We’ve all had those moments of hesitation—“Do I speak up or stay quiet? Do I make the change or stick with the familiar?” Too often, fear of feeling awkward, exposed, or foolish keeps us playing it safe. Yet the awkward moments we try hardest to avoid aren’t obstacles—they’re the very gateways to the growth, opportunities, connection and confidence we desire the most.

In this episode, I share why my response to the “Pool Guest” (Ep 127) turned out to be wiser than I first thought—and why it matters. Because the more we practice braving the awkward in everyday moments, the more courage we build to back ourselves in the bigger ones that can truly change the trajectory of our work, relationships, and life.

Ultimately, awkward isn’t the obstacle, it’s the opening. I hope this episode gives you the nudge you need to risk the awkward moment your biggest future is riding on

Courage is Calling Retreat: Modern Elders Academy, Santa Fe, February 2026

Warning: This episode may not be your cup of tea if you’d rather not hear about nudity (or Oprah… or Jill Biden). Why? Because it starts with a wild and wacky story ripped straight from my morning. It might make you laugh, raise your eyebrows, and—hopefully—not judge me too harshly for failing to walk my own talk and say, “Could you please put your clothes on?”

Let’s face it: if our deeply ingrained patterns didn’t sometimes win out, there’d be no need for courage.

As I share in this episode, to be human is to be flawed, fallible, and to fail. But growth comes not from getting it right all the time—it comes from not missing the learning when we don’t.

In reflecting on my own recent lapse of courage, I’m reminded that some of our greatest treasures come from the times we trip up and fall short of showing up as the person we most want to be.

Read my blog on this experience at www.margiewarrell.com and drop a comment! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

• Order The Courage Gap

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Pease, a former Navy SEAL whose extraordinary story—both heart-wrenching and deeply inspiring —threads through The Courage Gap. Alex’s journey reveals the truest measure of courage: the willingness to embrace vulnerability and give ourselves grace.

We dive into the universal need to belong, the power of authentic leadership, and why forgiving our failures is essential—not just for healing the past, but for unlocking our future.

If you’ve ever resisted lowering your guard, struggled to make peace with your past, or wished for the courage you admire in others, this conversation is for you. Alex’s insights will challenge, inspire, and remind you that true strength—and the most meaningful connections—come from facing our fears and the parts of ourselves we might otherwise want to hide.

Compelling listening for anyone ready to step into a braver, more authentic life, this is one of my most inspiring conversations.

• Order The Courage Gap