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She Who Dares, Wins.

Bonus: How Manifestation and Positive Thinking will change your life: It's all in the Science

Season 4, Ep. 83
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EP:83 Bonus: How Manifestation and Positive Thinking will change your life: It's all in the Science.


In this enlightening bonus episode of the "Shoe Dares Wins" podcast, hosted by Michelle, the focus shifts to understanding the power of manifestation and positive thinking. While Michelle confesses her initial skepticism, she delves into the concept from a scientific perspective, exploring how mindset, neuroscience, and psychology play crucial roles in turning dreams into reality. Motivated by her brother's suggestion and her curiosity sparked by Napoleon Hill's book "Think and Grow Rich," Michelle sets out on a journey to unpack the mechanisms of the brain's role in achieving goals.


The episode navigates through various elements that underpin the practice of manifestation, including the reticular activating system, neuroplasticity, and dopamine's impact on motivation. Michelle explores how these elements can rewire the brain's pathways and facilitate success when coupled with a positive mindset. She emphasizes the importance of specificity in goal-setting, highlighting the need to replace vague aspirations with concrete, achievable targets. Throughout the episode, Michelle shares compelling examples of successful women who have embraced manifestation, such as Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Blakely, and Lady Gaga, showcasing how conviction and focused desire can lead to remarkable achievements.


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Key Takeaways:
  • Understand the scientific basis of manifestation, including key components like the reticular activating system and neuroplasticity.
  • Specificity and clarity in goal-setting are crucial for effective manifestation.
  • Positivity and belief in one's capabilities can profoundly influence success.
  • Daily affirmations and visualizations can reinforce self-belief and goal achievement.
  • Persistence and faith in yourself are essential, especially during challenging times.

Notable Quotes:
  • "It's not the world that changes around you; it is you changing."
  • "Every time I walk into the studio to record or do whatever, it's a reminder of why I'm here."
  • "Set a goal and start visualizing it."
  • "Your brain is like high fiving you when you think like a winner."
  • "It's not about wishing; it's about focused desire and faith in yourself."

Resources:
  • Book: "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill
  • Napoleon Hill's principles: Desire, Faith, Auto-suggestion, Persistence
  • Episodes and exclusive content available on Patreon

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  • 140. Dare: 16 Easing into January: No Pressure, Just Gentle Dares

    11:02||Season 4, Ep. 140
    Thursday Dare Day – January Reset EditionJanuary has a reputation problem.Cold. Dark. Everyone suddenly a productivity expert with a colour-coded planner and unrealistic goals.If you’re already feeling behind — this episode is your permission slip to stop flogging yourself.In this Dare Day episode of the She Who Dares Wins Podcast, Michelle shares a gentler, smarter way to move through January — without burning out by February (again).Drawing on lessons from her years working in construction, Michelle reframes January as a transition month, not a launch pad for pressure and perfection.In this episode, we cover:Why big goal-setting in January can actually backfireThe case for easing into the year instead of going “hell for leather”How nature, seasons, and construction sites all agree: slow is sensibleWhy focusing inward (not outward) sets you up better for the year aheadThe value of reflecting on last year — without turning it into a self-criticism exerciseHow walking, journaling, reading, and getting outside can genuinely shift your headspaceWhy stepping back from social media in January might save your sanityThis week’s Dare (pick one… or all three):Go for a walk every day — 2 minutes or 2 hours, no phone, no pressureWrite a few lines in a journal daily — no structure, no goals, just honestyRead one book that inspires you — self-help, story, or anything that feeds your brainAnd the big one Michelle wants you to hear:Be kinder to yourself. With your thoughts. With your expectations. With your pace.January doesn’t need fixing.You don’t need fixing either.Also mentioned:Dare Club — weekly dares delivered straight to your inbox https://stan.store/shewhodareswinsUpcoming guests, live events, short films, and community meetupsA January sale over on the SWDW shop www.shewhodareswins.com🎧 New episodes every Monday + Dare Day every Thursday📩 Join Dare Club via Instagram or the link in the description🛒 January Sale: www.shewodareswins.comNo pressure. Just progress — the sustainable kind.

  • 139. From Feeling Lost to Saving Lives as an Air Ambulance Helicopter Pilot with Adele Dobler

    01:09:46||Season 4, Ep. 139
    What do you do when you don’t have a plan… You don’t see anyone who looks like you doing the job… And someone tells you outright that you’ll never make it?In this episode of She Who Dares Wins, Michelle sits down with Adele, an air ambulance helicopter pilot flying lifesaving missions over London — and her path there was anything but neat.From growing up in a working-class Canadian town, to being told “girls don’t get hired”, to flying night missions in Kenya, landing helicopters in central London, and racing feral horses across Mongolia — Adele’s story isn’t about confidence or clarity.It’s about doing the next honest step, even when the bigger picture doesn’t exist yet.This conversation is a reminder that you don’t need permission, a perfect plan, or a straight line — just the courage to keep going.Timestamps00:00 – Welcome & what it really means to “dare and win”06:45 – Feeling lost, drifting through jobs, and not seeing herself represented14:30 – “Girls won’t get hired” — the comment that nearly stopped her21:45 – Choosing to train anyway: loans, side jobs, and grit33:00 – Learning to say no under pressure as a young helicopter pilot46:00 – Extreme air ambulance work in Canada & Kenya56:00 – Moving to the UK (for a date… and a life pivot)1:01:30 – Flying with London’s Air Ambulance: what the job actually involves1:22:00 – The Mongol Derby & why she chooses hard things1:48:00 – Adele’s dare: listening to your own voice🔑 Key TakeawaysYou don’t need a clear plan — you need the next honest stepBeing told “no” often says more about other people’s limits than yoursVisibility matters — but belief in yourself matters moreSaying no under pressure is a skill that can save livesBurnout doesn’t mean you chose wrong — it means something needs adjustingDoing hard things builds trust with yourselfListening to your inner voice is a practice, not a personality trait🎧 Listen if you’re:Feeling restless but not “unhappy enough” to changeQuestioning your direction without wanting to burn everything downCurious about unconventional careers and real-life courageTired of motivational noise and ready for grounded truthIf this episode hit home, share it with someone who’s quietly sitting on a “what if”.And if you’re feeling that nudge?That’s usually where daring starts.Join Dare Club: https://stan.store/shewhodareswinsBecome a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/shewhodareswins/membershipShop the clothing: www.shewhodareswins.com

  • 138. The Quiet Work No One Sees When You’re Building a Life

    31:43||Season 4, Ep. 138
    This episode isn’t about big launches, viral moments, or overnight success.It’s about the quiet work. The thinking. The testing. The pulling back. The sitting with doubt instead of bulldozing through it.In the first episode of 2026, Michelle reflects honestly on the year just gone — what worked, what didn’t, and what only made sense once she stopped pushing and actually paid attention.From stepping back over Christmas to avoid burnout, to questioning growth, sponsorship, social media, and the direction of the brand, this is a grounded look at what it really takes to build something that lasts.No reinvention narrative.No “new year, new me”.Just clarity earned the hard way.In this episode, Michelle talks about:Why not publishing over Christmas was a deliberate decision — not a failureHow being busy isn’t the same as being alignedWhat last year revealed about presence, attention, and nervous system burnoutThe difference between testing ideas and chasing validationWhy community and collaboration matter more than doing everything aloneLosing momentum — and why that doesn’t mean you’re lostThe realities of running an unfunded podcast and staying values-ledRethinking sponsorship, growth, and keeping the show independentThe thinking behind Dare Club and the Thursday daresWhy small, intentional challenges beat dramatic life overhaulsLiving in the “dip” without panicking or quittingBooks, ideas & references mentioned:Lessons inspired by Tim Ferriss and extracting meaning from lived experienceStoic thinking via Ryan Holiday and The Obstacle Is the WayReflections on ADHD from Scattered MindsThe Netflix documentary Stutz and practical mental toolsPurpose, alignment, and slowing the pace instead of forcing progressWhy this episode matters:If you’re heading into 2026 feeling:unsure but not brokentired of loud advicequietly questioning the direction you’re headingThis episode is for you.Because building a life isn’t about constant forward motion. Sometimes it’s about stopping long enough to hear yourself think.What’s next:Guest episodes return next weekDare Club and weekly dares resume shortlyMore intentional challenges, clearer direction, less noiseIf you want to support the show, leave a review, share the episode with someone who’s in the messy middle, or join Dare Club for the weekly challenges.And as always — thanks for listening.Join Dare club https://stan.store/shewhodareswinsShop: www.shewhodareswins.comSupport the show https://www.patreon.com/c/shewhodareswins

  • 136. Dare #15 This Week’s Dare: Listen to nature

    09:11||Season 4, Ep. 136
    This week’s Dare Day episode was inspired by an unexpected quiet moment.An early morning drive.No traffic. No radio. nd the sudden realisation that I could hear birds singing — from inside the car.That small moment led to a bigger question: when did we stop noticing what’s around us?In this bonus episode, Michelle shares a simple but grounding story about an early winter morning, a red sky, a cup of tea in the garden, and how listening — properly listening — shifted her entire day.The episode also connects to insights from Episode with Georgia, who described a chance visit to an RSPB hide that made her realise how much of the natural world she’d been missing simply because she’d never stopped to notice it.This isn’t sentimental fluff. There’s real science behind why moments like this feel so powerful.In this episode, we cover:Why natural sounds like birdsong calm the nervous systemHow most of us live in low-level fight-or-flight without realisingThe concept of “soft fascination” and why nature restores a tired brainHow listening grounds us in the present and eases anxietyWhy nothing has to change around you for something to shift internallyThis Week’s Dare:Take 5–10 minutes early in the morning.Before your phone. Before conversations. Before the world gets loud.No music. No podcasts. No scrolling. Make a tea or coffee if you like. Sit outside, on a doorstep, balcony, or by an open window.Close your eyes. And listen.Birds, wind, distance, silence — whatever is there.You’re not trying to relax. You’re not fixing anything. You’re simply reminding your nervous system that it’s safe.If you’ve stopped hearing the birds, there’s a good chance you’ve been carrying too much noise for too long.Want weekly dares like this?Dare Club is free to join and lands these weekly dares straight in your inbox, along with early access to live events and special announcements.You can sign up via the link in the episode description or through Instagram.Thanks for listening — and enjoy this week’s dare.Join Dare Club https://stan.store/shewhodareswins

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    55:31||Season 4, Ep. 134
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  • 133. Dare #14 Burn out - I Missed Every Warning Sign. Don’t Do the Same.

    20:51||Ep. 133
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  • 132. Into the Wild: Finding a Passion for Wildlife, Travel, and Unexpected photography Adventures with Georgia Barker

    41:21||Season 4, Ep. 132
    Georgia didn’t just dare — she bolted. At 22 she booked a one-way ticket to Australia, spent seven years travelling the world, worked in one of Queensland’s roughest pubs, wandered through Africa, and accidentally built the resilience most people try to buy in paperback form.A decade later, one spontaneous visit to an RSPB reserve flipped a switch she didn’t know she had. In just one year, she’s become a standout wildlife photographer, built a community of new-age birders, and is now leading her first international birding trip — all while navigating the tension between passion and monetisation.This episode is all about daring to start something completely new, letting curiosity lead the way, and remembering that the wild isn’t “out there”… it’s been on your doorstep the whole damn time.Key Takeaways (Condensed)How a single meme and a toxic relationship pushed her to book that one-way ticket.The seven years of travel that shaped her grit, confidence, and worldview.The unexpected moment birding clicked — and why it hit so hard.Her rise in wildlife photography despite zero formal training.The ethics, chaos, and surprising humour inside the birding world.Why she’s not rushing to turn her passion into a full-time job.How community, nature, and curiosity helped her find her thing.Timestamps0:00 – Welcome + Georgia’s biggest dare 0:12 – Why she booked a one-way ticket to Australia at 22 3:20 – Seven years on the road: Africa, New Zealand, Canada & chaos 4:55 – Working in one of Queensland’s “roughest pubs” 7:30 – The accidental moment she discovered birding 12:50 – Why wildlife photography hooked her instantly 15:40 – The challenge of keeping passion and monetisation separate 18:45 – Building a new kind of birding community + UK wildlife loveShop www.shewhodareswins.comJoin Dare club Community

  • 131. Dare #13 Being More in the Moment & Letting Go of Goal Pressure

    13:33||Season 4, Ep. 131
    This week’s Dare Thursday is a little different — mostly because Michelle is recording while full of lurgy and zero illusions of having her life together. Instead of a neatly structured pep talk, you’re getting a raw brain dump on presence, pressure, and why your future goals are sometimes ruining your mood in the present.In this episode, Michelle unpacks:💥 Why your brain loves dragging you out of the momentFrom planning next year’s guests to imagining your finances in 12 months, the mental time travel never ends. And honestly? It’s exhausting. Especially when it stops you from appreciating the good stuff that’s already happening.💭 The trap of goal-setting that nobody warns you aboutYes, goals matter. But obsessing over them? That’s the fast lane to anxiety. Michelle reflects on how she hit goals she never planned for — and missed goals she thought mattered — and what that actually teaches you about focus and flexibility.🌱 The power of micro-presenceShe's been experimenting with catching herself mid-spiral and asking simple grounding questions:Am I okay right now?Do I have what I need today?Are the kids fine?Has anything genuinely gone wrong?Turns out, checking in with the present lowers anxiety much faster than a five-year plan ever has.🧠 ADHD, internal rebellion & why “You have to do this” never worksIf your inner child wants to flip a table every time you impose a strict goal on yourself… yeah, you’re not alone. Michelle breaks down why some brains reject pressure — and how reframing your “must do’s” into playful experiments might actually get you results.🎨 The story of the artist told to go get 50 rejectionsOne of the best mindset flips of the episode: failure as a game. Once the pressure disappeared, the success exploded.This Week’s DareCatch yourself every single time you start spiralling about the future or beating yourself up for not being “further along.” Pause. Ask: “Is today actually okay?” If the answer is yes — drop the panic. You’re still on the path, even if it’s wiggly. Dare Club Is OPENMichelle has officially launched Dare Club — the free online community for women who want:more connectionmore couragemore accountabilitymore ‘holy crap, I’m actually doing the thing’ momentsYou can join for free, with optional paid tiers coming packed with value. Connect over podcast guests, your own dares, and real-life meetups as the community grows.Join via Michelle’s Instagram bio or at shewhodareswins.com → Dare Club.

  • 130. (re-run) Becca Worgan -Strength Without Permission: Becca Worgan’s Rise in Strongman

    41:49||Season 4, Ep. 130
    In this episode of She Who Dares Wins, Michelle sits down with Becca Worgan — the current Natural World’s Strongest Woman under 82 kg and possibly the calmest, most grounded powerhouse you’ll ever meet.Becca didn’t grow up dreaming about lifting atlas stones or dragging cars for fun. She only started Strongman in 2019… and then decided to go and dominate it. Casual.We dig into how she built her strength, both the muscle and the mindset. She talks about juggling university, work, and training without losing her sanity, and why stepping into a Strongman gym as a woman can feel like walking into a secret society — but shouldn’t.Becca also shares how a tiny pivot from bodybuilding to Strongman changed everything, why the crew at Steel City Gym in Middlesbrough helped her level up fast, and how community can do what discipline alone can’t.There’s also plenty on injury setbacks, rebuilding confidence, stepping into commentating, and why she’s training to become a physio specifically for strength athletes — because she wants to give back to the sport that gave her direction.It’s an episode full of grit, straight talk, and reassurance for every woman who’s ever looked at a barbell and thought, “Not sure that’s for me.” Spoiler: it is.Key TakeawaysRelentless focus pays off. Becca’s success comes from showing up, even on the grim days when motivation left the chat.Your environment matters. A supportive gym isn’t a luxury — it’s rocket fuel. Steel City proved that.Strength isn’t a boys’ club. Women face real barriers entering strength sports, but Becca’s on a mission to tear those down.Make your passion your career. From competing to commentating to becoming a physio, Becca’s building a future rooted in the sport she loves.Setbacks don’t define you. Injuries happen — the comeback is where the real mental strength shows up.Notable Quotes“Once you know how to use everything and what you’re doing, that fear will go. You can get really confident really quickly in it.”“I just love being strong. It quickly became, I’m more interested in what my body can do than what it looks like.”“It’s not selfish. An hour at the gym three or four times a week isn’t selfish at all — you can definitely find that time.”“I’ve never been so pleased about something in my life. All that work was worth it when I won.”“If you're in the northeast, send me a message. I’m training all over the place and I’ll happily train with you.”ResourcesBecca Worgan on InstagramSteel City Gym, MiddlesbroughNatural World’s Strongest Woman CompetitionChaos PromotionsUK Natural Strength Federation (UKNS)Support the ShowShop hoodies and tees at👉 www.shewhodareswins.comUse code POD10 for 10% off.
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