You Don't Have to be Palatable to be Powerful

We aren’t here to be relatable. We’re here to be real.

This episode is a call-out and a call-home—for every woman who’s ever dimmed her light, softened her confidence, or edited her voice just to be accepted. We’re unpacking the quiet pressure to stay likable, the cost of being “digestible,” and why showing up as your full self will always be the most powerful thing you can do.

Because at some point, you have to ask yourself:

Are you performing for connection?
Or are you rooted in your truth?

In this episode, Lauren dives deep into the tension between being palatable and being powerful—and why so many women, especially Black women, are expected to be humble, safe, and “relatable” in order to be respected. She shares her own moments of shrinking, second-guessing, and ultimately deciding to stop performing and start leading.

You’ll walk away with:
— A new definition of authenticity that doesn’t require over-explaining
— Permission to stop curating your confidence to make others comfortable
— A powerful reframing of what it means to be “too much”
— Real strategies to move from performance to leadership

This isn’t just another motivational pep talk.
It’s a reckoning with every version of yourself that stayed quiet to stay liked.

And by the end, you’ll understand this one truth:
The cost of playing small is far greater than the risk of being real.

If this episode spoke to you, leave a review, share it with someone who needs it, and tag @theupgradewithl on socials.
Let’s stop shrinking. Let’s start showing up fully.

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