Good Girl Deprogramming

Episode 7 - Vicky Campbell - The Power of Being You

In this episode of the Good Girl Deprogramming Podcast, Michelle is joined by Vicky Campbell, a coach and HR expert, to discuss the complexities of being a “good girl” at work and the toll it takes on our authentic selves. They dive deep into the emotional exhaustion that comes from masking, people-pleasing, and constantly trying to fit into rigid workplace expectations.

A passionate, driven and honest Change Maker. Having worked across most HR Specialisms in the fast go, go, go Financial Services industry for 20 years I know a thing or two about Change!

I love people; I specifically love developing people. Listening to their needs and being creative in transforming their career journey. A pink haired free spirit, with a desire to break down barriers.

What we talk about:

• 1:16 - Vicky Campbell Introduction
• Michelle introduces Vicky and dives straight into discussing the pressures of being a good girl at work.
• 1:30 - The Good Girl Mask
• Vicky shares her experience of being a “good girl” at work, how it serves as a form of self-preservation, but drains energy and leads to emotional burnout.
• 3:57 - Authenticity in the Workplace
• Michelle and Vicky discuss how showing up as your true self at work can be empowering, but often comes with the pushback of being asked to “tone it down” and fit into the mould.
• 4:19 - Anger in the Workplace
• Michelle points out that anger is often the one emotion women are discouraged from expressing at work, even though it’s a natural and important emotion.
• 8:25 - Neurodiversity and Masking
• Vicky talks about her ADHD diagnosis and the emotional journey of realising that her good girl mask was hiding her neurodivergence. She shares how this awareness has transformed her personal and professional life.
• 10:56 - People-Pleasing and the Cost of Compliance
• Vicky reflects on how her people-pleasing tendencies kept her apologising for herself and accommodating others’ opinions at the expense of her own needs.
• 17:08 - Restoring Energy through Authenticity
• The conversation shifts to ways to restore energy, like stepping into your authentic self and doing activities that bring you joy (such as Vicky’s love of singing).
• 18:21 - The Importance of Replenishment
• Michelle and Vicky talk about the need for replenishment, whether through nature, dancing, or even allowing space for yourself to just be. They emphasise the importance of self-care and not wasting energy on masking.
• 22:01 - Advice to Younger Self
• Vicky shares what she would tell her 19-year-old self starting out in the corporate world—trust your instincts and don’t stay in spaces that don’t serve you.
• 23:48 - Why Women Blame Themselves
• Michelle highlights her upcoming book exploring why young women blame themselves when they feel out of place in the workplace, leading to further discussions on societal conditioning.
• 28:50 - Embracing the Journey of Authenticity
• Vicky reflects on how, as she steps into her authentic self, her relationships and career have transformed for the better.
• 29:31 - Final Question for Listeners
• Vicky challenges the audience to reflect on what’s holding them back from being their true, authentic selves. What would life look like if they allowed themselves to fully embrace who they are?
• 32:17 - Closing Remarks
• Michelle wraps up the episode, reflecting on the importance of stepping into authenticity and sharing how Vicky’s journey has resonated with her own experience of deprogramming good girl conditioning.

Follow Vicky on social media:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/advancepopulus/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickycampbell123/

Follow Michelle on social media:

Website - https://www.michelleminnikin.com/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mminnikin/

Episode 14 - Deprogramming from Trust with Michelle Minnikin

In this episode of the Good Girl Deprogramming podcast, Michelle Minnikin takes us on a deep dive into Chapter 3 of her book, Good Girl Deprogramming, titled “Establishing Trust: We’ve Got Your Best Interests at Heart.”

With a powerful quote from Stephen King — “The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool” — Michelle sets the stage for a critical exploration of trust. While trust is essential for human connection, it can be weaponised to control and manipulate, particularly for women taught to “trust the grown-ups” in their lives. This conditioning leaves us vulnerable to manipulation, self-doubt, and a silenced inner voice.

In this episode, Michelle unpacks the five key steps to deprogram from this “blind trust” and embrace critical thinking — a vital skill for reclaiming our power and agency.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Trust Can Be Dangerous: How society conditions women to trust blindly — and how this conditioning keeps us small, compliant, and easy to control.
• The Role of Critical Thinking: Why critical thinking is essential for deprogramming from Good Girl Conditioning and how it helps us resist manipulation.
• The Five Steps to Deprogramming Trust:
• Don’t believe everything you’re told — Learn to question authority and the motives behind the information you consume.
• Don’t believe everything you think — Discover how biases, societal narratives, and your own brain can mislead you.
• Ask better questions — Embrace your inner 5-year-old and use curiosity to challenge assumptions and dig deeper.
• Listen to perspectives you disagree with — Why staying in an echo chamber is dangerous and how to gain valuable new perspectives.
• Question your own thinking — Reflect on your beliefs, challenge them, and be open to change.

We Want to Hear From You!

What’s one area of your life where you’re ready to question the status quo? Send Michelle a message or tag her on social media with your thoughts!

Follow Michelle on social media:

Website - https://www.michelleminnikin.com/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mminnikin/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goodgirldeprogramming

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@michelleminnikin

Buy Good Girl Deprogramming

Ebook and Paperback available at all good bookshops (and Amazon - https://amzn.to/3AQHuFf)

Audible - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0D9MKBDBW/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-406719&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_406719_rh_uk

Take the Good Girl Quiz

Find out if you’re a Good Girl at https://goodgirlquiz.co.uk/

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with friends!

Episode 11 - Writing, Good Girl Conditioning, and Too Muchness with Nicola Humber

In this special episode to celebrate the first anniversary of Good Girl Deprogramming, Michelle sits down with her publisher, Nicola Humber.

Whether you’re dreaming of writing a book or simply want to live more authentically, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration to help you break free from societal expectations and unleash your full potential.

Nicola Humber is the author of three transformational books, Heal Your Inner Good Girl , UNBOUND and Unbound Writing and creator of the #unbound365 journal. She's also the founder of The Unbound Press, a soul-led publishing imprint for unbound women.

After playing the archetypal good girl up until her mid-thirties, Nicola left her 'proper' job in finance to retrain as a coach and hypnotherapist and this leap of faith led her to what she does now: activating recovering good girls to embrace their so-called imperfections and shake off the tyranny of 'shoulds', so they can be their fullest, freest, most magnificent selves.

Nicola helps women to write the book their Unbound Self is calling them to write, whilst growing a community of soul-family readers and clients.

She's also the host of The Unbound Writer's Club podcast.

What we talk about:

• 2:30 – Nicola’s Journey - from corporate life to founding The Unbound Press
• Nicola reflects on her path from the structured corporate world to creating The Unbound Press, a space where women’s unique voices and stories are celebrated.
• 4:51 – The Myth of the Linear Writing Process
• Both Michelle and Nicola debunk the myth that writing a book is a linear process, explaining how life’s ebbs and flows shape creative journeys.
• 6:07 – Embracing Cyclical Creativity
• They discuss how embracing natural cycles—seasonal, lunar, and menstrual—can help women let go of rigid productivity expectations.
• 8:12 – Fear of Criticism
• Nicola opens up about the internal battle many writers face, from questioning their worth to fearing judgment from readers.
• 10:32 – Turning Criticism into Content
• Michelle and Nicola share personal experiences of dealing with negative reviews and turning them into opportunities for reflection and growth.
• 13:36 – Pleasing Everyone vs. Authenticity
• They explore the dangers of seeking universal approval, explaining how authenticity resonates more deeply with the right audience.
• 16:42 – Reconnecting with Your Body and Cycles
• Nicola highlights the importance of listening to your body and cycles, breaking free from the linear productivity models that dominate workplaces.
• 20:21 – The Impact of “Good Girl” Conditioning at Work
• Michelle previews her upcoming book, examining why high-achieving girls often struggle when they enter the workforce.
• 24:22 – Women Supporting Women
• The conversation shifts to the transformative power of community, as they emphasise the importance of women lifting each other up.
• 27:31 – Writing Your Own Story
• Nicola encourages aspiring authors to embrace their unique perspectives, even in a world saturated with similar stories.
• 30:36 – Valuing Your Own Experiences
• They discuss how personal stories bring writing to life, helping readers connect with deeper truths.
• 33:22 – Listener Challenge: Embrace your “too muchness”

Follow Nicola on social media:

Website - https://nicolahumber.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nicolaahumber/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nicolahumber

Buy Good Girl Deprogramming

Ebook and Paperback available at all good bookshops (and Amazon - https://amzn.to/3AQHuFf)

Audible - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0D9MKBDBW/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-406719&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_406...

Episode 17 - Noticing the Water We Swim In with Katy Lumsden

Katy is a seasoned practitioner in organisational behaviour, organisational development, and human resources, with extensive leadership experience across the public sector in Ireland, as well as in church and trade union environments. Her work is driven by a passion for learning and empowerment through self-inquiry, underpinned by a values-led approach.

Holding an MBS in Organisational Development, Organisational Behaviour, and Leadership, Katy has designed and delivered programmes for children and young people, focusing on leadership, followership, and culture. A regular speaker, podcast guest, and co-author of Soul Excellence Publishing’s best-selling leadership book, The X-Factor: Spiritual Secrets Behind Successful Executives and Entrepreneurs, Katy frequently shares her insights on leadership, systems, and culture through social media.

Before transitioning into organisational development, Katy trained and practised in Visual Communications. In 2004, she was awarded Craft Membership of the Society of Heraldic Arts, joining an exclusive group of fewer than 50 artists worldwide to have earned this distinction.

Katy’s career path has been far from linear, but it has always been guided by her personal values of excellence, professionalism, fairness, courage, and growth. She continually seeks opportunities to align her work with these principles, carving out a distinctive and impactful professional journey.

But first and foremost, Katy is a mum to an inspiring and astonishing young woman, who is her breath after breath. Her daughter’s hope, joie de vivre, and bold assumptions cast a searchlight across generations of systemic injustice - forces vested in keeping her small, quiet, and unconfronting simply because she is female.

What we talk about:

• 1:28 – How Michelle and Katy Connected - Katy shares how a LinkedIn post about Good Girl Deprogramming led to her starting a reading group for the book.
• 5:01 – The Impact of Good Girl Deprogramming - Katy discusses her eye-opening experience with the book, particularly Biderman’s Chart of Coercion and its application to systemic patriarchy.
• 7:33 – The Noticing Effect - How the book changed Katy’s perspective on societal norms, influencing her own behaviour and those around her.
• 8:46 – Changing the World - They discuss how small, collective changes can lead to systemic shifts.
• 9:18 – Navigating Difficult News and Conversations - Katy shares a personal story of processing difficult news stories and finding solace in her Good Girl Gang.
• 13:26 – Decoupling Patriarchy from Men - Exploring the idea that patriarchy is a system harming everyone and the importance of engaging men in allyship.
• 15:16 – The Workplace and Systemic Change - Practical examples of workplace barriers for women, from ill-fitting chairs to inaccessible spaces, and how these reflect deeper systemic issues.
• 20:28 – The Problem with “Quick Fix” Solutions - Critiquing the oversimplified solutions often marketed to women and the need for systemic change instead of individual fixes.
• 26:05 – Internalised Misogyny and Self-Policing - Katy reflects on how women are conditioned to self-police and judge one another under systemic patriarchy.
• 28:44 – Katy’s Provocation for Listeners
• 32:47 – Building a Good Girl Gang - Katy shares her advice for forming supportive groups to navigate and discuss Good Girl Deprogramming.

Follow Katy on social media:

Website - https://www.knownoboundsleadership.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-lumsden-noisy-introvert/

Follow Michelle on social media:

Website - https://www.michelleminnikin.com/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mminnikin/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goodgirldeprogramming

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@michelleminnikin

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