332: How to Handle Being Misunderstood-3 steps to being understood and stepping into your power
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
Release Date: 08/28/2025
333: 5 Lessons from the Courtroom that Apply to Your Life and Help You Win
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
Heather Hansen takes us back to her two decades as a trial attorney and reveals the surprising ways courtroom wisdom can shape your life and career. From the first day she stepped into court, Heather realized it wasn’t just a place of law; it was a classroom of leadership, persuasion, influence, and resilience. In this episode, Heather shares five powerful lessons from the courtroom that apply far beyond the legal world. Whether you’re navigating career growth, relationships, or leadership challenges, these insights will help you see “the jury” in your life more clearly and make...
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332: How to Handle Being Misunderstood-3 steps to being understood and stepping into your power
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
No one likes the feeling of being misunderstood. It can create frustration, conflict, and even missed opportunities, whether in the courtroom, the boardroom, or at home. In this episode, Heather Hansen shares three powerful steps to move from feeling unseen and unheard to becoming the “queen of your kingdom.” Drawing from her decades as a trial attorney, her consulting work, and personal lessons, Heather shows why misunderstanding doesn’t have to hold you back. Instead, it can be the very spark that strengthens your clarity, influence, and power. If you’ve ever felt dismissed,...
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331: How to Work Towards Career Advancement-Making the Right Choices for Your Career Growth
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
Heather Hansen takes on a question from listener Molly, who asked about two challenges many professionals face: How to think big-picture and work toward career advancement without getting bogged down in day-to-day responsibilities. How to stay in the know across a large organization and use that knowledge to broaden personal and team perspectives. Heather combines these into one powerful conversation about choice. With stories from her days as a trial attorney, lessons from her consulting work, and wisdom borrowed from her own mentors, she shows why every career move comes down to the...
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330: Getting Real with Anna Crowe-What It Means to Be Authentic
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
In today’s episode, Heather speaks with Anna Crowe, founder and CEO of Crowe PR, about the real meaning of authenticity in leadership and life. Anna’s journey from auditor at a Big Four accounting firm to leading a bi-coastal PR agency gives her a unique perspective on building trust, showing up genuinely, and leading with transparency. Together, they unpack why authenticity is more than just a buzzword—and how you can cultivate it in your own life. In this episode, you’ll learn: The Foundation of Authenticity – Why trust starts with being real with yourself before you can be real...
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329: Stop Taking Communication Advice from Men
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
In this fiery and insightful episode, Heather Hansen takes a bold stand against one-size-fits-all communication advice — especially the kind coming from male experts that simply doesn't work for women. With decades of experience in advocacy, law, and coaching, Heather breaks down why advice from well-meaning male voices like Jefferson Fisher and Vin Gang may actually backfire for women in real-life situations, especially when it comes to being interrupted, advocating for yourself, or commanding authority. She offers a powerful alternative: learn how to advocate the way that actually works...
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328: Illness, Pain and Advocating for Yourself
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
In this powerful episode, Heather responds to a heartfelt question from listener Natalie, who is navigating life with a chronic illness that others often misunderstand. Natalie asks how to advocate for herself without sounding like she’s complaining — a question that resonates with so many living with invisible pain. Through personal stories, insights from neuroscience and psychology, and actionable steps, Heather teaches how to communicate your needs clearly, choose the right audience for your vulnerability, and advocate for yourself with both strength and grace. Whether you're facing...
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327: The Science of Charisma with Dr John Antonakis
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
In this engaging conversation, Heather Hansen speaks with Dr. John Antonakis, a leading expert on the science of charisma. They explore the definition of charisma, its importance in leadership and influence, and how it can be learned. Dr. Antonakis shares insights from his research, including studies on the impact of charisma on performance and the role of cognitive empathy in effective communication. The discussion also touches on the potential influence of AI on charisma and the importance of genuine human connection in leadership. In this research-packed episode, you'll learn: ...
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326: When People Pleasers Aren't Pleased
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
In this episode, Heather answers a heartfelt question from a listener named Z about people-pleasing Heather breaks down the root of resentment that often comes from saying “yes” too often — and receiving “no” in return. Through relatable stories and actionable guidance, she empowers listeners to advocate for themselves with confidence and grace. In this empowering episode, you’ll learn: The Resentment Cycle of People Pleasers - Z’s question echoes a common struggle: always saying yes, only to feel hurt when others don’t return the favor. Heather explores how this...
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325: The Credible Charisma™ Framework
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
In this episode, Heather introduces "Credible Charisma™" as a key to becoming irreplaceable in a world where many feel replaceable due to the rise of AI and other technological advancements. She shares personal experiences and introduces a framework to help listeners cultivate this essential quality. In this insightful episode, you'll learn: The Fear of Being Replaceable: The speaker addresses the widespread anxiety of feeling replaceable, whether due to artificial intelligence, aging, or other life circumstances, and asserts that everyone is inherently irreplaceable. Credible...
info_outline![324: A Little Intro to Undeniable [Judge Rosemarie Aquilina] show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/content/190363935?height=50&width=50)
324: A Little Intro to Undeniable [Judge Rosemarie Aquilina]
The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen
In this episode, Heather introduces a previously recorded conversation with Judge Rosemary Aquilina from December 30, 2019. This re-release serves as an introduction to Judge Aquilina before she and Heather launch their new podcast, "Undeniable," in August. The episode highlights Judge Aquilina's impactful role in the Larry Nassar case and her unique approach to justice, emphasizing listening and healing. In this insightful episode, you'll learn: Introduction to Judge Aquilina: Heather sets the stage for the conversation, explaining why she's replaying this particular episode and...
info_outlineNo one likes the feeling of being misunderstood. It can create frustration, conflict, and even missed opportunities, whether in the courtroom, the boardroom, or at home. In this episode, Heather Hansen shares three powerful steps to move from feeling unseen and unheard to becoming the “queen of your kingdom.”
Drawing from her decades as a trial attorney, her consulting work, and personal lessons, Heather shows why misunderstanding doesn’t have to hold you back. Instead, it can be the very spark that strengthens your clarity, influence, and power.
If you’ve ever felt dismissed, overlooked, or simply not “gotten,” this conversation will help you turn confusion into connection.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why your first choice of thought and feeling determines how others receive you
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How curiosity and compassion create pathways to understanding
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The importance of truly seeing the other person’s perspective before trying to persuade
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Heather’s three-step process: Choose, Understand, Advocate
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How to master “the art of the ask” by using stories, evidence, and energy
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Why delight, not resentment, is your greatest advantage when communicating
Resources & Mentions:
📚 The Elegant Warrior by Heather Hansen
✉️ Join Heather’s weekly newsletter for stories, strategies, and updates
🌐 Learn more about Heather’s consulting and coaching at ElegantWarrior.com
Episode Timestamps:
[00:01] The universal challenge of being misunderstood
[02:00] The “Martian” metaphor for communication gaps
[03:18] Lessons from defending doctors in medical malpractice cases
[05:45] Step 1: Choose your thoughts and feelings
[08:08] Step 2: Understand their perspective before persuading
[12:53] Step 3: Advocate with stories, evidence, and energy
[15:15] Stepping into your power by mastering communication
✨ Quote of the Episode:
"Choose, understand, advocate. When you do, you’ll transform being misunderstood into being powerfully understood." – Heather Hansen
Connect with Heather:
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The Elegant Warrior Podcast and content posted by Heather Hansen is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.