The Introvert, Dear Podcast

Are you an introvert who’s also a highly sensitive person? There’s a good chance you are, because 70 percent of HSPs are also introverts. If you’re a highly sensitive introvert, you know how challenging that can be, and most likely, one of your biggest challenges is love and relationships. In today’s episode, we talk about the challenges of being an HSP in a romantic relationship with a non-HSP. We’ll hear from a couple who’s doing just that — Jenn and her partner Andre, founders of Highly Sensitive Refuge, a new community just for HSPs. Also, stay tuned, because we’ve got a big announcement about this podcast later in the show. Links Mentioned: highlysensitiverefuge.comjenn@highlysensitiverefuge.com The Introvert, Dear Store Looking for awesome introvert gear? Check out the new Introvert, Dear store and find funny and inspirational t-shirts, coffee mugs, phone cases, and much more! Click here to browse the selection. Other Resources Want to find out what your personality type is? We suggest you check out Personality Hacker’s assessment. Click here to take it!

An interview can feel like small talk on steroids for introverts. Only the stakes are raised as you need to put your best foot forward because a job you want is on the line. The thought is enough to give you sweaty palms and a queasy stomach. What’s an introvert to do? Today, we’re talking with Amanda Glover about how to nail the job interview. As a journalist at heart, Amanda combines her love for writing and business to help introverts create compelling resumes and interview stories. As an introvert who discovered personal acceptance late in life, she founded Rising Introverts to help introverts nail the job interview and generate greater confidence in their everyday lives. Links Mentioned: StrengthsFinder 2.0Good&CoRisingIntroverts.comThe Introvert, Dear Store Looking for awesome introvert gear? Check out the new Introvert, Dear store and find funny and inspirational t-shirts, coffee mugs, phone cases, and much more! Click here to browse the selection. Other Resources Want to find out what your personality type is? We suggest you check out Personality Hacker’s assessment. Click here to take it!

When many people hear the word introvert, they picture a nail-biter, cowering in his or her bedroom, refusing to interact with the rest of the world. Frankly, this definition of introvert misses the mark by a long shot. But it is true that introverts sometimes feel nervous around certain people and for a variety of other reasons. While introvert and anxiety don’t necessarily go together, when they do, it’s helpful to know why and to have some strategies for coping with the challenges that come your way. Links Mentioned: Kind of Coping: An Illustrated Look at Life with AnxietyIntrovertDear.comI Wrote An Action Plan To Get Over My Social AnxietyA Counselor Explains How Introverts Can Banish Social AnxietyThe Introvert, Dear Store Looking for awesome introvert gear? Check out the new Introvert, Dear store and find funny and inspirational t-shirts, coffee mugs, phone cases, and much more! Click here to browse the selection. Other Resources Want to find out what your personality type is? We suggest you check out Personality Hacker’s assessment. Click here to take it!

Quiet, thoughtful, focused, insightful - these are a few words that describe a writer. And they’re words that also capture many introverts quite well. It’s no surprise, then, that a lot of writers are introverts. If you’ve ever thought about writing professionally or writing on the side, we encourage you to join us for today's conversation as we explore Why Introverts Make Great Writers. The Introvert, Dear Store Looking for awesome introvert gear? Check out the new Introvert, Dear store and find funny and inspirational t-shirts, coffee mugs, phone cases, and much more! Click here to browse the selection. Other Resources Want to find out what your personality type is? We suggest you check out Personality Hacker’s assessment. Click here to take it!

Modern society celebrates the strengths and virtues of extroversion. It’s no surprise: Extroverts are masters of tooting their own horn. While the outward-focus extroverts bring to life is helpful at many times and in many ways, the one-sided praise only tells half the story. Too many people still need to discover the wonderful benefits of introversion. A quiet, inward focus is just as important and valuable as its counterpart. On today’s show, we’ll try to level the playing field and shed more light on why introversion is just as valuable and advantageous as extroversion. Tune in to learn a few significant benefits of being an introvert! The Introvert, Dear Store Looking for awesome introvert gear? Check out the new Introvert, Dear store and find funny and inspirational t-shirts, coffee mugs, phone cases, and much more! Click here to browse the selection. Other Resources Want to find out what your personality type is? We suggest you check out Personality Hacker’s assessment. Click here to take it!

Introverts need good friends and strong relationships, just like extroverts do, but they go about socializing a little differently. Usually they require just a few deep connections - instead of a rolodex of acquaintances - and it doesn’t take as much to fill their social quota. For introverts to be at their best, they need authentic, close relationships. So on today’s show, we’ll be exploring ways to take care of our friendships as introverts. And joining us to lend her expertise is author SophIa Dembling. SophIa Dembling is a writer and editor in Dallas, Texas. She is author of The Introvert’s Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World and Introverts in Love: The Quiet Way to Happily Ever After. SophIa, who started her writing career at The Dallas Morning News, has had articles and essays published in more magazines, newspapers, anthologies and websites than she can list. The Introvert, Dear Store Looking for awesome introvert gear? Check out the new Introvert, Dear store and find funny and inspirational t-shirts, coffee mugs, phone cases, and much more! Click here to browse the selection. Other Resources Want to find out what your personality type is? We suggest you check out Personality Hacker’s assessment. Click here to take it!

Energy - none of us has an unlimited supply, and we introverts need to be particularly mindful of how we spend ours. Mismanagement can quickly result in stress, frustration, overwhelm, lapses in productivity, and the like. That we identify energy leaks in our life and prioritize wellbeing is essential. Today, Michelle Kerr of Wellbeing Weekly is going to explain how we can improve in both of these areas. Michelle is a qualified counsellor, successful entrepreneur, and wellness junkie. She is the creator of the platform Wellbeing Weekly, which provides mindset, wellbeing, and business tools and support for female entrepreneurs to thrive in their business and life. The Introvert, Dear Store Looking for awesome introvert gear? Check out the new Introvert, Dear store and find funny and inspirational t-shirts, coffee mugs, phone cases, and much more! Click here to browse the selection. Other Resources Want to find out what your personality type is? We suggest you check out Personality Hacker’s assessment. Click here to take it!

Finding a job that can hold your interest, capture your imagination, and inspire you is, to say the least, difficult for many introverts, but it’s especially challenging for intuitive introverts. The Myers-Briggs personality type known as the INFJ is no exception. Choosing just one of your many interests — as well as something that will pay the bills -- is anything but easy. And often, the work that intrigues you most lacks security, is hard to come by, or requires years of study. So what’s an INFJ to do? If you’re an INFJ — or a similar intuitive introvert type like an INFP or even INTJ or INTP — and you’re feeling stuck, tune into today’s conversation because we’re going to tackle this topic head on. Special Offer: INFJ Career Course Are you an INFJ longing for meaningful work but unsure what to do next? Find the direction you need in Made for This!, the career course created by an INFJ just for INFJs. You’ll learn… strengths, gifts, and abilitiesneedspitfallsemploymentemploymentminimize risk make moneyenjoyplan that worksFor a limited time, you can save 20% on the course for being an Introvert Dear Podcast listener! Just make sure to take advantage of the offer before it expires on December 18th at 11:59 p.m. Click here to see the deal. Other Resources Want to find out what your personality type is? We suggest you check out Personality Hacker’s assessment. Click here to take it! Grab a free copy of Bo’s book, The INFJ Personality Guide. Click here. DISCLOSURE: We use affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we, at no extra cost to you, receive a commission. Thank you for supporting this show!

We all need boundaries that keep the bad out of our lives and let the good in, but maintaining them is difficult for many introverts. It takes a lot energy and resolve to stand up to the demands of an often extroverted culture and do it on a daily basis. That’s why it’s critical to learn to say “No” and say it effectively, as well as stand up for yourself. Today, we’re fortunate to get to talk to Amy E. Smith about these important matters. Amy is a certified confidence coach, speaker, and personal empowerment expert. Founder of TheJoyJunkie.com, she uses her roles as coach, writer, podcaster, and speaker to move individuals to a place of radical personal empowerment. Focusing on helping people “find their voice”, she is highly sought after for her uncommon style, wisdom, and humor and has been a featured expert on Fox 5 San Diego and YourTango.com.

What makes an introvert an introvert? A number of factors make us who we are, but one of the most important is that we need quiet time to recharge. Robbed of alone time, we grow tired and frustrated and feel overstimulated. We may even start to think we’re broken or subpar people when we don’t have the quiet we need to exercise our greatest strengths. So how do we ensure we get the alone time we need in a world that expects us to be “out-and-about” and “putting ourselves out there” on a regular basis? Tune into today’s episode for a conversation on this very topic. The Haven Membership Community Have you ever been told, "you’re too quiet, too sensitive, and in need of thicker skin?” Do you long to find the tranquility, joy, and creative courage to make your unique and gentle impact in a noisy world? Check out The Haven, created by introverted musician Andy Mort. In it, you’ll find courses, inspiration, and a community of like-minded introverts. However weird you might feel, there are others just like you. People who totally “get” you! The Haven is full of them. It’s a place of belonging, refuge, and self-acceptance for introverts and sensitive types who want to grow in self-awareness and understanding. For a limited time, you can sign up for a free two week trial. If you're interested, we encourage you to act quickly: there’re only a few days left!

Creativity provides an outlet for many introverts and a means of authentic self-expression. Some of the most creative people in the world are quiet types like you and me. Just how you express your creativity depends on the kind of introvert you are. And yes, while some introverts are more creative than others, I believe there’s a part of each and every one of us that comes alive when we’re making something original, inventive, or beautiful. On that note, we enter into a conversation with introverted creative Andy Mort. Andy is a UK based songwriter, podcaster, blogger, online business owner, and — you might be surprised to learn — a part-time undertaker. He writes and performs as Atlum Schema and published his 5th studio release, called The Arrow of Time EP, last year. Andy runs The Haven, an online membership community for introverted and highly sensitive creative types called who want support and encouragement in making their unique and positive impact on our noisy world. The Haven Membership Community Have you ever been told, "you’re too quiet, too sensitive, and in need of thicker skin?” Do you long to find the tranquility, joy, and creative courage to make your unique and gentle impact in a noisy world? Check out The Haven, a membership community for introverts and/or highly sensitive people. Starting this Sunday, for a limited time, you can sign up for a free two week trial. Click here to save your spot! Resources Mentioned in Today’s Show: A Few of Andy Mort's Journal PromptsMichael Hyatt on Journaling and Journal Prompts Day 1 Journaling App

Have you ever felt like the term “introvert” didn’t fully describe you? Are there aspects of your personality that don't fall under the “introversion” umbrella? Today we’re talking about what it means to be a highly sensitive person (HSP). Introverts and HSPs share many common characteristics, but there are some important differences — which might help explain some of the things you experience. Our guest today is Andre Sólo. Andre is an author, philosopher and, at times, an adventurer. His most recent book is Lúnasa Days, a tale of magical realism set at the end of the age of American prosperity. He’s also a passionate advocate for introverts and highly sensitive people. Along with Jenn, his life partner, he co-founded a new community for highly sensitive people called HighlySensitiveRefuge.com. If you'd like to learn more about high sensitivity or figure out whether or not you are an HSP, check out 21 Signs That You’re a Highly Sensitive Person.

In our hundred-mile-an-hour world, it’s easy to feel burned out. From the moment we wake up, we’re flooded with notifications, beeps, and updates. We have more information at our fingertips than any past generation could’ve imagined thanks to the internet, social media, and other technological advances. And there’re are more decisions for us to make more quickly than ever before. On top of it all, culture tells us that our success, identity, and value is wrapped up in what we accomplish and achieve, so we’re driven to do, do, do. It’s against that backdrop that we’ll be exploring why self-care is so important for introverts. While all the noise might be exciting to thrill- and stimulation-seeking extroverts, it’s often more-than-overwhelming to introverts who need alone time to think and recharge. So today we’ll be tackling the topic of self-care for introverts head on with thought leader Barrie Davenport. Barrie is a certified coach, founder of the top-ranked personal growth blog Live Bold and Bloom, and author of over 25 self-improvements books on topics including introversion, highly sensitive people, self-confidence, relationship skills, habits, and mindfulness. She is dedicated to helping people find practical, science-backed strategies for self-improvement in all areas of their lives. She’s also the author of Self-Care For Introverts: 17 Soothing Rituals For Peace In A Hectic World. And there’s still time to sign up for Melissa Renzi’s Guatemala retreat, but there’s only one spot left! (It can be single or double occupancy.) The 10-day trip is designed specifically for introverts and HSPs and explores the magnificent natural beauty and rich culture of the country. You can save $50 on the cost of your trip by visiting http://MelissaNoelRenzi.com/ and entering the coupon code INTRODEAR50. Melissa still has openings for her trip to Guatemala in January and her trip to Peru in April.

Are you an introvert who’s always been drawn to the visual arts? Maybe you’ve even dreamed of working as an artist but wondered whether or not you could make ends meet and how to get started. On today’s show, we're talking to introvert artist Debbie Tung about what life as full-time cartoonist is like. We’ll chat about inspiration, habits and practices, opportunities and challenges, expectations, and more. Deborah “Debbie” Tung is a cartoonist and illustrator from Birmingham, England. Her comics are based on simple (and sometimes awkward) everyday life moments and her love for books and tea. She runs a Tumblr blog called "Where’s My Bubble?", where she first started sharing her comics. She also previously worked full-time as a software developer, an experience that eventually inspired many of her illustrations. She lives with her husband and works from home in her quiet little studio. Her first book, Quiet Girl in a Noisy World, was published in November 2017. Her upcoming book, Book Love, will be out January 1, 2019. Want an awesome self-care box filled with an introvert-related book or luxe journal and 7-8 other high-quality items, such as essential oils, tea, skin care cream, and more? Sign up for a Wallflower Box for 15% off plus an extra gift in your first box. Just visit thewallflowerbox.com/podcast and make sure to use the code LOVEFALL. You'll be supporting this show and loving what you get.

Are you an introvert business owner, freelancer, or creative who loves working for yourself but can’t stand promoting your work? It just feels inauthentic and as if you're selling out or shouting at people through a megaphone. Maybe you’ve even been thinking about working for yourself, but you can’t get over the “I’m going to have to market” hump. Today, we’re going to talk with Thea Orozco about how you can put yourself out there in a way that works for your business and for you. Thea Orozco is a mindset and marketing coach for introverted business owners. Through her business, Introvertology, she uses her training as a life coach, and her decade worth of experience with social media marketing, to help her fellow introverts grow profitable and impactful businesses that fit their personality. And it’s not too late to sign up for Melissa Renzi’s Guatemala retreat! But there are only a few spots left. The 10-day trip is designed specifically for introverts and HSPs and explores the magnificent natural beauty and rich culture of the country. You can save $50 on the cost of your trip by visiting http://melissanoelrenzi.com/ and entering the coupon code INTRODEAR50. Melissa still has openings for her trip to Guatemala in January and her trip to Peru in April.

Do you love exploring new places and experiencing new cultures but hate the anxiety and exhaustion that seem inevitable? Today, we’re going to explore why many introverts are drawn to travel and how you can do it with less drain. Melissa Renzi joins us on the show. She is a Licensed Social Worker and Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher based in Chicago. She uses her social work and yoga skills to help introverts and highly sensitive people transform deep-seated anxiety and cultivate more self-compassion. Having lived in Guatemala, Ecuador, Mexico, and India, Melissa uses her extensive travel experience to organize global retreats specifically designed for introverts and HSPs that focus on renewing self-care and deepening our connection to self, to others, and to the natural world — all while honoring the unique needs of sensitive introverts. Interested in attending one of Melissa’s retreats? You can save $50 on the cost of your trip by visiting http://melissanoelrenzi.com and entering the coupon code INTRODEAR50. Melissa still has openings for her trip to Guatemala in January and her trip to Peru in April. Also, you can get your own Wallflower Box for 15% off plus an extra gift in your first box. Just visit thewallflowerbox.com/podcast and use the code LOVEFALL!

What do you do when you can’t stand small talk, talking to strangers, and meeting new people but you want to have more confidence in social situations? Listen to the story of an introvert who challenged himself to interact with complete strangers and learned that anyone can improve his or her social skills. Andre Sólo joins us on today’s show. He’s an author, philosopher, and, at times, an adventurer. His most recent book is Lúnasa Days, a tale of magical realism set in the depths of the Great Recession. He’s also a passionate advocate for introverts and highly sensitive people. On IntrovertDear.com, he writes about being an introvert and an INTJ personality type. And, along with Jenn, he co-founded a new community for highly sensitive people called HighlySensitiveRefuge.com.

Ever thought about starting a business or working for yourself? Tune into this episode to learn why introverts are attracted to entrepreneurship, how to get started, and much, much more! Elizabeth Potts Weinstein joins us for this conversation. She’s a small business law attorney at EPW Small Business Law PC, where she helps fellow small business owners find ease and simplicity in the legal requirements of owning a small business. She's been an online entrepreneur for over fourteen years, founding various projects such as Live Your Truth and The Wealth Spa. A single mom who works from home, Elizabeth is an introvert who has built a business that fits her lifestyle.

Is it possible to design a life that suits your introversion? Tune in to learn about big and little changes you can make that’ll improve your life in the hear-and-now, as well as in the future. We talk about quiet time, career, perfectionism, and more with Michaela Chung of Introvert Spring in this episode. Michaela is the author of The Irresistible Introvert as well as her new book, The Year of The Introvert. She’s best known for her popular website, IntrovertSpring.com. Prolific in sharing her expertise and insights about introversion, her work has been featured in HuffPost, The Globe and Mail, INC, Flare Magazine, CBC Radio, The Chicago Tribune, and others.

What attracts introverts to writing? Join us as we explore why many introverts are natural writers, what gifts help them excel with pad and pen (or a computer), common obstacles they face, ways to go pro, and a whole lot more! In this episode, we have the privilege of interviewing Lauren Sapala. Lauren is an experienced writing coach, and she’s also the author of Firefly Magic: Heart Powered Marketing for Highly Sensitive Writers, a guide to help any HSP, INFJ, INFP, or introvert writer move past resistance to selling and marketing their work. She is also the author of The INFJ Writer, a writing guide made specifically for sensitive intuitive writers. She currently lives in San Francisco and blogs at www.laurensapala.com.