Episode Title:
Unmasking Imposter Syndrome, Or Is It Something Else?

Host:
Tammy Winstead

Episode Description:
In this heart-to-heart solo episode, Tammy unpacks imposter syndrome through a more honest, human, and humble lens. Instead of talking about it only as “I’m not good enough,” she explores a lesser-named version: the kind that shows up when you’re finally meeting your true self — and you’re terrified to let her be seen.

Tammy shares her lived experience of being “the strong one,” “the funny one,” and “the one who holds everything together,” and how those roles quietly shaped her identity, her mental health, and her sense of worth.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like they’re faking it on the outside while something real is stirring underneath the surface.

In this episode, we explore:

• What imposter syndrome traditionally is and how it sounds in our thoughts
• The hidden version of imposter syndrome that’s really about identity unmasking
• How people-pleasing, emotional regulation, and “reading the room” can make us lose ourselves
• The role of resilience, humor, and being “the strong one” as both survival skills and masks
• Why authenticity can feel unsafe when you’ve spent years performing
• The difference between self-doubt and self-discovery
• Five practices Tammy is using to gently break free from imposter syndrome

Key Quotes:

• “What if the version of you you’ve been calling an imposter is actually the real you trying to break away from the mask?”
• “I wasn’t pretending to be someone better. I was pretending to be someone smaller.”
• “Authenticity doesn’t drain you. Pretending does.”
• “Sometimes imposter syndrome isn’t insecurity. It’s identity calling you forward.”

Reflection Question:

Before closing the episode, Tammy invites you to sit with one powerful question:

Use this question as a journaling prompt, a screensaver, or something you come back to as you slowly unmask who you really are.

Links & Resources:

• 🌐 Visit the website: www.unmaskingchange.com

• 📝 Sign up for the Unmasking Blog for deeper journaling prompts and reflections on imposter syndrome and identity - available on our website
• 🎧 Listen to more episodes of Unmasking the Heart for Change
• 💌 Want to be a guest and share your own story of growth, purpose, resilience, or unmasking?
  • Apply to be a guest via the form on the website (Guest Application link)

Connect:

• Follow along on social media: @UnmaskingChange
• Share this episode with a friend who’s quietly struggling with imposter syndrome or identity shifts
• Tag Tammy in your takeaways and let her know what part of the episode hit home for you