The Imposter Syndrome Club: Recent Episodes
Jessamy Gee & Alice Edy
Melbourne/Naarm based creative dorks Alice Edy and Jessamy Gee talk to some of the smartest, funniest creatives in town and beyond about life, work, and the devastating weight of comparison. All while feeling like total imposters, naturally.
Produced by Shadow House Music.
IT'S HERE - THE FIRST DASH.
The original concept of Dash was to explore sliding doorsmoments in people’s lives – where forks in the road have led them, if they have unfulfilled dreams, questions or FOMO that keeps them up at night.
And it’s not NOT about that now.
But as I’m facing my own existential / midlife / identity crisis– big themes around purpose, meaning and identity have continued bubbling up as I pick other people’s brains to help me get back to knowing myself… what I’m hoping is that these are all little stepping stones on a path back to optimism.
Finding out what to hold onto, and what to let go.
I’ve chatted with mental health professionals, artists,psychologists, academics, comedians –anyone with big juicy brains that don’t mind me having a good ol poke around in there.
This first episode I recorded with my dear friend HannahBushell, who I’ve known for over 25 years. Hannah is a mental health nurse and a Senior Research Officer in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy at Monash University.
In episode 70 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Jessamy is joined by Alice Imposter and returning guest, artist Carissa Karamarko. We chat about going all in, feeling like you’re always behind, relationship to the word ‘artist’, the relief of letting things go, choosing the quality of your problems, partnerships, balancing inputs & outputs, worrying about what your work day looks like to other people, not acknowledging progress as it happens, the seduction of busyness and newness, having the space to see the big picture, mindset shifts vs opt-outs, the binding nature of gossip, all-girls schools, preparing young people for the real world, and the value and limitations of old friendships.
carissakaramarko.com
Carissa's exhibition at Modern Times Gallery
In this episode we time travel all the way to January to give you this great chat with Natalie Katona from the To All The Men I've Tolerated Before podcast.
We chat cat names, talking in movies, covid silver linings, self-imposed barriers, starting a podcast with no experience (LOL relatable), fear keeping you creative-adjacent, middle-school plays, getting the acting bug, self image, podcasting as storytelling, managing friendships with professional partnerships, Days Of Our Loves, Fiona the Hippo, the safety in believing you’re never the expert, being a cock-block to your own healing, being ok with being bad at stuff, imposter syndrome and dating, fluid sexuality, Encino Man, and Gen Z saving us all.
(For those playing at home, we did eventually find Encino Man and it was wonderful)
In episode 68 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice Imposter Dr Marion Piper returns to dive into The Little Box of Fuck Ups, harvested from Finders Keepers Creative Business Summit back in March (soz we fucked up and forgot to do it earlier).
We cover diary fuck ups, spelling fuck ups, file deletion fuck ups, not getting it in writing fuck ups, how you respond to other people’s fuck ups, and importantly - how do you learn and grow from your fuck ups and be honest about what you need.
In the second episode of our ‘Alice Imposter’ mini-series, Jessamy sits down with her pal of 25 years, comedian, writer and producer Andy Balloch.
We chat about inviting the bull into the china shop, the funniest joke in history, the relationship with an audience, balancing serious subjects with silliness, growing, learning and doing better, unlearning our social conditioning, growing up gay in Australia, running out of time, comparing yourself to Chris Hemsworth, the preciousness of time, feeling cheated out of time, the importance of representation, fighting for a seat at the table, where great ideas come from, the structure of a show, building a set, and being old.
In our first mini-series of ‘Alice Imposter’ episodes, Jessamy sits down for a chitty-chat with the brilliant Dr Marion Piper.
This chat covers sobriety and being “sober-curiousity”, the drinking culture in Australia, being honest with ourselves and others about how we feel about our relationship with booze, personal development, social lubrication and connection, what the research says, shifting into a new version of you, the value of doing less rather than more, avoiding things that threaten your identity, transferring your loves, how belief becomes identity, dissecting your experiences to understand what you value and crave, the twisted cultural narrative, being afraid to be a beginner, sitting in uncertainty, rebelling against yourself, having a support crew, focusing on how alcohol makes us feel, outsourcing decision making, the hardest bit being just not doing it, being terrible at editing, being confronted with presence, setting expectations and controlling what you can, and that it’s actually none of your business what’s coming for you… so find comfort in the unknown.
Tix to Marion's journalling workshop
Andrew Huberman's pod on What Alcohol Does to You Body, Brain and Health
In episode of 65 of The Imposter Syndrome Club Alice and Jessamy start with an important announcement, then chat about Alice imposters, the seven types of rest, the shitstorm of 2023, the long tail of pandemic recovery, the pressure of making up for lost time, the value of mental models, napping, sensory rest, the quality of silence, morning routines, social media timers, rebelling against yourself, mental rest, hot firey brains, productive procrastination, the power of changing your environment, the long term impact of big life events, being scared of the dark, the difference between scary and creepy, ghost trains, emotional rest, impression management, emotional literacy, and the experience of change.
TED Talk: The 7 Types of Rest by Saundra Dalton-Smith MD
In episode 64 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat about triggering covid zoom calls, emojis in the workplace, emoji signatures, sms grammar, capital letters on the “what’s not” list, liberation from being “cool”, role models and influence, a Barbie deep dive, representation of women on the big screen, hope for the next generation of women, the “feminist agenda”, men’s rights douchebags, Mitch Buchanan and Baywatch, the unfair power structures and expectations of women in the public eye, The Rock and the dentist.
This week Alice and Jessamy chat to the incredible comic artist and author Gillian Goertz about accomplished friends, hype girls, undermining local recognition, shamelessness, confidence, the energy of the States, working in sales, the benefits of working lots of different jobs, being a late bloomer, resisting the golden handcuffs, opportunity cost, access to representation in the arts, setting the bar high, having basic needs met as a requirement for creativity, hanging out with people who are better at the thing than you, the importance of having people to talk shop with, why comics, the power of finding mentors, self-gatekeeping, writing for kids, using real references to create imaginary worlds, the joy of seeing things you recognise in art, the weight of research, being a stickler for details, tying up loose ends in writing, character design, the personhood of children, terrible haircuts, early vs late development, the “period toilet”, wanting your childhood to last, the convention of adulthood, what we can learn from kids, playfulness and flow states, creativity as an asset everywhere, finding friends that want to have the same fun as you, costume parties, drunk feminist films, and the hard work that goes into fun projects.
Gilliang.com
@gilliangdotcom
In episode 62 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat about friendship evolutions, love & gratitude, friend crushes, being awkward with babies, the shame of being un-maternal, faking it, parental inequality, being honest about the realities of the inequities of the world, patriarchy, puppies, dog washing, Barbie, why Jessamy loves LA, being inside the TV, realising fairytale landscapes exist, the holiday you, rollerblading, plan b’s, public speaking, diversifying your portfolio, putting all your eggs in one basket, proverbs & sayings, sloganeering, and the illusion of truth.
In episode 61 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat about hostels, hammerhead sharks, tuna & cheese, eggs or farts?, the power of storytelling, puke jars, ethical conundrums, urgency trumps embarrassment, shitting, jumpsuits & vulnerability, pissing injustice, she-pees, body vs brain, the limits of preparation, dancing on planes, work energy limitations, peaks & troughs, opting in to the pros to balance the cons, and that if you paid the entry fee - you better go on the fucking ride.
In this PACKED interview with Jaz Designs (aka Your Pricing Queen) Jessamy chats with Jaz about the one thing that makes most creatives squirm in their seats - money, honey.
We chat about how a rising tide lifts all boats, not devaluing work just because you enjoy it, the myths of the starving artist and work/life balance, resting in your own way, the power and detriment of going all-in, feeling creatively inspired by running a business, identity shifts, confidence coming from mind shifts and information cultivation, you’re not “asking for money” - you’re letting them know the ticket price, you are giving - not taking, the importance of information gathering, client red flags, creating processes and checklists, boundaries, worth vs value, businesses exist to make money (the client’s AND YOURS), your self worth is not tied to what you create, quantifying outcomes not creativity, imposter syndrome and comparison, reframing imposter syndrome as a sign you’re trying something new, saying yes when you know it should have been a no, resentment pricing, FAFs (fuck around fees), being a service provider and advisor, not an employee, white label situations, taking a problem-solving lens, cheese puns, pro bono work, reciprocal value, being big enough to serve someone but small enough to know them, everything is currency - you just need to get creative with it, collaborating with clients, and how working together builds mutual respect.
Creative Business Kitchen
Your Pricing Queen on Instagram
In episode 59 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy try to hold it together on a Friday afternoon and chat about art vs design, rejecting the terms of a question, listening not waiting to talk, creme brûlée, making things, playing poker, re-learning, adobe subscription conspiracies, Elf, sleepcasts, sleep hygiene, story time, life drawing, drawing dicks, weddings, vow renewal, friendships changing and ending, incompatible love languages, and the sex lives of nursing homes.
In episode 58 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat about country people, inter-generational relationships, deep dive on our work as graphic recorders, managing energy, Alice’s tour guide career, “top deckers” (it’s not what you think), history and learning, the value of imagination, the subtle art of not giving a fuck, choosing the quality of your problems, are there “shit” values?, toxic positivity, you don’t always have to make lemonade out of your lemons, learning to fight with your partner, being biased toward the meaning that you make, everything is wrong, but all change comes from being wrong, you are responsible (but not necessarily to blame) for everything, entitlement, and that with great responsibility comes great power - not just the other way around.
Book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson
This week we speak to the amazing actor, writer and set-dresser Tamzen Hayes about #susananalbumparty, removing yourself from performance, formulaic writing, why we (rightfully) revere actors, the power of storytelling, feelings about day jobs, professional jealousy, thinking visually, self consciousness, approaches to writing, stage isn’t about you, Never Said Motel and very personal performances, the best review ever, the role of a director, wanking on stage, people wanting to see themselves in art, reality tv, how good it is to be into things, Lego Masters, legacy, the difference between fame and impact, Marilyn Monroe, and being ok to have a backup plan.
- Never Said Motel at Bondi Festival
- Scalpels & Tequila Podcast
In episode 56 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy catch up after an enormous couple of weeks to chat about being angry at India (it’s not your fault India, I’m sorry), calling in sick, misplaced blame, theory vs reality when it comes to burnout, not taking your own advice, imaginary arguments, performative travel, who decides what a “cultural experience” is, straight-manning humanity, dream murders, and why our dogs would make the best life coaches.
Article: "Your dog loves you so much, they even dream about you" - BBC Science Focus
Our first birthday live podcast celebration was a VIBE you guys.
Featuring special guests comic artist & author Sarah Firth, comedian Andy Balloch, and writer/actor/director/comic Stu Daulman, a spinning prize wheel, wide ranging delicious convo, and of course… the great unveiling of pig cake. By all reports, a runaway success.
In episode 54 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Jessamy and Alice chat through riding the wave of the menty-b, gratitude, community - what are the conditions that create it? What does it mean to be part of community? The importance of face-to-face connection, seeking to blame or seeking to problem solve, horrible bosses, everyone gets a turn to fuck up, be there for each other when you do, being held by a team, crying in the toilets, how the Devil Wears Prada is not a comedy when it’s your life, whether narcissism is genetic, fucked up parent dynamics, 90 Day Fiancé , blood and snot and scabs and pimples, party anxiety, attention to detail, and that you being right doesn’t always mean the other person is wrong.
The Imposters were thrilled to be invited down to Bendigo to record this special live crossover ep with the lovely Caleb and Reece from the Country Creatives podcast at Emporium Creative Hub.
The joke is finally on us and for the first time since episode one of the Imposter Syndrome Club podcast, Alice and Jessamy read their own bios. That really is a dick move on our part, isn't it?
In this week’s episode of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice & Jessamy chat to musician & composer Ian Cameron Smith about commitment to quality, being self taught, sliding doors moments, having drive, feeling your own potential, the nuance of mastery, striving for improvement, not creating for the audience, doing it for you, being your biggest self critic, not wanting to die wondering, producing what you’re feeling, letting artists evolve, defaulting to the familiar, living a creative life, music as the divine, balancing inputs and outputs, getting out of your own way, having patience & giving projects time, allowing people to enjoy your work on their terms, negativity bias, presence, honouring the moment, and choice.
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Tix to Live Show.
In episode 51 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, we talk about coming with purpose, learning and fucking up in public, compassion fatigue, not feeling like doing the work, having a shitstorm of a week, embarrassment being at the core of most anger, street harassment, picking fights, conscious or unconscious intimidation, turning skills on and off, when compounding shit things start to feel personal, the seduction of wallowing in righteous rage, empathy takes effort (outrage is easier), ask how you change gears to get out of a rut, connection via a common enemy, cynicism as an adolescent trait - cowardly and lazy, not realising how many decisions or opinions we outsource, the unravelling and existential crises, listening to the voices you value the most and being aware of who they are, showing your workings out…
and then we woke up and it was all a dream.
References:
- The School of Athens
- Brene Brown on Critics
In this week’s episode of The Imposter Syndrome Club, we sit down with the incredible Rhys Paddick to talk all thing cultural ‘de-sensitivity’.
We chat through understanding why you want to do an acknowledgment of country, moving away from performative action, connecting people and place, what is the actual risk of getting it ‘wrong’, being led by curiosity, starting with language, the importance of finding what’s fun to you, that tribalism is natural - from sport to religion to culture, how labels are useful until they’re not, focusing more on the similarities than the differences, contractual fun, qualitative & quantitative check ins, questioning dogma and exploring different frameworks, that cultures and frameworks are not in competition with each other, the value of working in partnership, the domino effect, the pressure of representing your culture, that most of the fears are in your head, cultural safety, over-correction leading to fear and paralysis, being a leader, the benefit of inexperience, creating change from what you know, and that you’ve got more power than you think, and you have to find that within yourself.
Again, we unfortunately had issues with the video cutting out, so if you're watching please enjoy our faces while they're there!
In episode 49 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, it’s Alice’s birthday! We chat about Ferrero Rocher cereal, the perfect gift, practical gifts, stationery being a promise of a better me, Dad’s office, Gak, tattoos without purpose, the pointlessness of ‘what if’s, starting at the start, doing an intention audit, Chat GPT, the death of the essay as assessment, school vs learning, an antidote to the fear of the blank page, ethics of AI and art, taking time to form your opinion, “I don’t know” can be a position, where we sit on the adoption curve, and getting the pig cake you deserve.
(Apology: we've had some issues with the video so it cuts out a little early - so enjoy our faces while they're there!)
References:
"Octane Render" - a non-fiction comic about AI art by David Blumenstein
'Making a movement' - leadership lessons from a lone nut
Innovation adoption cycle
In this week’s episode, Alice and Jessamy sit down with the incredibly warm, funny and open type queen Eliza Svikulis.
In this incredible heartfelt chat, we discuss the pitfalls of authenticity, clout and credibility, working with different needs and processes, pricing, how confidence isn’t permanent - regardless of skill and experience - it’s contextual, using your skills to love people, poo on the floor, being humbled by the universe, grief, motherhood, being a Mum without your Mum, childbirth, pride, the difference between confidence and self-assurance, the permanence of death, finding ways to connect to people we’ve lost, art as an outlet (and finding the time to do it), finding comfort, seeking balance between creating from the heart and commercial viability, Chicken Bum Takeaway, making memories, and legacy.
In episode 47 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat about the Women’s weekly birthday book, bake offs, Betsy the beetle, Jessamy’s new bff Helen, navigating buying a second hand car, the beauty of inheriting something filled with love, investing in joy, being intentional around where you upgrade, identifying your values & sharing them with your partner, wanting vs wanting to want, the relaxation police, pho, music festivals, having a brand new baby soul, ascribing value to preferences, not wanting to do anything, but not wanting to do nothing, moving in with a partner, Wordles & Octordles.
This week, Alice and Jessamy chat with the incredible dog behaviouralist and trainer Jordan Weizman from Chilled & Fulfilled.
If you don’t have a dog, or think you’re not interested in dogs, HANG ON A MINUTE. The insights from this chat are so deep, insightful, and absolutely applicable to the human experience. Ok. Good boy.
In this fascinating conversation we cover balanced training, punishment, living in the moment, thresholds and boundaries, how dogs are different from humans, the importance of being calm, assertive and confident, that everything you do is training, whether you mean it or not, love as action, building trust, love and power, imaginary emotional problems, personalities, communicating in the language that’s understood, avoiding mixed messages - it’s about what you’re doing, not what you’re saying, ABC: activity, boundaries, and calm & consistent leadership, meeting physical and social needs, managing post-covid issues, managing social pressures, and shared territories.
chilledandfulfilled.com
@chilledandfulfilled
In episode 45 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice & Jessamy chat about the weird alternate dimension of Spotlight, birthdays, invitation and non-invitation, awkward conversations, managing social dynamics, emotional hunger, designing social interactions, the terror of being yelled at by someone else’s parent, processing emotion through physical challenge, the responsibility of being qualified to open the emotional box, DON’T CUT THE FRINGE, doing self love your way, and loving others their way.
The Imposters are genuine fangirls of the incredible multi-disciplinary artist Ellen Porteus. That's why we we SO STOKED to be invited to host the artist talk for her most recent (sold out!) exhibition 'SHE'S ON ANOTHER PLANET' at KSR Gallery on March 15.
We chat about Ellen's process, inspiration, inner thoughts, beliefs, and contradictions as she invites us into the imaginative world of her colourful planet.
It’s episode 43, we’re back to our classic series of tangential nonsense and BOY ARE OUR ARMS TIRED.
Given the past few crazy weeks, we chat about burnout, as well as what the ‘Ultimate Jessamy’ would look like, trying to find a vision for the future, kissing frogs, forgetting words, learning French (ooh la la!), the vulnerability of trying, marathons, editing, exhaustion being the enemy or creativity, the making of Elf, creating worlds, finding magic, imagination, kid learning vs adult learning, and cows with boobs.
Book tickets to our FIRST BIRTHDAY LIVE SHOW on Friday May 26!
In this special SUPERPOD episode, we chatted to five amazing guests live at The Finders Keepers Business Summit - Matt & Lentil (Grown & Gathered, Minimum Wines), Becca Stern (Mustard Made), Pete Cromer (Artist), Shuh Lee (Artist & Maker) and Esther Sandler (Togetherness Design).
We chat about process, being courageously creative, the joys and challenges of running your own creative business, working in partnerships, collaborations, the power of community, and much more.
Grown & Gathered / Minimum Wines
Mustard Made
Pete Cromer
Shuh Lee
Togetherness Design
In this special episode of The Imposter Syndrome Club, we interview not one but TWO amazing guest ahead of both theirs and our involvement in the Finders Keepers Creative Business Summit this Friday - Lauren Baxter (Peppermint Magazine) and Fiona Killackey (My Daily Business Coach).
First up is Lauren, where we chat about privilege and sustainability, creating a safe space for conversations, balancing style and sustainability, the importance of nuance when discussing sustainable fashion, acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers, the righteous olympics, that systemic change takes time, how fashion should be fun, just being conscious in your consumption, The Devil Wears Prada & cerulean blue, what ‘purpose-lead’ looks like at a practical level, “Empower-tising”, walking the talk, doing the silent work, leading by example, the importance of transparency, the dream of working for a values-driven company, fedoras and tramp stamps.
In our second chat with Fiona, we discuss the difficulty of marketing your own business, the tension between passion, purpose and profit, equating self-worth or success with financial goals, the lie that creative industries don’t make money, unpicking the narratives you grew up with, values, beliefs and money, the Monday test, internal and external alignment, how to practically live your values, the power of time blocking, being your own kind of coach, the difference between your personal values and brand values, that you’re allowed to change your values over time, taking inspiration from others, and the privilege of running your own business, on your own terms.
Where you can find us this week:
1) Hosting a LIVE POD / Artist’s Talk at KSR Gallery, Melbourne, with the incredible Ellen Porteus on Wednesday March 15 (it's FREE but you do need to register).
2) Podcast partner for The Finders Keepers Creative Business Summit on Friday March 17.
Come say hi! 💛
And just like that, we’re 40! We start off with some primary school assembly announcement vibes with exciting news about the Finders Keepers Creative Business Summit, and a goddamn LIVE SHOW announcement!
We chat about moving house, the housemate interview process, Jessamy’s worst job ever at a market research call centre, evaluation scales, nightmare housemates, applying life lessons from RuPaul’s drag race, dog names, bridesmaid betrayal, backhanded compliments - reality vs interpretation?, your experience, my experience, and the truth, and the courage to be disliked.
Find out more about The Finders Keepers Creative Business Summit (Federation Square, Melbourne, March 17)
Secure your spot at out 50th Episode LIVE Celebration (Ringo Barr, Brunswick, May 26)
This week, Alice and Jessamy sit down with the gorgeous Annie Carter, founder of Eve Studio.
We chat about feeling welcome in your own body, community, the feeling of inspiration, having a crush on your own idea, taking the leap, relentless optimism, backing yourself, pushing back on the binary of business vs heart, walking the walk, role modelling, #hustle, burnout, holding onto what serves you and letting go of what doesn’t, because you can do it doesn’t mean you should, and being the change you want to see.
anniecarter.com.au
Annie on Instagram
Eve Studio on Instagram
In episode 38 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy have a very fun chat about social return on investment, low fat cheese (get fucked, honestly), making choices, removing morals from food, family dinners, the eating bed, selfie shame, teenage photos, liberating yourself from tourist attractions, flowers, valentine’s day, burning nudes, body image, pizza, and Muriel’s Wedding.
Find us on insta
Watch us on YouTube
This week, Jessamy and Alice chat with trans non-binary writer, editor and activist Jasper Peach. This is an amazing chat that covers a lot of ground, including how the personal is the political, bridging the gap between confusion and understanding, invitation over advice, the importance of ritual, finding yourself in the silence, teaching through showing rather than telling, pretending you know what’s happening, the influence of external messaging on gender, the societal obsession with gender, honouring doing your best, the importance of modelling and making it easy, accepting everyone for who they are (and who some people are is kinda a dick), finding fabulous clothes for fat bodies, buttons that do nothing, dealing with other people’s curiosity, managing medical systems, clarifying your boundaries on info sharing, practicing responses, the weight of representing your community in every interaction, how other people’s discomfort is not yours to manage, the asymmetry of entitlement to personal details, and finally…
If you’ve already gone through the process of finding out who you are, and living that way, you’re a pretty courageous human. And there’s nothing you’re not capable of. You are capable of anything.
Find Jasper online:
@jasperpeachsays on Twitter
@jasperpeachsays on Instagram
Pre-order the book You'll Be A Wonderful Parent
Book launch dates:
Saturday 12th March 2 pm - Castlemaine State Festival gallery show launch and author + illustrator talk + bubbles at Corner Store Merchants
Sunday 26th March 3 pm - Bookish Bendigo launch party for Bendigo Pride
Saturday April 1st noon - Q Lit Geelong (check website for details)
Monday April 3rd 11 am - Castlemaine State Festival - Dialogues chaired by Alex Kelly, in conversation with Jasper Peach and Quince Frances
Sunday April 16th 11 am - Bargoonga Nganjin - North Fitzroy Library - launch party with cake, book signing, a bit of talking but not too much - kid friendly
In episode 36 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat about paying attention, pop quizzes, imposter syndrome (shock!), having your biggest fears validated, unintentionally hurting each other, awareness being the first step but sometimes it sucks, open wounds and sore spots, the world’s most brutal pros & cons list, spilling the tea (literally), layers of meaning, reality vs story, meaning-making matters when it’s shared, maladaptive daydreaming, when it’s useful to investigate the truth, useful beliefs, the best thing that could possibly have happened, haircuts and handjobs.
References:
The Power of Self Care Instagram account
Maladaptive Daydreaming
This week Jessamy and Alice had the pleasure of hanging out with the ray of sunshine that is film-maker and podcaster, Sammy Petersen.
We chat about being an ex comedian, the concept of “paying your dues”, the comedy police, rough gigs, finishing on your own terms, romanticisation of self destruction, being an addict addict, trial and error, finding your voice, practicing in public, being someone’s shot of whiskey, finding comfort in silence, making things for the love, new friends, the post-hang text, blind ambition, creating home wherever you are, never being bored, spending your time with positive people, low stakes gossip, influencers, and not being afraid to ask.
Where to find Sammy:
Website
Confessions the Podcast website
Confessions the Podcast
Nature or Nurture Podcast
Fraud Festival the film
In episode 34 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat about Clueless, going to the movies, designing your days with intention, not replying to emails, phone free time, scrolling, making excuses, learning to drive, being present, planning over prioritising, no one thing is more important than another, low hum guilt, Dolly Parton, consistent mistakes being how you find your style, the collaborative sext, finding representation and family in housemates, being “Guest clean”.
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In episode 33 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, we’re trying something a little different. Our special guest this week is Jessamy’s high school pal Bec, with whom she’d lost contact and just reconnected in the past year to chat about the changing nature of friendships… and obviously, a million tangents in between.
We discuss MySpace profiles, old Facebook statuses, vulnerability hangovers, having no chill, the gift of space, divorce, piano,
finding relationships that lift you up, reconnecting to parts of yourself, identity crises, change, kayaks, trying stuff, co-parenting, weird formalities, The Duxton Hotel, low-stakes naughtiness, industrious teenagers, and of course… reaching out to old mates.
Some names bleeped to protect the innocent. 😂
In episode 32 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat about “getting through” the festive season, dancing in chicken suits, new year traditions, worst NYE experiences, avoiding parades on acid, sleeping in cars, teenagers and coats, “Chill Girls” and “Girly Girls”, unapologetic dressing, ducks in da club, the disco, working yourself up over imaginary scenarios, untrue assumptions, negativity bias, wasted creativity, behaviour / thought / feeling / outcome - what comes first?, where we find our sense of self, getting lost, finding meaning in relation, google maps, cartography, Paper Street and Fight Club.
In episode 31 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Jessamy and Alice chat about big Christmas feelings, new year resolutions, busy as a feeling, using feelings as the compass - not the goal, tradition vs flexibility, unbalanced social capital, managing change, rope burn, reflection and focus, baby step goals, and finish by uncovering the dark secret of “big hairdressing”… WE’RE BEING HAD.
This week we chat to the very funny comedian Stu Daulman about screenwriting, trolls, Hallmark movies, creating a comedy show, character development, being a good watcher, starting with what YOU think is good, rough gigs, loving making people laugh, finding a voice, starting by doing it, egos, being present, sketch shows, surviving being creative, comparison & asking the wrong questions, empathy, day jobs, funny or just famous?, collaborating, taking away the carrot so you’re not the donkey anymore, dreams not being what you thought they were, giving people a platform, and gigging in a Baby Bjorn.
Stu on insta
Yes Yes Yes Comedy on insta
stuartdaulman.com
In episode 29 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Jessamy and Alice start with some listener shout outs, then have a chat about uppercase and lowercase ‘F’ friends, how there is no ‘The Answer’, being a marketer’s dream, debts and withdrawals, winning the friendship & in-law lottery, making it ok to celebrate, the algorithm game, pugs, hot dogs, hot babies, the most famous baby, 2am Google searches, not being able to find the word, Monica Lewinsky, slut shaming, and Christmas.
References:
'We Can Do Hard Things' Friendship Podcast
In this week’s episode of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy talk with Kiel Tillman - designer, mural artist, illustrator and Creative Director of Tillman Creative Co.
We chat about the Wu Tang Clan, personal style, being unconventionally professional, growing up in a small town, the glory days of Billabong, being a good manifester, the importance of diversity in your work, wives being the best, the importance of a great team, DocumentV2-final_FINAL3-thisone.jpeg, being part of a growing creative community, giving back, being a bird nerd, and trying not to burn out.
In episode 27 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat through navigating disappointment, tantrums, having a support team, love in practice, emotional regulation (and lack thereof), being a big stupid baby, the pros and cons of total emotional safety, clear is kind, asking, cockroaches, toaster hatred, reflection & intention, setting an annual theme, intentional fun, never being finished, tension and release, carrying a backpack of “shoulds”, flying in dreams, using busy-ness as distraction, and Internal Family Systems.
References:
Internal Family Systems
In this week’s special live episode, The Imposter Syndrome Club teams up with CreativeMornings Melbourne to host this special panel on the theme of TRUTH. Featuring panelists Dinzi Amobi-Sanderson (ULO), Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald (Modern Mending), Mikey Ting and Carissa Karamarko (Studio Ting), and hosted by our own Alice Edy.
The panel explore aligning truth with values, the worlds you don’t fit in, what do we mean by authenticity, our public vs private truths, parenting truths, pricing truths, valuing your work, saying no, showing your process, inviting people into your story, the time it actually takes to do that, social media expectations vs return on investment, saying yes, and… is it a “lie” or “future truth”?
In this week’s episode we chat to the wonderfully poetic and infinitely wise Madeleine Dore (Author) about holding things lightly, choosing your own measures, borrowing other people’s goals, shifting from ambition to drive, creating momentum, asking yourself what you really want and how you know what voice is true, productivity guilt, training wheels for rest, recognising or deciding our internal seasons, looking at your feet, not the mountain, productivity cyclones, the arrival fallacy, permission to allow flow, wanting and play, writing in the gush, collecting failures like stamps, and how you can’t waste time in advance.
References:
7 types of rest
Period Queen by Lucy Peach
Bullet journalling
Pomodoro Technique
That awesome Walt Whitman quote
Where to find Madeleine:
Substack
Website
Extraordinary Routines
Routines & Ruts Podcast
Buy her book "I Didn't Do The Thing Today"
In episode 24 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Jessamy and Alice chat about the power of gratitude (turns out it’s not just a buzzword!), big feelings for finishing big projects, marathons, cries that get stuck inside, symbols, divorce (or better - getting “unmarried”), managing fear of loving again, “acceptable” and “unacceptable” types of vulnerability, talking about the icky stuff, approaching conversations with curiosity, societal conditioning, self-editing, connecting or disconnecting with your own thoughts and feelings, cults, thinking you’re the exception to the rule, and silky boxers.
VCA Grad Show Wed 23rd NovemberInfo & book (it's free!)
In this week’s episode of The Imposter Syndrome Club, we talk to the incredibly articulate and generous artist Natalie Mather about the difference between an artist statement and a bio, balancing competing interests, being a 9-5 (or 12-4) painter, the importance of having a daily practice, consistent playing = consistent work, how having a day job does not equal failing, defining success, that you need input to make output, the awkward second album, being a detective of your own brain, realising you’re not as complicated as you thought, stage fright, naivety or bravery, the benefits of external constraints and even greater benefits of self-imposed ones, step parenting, adjusting & compromising while still guarding your time, divorce, friendship and community, self-sabotage, fear of failure and of success, and being comfortable with being seen.
Natalie's website: http://nataliemather.com
Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliemath.er
Natalie's newsletter on Substack: https://nataliemather.substack.com
Join us for a LIVE tour of Natalie's studio on Instagram Thursday November 10th at 1pm AEDT
In episode 22 of The Imposter Syndrome Club Alice and Jessamy talk about ethos, copy / pasting values, talking to strangers, Robert the magical Uber driver, when to quit the band, Jessamy’s Creed impression, art school, how you move through an exhibition and feeling like you’re not doing it right , ‘performing’ receiving art, if art is really subjective, art wankery, what money is for, how our relationship to money was modelled for us growing up, more on money mindsets and money Archetypes care of beautiful pod friend Janine, removing the moralisation of behaviours and focusing on outcomes, and the right way to buffet.
Money resources care of Sarah Firth:
- Book: 'You are a badass at making money' by Jen Sincero
- Girls that Invest - Instagram
- Planet Money - Instagram
- Podcast: 'Starving Artist' with Honor Eastly
- Book: 'Do What You Love' by Miya Tokumitsu
- Book: 'Capitalist Realism : Is there no alternative?' by Mark Fisher
- Book: 'Our Members be Unlimited: A Comic About Workers and Their Unions' by Sam Wallman
- Book: 'The Barefoot Investor' by Scott Pape
- Book: 'Debt' by David Graeber
Also check out our new resources page including these and all the other recommendations we’ve received from guests so far!
Other references from this episode:
- CreativeMornings Melbourne https://creativemornings.com/cities/mel
- Austin Kleon Book & TED Talk ‘ Steal like an Artist’ https://austinkleon.com/2012/05/04/tedx-talk-steal-like-an-artist/
In this week's episode of The Imposter Syndrome Club, we speak to the incredible Jai Long about having nothing to lose and everything to prove, being the ultimate underdog, understanding how resourceful you are, habits, beliefs & skills, choosing where you take your feedback from, world domination, not getting hung up on yesterday and fixating on tomorrow, obsession, separating ego from task, the power of bringing everyone on board, why people drive Ferraris & wear Rolexes, money mindset (economics are way easier than you think!), how it doesn’t matter how hard you row, if you’re rowing on the wrong boat, getting more uncomfortable around inaction than action, setting big, unrealistic goals - not just a to-do list, the problem with work/life ‘balance’, golf, and how success as an infinite resource.
References:
Books:
You are a badass at making money by Jen Sincero
Be obsessed or be average by Grant Cardone
Where to find Jai:
Make your break podcast
jailong.co
Noskin Clothing
In episode 20 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, we really push the boundaries of professionalism with this light and rambling chat - sleepover style. We start strong (and accidentally) with piss slippers, then continue on to cover home renos, the things that make you feel grown up as a kid, Phillips Savvys and Satch jeans, underage parties, “do you want to be with my friend?”, formative teachers, Motley Crue in French, results of the personality test, healthy skepticism, Barnum statements, and balancing strengths and deficits in a partnership.
References:
Barnum statements: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnum_effect
In this week's episode of The Imposter Syndrome Club, we chat to jewellery designer Alicia Millan (Aletheia & Phos) about connection, story and love, big feelings, being a highly sensitive person, deep thinking, building heart and humanity into your business, hating school, fashion, attention to detail, her unique design process, finding inspiration, spicy meatballs, friend love, love languages, working out how to express emotions and love, self-confidence, the gift of time, working smarter not harder, the importance of asking questions, overcoming restrictive thought patterns, finding the right people to work with, emotional connection to a brand, the importance of play and fucking around, capitalism, surrounding yourself with inspiring people, slowing down to speed up, not needing to follow the rules, the importance of support networks, friend setups, just making more pies, rallying against gate-keeping, and identifying and connecting to your values and purpose.
References:
Aletheia & Phos https://www.aletheiaphos.com/ / https://www.instagram.com/aletheia_phos/
Book “Conversations on Love” https://www.penguin.com.au/books/conversations-on-love-9780241448731
Fluff Cosmetics https://www.instagram.com/itsall.fluff/
Love Languages https://5lovelanguages.com/
In Episode 18 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Jessamy and Alice discuss what’s in a name, pen licences, viewing your adulthood through your child-self’s eyes, self-rebellion, having tea with the elephant in the room, personality types and thinking preferences, letting go and moving on, the sunk cost fallacy, how a rising tide lifts all boats, not letting ego drive your decisions, the illusion of transparency, art & the impulse to be understood, sisters, how we don’t have ownership of and are not entitled to our memories, unlocking memories through location OR imagination, fingering, knowing something will get done but not understanding how, people who are great at being in service to others, and valuing finishing just as much as starting.
References:
- Graphic Recorders Australia: www.graphicrecorders.org.au
- The Sunk Cost fallacy: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/the-sunk-cost-fallacy
- 16 Personalities Myer Briggs test: https://www.16personalities.com/
- The Illusion of Transparency: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusion_of_transparency
- Memory Palace / Method of Loci: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_loci
In this week's episode of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy talk to the amazing Tony Corrales of Noskin Clothing and Producing with Purpose.
We chat about ethical clothing and entrepreneurship, sustainability, quality, skinny jeans, fashion forecasting, stepping back to move forward, how you know it's time to quit your day job, risk tolerance, mindset, the power of language, Bewitched, the difference between strategy and motivation, self-imposed pressure, punk bands, scenes & invisible rules, identity in scenes & music genres, goal-setting and connecting to purpose, and focusing on the things that move the needle.
Book reference: Building A Story Brand - Donald Miller
In episode 16 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy discuss the birth of Glittertits, alter-egos, the power of a costume, the joy of absurdity, family traditions, rituals and assumptions of what’s “normal”, playing with identity, sexual archetypes, art school critiques, the way out of comparison being through your hands, and making your mark.
You can follow Jessamy's burlesque journey @its_glittertits , and some of the other super performers we mention in this ep:
@r.ass.putin
@lucy_furr_pd
@peteroticca
This week, Alice and Jessamy chat to the brilliant Izzy Maxwell Watts about intersectional feminism, periods & leveraging natural cycles as a superpower, creating space for women to share with each other, having kids or not, equine therapy, uplifting and amplifying the voice of others, the problems with saviourism, valuing whole people in workplaces, the emoji consortium, creepy marketplace dudes, the antidote to dick pics, cat calling & power dynamics, and the impact you can make as an individual.
Where to find Izzy:
https://www.instagram.com/izzywatts
https://www.instagram.com/im.withher
In Episode 14 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy talk bouldering, how the way you do one thing is (or can be) the way you do everything, pushing your threshold physically and emotionally, Krang, the colour yellow, costume making, brain worms, the difference between healthy boundaries and being a wuss, cold water swims, being clear on your intention, gravity, sky diving, responding to different types of risk (social, physical, emotional) terrifying teenagers, over-stepping real estate agents, and recovering from extreme embarrassment.
In this week's interview episode with Yamini Naidu, we talk about starting with fire, small talk vs big talk, being a new migrant, the power of good enough, how doubt can be a fierce friend, mentorship, the power of working in peer groups, what makes a good story, the hero & heroine’s journey, realistic over blindly positive self-talk, rituals, and doing the work while letting go of expectations.
Links & References:
Yamini talked about Claire Dunn’s book Rewilding the urban soul and the idea of ’sit spots’.
Here is a link to Trent Dalton’s love stories and his video explaining the creative behind it.
The philosophy of Abhyāsa, a Sanskrit word, means taking a seat in the work, practice and regularity. Show up and do the work. It may be unexciting, unsexy advice, but no matter how gifted, quick thinking and spontaneous you are, you will always do better if you are well prepared.Another Sanskrit word, Vairagya means non-attachment to the outcomes. It frees you from the disappointment of your expectations.
Alice stumbled on the ancient Ayurvedic practice of Abhayanga - self massage with oil!
Yamini mentioned some of her writer’s group and their X factor statements yesterday. Here are links to their websites.
Kath Walters https://kathwalters.com.au/
Carolyn Tate https://carolyntate.co/
Di Percy https://www.dipercy.com/
Yamini's links are https://yamininaidu.com.au/
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/yamininaidu/
Instagram @yamini.naidu
For the book https://xfactor.yamininaidu.com.au/.
In episode 12 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy discuss European Dad fashion, DOING, how fine the line between genius and idiot can be, chain wallets, the important/urgent matrix, hustle culture, money, editing and saying no, the danger and seduction of the fourth thing on your list, palate cleansers, and ferrero rochers for breakfast.
In this week's episode of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat with the fabulous Carissa Karamarko, artist and co-owner of Studio Ting. We chat about how we can use "cringe" as a metric, how useful or not is it to “fake it til you make it”, identifying what you should outsource (if you can), and what you should learn yourself, sexy welding school, the power of a name, the drive to prove yourself, how to be an artist when you grow up, taking the leap, the power of being honest about your dreams and ambitions, the duty that comes with privilege, the importance of routine, letting go of the trope of the “tortured artist”, and finding identity and ritual outside of alcohol.
Find Carissa here:
Carissa Karamarko Insta or Studio Ting Insta
And Jessamy's outsourcing matrix here.
In episode 10 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and (a very jet-lagged) Jessamy talk Invisible career threads, never finishing a degree, hindsight, wiggly career pathways, where to you start your origin story from, quitting jobs with post-its, being the right person for the job, looking for the grown up in the room, ghost dogs, business sleepovers, and Alice’s exciting new tattoo adventures.
Dr Marion Piper bestows some serious wisdom upon us in this week's interview ep. If you are a not just a "creative" but a human being of any sort, you're gonna get a bunch of super practical tips to make your life better from this chat. We talk about journalling (I know, but she's almost sold me on it), post-traumatic growth, creativity as a birth right, amazing time management hacks, the power of words, working for treats, and much much more.
Find her at marionpipercreative.com and @marionpipercreative.
In episode 8 of The Imposter Syndrome Club - TRAVEL EDITION - Alice and Jessamy (live from LA) talk about how wonderful it is to travel again, living loudly, terrible number plates, give uneducated and unsolicited nutrition advice, and get very very excited about being in the same room together again next week.
In episode 7 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy chat about the importance of being seen by people who love you, bin stand-offs, the benefits of a light hangover, introductions at dinner parties, making friends as adults, how we would get over covid if it were a dropkick ex-boyfriend, and finish strong with educating Alice one of the gems in the crown of 90s Australian TV - Aerobics Oz-Style.
The incredible Mikey Ting, one half of creative studio Studio Ting, enters the Clubhouse this week to share some of his story and wisdom. We chat about the joy of singing and dancing together, the importance of human connection for creativity, the bad-assery of Papa Ting, not being afraid to be shit at something, the importance of "a bit of fun", the impact of great teachers, small moments of joy, finding pleasure in the practice... and much more. We could have continued this chat for a billion hours I reckon. Onya Mikey, we love you!
In episode 5 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Jessamy and Alice chat about the post-covid 'Aldi' version of life, chosen vs enforced growth, misunderstanding analogies, evolving between life stages, targeted vs distributed focus, terrible strategies for dealing with illness, hamsters, mini-golf, and Alice's Baffalo house of lies.
Also please refer to our socials @imposterpod for a delightful photo of John Gee being awesome. DAD RULES OK!
Insightful, clever, and very funny Melbourne poet Alice Allan visits the Clubhouse this week to chat with Alice and Jessamy about feeling late to the party, playing on hard mode, navigating comparison, finding your signature style, GoPros on dogs, waiting on the sidelines, first collections, the post-covid stocktake, and not being ready but doing it anyway.
Naturally, we also talk about the power of words and Alice dropped some amazing wisdom on us from the poem Berryman by W S Merwin.
Where to find Alice Allan:
- Poetry Says
- The Empty Show (her first collection)
- Blanks
In Episode 3 of The Imposter Syndrome Club, Alice and Jessamy have a chat that begins with exploring the difference between imposter syndrome and just being unqualified, useful vs non-useful discomfort and how to navigate it, what does "being kind to yourself" actually mean, journalling (or the lack thereof), when to push the boundaries and the role of external forces in setting them, celebrating the beginner/dabbler... then takes a swift left turn into being a mermaid, kids who suck at singing, and a disturbing dating deal-breaker question that involves old mate Santa Claus. #santalies
References: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
Sarah Firth is an Eisner Award-winning cartoonist, comic artist and writer, speaker and internationally renowned graphic recorder... she's no imposter! In The Imposter Syndrome Club's first interview episode, The Imposters chat to Sarah about confidence vs hubris, feeling like an outsider, critical parents, personal rituals, abundance mindset, self high-fives and... gut hypnotists?
Sarah's work has been published by ABRAMS Books, ABC Arts, Frankie Magazine, kuš!,Graphic Mundi, Penn State University Press, Penguin Random House, Picador, Allen & Unwin, The Nib, Black Inc, and Routledge.
She is currently working on her debut graphic novel with Nakkiah Lui’s new imprint, JOAN and Allen & Unwin. Her literary agent is Jacinta Di Mase.
In the first episode of The Imposter Syndrome Club, meet our hosts Jessamy Gee and Alice Edy - the OG Imposters.
Hear us squirm as we awkwardly read our own bios, talk about showing up to work with holes in your shoes, using your grown-up voice, sneak-attack friendships, feeling like Bridget Jones, and existential crises.