Woman Plans, Horse Laughs: Cathy Reilly’s Message for Aspiring Speakers

Welcome to another episode of My First Stage! Today’s conversation is a powerful, heartfelt, and often hilarious reminder of why vulnerability matters when we step onto any stage. We’re live at the NSA Influence Conference, and I’m thrilled to introduce someone whose first stage story is inspiring, real, and genuinely unforgettable. Meet the Guest: Cathy Reilly Cathy is an “accidental speaker” who spent 25 years as a litigation paralegal before a series of life-changing medical events catapulted her into the world of public speaking. She’s a resilience coach, founder of Sharing the Shine, and host of the Breaking Bad Communication podcast. Cathy’s mission is to help people own their voice, step out of their comfort zones, and shine by sharing both their hardest and happiest stories. Here’s a quick overview of what Cathy shared during our conversation: Cathy’s “Accidental” First Stage: The medical emergencies that pushed her to become her own advocate, ultimately inspiring her to help others do the same. Finding Your Why: How Cathy’s daughter motivated her to step up, speak out, and make a difference for others struggling to use their voice. Vulnerability and Impact: Why sharing your most personal, difficult stories is not just for you—it’s for those who need to hear they’re not alone. Owning the Good AND the Embarrassing: From “Woman Plans, Horse Laughs” to her most awkward moments, Cathy shows us why laughter and honesty are equally important on stage. Small Acts of Kindness: The ripple effect of sharing positivity—how complimenting a stranger or telling a silly story can literally change someone’s life. Advice for Speakers: Cathy’s biggest tip for getting on your first (or next!) stage—stop waiting for perfection, get courageous, and GO. If Cathy’s story inspired you to step out, here’s what you can do next: Share Your Story – I’d love to hear your own first stage moment or those embarrassing stories you’re willing to share! Visit myfirststagepodcast.com and connect. Connect with Cathy – Learn more about Cathy’s work and her podcast at sharingtheshine.com and breakingbadcommunication.com. You’ll find more lessons and lots of laughter! Subscribe & Review – If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe to My First Stage, leave a review, and let me know what stories are resonating—or who you want to hear from next! Start Your Speaking Journey – Whether it’s your first stage or your next, remember Cathy’s advice: stop waiting to get ready, find your courage, and just do it. Thank you for being part of this episode. Can’t wait to bring you more REAL stories, actionable advice, and inspiration on next week’s My First Stage! [embed]https://youtu.be/Aw6s_-QCFcw[/embed] Timestamped Summaries [00:00-00:41] – I introduce Cathy at the NSA Influence Conference, and she shares her journey from courtroom paralegal to advocate for others [00:41-01:19] – Cathy explains how four surgeries in five months changed everything and why her silence during a medical crisis motivated her to finally find her voice [01:19-02:52] – Cathy talks about battling her “itty-bitty shitty committee,” not advocating for herself, and the turning point when her daughter cared for her as she recovered [02:52-04:14] – Cathy details how people started noticing her transformation and invited her to speak—even though the idea terrified her—and how that first stage led to a line of people telling her she’d helped them [04:14-05:53] – We discuss how Cathy’s “why” grew from her daughter to helping so many others, and why her company is called Sharing the Shine [05:55-07:33] – Cathy gets real about vulnerability—sharing your story is always uncomfortable, but it’s where lives are changed, and every speaker matters [07:33-08:45] – Why most people shrink themselves, why everyone matters, and what the world might look like if we all lifted each other up with positivity [08:46-09:48] – Sara and Cathy talk about the power of small compliments and positive thoughts, including a story about a simple act of kindness saving a life [09:48-12:45] – Cathy shares the importance of telling both hard and happy stories, the need for connection, and the infamous “Woman Plans, Horse Laughs” horse story [12:45-16:33] – We riff on embarrassing stories (including Sara’s “girl with the penis tattoo”), why sharing them gives others permission to be human, and the joy in embracing your own uniqueness [16:33-18:54] – Cathy’s best advice for speakers is to get off the fence, stop overthinking, and realize it’s about courage, not confidence [19:06-end] – Cathy shares ways to connect with her, her website, and podcast—and we wrap up with some much-needed laughter