Staying Wild Episode 3 | Becoming Unapologetically You + Ex-England Rugby Player Shaunagh Brown

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This episode is your Good Girl Exit Plan. A strategic guide to becoming unapologetically you, reclaiming your power, and living life on your own terms.

Part 1 is a deep dive into the mindset shift required to ditch the "nice girl" conditioning, stop people-pleasing, and step into who you truly are, unapologetically.

If you've been achieving on paper but burning out behind the scenes or wanting to get off the hamster wheel, this one’s your call to burn the rulebook and build a life that actually fits. We’re not here to shrink, we’re here to take up space.

Part 2 brings in the firepower: a fierce conversation with Shaunagh Brown, ex-England rugby international, changemaker, and unapologetic force of nature. At the age of 25, Shaunagh thought, “Let’s have a go at rugby.”, and 2 years later she was representing England. Shaunagh shares how she carved her own path by backing herself, embracing fear, and following her passion.

This one’s for the wild women, the quiet rebels, and anyone ready to play a bolder game.

Let's get unapologetically wild :)

Adelaide x

Masterclass | Good Girl Exit Plan: How to Be Unapologetically You

If you’ve ever found yourself holding your breath in a boardroom, saying yes when you wanted to say hell no, or downplaying your brilliance so you wouldn’t be “too much”… this masterclass is for you.

This week, we tackled the Good Girl Mask and how to break free of it–for good. Because it’s not just harmless politeness… it’s a performance that’s costing you your power, your peace, and your potential.

What is Good Girl Conditioning?

It’s the invisible rulebook telling women to be:

  • Polite over powerful

  • Nice over honest

  • Smiling while shrinking

It shows up in ways we’ve normalized: over-apologizing, people-pleasing, emotional suppression, avoiding visibility, seeking permission, and never saying no—even when you're at capacity.

It’s often why ambitious women end up burnt out, undervalued, and second-guessing themselves… all while appearing “successful.”

The Cost of the Mask

This conditioning hits hard across:

  1. Decision-Making: You say yes to everything, avoid delegation, and lose clarity on your real strengths.

  2. Leadership Presence: You downplay your opinions to avoid being “difficult,” and behave in a certain way to be seen as ‘nice’ to work with – not impactful, or powerful.

  3. Nervous System Patterns: If you grew up walking on eggshells, you might still be doing it at work, just in heels.

What protected you in the past is now preventing your growth. But here’s the good news: you get to choose who you become next.

The Shift: From Shrinking to Standing In Your Power

We revisited the Triangle of Transformation from Masterclass 1, mapping out how your beliefs, thoughts, and energy shape your identity, and therefore your reality (and results).

The current you might be living in fear, resistance, or hyper-responsibility.
But your unapologetic self? She’s clear. She’s calm. She’s powerful.

Start there:
✨ Who is she?
✨ How does she think, speak, lead, move?
✨ What energy does she bring into a room?
✨ How does she respond to fear, triggers, or resistance?

Even a 1% micro-shift a day creates exponential change. That’s not just theory. It’s math: 1% better daily = 3,778% improvement in a year. Wild, right?

Fear, Resistance & Rewiring

Fear will try to keep you small. But you can meet resistance with curiosity, not self-judgment. Use tools like the 5 Whys to get to the root of your fear, and have a plan in place for when it inevitably shows up.

Because the more you honour your knowing and act from your power, the more everything around you starts to shift. Your career. Your confidence. Your relationships. Your results.

Your Wild Invitation

It’s time to retire the role of “the good girl” and rise as the leader you were born to be.

Not polite. Not palatable. Not perfect. Unapologetic. Unstoppable. Unleashed.

Now tell me, who are you without the mask?

Key Episode Takeaways:

  • Why “being nice” is often a trauma response, not a leadership style or way to live your life on your terms

  • How to stop outsourcing your confidence

  • What it really takes to back yourself (even when you’re the underdog)

  • Why chasing perfection is safer than owning your power—and how to flip that

  • Shaunagh’s journey from athletics to elite sport, and the self-belief it required

  • The role of identity, fear, and tiny brave steps in building unstoppable momentum

  • Incremental growth > instant mastery

  • Fear is a compass, not a stop sign

  • You don’t need to be “ready”—you need to decide

  • Knowing your strengths is good. Owning them is game-changing

  • If you won’t back yourself, why should anyone else?

Follow Shaunagh Brown here:

Want to go deeper?

• Submit your dilemma here: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLScAiSeq9QFqZgkl1UjSkMyfpYonxUsiTcf5T-fPk0qxBo4a5g/viewform?usp=send_form

• Listen by clicking 'Play' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or whichever is your favourite listening app.

• Make sure to subscribe, follow, rate and review.

• Find me on Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube - @adelaidegoodeve

• Download The FREE Burnout Protocol. My free mindset framework for high performers ready to stop spiralling and start rising: www.adelaidegoodeve.com/protocol

• Get A Career Breakthrough in just 35-Days with The Rise Of The Wild Woman: www.adelaidegoodeve.com/wildwoman

• Ready to See What Happens When You Live Life Like the Leading Lady? High-touch 1:1 coaching might be for you, click here.

Catch the full conversation on Staying Wild — stream it on your favourite podcast app or watch us on YouTube!