Can You Trust Him? How to Decode His Body Language, Lies & True Intentions | Vanessa Van Edwards (Fan Fav)

Women of Impact

Impact Theory

Education, Society & Culture, Mental Health, Relationships, Health & Fitness

4.7 • 657 Ratings

🗓️ 29 July 2025

⏱️ 98 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Lisa Bilyeu sits down with Vanessa Van Edwards—a behavioral investigator, bestselling author, and all-around expert in the science of people—for an unfiltered, practical, and refreshingly relatable conversation. Vanessa dives into why being smart and prepared isn’t always enough to make a lasting impression, sharing eye-opening stories from Shark Tank and research-backed tips you can use right away. From decoding body language and mastering the subtle art of digital communication, to navigating awkwardness at networking events and setting healthy boundaries without guilt, Vanessa brings her trademark blend of vulnerability and actionable advice. She opens up about her own struggles with people-pleasing and “fake it till you make it,” revealing how radical transparency and authenticity have transformed her life and career. Plus, get her insider hacks for reading social cues—on Zoom, on dates, in interviews—and creating stronger, warmer connections, even when life (or a pandemic) throws you curveballs. Whether you constantly feel underestimated, want to feel more confident in any room, or just need a pep talk about loving your awkward self, this episode is packed with the science, stories, and strategies to help you own your impact. Get ready to rethink what it really takes to be seen, heard, and respected—no Spanx required! SHOWNOTES 00:00 "Effective Panel Preparation Mindset" 07:29 Hot Button Conversations 11:28 "Priming Gender Skills Early" 18:21 Parenthood: From Ideals to Reality 23:24 Confidence and Personal Space Dynamics 30:10 Decoding Personal Space Signals 32:26 "Predicting Crushes by Toe Direction" 41:11 Contempt: Divorce's Key Indicator 44:29 Finding Purpose at Events 50:20 Priming for Successful Meetings 55:11 Embracing Awkwardness as Strength 59:26 "Hiding Our Truths" 01:06:06 Background Choices for Impression Management 01:10:16 Zoom Backgrounds as Personal Statements 01:15:32 The Other Shoe Effect 01:22:07 Zoom Etiquette: Show More Body 01:30:37 Virtual Culinary Experiences 01:31:47 "Missed Storytelling Opportunity with Props" CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠https://www.vitalproteins.com⁠ and entering promo code WOI at check out. SleepMe: Visit ⁠https://sleep.me/woi⁠ to get your Chilipad and save 20% with code WOI. Try it risk-free with their 30-night sleep trial and free shipping! OneSkin: Get 15% off with code LISA at ⁠https://oneskin.co ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ****************************************************************** LISTEN TO WOMEN OF IMPACT AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠apple.co/womenofimpact⁠⁠⁠ ****************************************************************** FOLLOW LISA: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact⁠⁠⁠ Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	If you are smart, you might run into this problem where people underestimate you and your ideas because you are not delivering them with the right competence and warmth.
0:08.1	So I heard this idea so resonant with me, which when you look at a swan on a lake, it looks so peaceful, right?
0:14.3	The swan is beautiful and elegant and gliding and everything is great and perfect, right?
0:20.0	Yeah.
0:20.2	But underneath the water, the swan is like, you know, like paddling for seriously.
0:27.2	It's murky under there.
0:28.7	The water is kind of dirty.
0:30.3	They're paddling for their life.
0:32.1	And I was like that at least feels like me or I don't know other, most other female
0:37.3	business owners I know where
0:38.2	we're trying to be this perfect swan right but underneath it all we're wearing spanks we're
0:43.8	trying to hold it in we're paddling for our lives and I was like why aren't we talking about the
0:50.0	murk why aren't we talking about the chaos why aren't we talking about the paddling for our lives
0:53.7	so when I go to a networking event there no, I walk in and I feel a little awkward. Yeah.
1:00.2	You know, I walk in and I'm like, there's the cool kids and I'm going the other way.
1:03.7	Yeah. Do you still do that now? Yes. Interesting. And I think that it's so unfair to say to people, oh, no, I never feel awkward.
1:14.4	I'm done feeling awkward.
1:16.3	And that's unfortunately what we do, I think a lot of times as women, is we set ourselves up to think, oh, yeah, you know, I have it all figured out.
1:23.3	I never feel nervous.
1:24.4	I never feel anxious.
1:25.2	I'm confident all the time.
1:26.9	So the flip side of trying to show up confident is also how do we say, yeah, I can be confident, but I also had to really work to get it. Right? Like, before I walk into an event, I had to think of conversation starters before I walked in. When I walked in that event, I kind of scanned the room of like, don't belong there,
	...

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