What Joshua Roman has said about Identity crisis
2 quotes · 1 episode · Sep 11, 2026
Joshua Roman, American cellist, composer, and TED speaker, former principal cellist of the Seattle Symphony, has been quoted on Identity crisis 2 times in 1 episode of TED Radio Hour, most recently on September 11, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Roman says he had been stuck in a gig mentality, afraid to turn down opportunities and unaware of his own exhaustion.
“I'd been stuck in a gig mentality for much of my career, waiting for the phone to ring, afraid to say no to any opportunity”
TED Radio Hour: What this musician’s identity crisis teaches us about navigating change (Sep 11, 2026) · Listen from 17:53
Roman says his skills were merely tools rather than the essence of music, and that he is now the same person with less fear.
“They just weren't the thing. They were just tools that help when you have the thing. So I'm the same person with less and less fear of being who I am”
TED Radio Hour: What this musician’s identity crisis teaches us about navigating change (Sep 11, 2026) · Listen from 47:29
Episodes
What this musician’s identity crisis teaches us about navigating changeTED Radio Hour · Sep 11, 2026 · 50 min
Manoush Zomorodi talks with cellist Joshua Roman about how long COVID upended his lifelong devotion to the cello, his faith, and his debut album Immunity.
Joshua Roman on other topics
- Musical practice · 4 quotes
- Long COVID · 3 quotes
- Cello · 2 quotes
- Immunity (Joshua Roman album) · 1 quote
- Vulnerability · 1 quote
- Christianity · 1 quote