Have you ever walked away from a conversation or a room full of strangers thinking, “Was that too much?”

I recently joined Michal McCracken on the Space and Grace podcast for a conversation that started with a simple question—why is authenticity in communication so important? What unfolded was an honest, heartfelt deep dive into what it really means to find your voice, use it boldly, and still navigate those moments when you feel like you’ve taken up too much space.

Spoiler alert: You’re not too much. You’re not “not enough”. You’re you—and the world needs all of it.

We’re Not Here for Polished Perfection

We live in a world that’s still shaking off the curated Instagram era. The one where perfection was currency and “relatable” was a branding tactic. And what people want now is realness. They want to connect with someone who shows up as themselves—flaws, quirks, awkward silences, and all.

Authenticity isn’t a performance. It’s not something you “achieve” and then move on from. ...

We’ve all had that moment. You say something in a meeting or presentation, and as the words leave your mouth, you realize something's off. Maybe it was a fact that wasn’t quite right. Maybe you fumbled your phrasing. Maybe you misread the room entirely.

The question isn’t whether mistakes happen—they do. The real question is: What do you do next?

Own It, Don’t Amplify It

Trying to cover up a mistake in communication rarely works. People catch on. And more importantly, you know. That internal awareness starts to chip away at your confidence. Instead of preserving credibility, dodging a mistake can quietly corrode it.

The better move? Acknowledge it simply and directly. No dramatic apology. No awkward over-explaining. Simply a clear course correction:

These phrases keep the conversation moving, show accountability, and reinforce trust.

A few months ago, a c...