Being Brave & Finding Your Happy
About this session
Being brave isn’t about being fearless.
It’s about learning how to show up as you are - even when life has knocked you sideways.
In this Unmasked session, we’re joined by Nicole Grünewald-Bridi and Holly Matthews for an uplifting conversation about confidence, identity, resilience, and finding happiness on your terms.
Together, they explore what it really takes to back yourself, rebuild after setbacks, and stop waiting for permission to live a life that feels good - especially when your brain, circumstances, or past experiences have made things feel harder than they “should” be.
This session is practical, real, and refreshingly unpolished - expect takeaways you can actually use, not platitudes.
Meet Nicole Grünewald-Bridi
get dopa ambassador Nicole is best known for appearing on Love is Blind where she quickly became known for her emotional intelligence, openness, and quiet strength.
Beyond the screen, Nicole is passionate about self-growth, emotional awareness, and learning how to trust yourself - even when things don’t go to plan. She brings a grounded, reflective perspective on navigating vulnerability, relationships, and personal change in the public eye and beyond.
Nicole’s story resonates deeply with anyone who has ever questioned their choices, struggled with self-belief, or felt pressure to be “more” or “different” to fit in.
Meet Holly Matthews
Holly Matthews is a former TV actress (Byker Grove, Waterloo Road, Casualty) and singer, signed to Sony at just 18, with appearances on TOTP, MTV, and Disney. But her most important work began off-screen.
After losing her husband to brain cancer in 2017 at the age of 32, Holly - a mum of two - set out on a mission to help others embrace their “weird,” build confidence, and feel more happy and less crappy.
She is the founder of The Happy Me Project, which runs live events across the UK, an online coaching membership, and a podcast. Holly has delivered talks and workshops for organisations including Aldi, Sainsbury’s, SEND prisons, and wellbeing festivals nationwide.
Her TED Talk has been watched by over half a million people, and she’s become the BBC’s go-to, no-nonsense confidence expert - affectionately known by producers as their “motivator in chief.”
Holly is the bestselling author of The Happy Me Project and Find Your Confidence, with Find Your Confidence winning Best Wellbeing Book of 2025 from Health & Wellbeing Magazine. Her bite-size, actionable approach is designed for busy, distractible lives.
More recently, Holly has spoken openly about being neurodivergent and is now a vocal advocate for the community. She has worked alongside ADHD 360, appeared on ADHD Chatter and ADHD: Beyond the Label (Bloomberg TV), and has been nominated for a National Diversity Award.
Her relatable, light-hearted style has built a large online following and seen her contribute regularly to Psychologies Magazine, Closer, Hello, Metro, The Mirror, and appear on Lorraine.