Burnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]
Imposter syndrome has a way of creeping in when we’ve spent so long meeting everyone else’s expectations that we forget what we actually want for ourselves.
In this episode, Cait Donovan reconnects with Nicole Kalil for a conversation about burnout, confidence, and the stories we tell ourselves when we’re doing all the right things but still don’t feel like we belong. Nicole shares what happened when she finally cleared space in her life and was left with a surprising sense of emptiness, a feeling that’s all too common but rarely talked about. What do you do when achievement no longer feels satisfying? How do you navigate that awkward in-between where you’re no longer burned out, but not quite sure who you are without the hustle?
Together, Cait and Nicole explore the deeper patterns behind imposter syndrome, including the habit of blaming yourself when things go wrong and dismissing your role when things go right. They talk about how women especially are conditioned to internalize failure, and how that mindset can make even well-deserved success feel like a fluke. They also raise an important question: when you say you don’t belong, is it because of the culture around you or because you haven’t figured out what belonging actually feels like for you?
This isn’t a step-by-step guide. This episode’s an invitation to pause, question what you’ve been carrying, and consider what it might look like to build confidence from a place of self-trust rather than constant achievement.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Welcome to FRIED: The Burnout Podcast
02:16 The Link Between Burnout and Feeling Underwhelmed
07:22 What Imposter Syndrome Really Means
12:28 Why High Achievers Struggle to Own Their Success
17:06 Recognizing Red, Yellow, and Green Light Phases
21:05 How to Manage Head Trash and Build Confidence
24:23 Gender, Expectations, and the Pressure to Perform
30:02 Is It a Toxic Workplace or Just a Bad Fit?
36:56 Separating Facts from Feelings
41:26 Rewiring Your Brain with Cognitive Reappraisal
47:11 Where to Find Nicole Kalil and Her Confidence Quiz
Links
Connect with Nicole Kalil:
https://www.instagram.com/nicolemkalil/
www.linkedin.com/in/nicolekalil
https://nicolekalil.com/confidencequiz
Connect with Cait:
Initial Call with Cait: bit.ly/callcait
Initial Call with Sarah: bit.ly/callsarahv
Burnout Recovery works better with support. UNFRIED is our small group (5 people max!) coaching program to help guide you through your recovery. Apply now! [http://bit.ly/unfried]