The Impostor Syndrome Files

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we look at self-empathy as a practical skill you can use in everyday life. My guest, Melissa Robinson-Winemiller, is a former professional musician and university professor who later founded EQ via Empathy where she works today. Melissa shares how a tough career pivot pushed her to study empathy and write the book, The Empathic Leader .  Here we tal...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about why authenticity is overrated and what to do instead. My guest this week is Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, psychologist, professor, Chief Science Officer at Russell Reynolds Associates and author of the new book Don’t Be Yourself. Tomas argues that it’s not raw authenticity that makes you a good leader. Great leaders care deeply about wh...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore what it takes to create teams that are not only high-performing but also deeply connected and resilient, especially in today’s fast-changing workplace. My guest this week is Daria Rudnik, a former Chief People Officer turned leadership consultant, who draws on her experience leading tech and telecom companies to help organizations transfo...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore what it really means to lead with authenticity in a world that doesn’t always welcome it. My guest this week is Judy Hoberman, a trailblazing executive coach, speaker and author who built her career in male-dominated industries like commercial roofing and financial services. Judy shares stories from her early days climbing ladders in skir...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we dive into what it really means to lead with courage and integrity in complex and sometimes disheartening environments. My guest this week is Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves, historian, women’s leadership expert and author of Leading with Courage: A Career-Long Guide for Idealistic Women . Jodi brings decades of experience in higher education, feminism...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore how to make friends in an era of loneliness. My guest this week is Dr. Linda Lin, a psychology professor at Emmanuel College who has spent more than two decades researching and teaching about mental health, happiness and well-being. Through her course, The Psychology of Wellness and Happiness , Linda helps students move beyond surface-lev...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we dive into the psychology behind high performance with developmental theorist Max Stephens. Max’s work is rooted in a bold premise: the greatest chokehold on any business or career isn’t the market or the competition, it’s our own personal psychology. And until we understand and address that, we’ll continue to get in our own way. Together we explo...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about experimenting with your own growth. My guest this week is Jen Wilson, a coach and consultant whose nontraditional career path has taught her that confidence doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from trusting yourself to handle whatever happens next. Jen shares how she built her career through unexpected twists and turns, including co...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore whether to pursue an MBA. My guest this week is Ellin Lolis, founder of Ellin Lolis Consulting and a career coach who’s spent more than a decade helping professionals tell their stories, clarify their goals and navigate the competitive MBA admissions process. Ellin shares her journey from working behind the scenes in admissions to buildin...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about burnout, not just feeling tired or having a hard week, but the deeper, chronic exhaustion and self-doubt that so many high achievers experience but rarely name. My guest this week is Alison Campbell, founder of unBurnt and a former senior corporate leader who turned her own health crisis into a mission to help others recover from and p...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about charisma, and not the slick or manipulative version we sometimes imagine. My guest this week is Milam Miller, leadership development and sales consultant and author of The Charisma Craft: A Modern Leadership Guide to Enhance Your Riz Factor . Milam shares how his own journey from Texas football to New York sports to European soccer and...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore what it takes to create a fulfilling professional life while also protecting our well-being. My guest this week is Bree Groff, a seasoned consultant, transformation expert and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously) . Bree shares her unconventional career journey from teaching middle and high school math and physics, to act...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about learning to manage impostor syndrome by recognizing how your hard work has led to your success. My guest this week is Dr. Julien Willard, Chief Economist at Arcstone Private Intelligence. Julien’s path from medicine to healthcare economics to corporate strategy and economic intelligence offers a fascinating window into how high achieve...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about what it really takes to lead when the stakes are high. My guest this week is leadership coach and author Kathy Archer. Here we explore two leadership lows that shaped her path, the flow from competence to courage to confidence and how values alignment fuels integrity. We also dig into practical tools like vulnerable narration, weekly r...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about finding your purpose. My guest this week is Dave Chauhan, author, speaker and former corporate leader who walked away from his established career to pursue a deeper connection with purpose. Dave shares his personal journey of reflection, the signals that told him it was time to make a change and the painful yet transformative process o...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about allyship. My guest this week is Julie Kratz, founder of Next Pivot Point and a longtime inclusion and allyship strategist. Julie pulls back the curtain on why words like “inclusion” and “ally” have become so charged, what’s actually legal in this space, and how leaders at every level can use the power they already have to create cultur...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about early messages, the ones that shape how we see ourselves and what we believe is possible. My guest this week is Jodi Bondi Norgaard, author of More Than a Doll and creator of the Go! Go! Sports Girls, a line of empowerment dolls and books designed to challenge gender stereotypes in the toy industry. Jodi shares how a single moment in a...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore what it takes to lead through change. My guest this week is Erin Herman, keynote speaker, writer and consultant, whose mission is to help people lead with more humanity. Drawing on her experiences in both the private and public sectors, Erin shares why courage, empathy and a growth mindset are essential for navigating change. Here we talk...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , I talk with Melanie Marshall, keynote speaker, coach and former foreign correspondent for BBC News. Melanie spent decades reporting from some of the most dangerous and disaster-stricken parts of the world and what she came away with might surprise you. We explore how, in the midst of violence, tragedy and injustice, Melanie discovered the power of h...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore how flow states, those moments of effortless focus and peak performance, can help us reconnect with our true selves and quiet the inner critic. My guest this week is Tom Roberts, retired dentist, race car driver, Buddhist practitioner and author of the upcoming book From Fear to Flow . Together, we examine what it really means to be in a...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore the powerful truth that courage isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something you build. My guest this week is Jen Hardy, COO at the Academy of MotivAction. Together, we discuss how early life experiences shape our inner stories, why emotional awareness is key to personal growth and how courage and vulnerability are interconnected. Jen...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore what happens when logic isn’t enough to break through self-doubt—and how hypnosis can help us shift long-held patterns that keep us stuck. My guest this week is Jennifer Fidder, a social psychologist, NLP practitioner, and transformational hypnotist who helps high-achievers move from awareness to sustainable change. Together, we discuss t...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore how to bridge the gap between believing and achieving and what it really takes to pursue your potential, even when the path ahead is unclear. My guest this week is Adam Haston, entrepreneur and author of The Wonder Effect . Together, we unpack the importance of believing in yourself, recognizing limiting assumptions and developing a pract...

In this episode of The Impostor Syndrome Files , we explore a life transition that often goes unexamined: retirement. What happens when your professional identity has defined you for decades, and suddenly you’re faced with the question, “What now?” My guest this week is Sarah Friedell O’Connell, executive transition coach and founder of ChangePoint Advisors. Sarah specializes in helping high-achie...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files , we talk about what it really means to lead with confidence, especially when you feel like you don’t belong. Are you constantly trying to prove yourself at work—working harder, saying all the right things, hoping others will finally see your value? My guest this week is Chris Marr, executive coach and author of Become an Authoritative Coach . In this...