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Coco Duan Podcasts

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Hosted by Coco Duan, a former Fortune 500 executive turned Life & Leadership Coach, the Unshakable Confidence podcast is your weekly guide to building the self-trust and resilience needed to thrive personally and professionally. Coco empowers high-achieving women who secretly struggle with self-doubt to cultivate unshakable confidence, enabling them to lead with calm, clarity and confidence. Each episode offers practical strategies and insightful guidance on topics such as: Rewiring limiting ...
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Send us a text If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, I wish I’d spoken up… this episode is for you. I know what it’s like to have ideas, insights, and value to share—yet feel your heart race, your mind go blank, or your words get stuck when the moment comes. I spent years in corporate boardrooms, from business school cold calls to high-s…
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Send us a text Struggling to unplug after work? Your nervous system might think resting is risky — so it keeps you spinning like a hamster on a wheel. The secret? Teach your body that slowing down is safe by gently rewiring your nervous system with simple, soothing rituals. Want to discover how calm leads to clarity and higher productivity? Ready t…
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Send us a text You think your way through leadership while your body holds all the answers. Plot twist: Your brain forgets. Your body remembers everything. Science shows: Body → Brain = 80% of information. Brain → Body = only 20%. Learn the one-minute breath practice that unlocks your hidden leadership intelligence. When did you last listen to your…
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Send us a text What does it really mean to feel free? In this heartfelt conversation with Nurse Nell, I open up about my journey from being an “insecure overachiever” checking all the boxes of success—Fortune 500 executive, high salary, impressive title—to finally feeling safe, grounded, and free in my own skin. We talk about: Why external success …
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Send us a text I used to look like I had it all together—on paper, I did. A senior role in a Fortune 500 company. A packed calendar. A life full of achievement. But beneath the surface, I was silently struggling. In this powerful masterclass-style episode, I walk you through the five silent struggles so many high-achieving women face—but rarely tal…
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Send us a text You respond to Slack at 9pm while your own needs wait till "someday." Here's the truth: People-pleasing isn't kindness—it's self-abandonment. Your nervous system thinks disappointing others = danger. That's why "just say no" never works. Discover the 3-step method to communicate boundaries without guilt, handle pushback without cavin…
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Send us a text 🚨 This might be the most important boundary you're NOT setting Most high-achievers think getting their needs met is selfish. It's actually strategic. But there's a specific order you MUST follow, or it backfires completely. Watch to discover the internal boundary that changes everything (Plus the 15-minute trick that rewires your ner…
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Send us a text For years, I thought being a good leader meant staying in control, holding it together, and powering through. I was praised for my results—but inside, I was reactive, impatient, and disconnected from my emotions. Sound familiar? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on one of the most overlooked yet transformative leadership …
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Send us a text You take care of everyone else. You ignore your own needs. You feel tired, drained, and sometimes resentful. That’s not just overgiving. That’s a boundary issue. But before you can set healthy boundaries with others, you have to reconnect with yourself. You have to know your needs—what makes you feel safe, alive, and well. Because ig…
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Send us a text Are you constantly putting out fires, pushing through exhaustion, or feeling stuck in overthinking? If so, you might be leading from stress without even realizing it. In this episode, I walk you through the four nervous system states that shape your leadership style: the Firefighter, the Ghost Leader, the Deer in Headlights, and the …
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Send us a text If your to-do list never ends. If slowing down makes you anxious. If you feel guilty when you rest. It’s not just ambition. It’s a protector part trying to keep you safe. At some point, your nervous system learned: Rest equals danger Doing equals love, praise, or escape But now that pattern is draining your energy, clarity, and creat…
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Send us a text Why Beating Yourself Up Backfires That harsh voice in your head? It’s not keeping you sharp—it’s keeping you stuck. Self-criticism activates your nervous system’s fight-or-flight mode. It drains your energy, hijacks your focus, and shuts down your learning. But there’s another way. You can turn your inner critic into an inner ally—wi…
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Send us a text This week, I’m sharing a powerful conversation I had on Lead with Dr. Ralph Hughes—and we went deep. Dr. Ralph invited me to share my journey from being a senior executive to coaching, and the pivotal mindset shifts that changed everything—from burnout and people-pleasing to boundaries, purpose, and unshakable confidence. In this epi…
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Send us a text Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “I’ve done everything right... so why don’t I feel fulfilled?” In this heartfelt episode, I’m sharing the full masterclass “From Checking Boxes to Living Aligned”—a deeply personal, practical, and empowering guide to help you reconnect with your purpose and start living in alignment with…
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Send us a text Do you beat yourself up when you fall short—like you should’ve known better or done more? That’s your inner critic trying to protect you. However, self-criticism doesn’t make you better. It puts your nervous system into stress mode and shuts down your ability to think clearly, lead effectively, or grow sustainably. You don’t need to …
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Send us a text Do you ever snap at someone you love—or completely shut down—and wonder, What’s wrong with me? Here’s the truth: There’s nothing wrong with you. That’s your protector part showing up. It’s your nervous system trying to keep you safe the way it learned a long time ago. These parts—like the people-pleaser, the overachiever, or the avoi…
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Send us a text Triggered? It’s not just about now. It’s your younger, vulnerable self remembering a past pain. You don’t need to fix her—just see her with compassion. What’s one reaction you’ve had lately that felt bigger than the moment? DM me if you want support learning how to navigate your triggers with more compassion, clarity, and confidence.…
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Send us a text Ever feel like fear takes the wheel when stress hits? That’s not weakness—it’s your protector and vulnerable parts trying to keep you safe. But your calm, capable self is still there—and she knows how to lead. What’s one moment from your past that proves you can handle uncertainty? DM me if you need support to lead from your wise adu…
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Send us a text Ever feel like multiple voices are battling in your head when you’re stressed? One part spirals into shame. Another jumps to defend, fix, or shut down. And sometimes, a calmer voice steps in with clarity. ✅ These “voices” are different parts of you: vulnerable, protector, and wise adult. ✅ Under stress, the wrong part often takes the…
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Send us a text Have you ever felt like you’re being pulled in a dozen different directions? One part of you wants to rest, another tells you you're lazy. One part wants to go out and connect, another begs you to stay home and hide. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone—and this episode is for you. In today’s episode, I’m introducing you to one …
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Send us a text Are you pushing people to perform—or pulling them into their potential? Most leaders were taught to lead by pressure: Demand more. Set the bar. Get frustrated when others fall short. That may get short-term results—but it drains energy and destroys trust. ✅ Push leadership activates fear and burnout ✅ Pull leadership inspires through…
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Send us a text What if the key to leadership confidence wasn’t learning something new But spending quality time with yourself? We often say we want to know ourselves better. But are we actually spending time with yourself—without distractions? ✅ Just 5 minutes a day of solitude (no phone, no noise) helps you: Tune into your body’s signals, emotions…
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Send us a text Think you’re “just not that kind of person”? Think again. Your personality test might be showing you your adaptations—not your essence. Personality tests like MBTI can be helpful snapshots, but they’re not the full story. They often reflect your current coping strategies, not your true self. ✅ Here’s what I’ve learned from shifting f…
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Send us a text Think your glass of wine, Netflix binge, or late-night scroll is helping you unwind? It might be making things worse. We often reach for comfort when we're stressed—but many common habits are actually numbing, not regulating. ✅ Unhealthy coping disconnects you from your body and buries unprocessed emotions ✅ It disrupts your stress c…
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Send us a text Ever feel like your body goes into full-on panic mode after one urgent email? Even when your brain knows you're not in danger… your body doesn’t. Picture this: You get a surprise email about a high-stakes meeting with the CEO in 48 hours. Your heart races. Your chest tightens. Your mind goes blank. You’re not just stressed—you’re hij…
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Send us a text Have you ever held yourself back from speaking up, showing up, or just being you—because you were afraid of what others might think? In this episode, I’m getting real about one of the most invisible, exhausting patterns I used to live with: the fear of judgment. From silencing myself in corporate meetings to hiding my coaching practi…
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Send us a text If there’s no tiger chasing you… why does your body still feel like you’re in danger? That pit in your stomach. That racing heart. The urgency. In today’s Daily Power Lesson, you’ll learn: ✅ Why your nervous system responds to perceived danger from the past—not just what’s happening now ✅ How unprocessed emotional wounds keep your bo…
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Send us a text You’ve worked on your presence. You’ve sharpened your skills. But if your nervous system is hijacked—you still can’t lead with clarity, confidence, or calm. In this 5-minute Daily Power Lesson, I reveal the #1 leadership skill no one ever taught me in my 20 years in corporate: Nervous system regulation. You’ll learn what your nervous…
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Send us a text What if the reason you doubt yourself, overgive, or stay silent… started when you were just a toddler? In this 5-minute Daily Power Lesson, I reveal the hidden conflict at the root of people-pleasing, perfectionism, and self-doubt: 💡 The need for attachment (to feel loved and accepted) 💡 The need for authenticity (to express your tru…
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Send us a text Welcome to Daily Power Lesson—your daily dose of leadership, confidence, and authentic empowerment! In just 5 minutes a day, I’ll help you shift your mindset, regulate your nervous system, and step into the powerful, confident, and authentic leader you’re meant to be. These bite-sized episodes are designed to spark clarity, courage, …
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Send us a text You can’t lead others powerfully if you’re disconnected from yourself. In this 5-minute Daily Power Lesson, I walk you through the 3 essential pillars of inner leadership: ✨ Self-Awareness – Know yourself at the core: your strengths, your shadows, your patterns ✨ Self-Acceptance – Make peace with yourself—you can't shame yourself int…
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Send us a text You’ve taken the trainings. You’ve read the books. So why do you still freeze up in high-stakes meetings, overthink every word, or struggle to stay calm under pressure? In this 5-minute Daily Power Lesson, I reveal the missing piece most leadership advice ignores: 👉 If your nervous system is hijacked, you can’t apply the leadership s…
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Send us a text If you’re the woman who’s always in motion—holding it all together at work and at home—but secretly running on empty, this episode is for you. In this masterclass-style episode, I walk you through a radical reframe that changed my life: Rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a leadership strategy. I’ll introduce you to the real reason it’s so har…
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Send us a text Have you ever felt calm one moment and anxious the next—without knowing why? Or found yourself snapping at someone you care about… even though your brain was saying “it’s not a big deal”? Have you ever known you’re safe, but your body feels like you’re being chased by a tiger? That used to be me—all the time. In this episode, I’m sha…
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Send us a text If you’ve ever walked out of a high-stakes meeting and immediately started criticizing yourself. If you’ve ever told yourself, “I should’ve done better,” or “What’s wrong with me?” If your mind spirals with “shoulds” and “not enoughs” after even the smallest misstep. You are not alone. I used to live there too. In this deeply persona…
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Send us a text What if the very thing you’re avoiding is the key to everything you want? In this heartfelt episode, I share the truth most people overlook: embracing discomfort isn’t a punishment—it’s the path to becoming the boldest, most grounded version of yourself. From physical and mental challenges to social and relational growth, I’ll walk y…
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Send us a text If networking makes you cringe, feels forced or transactional, or just downright awkward—you’re not alone. In this episode, Coco Duan, former Fortune 500 executive turned life coach, shares her personal journey from dreading networking to building a life-changing web of rich, genuine relationships. Through her 3M Framework—Mindset, M…
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Send us a text If you've ever asked yourself, “Is therapy or coaching really worth the money?”—this episode is for you. I open up about the years I spent silently struggling, believing I could out-achieve my pain… until I couldn’t. In this heartfelt episode, I share the true cost of waiting to ask for help—and how investing in therapy and coaching …
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Send us a text Two years ago, I left my corporate career to follow a dream. What I didn’t expect? Just how much I would be stretched, humbled, and transformed along the way. In this celebratory solo episode, I share 10 hard-earned lessons from my journey of becoming my own boss—and becoming more me in the process. From battling burnout to rewriting…
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Send us a text Have you ever said “yes” when your whole body wanted to say “no”? Checked your work email at midnight or during vacation, just to “stay on top of things”? Or felt exhausted by constantly putting others’ needs ahead of your own? You’re not alone. I used to be a chronic people-pleaser—always over giving, overworking, and overwhelmed—an…
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Send us a text In this special episode, I sit down with my former boss turned dear friend Carmela—a woman who deeply shaped my journey as both a leader and a human. We reflect on the moments that made our bond so meaningful and how her heart-centered leadership was the first spark in my own transformation. We talk about: The power of compassionate …
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Send us a text If you’ve ever spent hours tweaking one email… or rehearsed your presentation a dozen times and still felt “not ready”… or said no to an amazing opportunity because you didn’t feel perfect yet—this episode is for you. In this deeply personal and practical episode, I share how I broke free from years of perfectionist patterns that kep…
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Send us a text In this episode, I walk you through 10 common mistakes I see people make when learning how to process emotions. From overthinking instead of feeling, to using toxic positivity or numbing with busyness, these patterns can quietly sabotage your emotional growth. But here’s the good news: every pitfall is an opportunity to practice some…
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Send us a text Most of us were never taught how to feel our emotions—let alone process them in a healthy, grounded way. In this episode, I walk you through a powerful 4-step method I use for myself and with my clients to help you shift from emotional overwhelm or numbness into clarity, self-trust, and inner calm. I share deeply personal stories abo…
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Send us a text Have you ever struggled to ask for help? You’re not alone. In this episode, I open up about my own journey—from growing up fiercely independent to realizing that strength isn’t about doing everything alone. I share personal stories, client experiences, and practical steps to shift your mindset, so you can break free from exhaustion a…
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Send us a text Have you ever felt like your success was just luck? Like anyone could have done what you did? You're not alone. As high-achieving women, we often minimize our accomplishments, dismiss our strengths, and undermine our confidence—without even realizing it. I used to do the same. Despite climbing the corporate ladder, earning executive …
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Send us a text I’m thrilled to share some exciting news—my book is coming in November 2025! In this episode of Grounded Confidence, I reflect on my writing journey and the nine life lessons I’ve learned along the way—lessons that go far beyond book writing. I open up about overcoming deep-seated self-doubt, shifting limiting beliefs, and embracing …
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Send us a text In this episode of the Grounded Confidence podcast, I dive into the importance of healthy emotional regulation and how it can transform your life, bringing more energy, joy, and peace. I share a simple yet powerful tool to help you move from unhealthy coping mechanisms—like scrolling on social media or binge-watching Netflix—to produ…
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Send us a text In this episode, I share my personal journey of writing my first book and how challenging yet rewarding the process has been. I talk about the transformative power of having someone in my corner, like my book editor and coach, Shanna, who supports, guides, and encourages me. I reflect on overcoming negativity bias, embracing growth, …
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Send us a text In this episode, I dive into the critical role that emotions play in our personal and professional growth. Growing up in a family and cultural environment that dismissed emotions, and later navigating a corporate world that valued intellect over feelings, left me emotionally illiterate. Now, as a coach, I see how many successful yet …
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