Learning to Say No

Have you felt torn between what you think you should do versus what your gut is telling you you want to do? Whether it’s to make a friend or family member happy, a work opportunity or FOMO – saying no to things that sound like a good idea or that you know would make someone you care about happy is extremely hard to do. As finances and the balance between work and a social life become more challenging to manage in adulthood, it’s important to be aware of your options and understand how to make the right decision for YOU. In today’s episode, Raeann and Kristina talk about recent decisions that have been hard to make, and walk through their process of how they decide when and how to say no. If you struggle with setting boundaries, prioritizing your time, preparing for big goals and managing finances this episode is for you! 

“Saying no gives you the time to do the things you actually want to do.” - Kristina

What we talk about:

  • Kristina’s Coachella experience - addressing the drama

  • Validating how difficult it is to shop in-store and find a size that fits

  • Shifting your mindset when you feel left out and your ego is in the way

  • Why it’s so hard to say no

  • How to decide when to say no

  • Navigating money/financial obligations 

  • How to communicate boundaries with others

  • Why Kristina almost quit blogging and content creation

  • Ask away: how to recover from sleeping with someone after the first date that you want to see again

“You have to start thinking about the value that these decisions bring when it comes to money and what’s worth it for you – and sometimes it’s saying no.” - Raeann

New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.

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Breaking Down Stereotypes with Olympic Athlete Ilona Maher

Olympic athlete and Tik Tok star Ilona Maher’s confidence is contagious. She started playing Rugby as a senior in college then made it as an Olympic Rugby player in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she went viral on Tik Tok with her witty commentary and insightful view into the Olympic Village. Ilona is hilarious, and an incredible role model for women and girls by encouraging us to embrace our strength and athleticism. In this episode we talk about the false stereotypes around Rugby players, how playing a sport has helped her confidence, how to deal with people saying you’re “too much,” dating stories and advice, overcoming insecurities and so much more. We had a blast chatting with Ilona and know you’ll love this episode! P.S. Make sure to check her out on Tik Tok if you haven’t already.

“Not all bodies are meant to be slim and it’s such a fable that we’re told that you want to be as thin as possible in order to be beautiful.” - Ilona Maher

What we talk about:

  • Raeann’s new most embarrassing moment 

  • Raeann and Kristina’s take on the new Skims campaign

  • How playing a sport can increase your confidence

  • What’s helped Ilona become more confident 

  • How dating has been for Ilona

  • How to get past hangover anxiety 

  • Dispelling the stigma of being 200 pounds

  • Stereotypes vs the actual Rugby culture

  • Working through the fear of being “too much”

  • Ask Away: How to make friends with coworkers when you work remotely

“What’s helped me to get confidence is having a purpose or something to do with my body to show what it's capable of and appreciate it.” - Ilona Maher

New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.

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What Raeann Learned from Running a Half Marathon

In 2019, Raeann and Kristina were approached by Nike to lead a group for a half marathon with the Confident Collective community. They trained for months just to have the race canceled weeks before due to COVID. Since then, Raeann has thought about completing her goal of running a half marathon to challenge her own perception of what a runner looks like and what her body can do. In this episode, Raeann shares her biggest takeaways from the experience, what she gained and her advice for anyone thinking about tackling a big goal. We also discuss tips for future half marathon runners, and how to prepare.

If we stop putting ourselves in a box, we can do so much more than we think we can. - Raeann Langas

What we talk about:

  • Challenges of finding size inclusive brands and options while shopping

  • Collaborating with brands that are not size inclusive

  • How Raeann and Kristina initially got interested in training for a half marathon

  • The mental side of training for a marathon

  • Why Raeann’s trainer decided to run it with her

  • What the experience showed her

  • Raeann’s pace and its spiritual meaning

  • How to start planning to run a race

  • What to wear, bring and tips to prepare for the race

New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.

Resources: