‘We’re making our voices heard’ ‘Success shouldn’t be for those who shout loudest’
Podcasting isn’t just for celebrities. Anyone can become part of this exciting world – and it’s where these three readers have all found their own place…
Nadia Finer felt weighed down by her shyness, until she turned it into a strength through her Shy and Mighty podcast.
I’ve been shy since I was a teenager and took part in a French conversation class at school. When I played back the recording, I was mortified.
Since then, talking in front of people, addressing a meeting, even leaving a voicemail are major ordeals. That’s one reason I’m now an author and founder of the Shy and Mighty project, helping others fulfil their potential – working one-on-one suits me best. Yet, on my podcast, not only is my voice centre stage – so is my shyness.
I had the idea in 2019, speaking at an event to inspire schoolgirls. As the other speakers leapt up to speak with glossy confidence, I started thinking that if the loud, dominant voices were the only ones these girls heard, the quiet ones would feel even more alienated. Success shouldn’t be for those who shout the loudest.
I decided to give shyness a voice. On the train home, I hit upon the name ‘Shy and Mighty’. A few weeks later, I started my podcast in my spare room.
A podcast is a very personal medium, and I can reach a huge audience, without the anxiety of facing a room full of people.
I talk about my experiences and interview other people and experts about shyness. It feels exposing that people are listening to my voice, but it’s also empowering to do what makes me most uncomfortable. With shyness, you build bravery muscles – and keep flexing them.
I get emails from women, often in their 50s or 60s, revealing the impact being shy has had on their lives. One listener told me that not only did she feel she’d missed out in life and work, but how it had affected her family.
I’ve recorded around 50 episodes over the past two years and I work with schools and businesses to help them value shy people. With two books coming out, I’ve really found my voice.
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Shy And Mighty: Your Shyness Is A Superpower (DK) is out 7 April; Shy And Mighty: How To Step Out Of The Shadows And Live A Bigger Life (Quercus), is out 14 April.
about someone’s feelings is one thing, but hearing them can be even more engaging.
The first episode went out in February 2021, when I interviewed the head of the Nationwide Association of Fostering Providers, Harvey Gallagher. Now I’m on my third series and release a podcast every fortnight. I reflect on the complex issues in the adoption world and hear from those who’ve experienced it themselves. I don’t want anyone to go through the loneliness that adoption can bring without seeing there are things they can do to overcome it.
● Listen at adoptionarena.com or on Spotify and iTunes. Joy is an ambassador for The Centre for Adoption. For more, visit icacentre.org.uk