagram

👋🏼 Thanks for listening!

We the Unruly song written by Wendy Babcock