Fuel Your Confidence

There’s a fear that quietly shapes so many of our decisions… and most of us don’t even realise how much power it has.The fear of judgment.In this episode, I unpack why this fear shows up so strongly, especially when you’re about to put yourself out there - whether that’s speaking, presenting, posting, or stepping into something new.I share what used to happen to me backstage before comedy shows, the exact voice that would kick in right before I walked on, and why that voice feels so real, logical, and convincing in the moment.We explore:Why fear of judgment pulls you out of the present momentHow it creates a split between performing and self-critiqueWhy most people aren’t thinking about you nearly as much as you thinkWhat fear is actually trying to protect you fromHow to acknowledge the voice without letting it control youIf you’ve ever held yourself back, filtered your expression, or waited until you felt “ready”… this episode will shift how you see that voice in your head.Because the goal isn’t to eliminate fear. It’s to stop believing everything it tells you.

What if confidence didn’t just come from your posture, your voice, or your mindset… but was also influenced by the language you use every day?In this episode, I explore how the words you choose — often without even realising — can shape how you think, how you show up, and how others experience you.From subtle softeners like “just” and “I think” to over-explaining and unnecessary apologies, these small habits can quietly and quickly dilute your message.Drawing on lessons from stand-up comedy, keynote speaking, and years of working with professionals, I share how refining your language can help you communicate more clearly and feel more grounded in what you’re saying.You’ll walk away with practical shifts you can experiment with immediately to sound more certain, more present, and more impactful.

One of the biggest breakthroughs in public speaking has nothing to do with posture, vocal tone, or even your slides. It happens before you ever step onto the stage.In this episode, Jordana explores the powerful mindset shift that separates confident speakers from nervous ones: moving your focus away from yourself and toward the audience. When speakers stay trapped in self-judgment -Do I look nervous? Will they like me? What if I forget my lines? - their fear only grows louder.Drawing on her early experiences in stand-up comedy, Jordana shares how learning to redirect attention toward the audience’s needs, challenges, and experience transforms both performance and confidence. When your purpose becomes creating value, laughter, insight, or impact, fear naturally shrinks.This episode unpacks why speaking is never really about you -and why shifting the spotlight from self-consciousness to audience curiosity is one of the fastest ways to calm nerves, expand presence, and create powerful connection.

What can a brutal comedy club teach you that a polished corporate stage never could?In this solo episode, I share the real lessons stand-up comedy gave me. Stand-up was my emotional bootcamp. It taught me how to read a room before anyone said a word. It forced me to adapt in real time when a joke fell flat. It exposed my insecurities under a spotlight - and built the resilience to keep going anyway.In comedy, there’s no polite applause. You either connect… or you don’t. The highs are electric. The lows are humbling. And navigating both rewired how I show up in every corporate room today.In this episode, we explore:Why comedy sharpened my ability to read energy and body languageHow bombing built resilience I now rely on as a keynote speakerThe skill of adapting in real time (and why leaders need it)What shared laughter teaches us about influence and human connection

There’s a moment every speaker and leader secretly fears: the question you don’t know how to answer.Early in my keynote career, I was delivering a talk on managing Millennials when an audience member asked something completely outside my expertise. I knew it wasn’t my lane - but instead of admitting that, I felt pressure to be “the expert". One of my agents was in the room, and I convinced myself I needed to have the answer.So I spoke... And halfway through, I knew it wasn’t right.In this episode, I share that uncomfortable moment and the powerful lesson it taught me about ego, authority, and true confidence. In this episode I explore why pretending erodes trust, why “I don’t know” actually strengthens your credibility, and how to handle tough questions on stage or in leadership without losing composure.Because real confidence isn’t about knowing everything.It’s about being honest when you don’t.

What happens when your confidence slips in real time?In this solo episode, I share a powerful on-stage moment when a magic effect didn’t land - and the subtle way I allowed one person’s energy to disrupt my focus, timing, and presence.What looked like a failed trick was actually a leadership lesson.In this episode, I explore how reacting to pressure can shrink your presence, why trying to please one voice can cost the whole room, and how slowing down - not speeding up - is often the most confident move you can make.If you’ve ever felt thrown off in a meeting, rattled by someone’s tone, or tempted to rush when you feel challenged, this episode is for you.

I walked into an ABC interview about my book with no script and no idea where the conversation would go. Ten years ago, that would’ve terrified me.Instead of rehearsing answers or steering the discussion, I trusted the moment - and the conversation expanded in ways I couldn’t have planned. We talked about the bad date that pushed me into comedy, getting kicked out of Facebook's HQ while dressed as a giant Like button, and the perfectionism that once led me to keep 700 copies of my book in my apartment for six months before releasing it - just in case there was a grammatical issue or typo.In this episode, I explore why the interview worked - not because I was polished or prepared, but because I was present. This is a conversation about confidence, perfectionism, and what happens when you stop trying to control the moment and start trusting the experience.

What happens to your confidence when everything changes in an instant?In this episode of Fuel Your Confidence, I share a moment I never planned for: walking on stage to deliver a keynote just minutes after an ambulance was called for someone in the audience.No hype, no performance... Just a choice.This episode explores how confidence isn’t built in rehearsal or perfect conditions, but in the unexpected moments that ask you to slow down, respond honestly, and trust yourself.If you’ve ever felt your confidence wobble under pressure, this one will change how you think about it.

We’re taught that confidence has to come first - and only then are we allowed to take the leap. But what if that’s completely backwards?In this solo episode, I share the true story of my very first stand-up comedy set - and the counterintuitive confidence lesson it taught me for life.You’ll hear why I never waited to feel ready, how momentum beat fear to the punch, and why focusing on what you love about the process changes everything.This episode is for anyone who’s stuck, hesitating, or waiting for confidence to magically arrive before taking action. Because confidence doesn’t come from feeling ready. It comes from commitment.

Fear doesn’t always show up as panic. Sometimes it shows up as logic, preparation, and “just being careful.” In this episode, I share a personal story about my first book; 700 printed copies sitting unopened in my apartment for six months... and the quiet, convincing fear that kept them sealed.This isn’t a story about perfectionism or procrastination. It’s about control. About the fear of being seen getting something wrong, and how that fear can disguise itself as responsibility while quietly shrinking your world. If you’ve ever delayed sharing your work, held back from launching something, or waited for certainty that never comes, this episode will hit home.Confidence doesn’t come from certainty. It comes from movement. And sometimes, it starts with simply opening the box.

Confidence doesn’t disappear when you freeze. It shifts when your focus shifts.In this episode of Fuel Your Confidence, I share a confronting moment from the New York Comedy Club that completely changed how I understand confidence and communication skills. What followed wasn’t failure; it was one of the most important lessons she’s ever learned about confidence, presence, and communication skills. If you’ve ever blanked mid-sentence, overthought your performance, or felt your confidence evaporate under pressure, this episode will reframe what’s really happening.You’ll learn why confidence isn’t about control or perfection, how over-preparing can actually increase anxiety, and the simple mindset shift that helps confident communicators stay present, connected, and impactful.Whether you’re presenting, leading a meeting, speaking on stage, or navigating high-stakes conversations, this episode will help you communicate with more ease, authenticity, and confidence... even when nerves show up.Buy my new book, The Little Book of Influence: 8 Keys to Transformative Communication, at:Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Booktopia.

Confidence doesn’t disappear overnight... and it doesn't magically appear overnight either. It's built (or broken) in the moments most people want to avoid. In this episode of Fuel Your Confidence, Jordana shares why embracing disasters is one of the fastest ways to build real confidence and stronger communication skills; both on stage and in life. From a disastrous date that unexpectedly launched her into stand-up comedy, to the highs and lows of performing at comedy festivals, Jordana explores how reframing failure builds resilience, presence, and a powerful voice. This episode is for you if: - You want to communicate with more confidence in 2026 - You struggle with fear of failure or self-doubt - You want stronger presence, expression, and authenticity - You’re ready to stop seeing “bad days” as setbacks, and to start seeing them as fuel You’ll learn: - Why confidence grows after discomfort and not before - How failure strengthens communication skills - The mindset shift that turns disasters into breakthroughs - How to stop abandoning yourself when things go wrong This isn’t about toxic positivity or pretending everything is fine. It’s about learning how to mine YOUR OWN GOLD from life’s messiest moments. Buy my new book, The Little Book of Influence: 8 Keys to Transformative Communication, through Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Booktopia.

As we move toward a new year, this episode isn’t about resolutions. It's about what you’re not taking with you.In this episode, I break down the five confidence killers that quietly disconnect us from our voice, our presence, and our self-trust... and what to leave behind as you step into 2026.You’ll learn:- Why performing for approval drains your confidence- How silencing your voice in small moments erodes self-trust- The hidden cost of over-explaining and self-editing- Why consuming more than you create makes your voice fade- How ignoring micro-signals disconnects you from yourselfConfidence doesn’t come from pushing harder and doing more. It comes from leaving behind what was never aligned in the first place.

We’re officially in peak forced-conversation season - Christmas lunches, end-of-year parties, and social events where small talk gets exhausting fast.In this episode, I take a practical (and fun) detour to share simple tools to help you move conversations away from awkward small talk and into something more meaningful - without therapy sessions, trauma dumping, or overthinking.You’ll learn:Why small talk feels so drainingHow better questions instantly change the energyEasy swaps to upgrade boring conversation startersHow to pivot a conversation without shutting someone downWhy listening is the most underrated confidence skillBecause confidence isn’t about being impressive... it’s about making people feel seen.🎧 Tune in and try one better question at your next event.

In this episode, we explore perception as a that transforms how you show up in any room; it's the ability to truly notice people, energy, silence, and subtle cues. When we understand this and it clicks, it reshapes our confidence, presence, and influence - on stage and off.This episode is about the shift from performing to connecting - and why the most influential communicators aren’t louder, more polished, or more impressive… they’re more perceptive.You’ll hear why presence isn’t about confidence tricks or charisma, but about availability... and how learning to respond to the moment (instead of forcing your agenda) changes the way people experience you.In this episode, we explore:Why perception is the foundation of real confidenceThe difference between performing at people and connecting with themHow silence, posture, and energy reveal what words don’tWhy presence beats polish in communication, leadership, and speakingThe quiet behaviours that instantly deepen connectionDo you want to dive deeper?Buy my new book, The Little Book of Influence: 8 Keys to Transformative Communication, at:Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booktopia.

In the aftermath of the worst gig of my life - a cruise ship performance I could not escape - I was left with one unavoidable truth: the audience didn’t fail me… I failed to see them.In this episode, I break down the exact cues, signals, and emotional shifts I missed that night.The body language I ignored... The energy I bulldozed... The atmosphere I didn’t feel... The silent, unspoken communication that predicted the disaster long before anyone heckled... This episode isn’t about embarrassment; it’s about perception. And how learning to read the real message beneath the moment can transform your confidence, your influence, and your ability to connect with any room you walk into.If you’ve ever walked away from a meeting or presentation thinking, “Why didn’t that land?” this episode will show you exactly where to look… and what to notice next time.Do you want the full story?Buy my new book, The Little Book of Influence: 8 Keys to Transformative Communication, at:Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booktopia.

Sometimes the comments hurt more than the bomb itself.Episode Two of Fuel Your Confidence continues the story from the cruise-ship catastrophe - but this time, we’re diving into the aftermath: the buffet confrontations, the unsolicited feedback, the public shaming… and the three long days of living among the very people who watched me fail.This episode is where the real lesson revealed itself: PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING.Because the problem was that I wasn’t seeing anything. And the humiliation that followed turned out to be the greatest communication training I never asked for.In this episode, I take you into the moments after the bomb - the comments, the awkward stares, the elevator heckle - \and show you how all of it became the heartbeat of my new book, The Little Book of Influence.Because communication doesn’t begin with talking. It begins with noticing.In this episode, we explore:• The confrontations that followed the disastrous gig• The buffet comments, the “reviews,” and the accidental public shaming• How I ignored every non-verbal cue the night before• Why failing to read the room creates instant disconnection• The subtle signs audiences show long before they speak• The moment I finally understood what people were really communicatingDo you want the full story?Buy my new book, The Little Book of Influence: 8 Keys to Transformative Communication, at:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/Little-Book-Influence-Transformative-Communication/dp/1764003047Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-little-book-of-influence-jordana-borensztajn/1148616909?ean=9781764003049Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-little-book-of-influence-jordana-borensztajn/book/9781764003049.html

Season Two begins with the worst heckle of my life; an unforgettable and brutal comedy experience on a cruise ship gig where my best material fell flat, and a man in his 80s publicly heckled me.Through this process, I learnt one of the most important skills of my entire career: perception.In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of the worst gig of my life and share how that humiliation became the foundation of my new book, The Little Book of Influence.Because influence doesn’t begin with speaking. It begins with seeing.In this episode, we explore:The disastrous cruise gigThe heckle I’ll never forget (and what it taught me)How I bulldozed my agenda and completely misread the roomWhy perception is the core of communicationThe non-verbal cues we miss when we’re performing instead of connectingHow this night became Chapter One of my new bookThe moment everything about my speaking and presence changedDo you want the full story?Buy my new book, The Little Book of Influence: 8 Keys to Transformative Communication, at:AmazonBarnes & NobleBooktopia

Season 1 of Fuel Your Confidence comes to a close... and what a season it’s been.From stand-up comedy stages to Arctic marathons, from law courts to corporate ballrooms, we’ve explored what it really takes to build courage, presence, and self-belief. We’ve talked about saying YES before you feel ready, turning nerves into presence, and letting go of perfectionism (because it’s just fear in disguise).Along the way, we’ve learned from world-class MCs, ultra-endurance adventurers, creative powerhouses, human behaviour experts, and high-performance scientists; each sharing stories, laughs, and tools to help you step up and speak out.In this short finale episode, I look back at some of the biggest lessons, the most memorable moments, and the one truth that has connected them all: confidence is built with one... small... imperfect step at a time.Thank you for being part of Season 1. Season 2 is coming soon.... And it’s going to be even bigger!