Being an Impact Guru is Doable with Esther Stanhope

Today on Productive Joy, Dr. Christie has a very special guest, Esther Stanhope. An author, personal impact coach, and former BBC producer who has interviewed major celebrities and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. They discuss imposter syndrome and Esther’s “voice of doubt,” which she names “Cynical Cyril,” plus a story about interviewing George Clooney that highlights how even famous people are only human. Esther explains how she spent years behind the scenes and now helps leaders—especially women, diverse talent, and technical professionals—become more visible at work without “showing off,” emphasizing the difference between sharing value and self-promotion. She and Dr. Christie also talk about her book, Visibly Brilliant (following Goodbye Glossophobia on public speaking) as a guide to gaining recognition, promotions, and opportunities through presence and contribution. They discuss productive joy, and Esther talks about being productive in a flow state, and shares practical habits like gratitude, yoga, and simple routines to reset on hard days.Episode Highlights:00:00 Meet Esther Stanhope01:08 Imposter Syndrome and VOD02:43 George Clooney Storytime04:39 From Behind Scenes to Spotlight06:16 ADHD Diagnosis Journey09:27 Introducing Visibly Brilliant11:41 Invisible Superhero at Work12:45 Showing Off vs Sharing14:12 Me to We Mindset15:15 Sharing vs Showing Off15:49 Invisibles in Social Media17:56 Unearthing Hidden Talent20:04 Defining Productive Joy21:41 Flow State and Balance22:55 How to Find Esther24:04 Rapid Fire Questions25:46 Gratitude on Hard Days28:21 Key Takeaway and Challenge