Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Calm Your Caveman

Ever felt like you're faking it—despite all your preparation, skill, and effort? In this episode of Calm Your Caveman, we take a thoughtful look at those moments of self-doubt when you're asked to rise to the occasion but feel like you're not enough. Through three personal stories, we explore what imposter syndrome feels like from the inside.
But that’s only the beginning. We'll also unpack:
- Why most of us try to manage stress the wrong way
- The difference between “bad stress” and “good stress”
- How to flip your stress response from threat to challenge
- Practical brain strategies for handling self-doubt in the moment
This isn’t just an episode about overcoming fear. It’s about reinterpreting what fear is trying to tell you. Tune in to learn how to stop trying to “feel ready” and start showing up with what you’ve got—because it just might be more than enough.
00:30 Introduction and Overview
01:14 First Imposter Syndrome Scenario: The Ravel Trio
02:42 Second Imposter Syndrome Scenario: Portuguese Thesis Evaluation
04:32 Third Imposter Syndrome Scenario: Solo Piano Performance
06:07 Understanding Bad vs. Good Stress
08:50 Converting Bad Stress to Good Stress
10:44 Concluding the First Scenario: Share Imperfect Gifts
13:12 Concluding the Second Scenario: Celebrate Your Efforts
16:52 Concluding the Third Scenario: Enjoy the Fleeting Moment
19:11 Change Your Goals to Something in Your Control
23:31 Kindness Narrative: A Broken Car Engine
For full episode, including resources mentioned, go to: https://www.calmyourcaveman.com/episodes/overcoming-imposter-syndrome
Music:
J.S. Bach, Goldberg Variations, Transcribed for String Trio (excerpts). Performed by Avery Ensemble live 12/2/2017. Used by permission.
To see original performance go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TELZsL_5W2c
Harmonia Artificioso-Ariosa, Partita No. 4 in E flat Major (excerpts). Performed by the Avery Ensemble, recorded 2017. Used by permission. To stream recording go to: https://music.apple.com/br/album/mozart-biber-creston-schoenfield/1373331850?l=en-GB
More information at https://www.averyensemble.com/

Chapters

1. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (00:00:00)

2. Introduction and Overview (00:00:30)

3. First Imposter Syndrome Scenario: The Ravel Trio (00:01:14)

4. Second Imposter Syndrome Scenario: Portuguese Thesis Evaluation (00:02:42)

5. Third Imposter Syndrome Scenario: Solo Piano Performance (00:04:32)

6. Understanding Bad vs. Good Stress (00:06:07)

7. 08:50 Converting Bad Stress to Good Stress (00:08:50)

8. Concluding the First Scenario: Share Imperfect Gifts (00:10:44)

9. Concluding the Second Scenario: Celebrate Your Efforts (00:13:12)

10. Concluding the Third Scenario: Enjoy the Fleeting Moment (00:16:52)

11. 19:11 Change Your Goals to Something in Your Control (00:19:11)

12. Kindness Narrative: A Broken Car Engine (00:23:31)