The Impostor Syndrome Files

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about what happens when we assume everyone else has it together and we’re the only ones struggling. My guest this week is Teri Pruitt, a Broadway professional who has spent nearly three decades working behind the scenes. Teri shares an honest, funny perspective on comparison, insecurity and the stories we tell ourselves about other people’s...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about the pressure to prove ourselves and how it can keep us working harder without getting where we want to go. My guest this week is Drew Turner, a leadership coach who helps high-achieving women advocate for themselves and pursue the opportunities they want. Drew shares her journey from managing a retail store at 24 to working in leadersh...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about finding your voice when you’re afraid you don’t belong. My guest this week is Yutian Li, a Harvard student, public speaker and human rights activist who immigrated to the United States from China at age 11. She shares her journey from feeling too self-conscious to speak in class to using her voice to advocate for others. We explore how...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore how deeply held beliefs can shape the way we see ourselves and what we believe is possible. My guest this week is Janylène Turcotte, a hypnotherapist, hypno coach and executive coach who helps professionals move through limiting beliefs and self-doubt. Janylène shares how an unexpected career transition led her to reconsider what she want...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about the power of our thoughts and why they can feel so convincing in the moment. My guest this week is Kay Tear, a business psychologist, executive coach and author who helps people better understand how their minds work. Kay challenges the way we think about impostor syndrome, resilience and our reactions to change. We explore how our sta...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about how to take greater ownership of your professional experience. My guest this week is Laura Massetti, founder & CEO of Real Work Ready, who helps early-career professionals build the skills they need to navigate the workplace with confidence. Laura shares her journey from a successful corporate career to building her own business in...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about stress, intentionality and why doing more isn’t always the path to greater success. My guest this week is Trish Walker, executive coach, speaker and former president of home and services at Best Buy. Trish shares how an unexpected “lifequake” led her to step away from a long and successful corporate career and reconsider what she wante...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about performance anxiety and why it can affect even the most experienced professionals. My guest this week is Dr. David Lee Fish, a former music professor who now helps people navigate speech fright, stage fright and competition anxiety. David shares his own experience of freezing during an early performance and the shame that came from bel...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about career pivots, self-discovery and why waiting for the perfect time can keep us from pursuing what matters. My guest this week is Niki Lazaridou, who has held a number of entrepreneurial and senior leadership roles. Niki shares her diverse career background and the journey that led her to finding her purpose. In our conversation, we dis...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about the uncertainty that comes with career pivots and why change often triggers so much self-doubt. My guest this week is Juliana Pereira, community builder and co-author of Pivot Quest. Drawing from her own eight career pivots, Juliana challenges the belief that successful people have everything figured out. We explore how curiosity, self...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about how to define success in ways that go beyond traditional performance metrics. My guest this week is M. Nora Bouchard, executive coach, leadership advisor and author of Hidden Metrics: The Coach's Secret to Success That Really Matters . Nora shares how nearly three decades of coaching leaders has shaped her perspective on what driv...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about why so many professionals drift through their careers instead of intentionally shaping what's next. My guest this week is Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, executive coach, leadership advisor and co-author of Now Near Next . Cynthia shares her own unexpected career transition after losing a senior executive role and explains how the wor...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about how to communicate more effectively under pressure. My guest this week is Salvatore Manzi, communications coach and author of the forthcoming book Clear and Compelling . Salvatore shares his own journey from debilitating public speaking anxiety to helping professionals communicate with greater confidence and clarity. Here we explore th...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about creating workplaces where people can thrive. My guest this week is Josh Block, executive advisor and author of People Matter at Work . Josh shares the story of becoming president of his family's business at age 29 and the lessons he learned from stepping into a role he didn't feel fully prepared to lead. We explore how curios...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about the ordinary moments that shape who we become and why so much of leadership, growth and human connection happens in the spaces we often overlook. My guest this week is Kurt Bush, leadership coach and co-founder of Brimstone Coaching Group. Kurt shares his nonlinear journey from manufacturing to ministry to leadership coaching and refle...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about loneliness, emotional suppression and the growing need for spaces where men feel safe to be fully human. My guest this week is Stefanos Koutsoumpis, men’s coach and facilitator of online men’s groups focused on emotional well-being, connection and personal growth. Stefanos shares his own journey of struggling with emotional awareness a...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about career reinvention, identity and what happens when the path you’ve spent your life pursuing no longer feels aligned. My guest this week is Kate Kayaian, author, speaker and former professional cellist. Kate shares her journey from building a successful career in classical music to realizing, after decades as a performer, that the ident...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about building a career in a time when the rules of work are changing faster than ever. My guest this week is Sam Alvita, founder of Work Rewritten and Director of Learning Design at MasterClass. In our conversation, we explore why today’s career paths no longer offer the same predictability they once did and why adaptability is becoming one...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about burnout, workaholism and the pressure high achievers put on themselves to constantly prove their value. My guest this week is Amy Leneker, leadership consultant, self-described “recovering workaholic” and author of Cheers to Monday. Amy shares her personal journey through two major experiences with burnout, including the physical and e...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore why uncertainty feels so uncomfortable for so many of us and how we can build a healthier, more productive relationship with it. My guest this week is Scott Stirrett, author of The Uncertainty Advantage . Scott shares how his own experiences navigating major career risks, leading a national nonprofit and managing anxiety during the pandem...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about the pressure high achievers put on themselves and the fears that often drive that pressure beneath the surface. My guest this week is Brendan Cournane, attorney, endurance athlete and author of Seeking Serenity . Brendan shares stories from his decades in law, including the decision to close a major deal on the same day his daughter wa...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore how lived experiences shape leadership and influence the way impostor syndrome shows up at work. My guest this week is Natanja Craig-Oquendo, Executive Director of the Boston Women’s Fund. Natanja shares her journey from a childhood grounded in community organizing and allyship to leading mission-driven work focused on social, gender and...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore what it means to build a career with clarity when the path isn’t linear. My guest this week is Sabine Hutchison, CEO, author of Beyond the Ladder and founder of the Ripple Network. Sabine shares her journey from scientist to entrepreneur and challenges the idea that you need one clear passion or a perfectly mapped-out path. She introduces...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore what it takes to express yourself fully and create spaces where people feel safe to be seen. My guest this week is Rayviation, a documentary filmmaker and creative who blends storytelling, comedy and immersive experiences into what he calls “media mixology.” Rayviation shares his journey into creative work and the vulnerability that comes...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore why great people struggle in the wrong culture. My guest this week is Julie Holunga, a fractional leadership and culture advisor who works with organizations to turn their stated values into everyday behaviors. Julie shares how her early work examining women in the workforce shaped her perspective on leadership and culture, and why focusi...