How to talk with someone intimidating

192. Whatever you call it—self-doubt, insecurity, inadequacy—it’s a universal phenomenon. We can all relate to feeling as insecure as a newly-launched cryptocurrency. Luckily, there is lots we can do. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen covers how to feel better about yourself in the moment (plus what NOT to do).  Find a transcript here.  Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack. Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips. Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links:https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologisthttps://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologisthttps://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

9. When all that’s left of the fa-la-las is rock-hard fruitcake, the winter blahs creep up, settle in, and hang around until spring. In this episode from the very early days of the podcast (2014!), Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 8 tips to deal with the blahs and their more serious cousin, Seasonal Affective Disorder. This classic feels as timely as ever. We hope you enjoy! Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack. Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips. Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links:https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologisthttps://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologisthttps://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

200. In this fan-favorite episode from 2018, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen celebrates her 200th episode by giving us a much-needed makeover using five pieces of classic happiness advice.Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.Links:https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologisthttps://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologisthttps://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

550. Continuing our two-part series on speaking up at work, this week's episode tackles how to talk with someone intimidating—a boss, professor, or anyone who makes your adrenaline spike. You’ll learn how to recognize dominance signals, mentally humanize scary people, use your own body language to project calm confidence, and prepare for tough conversations without overpreparing. Regardless of your intimidating situation, these four practical tools will help you use your voice with more clarity and self-respect.Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.Find a transcript here.Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.Links: https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologisthttps://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologisthttps://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

549. Meetings are everywhere—from work and faculty meetings to HOAs and book clubs. But speaking up can feel intimidating, especially if you struggle with social anxiety, perfectionism, or power dynamics. In this episode, we unpack why staying silent feels safer and why it rarely feels good afterward. Then we walk through six practical, low-pressure strategies to help you participate without needing the “perfect” comment. Related episodes:Modern Mentor episode 869 - Make meetings matter: Intentional gatherings for impactFind Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.Find a transcript here.Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.Links: https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologisthttps://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologisthttps://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

113. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen channels her best Talking Heads and asks, on behalf of every middle-aged adult: "How did I get here?" Plus, Dr. Hendriksen explains why time seems to fly as we get older. Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.Find a transcript here.Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.Links: https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologisthttps://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologisthttps://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

548. In a culture of likes, reviews, and constant comparison, deciding if you’ve "done well" can feel impossible. This week, interim host Dr. Ellen Hendriksen unpacks the trap of tying your value to others’ approval. She explores when external evaluation works and when it emphatically fails. She also shares three simple questions to help you define success on your own terms.Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website.Find a transcript here.Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.Links: https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologisthttps://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologisthttps://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych 

547. If you've ever followed every sleep rule in the book and still found yourself wide awake at 2 a.m., this episode is for you. Sleep psychologist Dr. Jade Wu looks at why sleep hygiene—like avoiding screens or caffeine—is a great foundation but won't actually fix a "cavity" like chronic insomnia. She looks at why rigid rule-following can create the very anxiety that keeps you awake.

546. Self-compassion sounds simple—be kind to yourself—but for those of us with a loud inner critic, it can feel surprisingly hard to put into practice. This week, we’ll break down three truths that make self-compassion more doable and less fuzzy. If you’ve ever worried that self-compassion means lowering your standards, let this week’s episode (kindly) change your mind.Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website.Find a transcript here.Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.Links: https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologisthttps://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologisthttps://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

545. Do you close your eyes only for your brain to start spinning with to-do lists and worries? In this episode, sleep psychologist Dr. Jade Wu looks at why your mind races at night. She looks at three common daytime saboteurs of nighttime peace and offers science-backed methods to help you finally quiet your mind and fall asleep.Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website.Find a transcript here. Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.Links: https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologisthttps://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologisthttps://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych