10% Happier with Dan Harris

Comedian Aparna Nancherla on: Impostor Syndrome, Anger, Social Anxiety, and Stage Fright

Sep 20, 2023

Aparna Nancherla, a talented writer and stand-up comedian known for her role in 'The Great North,' dives into her struggles with imposter syndrome and anxiety. She shares how procrastination fuels her creativity while discussing the pressures of representing South Asians in entertainment. Alongside Dr. Bianca Harris, they dissect the 'agreeability industrial complex' and the challenges of saying no. With candid insights into the link between comedy and therapy, they highlight the power of storytelling in navigating personal challenges.

54:44

Creator website

Episode guests

Aparna Nancherla

Dr. Bianca Harris

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

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.

Intro

4min

Navigating Imposter Syndrome in Comedy

24min

Exploring the Dynamics of Imposter Syndrome and Mental Health

4min

Navigating Perfectionism and Imposter Syndrome

14min

Navigating the Agreeability Industrial Complex and the Power of No

3min

The Power of No and Embracing Identity

8min

The Power of Storytelling and Upcoming Works

5min

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.

---

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

Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/aparna-nancherla