Welcome
Hello, my name is Karen Hollenbach. My maiden name is Penman, and I write as KPH. I’m grateful your journey on Substack has brought you here to read ideas and observations from life in the middle of the introvert-extrovert continuum.
The therapy of writing helps me navigate life in the digital age, and I regularly publish an update from my desk and garden in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
If you’d like to join me as I create space for my writing and reflect on what I’m discovering, I’d love you to come along for the ride.
Why I write as KPH
KPH is my true voice. This is the version of me who takes the time to write and read books, embracing a slower pace while nourishing my natural curiosity.
I was introduced to my inner voices as part of a creative program that ran from August until November, 2021. It’s loosely based on the idea of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy; a model of psychotherapy that views the mind as composed of various "parts" or sub-personalities, each with its own unique role and perspective. IFS aims to foster inner harmony and healing by understanding and connecting with these parts.
The Inner Voices program offered an alternative to the grief counselling I’d commenced in January, 2020. I felt very drawn to working with the Creative Coach, Tali Brash, who designed and delivered this opportunity to step outside of my emotional comfort zone. The focus on creativity as a path to healing was equal parts fun and confronting. In preparation for meeting my inner voices I bought a set of props from Tali’s list of suggested items, including a scarf, mirror and small glass bottle.
Each week, I was introduced to a new voice within myself, brought to life through a combination of reading materials, online tutorials, journal prompts, and guided meditations. To embody and express each voice, I produced a creative offering - usually a song or skit - which I recorded and submitted to Tali. We would then meet for an hour over Zoom to reflect on the experience and explore what I had uncovered about myself. I gave each voice a name that I felt reflected their distinct qualities.
If you’re interested in the idea of my inner family, please read my deeper reflections in these essays:
Is there an emoji for my vagina? (Gina, Clara, Sylvia, Petunia and Tina)
Do you share my love of reading?
When I was a little girl I told people I wanted to be a Librarian. These days I tell people when I grow up I want to be a Bibliotherapist. After reading Atomic Habits I created a clear intention for the sort of person I want to be, and it was all about reading books.
I read widely about a number of topics, and particularly enjoy reading Australian authors, disruptive thinkers and researchers exploring personalities, social prescribing and anti-capitalism.
I’d love your book recommendations.
Personalities: I’m interested in the overlap between introverts and highly sensitive people (HSP) explored in Sensitive: The Power of a Thoughtful Mind in an Overwhelming World, co-written by Jenn Granneman and Andre Sòlo. I discovered Granneman and her award winning community, Introvert, Dear, in 2023.
Social prescribing: This is a topic that first sparked my interest when I discovered the concept in Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope, by Johann Hari. As a natural progression, I’m following the developments of the Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research and Education (ASPIRE) as I explore my potential plans for a Masters in Research and the role of libraries in building social connection.
Dangers of personal branding and identity capitalism: Recent podcast episodes on WorkLife with
have sparked my interest and will be an area I continue to explore in my thirst for knowledge and understanding the human condition as we navigate this complex digital world.Collapse: We are living in a time like no other, and I continue to stay informed thanks to the beautiful mind and generous spirit of authors including
, Stan Grant and many others.Answering the ‘what do you do’ question
As a corporate escapee, company director and board secretary who’s learnt most of my lessons from the school of life, my formal qualifications include a Graduate Diploma Education, Bachelor of Business Marketing and a Diploma of Management.
Since 2010 I have provided expert services in LinkedIn training, content marketing strategy, and LinkedIn profile writing via my educational consultancy, Think Bespoke. We help Australian professionals unlock their potential, drive positive outcomes, and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society.
If LinkedIn is on your to do list, please check out my free resources.
I’m the host of The LinkedIn Marketer podcast, the co-host of Healing through Books and The Inner Curious podcasts.
If you’re after LinkedIn training or mentoring, please visit Think Bespoke’s website.
When I’m not working you’ll find me pottering in my garden, or reading a book, writing, spending time with my family or walking in nature with a kindred spirit.
Are you an ambivert?
An ambivert is someone who falls in the middle of the introvert-extrovert continuum.
I know, I know, nobody likes labels. And that’s why I’m glad you’ve found me.
What I’ve learnt so far is that identifying as an ambivert is not adopting a label. It’s a trait or a tendency that may help explain why you enjoy time alone to decompress, but you can be quite sociable in certain situations.
Being an ambivert could explain why, every now and then, you cancel your plans to spend an evening with yourself.
Perhaps you’ve never really identified as an introvert because you can be sociable in the right company. You may even thrive in some conversations where you feel emotionally safe to lead or ignite discussions that you care deeply enough about to share your perspectives with others.
Maybe you used to think you were an extrovert, but as the years pass, you find yourself craving more time alone.
How I discovered my ambivert tendencies
I first discovered my ambivert tendencies after reading Quiet, the Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain. It helped me understand my need to recharge alone and why I feel overwhelmed in certain situations. You can read Discovering I am an Ambivert to learn more about my reflections, back in 2016.
This discovery also explains why the Myers Briggs (MBTI) assessment was misleading and sent me in the wrong direction. There is no A in the results. You’re either classified as an I (Introvert) or an E (Extrovert).
I wonder if you did this personality assessment and were also misdiagnosed as an extrovert.
Here’s how one of my subscribers describes her ambivert journey.
I watched a Ted Talk about two years ago which introduced me to the term 'shy loud', subsequently also stumbling across the concept and term 'ambivert' during a period of personal development and (quite a lot of) character strengths and values work. In certain situations, I am very confident and in others, less so. I am completely comfortable working alone, yet really love contact and conversing with others... I feel that Substack is great for ambiverts and those of us less engaged in (most other) social media platforms.
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Join the Conversation
In most of my essays I ask a question of you, the reader. I always enjoy learning what my reflections bring up for you.
With love & gratitude,
Karen Hollenbach, KPH
