Impostor syndrome
Subject in Mental Health
Impostor syndrome has come up in 7 episodes across 6 podcasts in TMT, including On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Mick Unplugged, The Joe Rogan Experience. 8 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Adam GrantAmerican organizational psychologist, Wharton professor, and author
Grant suggests the gender difference in imposter syndrome lies less in prevalence than in how women internalize it.
“people stereotype it as a problem that's more pronounced among women than men. But what I didn't get until just now is, but men don't internalize it the same way”
The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant: The Emotion Few Talk About, But Many Feel (Apr 23, 2026) · Listen from 48:38
Grant cites Basima Tewfik's research finding that frequent imposter thoughts lead people to work more persistently and learn more.
“she finds that when people have those thoughts more often, they actually end up working more persistently”
The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant: The Emotion Few Talk About, But Many Feel (Apr 23, 2026) · Listen from 46:16
Oprah WinfreyAmerican broadcaster whom Nguyen said he met while traveling with his Zen teacher
Winfrey said that her early experience of advocating for herself in kindergarten is why she has never felt impostor syndrome.
“It is why I have never, ever experienced a moment of imposter syndrome”
On Purpose with Jay Shetty: OPRAH WINFREY: The Life Lessons That Changed Everything (Sep 16, 2026) · Listen from 8:54
Michelle "Mace" CurranFormer U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and Thunderbirds lead solo, now keynote speaker and author
Curran says she felt impostor syndrome about the title of leader because she left the Air Force before becoming a squadron commander.
“that's one of those titles that I always felt a lot of imposter syndrome around”
Mick Unplugged: Service Above Self: A Memorial Day Tribute to the Heroes Who Defended Our Freedom (May 25, 2026) · Listen from 51:51
Joe RoganAmerican comedian and host of The Joe Rogan Experience
Rogan argues imposter syndrome is common among genuinely creative people and is a good sign.
“Everybody that I've ever met who's really good has imposter syndrome”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2504 - Skylar Grey (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:33:15
Skylar GreyGrammy-nominated American singer, songwriter, and producer
Grey says the hit gave her imposter syndrome because the hook took only 15 minutes to write.
“I definitely had a little imposter syndrome when I wrote that song, because I was just like, that was too easy”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2504 - Skylar Grey (May 22, 2026) · Listen from 1:30:02
Da'Vine Joy RandolphAmerican actress and singer, Academy Award winner for The Holdovers
Randolph said she experiences impostor syndrome when discussing her work but not while performing.
“I do still suffer with imposter syndrome in this format. Like when we have to talk about it, but I don't when we're doing it”
Good Hang with Amy Poehler: Da'Vine Joy Randolph (May 12, 2026) · Listen from 59:11
Shadé ZahraiBehavioral researcher, confidence expert and author of Big Trust, with a PhD in organizational behavior from Monash University
Zahrai argues feeling like an impostor is common and a sign of growth.
“some studies have found up to 82% of people have felt like an imposter at some point. And the beautiful thing about feeling like an imposter is it is a sign that you are growing”
The Mel Robbins Podcast: How to Eliminate Self-Doubt Forever & Build Unshakeable Confidence (May 11, 2026) · Listen from 38:08
Brené BrownAmerican research professor and author on vulnerability, shame, and courage
Brown says her early academic imposter feelings were partly engineered to drive deference to tenured faculty.
“early in my academic career, I had a lot of imposter syndrome and it was engineered”
The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant: The Emotion Few Talk About, But Many Feel (Apr 23, 2026) · Listen from 47:45
Coverage over time
Podcasts
- On Purpose with Jay Shetty · 2 episodes
- Mick Unplugged · 1 episode
- The Joe Rogan Experience · 1 episode
- Good Hang with Amy Poehler · 1 episode
- The Mel Robbins Podcast · 1 episode
- The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant · 1 episode
Episodes
SYLVESTER STALLONE: “I Wasn’t Stupid. I Was Just Misunderstood.”On Purpose with Jay Shetty · Sep 28, 2026 · 1 h 29 min
Jay Shetty interviews Sylvester Stallone about his painful childhood, rejection, creating Rocky, his parents, career slumps, health, marriage and his memoir The Steps.
OPRAH WINFREY: The Life Lessons That Changed EverythingOn Purpose with Jay Shetty · Sep 16, 2026 · 1 h 31 min
Oprah Winfrey tells Jay Shetty about her Mississippi childhood, surviving abuse, her rise in broadcasting, spiritual practice, legacy, and her upcoming Aha experience at the Sphere.
Service Above Self: A Memorial Day Tribute to the Heroes Who Defended Our FreedomMick Unplugged · May 25, 2026 · 59 min
Mick Hunt's Memorial Day compilation revisits interviews with Robert Irvine, JoAnne Bass, Rob O'Neill, CZ Colón-López and Michelle Curran on service, purpose and leadership.
#2504 - Skylar GreyThe Joe Rogan Experience · May 22, 2026 · 2 h 5 min
Joe Rogan talks with singer-songwriter Skylar Grey about AI music, her childhood performing career, writing "Love the Way You Lie," ranch life, mountain lions, and creativity.
Da'Vine Joy RandolphGood Hang with Amy Poehler · May 12, 2026 · 1 h 14 min
Amy Poehler talks with Da'Vine Joy Randolph about kitchenware, her opera training, The Holdovers, working with comedy legends, and Al Pacino's ladder advice.
How to Eliminate Self-Doubt Forever & Build Unshakeable ConfidenceThe Mel Robbins Podcast · May 11, 2026 · 1 h 19 min
Mel Robbins talks with behavioral researcher Dr. Shadé Zahrai about her four-part framework—acceptance, agency, autonomy, adaptability—for overcoming self-doubt and building confidence.
The Emotion Few Talk About, But Many FeelThe Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant · Apr 23, 2026 · 60 min
Brené Brown and Adam Grant discuss shame, guilt, humiliation, and embarrassment, how shame fuels violence and control, shame resilience, and imposter syndrome.