Comedian Aparna Nancherla on: Impostor Syndrome, Anger, Social Anxiety, and Stage Fright
Sep 27, 2023
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Aparna Nancherla, a writer, stand-up comedian, and actor, discusses her experiences with imposter syndrome and anxiety, the connection between stand-up comedy and therapy, the burden of representing South Asians in entertainment, and the release of her new book, Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself and Impostor Syndrome.
Imposter syndrome can manifest as anxiety and depression, affecting one's perception of self-worth.
Perfectionism can fuel imposter syndrome, leading to a never-ending pursuit of flawlessness.
Therapy and self-reflection are essential for overcoming imposter syndrome and separating self-worth from achievements.
Deep dives
The Imposter Phenomenon and Aparna's Experience
Aparna Nan-Charlagh, a successful comedian and author, opens up about her experience with imposter syndrome. Despite her accomplishments in entertainment, she has long struggled with feelings of being a fraud and constantly worries about being found out. Aparna delves into her book, 'Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome,' which explores the complexities of imposter syndrome, including anger, social anxiety, and stage fright. She also discusses the importance of therapy, self-acceptance, and embracing one's own identity in the face of societal expectations.
The Intersection of Perfectionism and Imposter Syndrome
Aparna explores the connection between perfectionism and imposter syndrome. She describes the feeling of never being good enough and how it affects her perception of her own work. Despite receiving praise from others, she struggles to accept compliments and often judges her own creations as inherently flawed. This perfectionistic mindset has influenced her career in comedy and the constant pursuit of excellence.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Self-Awareness
Aparna shares her journey of overcoming imposter syndrome through therapy and self-reflection. She discusses the importance of understanding the roots of her feelings of insecurity, which stem from growing up in an achievement-oriented and perfectionistic household. By becoming more self-aware and challenging her negative thoughts, she has been able to separate her worth as a person from her accomplishments and find meaning in other aspects of life.
The Complex Relationship with Identity
Aparna explores the challenges of being a woman of color in the entertainment industry and the pressure to represent more than just herself. She discusses the concept of the Agreeability Industrial Complex, where women are expected to always say yes and please others. While appreciating the opportunities to inspire others, she acknowledges the struggle of wanting to be seen as an individual rather than solely as a representative of a certain race or gender.
Reflections on the Writing Process and the Journey
Aparna reflects on the process of writing her book and the emotions that came along with it. She describes her initial intention of trying to fix her imposter syndrome through writing, but realizes that it is not a quick fix solution. Despite the fears and uncertainties, she finds freedom in letting go of the outcome and embracing the fact that her book is a snapshot of her life at a certain point in time. She is now excited to share her story with others and engage in conversations about imposter syndrome.
Aparna Nancherla is a writer, stand-up comedian, and actor. Her new book is Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself and Impostor Syndrome. You can hear Aparna as the voice of Moon on Fox’s The Great North, or have heard her as the voice of Hollyhock on Bojack Horseman. She’s also appeared on The Drop, Lopez vs. Lopez, and Corporate. She’s written for Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and Late Night with Seth Meyers, as well as Mythic Quest on Apple+.
In this episode we talk about:
How impostor syndrome relates to anxiety and depression
Procrastination and how she sometimes feels it sets her up to do good work, even though she hates it
The difference between standup and therapy in her life
How she feels about the word “no”
The sometime-burden of representing South Asians in entertainment
What it feels like to finally put this book out into the world