Hey, Confidence Crusaders! Neuro nerds! And dog lovers?

Yup!

This episode of Real Confidence is about to go to the DOGS. Stay with me — it’s not just about teaching Spot to sit. It’s about how your energy — your confidence — shapes your dog’s behavior (and maybe even your life).

Joining me is Brady Foulk, a pro dog trainer with a gift for turning "chaotic canine" into "calm and collected." But here's the twist: it’s not just about training your pup — it’s about training you.

And because we recently adopted a new puppy, Porter, after we had to say goodbye to our beloved rescue pooch Georgie last summer, I wanted all the tips because it’s been close to two decades since we had a little tail-wagger in the house.

Brady shared pro tips on how to inspire our dogs (no bribery or yelling required), spot when they’re overwhelmed (hello, frustrated sniffs!) and build their confidence step by step.

Whether you're a proud pet parent or just here for the confidence hacks, this episode’s got you. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll totally rethink how you approach leadership—with your dog and your life.

Key takeaways you don’t want to miss:

• Dogs can smell your emotions — yes, literally. If you’re anxious, they’re anxious. If you’re confident, they’re confident.
• Leadership matters — your dog mirrors your energy.
• Confidence is teachable — for you and your dog.
• How to read your dog’s body language for signs of overwhelm
• Fun fact: Brady’s puppy is learning to ride a skateboard. Yes, really!

Listen now and let’s sniff out some confidence together.

Brady is a committed dog trainer who loves helping dogs and their humans thrive together at home and out in the world. With extensive experience in canine behavior, obedience, emotional support, and service dog training, he has developed a practical, compassionate approach to building trust and confidence in dogs and their owners. Brady’s philosophy is simple: a confident, well-trained dog leads to a happier, more harmonious home life. Learn more about Brady and his work at newdirectiondogtraining.com.

I almost titled this episode “I Want My Bubble Back” and no, I don’t mean the pandemic lockdown days. I mean the good old days.

Or maybe I should say “my good old days” because we all have a version of those, when life seemed simpler, no matter our age. For me it was playing outside all day, coming home after dark, biking everywhere and worrying about little more than which what jeans were currently cool.

Ah, nostalgia.

But there’s the thing: those memories we cherish? They’re not necessarily accurate. Our brains love to soften the hard stuff, filter out the struggles, and create a highlight reel that doesn’t tell the whole story.

Our brains also want to tell us that our current challenges and struggles are harder than ever, but the truth is that challenges and struggles have always been part of our lives. Little ones—like sharing a curly cord, landline with your entire family, to big ones, like learning to navigate life after 9/11.

The thing I want us all to remember is that if we got through those, we have what it takes to do it again. We didn’t get through those times because we believed they were somehow easier. We got through them because we’re stronger than we think.

Tune in as I riff on the tricks our brains play on us, how those rose-colored glasses we view the past through are hurting us and how we can use our “good old days” memories instead to supercharge our confidence today.

It wasn’t that long ago that my sons were in their teens and the world has changed so much even since then. Teens face more and different challenges than we could have imagined when we were their age, and those challenges are doing a number on their confidence.

What’s one of the biggest confidence crises they’re facing today?

I had a fascinating conversation with Emily McCavanagh—fitness expert, teen confidence coach, and overall powerhouse—about that very thing. If you’re a parent, coach, or anyone who cares about the next generation, you’ll want to tune in, because we tackled that and so much more because while you might be tempted to point the finger at social media, that’s only part of it.

Sure, scrolling can lead to that toxic comparison game, but Emily peeled back the layers and got to the heart of it: teens are terrified of failing. And when you're too scared to fail, you never take the risks that build real confidence.

What I love about Emily’s work is how she flips the script on leadership. Her teen athlete Captain’s Collaborative program isn’t about being the toughest or most talented—it’s about being compassionate, courageous, and consistent. It’s leadership with heart, and it’s a total game-changer for young athletes who are expected to lead just because they’re good at their sport.

Spoiler alert: being really good at something doesn’t mean you’re inevitably confident at it!

Emily is on a mission to create a new generation of leaders—ones who aren't just strong on the field but empathetic, courageous, and ready to lift others up. And come on - who doesn’t want more of that in the world?

Highlights from our conversation include:

• How the fear of failure cripples teen confidence
• Why they—and we—should focus on their unique strengths rather than their “win-loss” record
• Flipping the script on what leadership means (it’s more than talent, by the way); and
• A powerful question parents or any adult can ask that sends the subtle message about winning and inspires confidence at the same time

https://www.facebook.com/emily.mccavanagh/

https://www.instagram.com/trainwithfitmethod/