NOAH KAHAN: Imposter Syndrome, Anxiety & The Pressure of Success (What He’s Never Shared Before)

About this episode

Jay sits down with singer-songwriter Noah Kahan to break down the pressure that comes after “making it” - the imposter syndrome, the constant comparison, and the fear of losing it all. Noah shares how music became his escape from anxiety growing up, what it felt like to finally land the record deal he dreamed of, and why success didn’t silence the doubt, it amplified it. Jay and Noah unpack the myth of the “tortured artist,” and the quiet fear that healing might take away what makes you creative. Noah opens up about his recent OCD diagnosis, how he let go of the belief that he had to suffer for his art, and what it took to find his voice again without relying on pain. Noah speaks candidly about his struggles with body dysmorphia and the unexpected therapy of creating his documentary. Together they explore what it means to find balance and to stop performing for the world so you can finally be seen by the people who matter most. In this episode, you'll learn: How to Stop Defining Your Worth by Your Work  How to Face Your Unseen Fears Through Therapy  How to Stay Present When Life Feels Overwhelming  How to Extract Lessons from Painful Feedback  How to Handle the Fear of Losing Your Success  How to Stay Grounded Between Praise and Criticism   How to Prioritize Your Time Over the Endless Grind Whether you are navigating a major life transition or simply trying to find your footing in a loud world, remember that your self-worth is not a mathematical equation based on your latest achievement. No one should have to navigate their mental health journey alone. Join Noah in the mission to prove that the more we share our stories, the more we empower others to do the same. Visit: https://www.busyheadproject.org/  With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe   Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 01:54 Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of Others  04:39 The Childhood Memory That Defined My Career  05:42 Middle Child Energy and the Need to Be Heard  06:57 Music Was My Only Plan A  08:44 The Disconnect Between Fitting In and Being Genuine   11:09 Expressing Yourself Without Giving Yourself Away  14:05 Songwriting: The Constant Search for a Simpler Life  17:25 Every Creative Process Is Different  18:52 When What You Do Becomes Who You Are  24:07 The Power of Journaling Your Lessons  27:05 Does Healing Kill Creativity?  29:48 My Biggest Regret in Communicating with Family  32:43 The Vulnerability of Filming Your Private Life  36:32 Healing and Finding Peace as a Family  43:51 Has Success Made Mental Health Harder or Better?  46:19 The Honest Truth about Body Dysmorphia  52:09 Living and Dying by Your Own Honesty  57:40 The Difference Between Going to Therapy and Doing Therapy  01:00:24 Do You Secretly Find Comfort in Your Pain?  01:02:01 Re-evaluating What Truly Matters After Success  01:05:59 Finding the Strength to Believe in Yourself  01:11:04 Protecting Your Heart While Taking Criticism 01:14:06 Stability Rooted in Love and Marriage 01:20:48 Would You Rather? 01:22:55 Gut Reaction 01:25:46 Noah on Final Five   Episode Resources: Website | https://noahkahan.com/  YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/c/NoahKahan  Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/noahkahanmusic  Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/noahkahanmusic/  TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@noahkahanmusic  X | https://x.com/NoahKahan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices