June 20, 2025 • 10 mins
Ever felt like you’re not good enough to lead, lift, or speak up? Same. In this episode, I’m breaking down how I’ve fought through imposter syndrome, built real confidence with Tonal, and found my voice, one rep and one messy step at a time. This one’s for anyone who’s ever doubted themselves but showed up anyway.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5536OnOTy_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome back to Strength inNumbers.
Y'all know my name is Katie, andtoday we're gonna talk about
something that's, honestly, ithas been a big part of my, my,
my journey.
Um, it's not just in fitness,but in starting this podcast and
showing up for others and evenlearning how to show up for
myself.
Today we're gonna dive intowhat's called imposter syndrome.
(00:23):
That quiet voice that whispers,who do you think you are?
When you finally decide to dosomething bold, stepping out of
your comfort zones, if you haveever felt like a fraud in your
own life, I have been theremultiple times in this journey.
Like, you're not qualifiedenough, you're not strong
(00:45):
enough, or you're not ready.
You are not alone.
This episode is all about howI've been trying to navigate
those feelings and how strengthtraining on tonal.
And the amazing community aroundit have really played a huge
role in helping me start tobelieve that I, that I do
deserve to be here, that I do,that I do deserve it, that I do
(01:09):
some that, that I can saysomething that's worth saying.
So let's start with somehonesty.
When I hit record on thispodcast for the first time, I
sat here for a long timethinking, who's going to listen
to this?
What do I even have to offer?
Shouldn't someone, you know,with a degree more experience?
(01:32):
'cause I've only been strengthtraining for what, three years,
four years.
And you know, from there on outI was just, you know, running as
you know, not really training,running, just having fun
running.
I'm definitely not the perfectbody.
I am not that young social mediainfluencer.
(01:53):
You know, I, I don't have a hugefollowing, but you know, why
not?
I've spent over a decade being astay at home mom.
I'm just now working, you know,I'm working towards some of my
goals, you know, with doing mypersonal training, getting
certifications and stuff,reading about all the styles of
(02:15):
training that I truly enjoy.
And for a long time that wordjust was doing a lot of damage
because even though I've put inreal life work, like learning,
you know, lifting, building themuscle, you know, showing up,
there's always been this littletug in the back of my mind
(02:36):
saying, I have not earned this,that, that I'm not enough.
Or that I'm not doing enough, orI'm just a mom, or I am just
that person on the other side ofan internet of millions and
trillions of other people.
(02:57):
What difference can I make thatfeeling?
That's imposter syndrome, andI've learned that it does.
It definitely does not go away.
Just because you're doing thework.
In fact, sometimes it shows upbecause you're stepping into
something new.
Imposter syndrome doesn't showup when you're staying small or
(03:18):
doing the same thing year on outor going along with the crowd.
It shows up when you're growing.
That's the crazy part to me.
It's not a sign that you'redoing the wrong thing.
It's a sign that you're doingsomething that matters to you.
I had to start referring, I hadto start reframing my thoughts
(03:40):
instead of, I don't belong here.
I ask, why is this space betterwhen I'm in it?
When we grow up thinkingconfidence is something you
either have or you don't, butthat's not true.
Confidence is something youbuild.
Just like muscle.
You build it by showing up againand again and again.
(04:03):
Even when your brain is tryingto convince you that you cannot,
you went, you want to know whatfinally started shifting things.
For me, strength training and mycoach, lifting weights doesn't
just change your body.
It reprograms your mind.
(04:25):
Every time I stepped up to tonaland hit a pr, even if it was
just the smallest one, becausey'all know I started, my bench
was 32 pounds when I started ontonal something in, something in
me just said, you did that, thatwas you.
And that message started to sinkin.
(04:45):
Not just in the, not just in mygym at home, but everywhere
else.
It was like, okay, maybe if I'mcapable of doing this.
Then maybe be, maybe I'm capableof doing more tonal became that
mirror that reflected backeffort instead of perfection.
(05:05):
It showed me that showing upeven messy and totally unsure
and not knowing what I wasdoing.
That was enough, and thensomething even more powerful
happening happened.
I started helping others.
I started answering questions inthe tonal community, sharing my
struggles on Instagram,connecting with other women,
(05:27):
going through the same thing.
It turns out what people neededfrom me was not perfection.
It was just an ear to listen, tobe like, I've been there.
I know I'm here to help you.
Permission to be real, to bestrong and vulnerable all at the
same time.
(05:47):
So what do we actually do whenthat voice creeps in?
Here are a few.
Here are a few things that Ihave done that have helped me,
and I hope that they can helpyou too.
Name that voice.
Say it out loud.
This is imposter syndrome.
When you name it, it's aseparate, it's separate from
(06:08):
yourself.
It's, sorry, let me say thatagain.
It is separate.
It is not you.
It's a thought, not a truth.
Keep proof of file.
I'm a huge person ofdocumentation.
Y'all know I have my gymjournal.
I am adamant about adding mythoughts every day about my
training, how I felt, how Islept, how I fueled.
(06:32):
I'm huge about documenting yourjourney.
I have a folder on my phone withscreenshots of kind messages.
Prs, uh, wins.
Even the smallest ones.
I have pep talks saved from allthe coaches from classes that
I've taken, you know, also theirpodcast.
(06:53):
You know, Tim has a podcast,Joe's podcast, uh, listening to
Casey when she goes on herpodcast and other friends that
have podcasts like Luis juststarted his podcast.
On those days that I doubtmyself, I go back and I look at
those people, I look, I go to,to hear their voice.
Your brain needs those receipts.
(07:14):
Give it some confidence does notcome before action.
It actually follows it.
You don't want to feel str.
You don't wait to feel strongbefore lifting the weight, do
you?
You don't wait before you can,you know, pick up and hit start
on tonal.
You just do it.
You lift the weight to getstrong.
(07:35):
Same goes for life.
We think we're not alone in, wethink we're alone in feeling
this way, but we are not.
The more I've talked about it,the more I've found connections.
Start small.
DM someone, post somethingvulnerable.
Share with a friend, serveinstead of perform.
(07:59):
This is a huge one, and this issomething that has kind of
struck me with like social mediaand people I follow and.
What is their purpose between,are they doing it for the
recognition, the attention, orare they really wanting to help
people?
When I shifted from trying toprove myself to helping someone,
(08:22):
everything changed.
Even this podcast, when Iremember, it's about helping you
guys.
It is not about impressinganyone.
That's when the magic happens.
Being open is so scary.
I know it leads to a lot oftalking.
And just remember when peopletalk about you behind your back,
(08:45):
just remember that is a themproblem, not a you problem, but
being open can also be yoursuperpower.
When I started sharing myjourney openly, talking about
HRT struggles, perimenopause,feeling lost after all these
years of motherhood, having achild that has, you know, a
health issue, I realized that'swhere connections happen.
(09:08):
People don't connect with yourhighlight reel.
They connect with your humanmoments.
So if you're waiting to be morequalified, more polished, more
ready.
Let this be your sign.
You do not have to wait.
You do not have to wait to beready.
You'll all, you are alreadyready enough.
(09:28):
So thank you so much for hangingout with me today.
I really appreciate you guyslistening to these quick little
chit chats.
If you were walking, if you werewalking through imposter
syndrome, I want you to know youare not alone.
Your journey matters.
Your voice matters, and yourstrength inside and out is so
real.
You don't have to have it allfigured out.
(09:50):
I certainly don't.
You don't need to have it allfigured out to help someone.
All you have to do is see them.
I'm a product of a person seeingthem sometimes just being one
step ahead and saying, Hey, I'vebeen there too.
It's enough to make someone feelseen.
(10:11):
This podcast is not perfect.
I am still growing.
I'm still learning, but I am soglad you guys are here.
Let's keep building confidenceand lifting heavy and showing up
together.
So if this episode spoke to youor it meant something to you,
please share it.
Send it with a ffr, send it to afriend.
And if you're on the tonal fam,keep showing up for each other.
(10:34):
This space has changed my life.
So I will see you guys next timenext week on Friday for another
chitchat.
This is strength in numbers.
Welcome back to Strength inNumbers.
Y'all know my name is Katie, andtoday we're gonna talk about
something that's, honestly, ithas been a big part of my, my,
my journey.
Um, it's not just in fitness,but in starting this podcast and
showing up for others and evenlearning how to show up for
myself.
Today we're gonna dive intowhat's called imposter syndrome.
(00:23):
That quiet voice that whispers,who do you think you are?
When you finally decide to dosomething bold, stepping out of
your comfort zones, if you haveever felt like a fraud in your
own life, I have been theremultiple times in this journey.
Like, you're not qualifiedenough, you're not strong
(00:45):
enough, or you're not ready.
You are not alone.
This episode is all about howI've been trying to navigate
those feelings and how strengthtraining on tonal.
And the amazing community aroundit have really played a huge
role in helping me start tobelieve that I, that I do
deserve to be here, that I do,that I do deserve it, that I do
(01:09):
some that, that I can saysomething that's worth saying.
So let's start with somehonesty.
When I hit record on thispodcast for the first time, I
sat here for a long timethinking, who's going to listen
to this?
What do I even have to offer?
Shouldn't someone, you know,with a degree more experience?
(01:32):
'cause I've only been strengthtraining for what, three years,
four years.
And you know, from there on outI was just, you know, running as
you know, not really training,running, just having fun
running.
I'm definitely not the perfectbody.
I am not that young social mediainfluencer.
(01:53):
You know, I, I don't have a hugefollowing, but you know, why
not?
I've spent over a decade being astay at home mom.
I'm just now working, you know,I'm working towards some of my
goals, you know, with doing mypersonal training, getting
certifications and stuff,reading about all the styles of
(02:15):
training that I truly enjoy.
And for a long time that wordjust was doing a lot of damage
because even though I've put inreal life work, like learning,
you know, lifting, building themuscle, you know, showing up,
there's always been this littletug in the back of my mind
(02:36):
saying, I have not earned this,that, that I'm not enough.
Or that I'm not doing enough, orI'm just a mom, or I am just
that person on the other side ofan internet of millions and
trillions of other people.
(02:57):
What difference can I make thatfeeling?
That's imposter syndrome, andI've learned that it does.
It definitely does not go away.
Just because you're doing thework.
In fact, sometimes it shows upbecause you're stepping into
something new.
Imposter syndrome doesn't showup when you're staying small or
(03:18):
doing the same thing year on outor going along with the crowd.
It shows up when you're growing.
That's the crazy part to me.
It's not a sign that you'redoing the wrong thing.
It's a sign that you're doingsomething that matters to you.
I had to start referring, I hadto start reframing my thoughts
(03:40):
instead of, I don't belong here.
I ask, why is this space betterwhen I'm in it?
When we grow up thinkingconfidence is something you
either have or you don't, butthat's not true.
Confidence is something youbuild.
Just like muscle.
You build it by showing up againand again and again.
(04:03):
Even when your brain is tryingto convince you that you cannot,
you went, you want to know whatfinally started shifting things.
For me, strength training and mycoach, lifting weights doesn't
just change your body.
It reprograms your mind.
(04:25):
Every time I stepped up to tonaland hit a pr, even if it was
just the smallest one, becausey'all know I started, my bench
was 32 pounds when I started ontonal something in, something in
me just said, you did that, thatwas you.
And that message started to sinkin.
(04:45):
Not just in the, not just in mygym at home, but everywhere
else.
It was like, okay, maybe if I'mcapable of doing this.
Then maybe be, maybe I'm capableof doing more tonal became that
mirror that reflected backeffort instead of perfection.
(05:05):
It showed me that showing upeven messy and totally unsure
and not knowing what I wasdoing.
That was enough, and thensomething even more powerful
happening happened.
I started helping others.
I started answering questions inthe tonal community, sharing my
struggles on Instagram,connecting with other women,
(05:27):
going through the same thing.
It turns out what people neededfrom me was not perfection.
It was just an ear to listen, tobe like, I've been there.
I know I'm here to help you.
Permission to be real, to bestrong and vulnerable all at the
same time.
(05:47):
So what do we actually do whenthat voice creeps in?
Here are a few.
Here are a few things that Ihave done that have helped me,
and I hope that they can helpyou too.
Name that voice.
Say it out loud.
This is imposter syndrome.
When you name it, it's aseparate, it's separate from
(06:08):
yourself.
It's, sorry, let me say thatagain.
It is separate.
It is not you.
It's a thought, not a truth.
Keep proof of file.
I'm a huge person ofdocumentation.
Y'all know I have my gymjournal.
I am adamant about adding mythoughts every day about my
training, how I felt, how Islept, how I fueled.
(06:32):
I'm huge about documenting yourjourney.
I have a folder on my phone withscreenshots of kind messages.
Prs, uh, wins.
Even the smallest ones.
I have pep talks saved from allthe coaches from classes that
I've taken, you know, also theirpodcast.
(06:53):
You know, Tim has a podcast,Joe's podcast, uh, listening to
Casey when she goes on herpodcast and other friends that
have podcasts like Luis juststarted his podcast.
On those days that I doubtmyself, I go back and I look at
those people, I look, I go to,to hear their voice.
Your brain needs those receipts.
(07:14):
Give it some confidence does notcome before action.
It actually follows it.
You don't want to feel str.
You don't wait to feel strongbefore lifting the weight, do
you?
You don't wait before you can,you know, pick up and hit start
on tonal.
You just do it.
You lift the weight to getstrong.
(07:35):
Same goes for life.
We think we're not alone in, wethink we're alone in feeling
this way, but we are not.
The more I've talked about it,the more I've found connections.
Start small.
DM someone, post somethingvulnerable.
Share with a friend, serveinstead of perform.
(07:59):
This is a huge one, and this issomething that has kind of
struck me with like social mediaand people I follow and.
What is their purpose between,are they doing it for the
recognition, the attention, orare they really wanting to help
people?
When I shifted from trying toprove myself to helping someone,
(08:22):
everything changed.
Even this podcast, when Iremember, it's about helping you
guys.
It is not about impressinganyone.
That's when the magic happens.
Being open is so scary.
I know it leads to a lot oftalking.
And just remember when peopletalk about you behind your back,
(08:45):
just remember that is a themproblem, not a you problem, but
being open can also be yoursuperpower.
When I started sharing myjourney openly, talking about
HRT struggles, perimenopause,feeling lost after all these
years of motherhood, having achild that has, you know, a
health issue, I realized that'swhere connections happen.
(09:08):
People don't connect with yourhighlight reel.
They connect with your humanmoments.
So if you're waiting to be morequalified, more polished, more
ready.
Let this be your sign.
You do not have to wait.
You do not have to wait to beready.
You'll all, you are alreadyready enough.
(09:28):
So thank you so much for hangingout with me today.
I really appreciate you guyslistening to these quick little
chit chats.
If you were walking, if you werewalking through imposter
syndrome, I want you to know youare not alone.
Your journey matters.
Your voice matters, and yourstrength inside and out is so
real.
You don't have to have it allfigured out.
(09:50):
I certainly don't.
You don't need to have it allfigured out to help someone.
All you have to do is see them.
I'm a product of a person seeingthem sometimes just being one
step ahead and saying, Hey, I'vebeen there too.
It's enough to make someone feelseen.
(10:11):
This podcast is not perfect.
I am still growing.
I'm still learning, but I am soglad you guys are here.
Let's keep building confidenceand lifting heavy and showing up
together.
So if this episode spoke to youor it meant something to you,
please share it.
Send it with a ffr, send it to afriend.
And if you're on the tonal fam,keep showing up for each other.
(10:34):
This space has changed my life.
So I will see you guys next timenext week on Friday for another
chitchat.
This is strength in numbers.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.