Aparna Nancherla (from How to Be a Better Human)

Design Matters with Debbie Millman

Impostor syndrome is one of many therapy-speak words that have gone mainstream in the past few years — but what is it, really? Aparna Nancherla knows all about it. Aparna is a comedian and the author of "Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Impostor Syndrome.” Despite her success as a performer, she isn’t immune to self-doubt. In this episode from another TED Audio Collective podcast, How to Be a Better Human, Aparna talks about the ways she’s learned to deal with impostor syndrome: like creating a resume listing all her failures, or making up words at parties to gauge other people’s reactions. She also shares how she learned to put less stock in success and what to do when your mind isn’t telling you the truth. Find more How to Be a Better Human wherever you get your podcasts.