The Imposter Roster: The Secret Lives of Capable Women

Fill Out the Form. Spiral Later. Amanda Sweet on Doing It Anyway.

Amanda Sweet didn't build the Revamp Ecosystem because she had a clean origin story. She built it because she needed one. From probation at 13 to beauty queen to Creative Fairy Godmother, Amanda's path runs straight through the messy, the hard, and the wildly creative — and she wouldn't have it any other way. Today, the Revamp Clothing Swap Festival draws 700+ attendees, diverts an average of 16,000 pounds of clothing from landfills every 90 days, supports 85–90 brand ambassadors and a 10–15 person media team, and just launched a print magazine. Oh, and she Googled 'biggest clothing swap festival in the world' and her own name came up. [03:17] Origin story — A lifetime of being redirected toward normal, and the moment she stopped [04:42] The linchpin — Being called selfish for leaving, and deciding: yeah, actually [07:54] The backstory — Probation and AA at 13, and what those rooms taught her about community [11:39] Why the Revamp started — The balikbayan box, 45 bagels, and one girl who said "do this again" [14:11] Miss Voluptuous America — Googling "plus size opportunities" and winning a national crown [18:31] The magazine — Building print credits for creatives who can't get experience without experience [24:06] On imposter syndrome — Feel it. Fill out the form. Spiral later. [27:25] The Google search — How she found out the Revamp might be the biggest clothing swap festival in the world [31:04] The tip — Trusting yourself is practice, not a personality trait About Amanda Sweet Amanda Sweet is the founder of the Revamp Ecosystem, a culture-shifting platform where fashion meets sustainability meets full-blown community magic. Through immersive events, storytelling, and creative collaboration, she and her volunteer crew have diverted more than 76,000 pounds of clothing from landfills while creating a platform for Detroit's creatives, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders. She is the force behind the Revamp Clothing Swap Festival, Swap magazine, and her role as Director of Ecosystem Development at Bamboo Co-Work. She is also a speaker, Miss Voluptuous America, and Detroit's Creative Fairy Godmother. In 2026, the Revamp earned three major recognitions including acceptance into the Next Cycle Michigan Accelerator. Her mission: help people get fly, make friends, and save the world — in that order. Resources & Organizations Mentioned * Revamp Ecosystem — revampdetroit.com (clothing swap festival, magazine, brand ambassador program) * Bamboo Co-Work — co-working and ecosystem development * Next Cycle Michigan — national recycling accelerator * Black Tech Saturdays / Michigan Central Station leadership cohort * Boss Blue — internship cohort program * Waste Warrior Program — City of Detroit * The balikbayan box — Filipino cultural tradition of sending goods to family abroad, the unlikely origin of the swap concept Connect with The Imposter Roster * Website: theimposterroster.com * YouTube: @TheImposterRosterPodcast The Imposter Roster is produced by Imposter Roster Media. Hosted on Simplecast via JAG Podcast Productions: www.jagpodcastproductions.com [https://www.jagpodcastproductions.com] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hold My Scalpel: Dr. Stephanie Muh on Being the 7% in Surgery's Mostly Male Specialty

Dr. Stephanie Muh didn't just choose orthopedic surgery — she wrote it down in the third grade and never looked back. Her elementary school teacher kept that letter and returned it to her after medical school graduation. Now a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow pathology, Dr. Muh has more than 90 peer-reviewed publications, serves on multiple national committees, lectures internationally, and is joining the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Orthopedic Surgery. She's also one of only 7% of orthopedic surgeons in the country who is female.   WHAT WE GET INTO * [00:38] Introduction — The bone doctor who called it in third grade * [02:15] Origin story — How a rambunctious kid with a lot of orthopedic injuries found her path * [04:25] First self-doubt — Grades, test scores, and wondering if she was "good enough" for medical school * [05:44] The grades debate — Why test scores reflect test-taking ability, not aptitude or potential * [07:23] Passion as fuel — Why orthopedics isn't a job for Dr. Muh, it's her life * [08:35] Behind the scenes — Designing surgical implants, working with engineers, and the 1–2 year road from concept to commercialization * [12:19] The 7% — Why orthopedics ranks last among all surgical specialties for female representation * [14:26] The mold — What people picture when they think "orthopedic surgeon" and why that perception is both wrong and stubborn * [18:41] The carpentry myth — Why strength is a misread of what orthopedic surgery actually requires * [20:43] Still questioning — How external bias and peer resistance still surface, even now * [21:13] The review score problem — Research showing female physicians receive lower patient ratings and more complaints, across all of medicine * [23:10] Finding support — Professional coaching, mentorship networks, and why Dr. Muh isn't ashamed to say she used both * [27:17] Paying it forward — The Perry Initiative, the Nth Dimension program, and why representation isn't just about gender * [31:48] Words for the road — What resilience really looks like when the path keeps pushing back * [34:20] The "I'll show you" gene — Why defiance got her there, and wisdom taught her to turn it into a smolder The Imposter Roster is produced by Imposter Roster Media. Hosted on Simplecast via JAG Podcast Productions: www.jagpodcastproductions.com [https://www.jagpodcastproductions.com] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

She Started With IKEA Furniture and a $5,000 Loan

She Started With IKEA Furniture and a $5,000 Loan In this episode, Amanda Lewan, co-founder and CEO of Bamboo, shares her journey of transforming a small co-working space into a statewide innovation network in Michigan. She discusses the challenges, mindset shifts, and community-driven approach that fueled her success, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs and community builders. Key Topics: * The origins of Bamboo and Amanda's accidental entrepreneurial start * Overcoming imposter syndrome as a leader and woman entrepreneur * The importance of passion and purpose in building a sustainable business * Navigating growth and expansion during uncertain times like the pandemic * The role of community, diversity, and third spaces in fostering innovation * Balancing motherhood, leadership, and personal well-being * Practical advice: The power of just starting and taking action Timestamps: 02:26 - “I felt like I was making up my job” — Amanda on feeling unqualified as a CEO 08:07 - IKEA furniture, a $5,000 loan, and a dream: how Bamboo actually started 09:14 - Opening a second location six months before the world shut down 13:11 - Why having a purpose beyond profit is what kept her going 23:47 - On being a mom of two, CEO of five, and still feeling like a fraud some days 29:47 - Her one piece of advice: you just have to get started   Resources & Links: * Amanda Lewan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandalewan] * Bamboo Co-working Spaces [https://www.bamboocowork.com/] Connect with Amanda: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amanda_jenn/] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/amandalewan] The Imposter Roster is produced by Imposter Roster Media. Hosted on Simplecast via JAG Podcast Productions: www.jagpodcastproductions.com [https://www.jagpodcastproductions.com] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

She Took Over Mom's Business — Two Months Before the World Shut Down

What happens when the family business you swore you'd never join becomes the thing you can't imagine living without? In this episode of The Imposter Roster, Christine Chubenko sits down with Michelle Gleba Rafalski — Managing Partner of Gleba & Associates — who quit her job at 30, called her mom, and accidentally discovered her calling in the business she grew up in. Michelle stepped into leadership just months before COVID shut everything down, and suddenly found herself making decisions for a team that had more experience than she did — with zero playbook. Her imposter syndrome didn't hit once and disappear. It evolved, leveling up every time she did. Christine and Michelle explore what imposter syndrome looks like when you're not starting from scratch — you're stepping into a legacy — and how powering through doesn't mean pretending the doubt isn't there. They also discuss: * Why being afraid to ask questions is the most dangerous form of imposter syndrome * Her mom's glass-and-plastic ball analogy for juggling work and motherhood * How Michelle and her mother drew up a contract to protect both their business and personal relationship * The difference between battling each other and battling the problem together * What it feels like to supervise people with more experience — and what to do when they push back * Why hiring people smarter than you is a sign of confidence, not weakness * How Artemis 2 reminded her that even the smartest people in the room never stop asking questions Michelle's leadership style is equal parts grit, humility, and common sense. Her approach: power through, ask the questions nobody else wants to ask, and let the plastic balls drop. If you've ever been the one everyone looked to for answers while you were still figuring it out yourself, this episode is your permission slip to keep going anyway. Michelle has stepped boldly off the imposter roster and into her spotlight. The Imposter Roster is produced by Imposter Roster Media. Hosted on Simplecast via JAG Podcast Productions: www.jagpodcastproductions.com [https://www.jagpodcastproductions.com] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Going Rogue on Self-Doubt

What happens when the voice inside you says something different from everything you’ve been taught? In this episode of The Imposter Roster, Christine Chubenko sits down with Rogue Astrology founder Robbie Hunt to explore the moment she realized she had to trust her own perspective—even when it challenged religion, tradition, and the expectations placed on her as a woman. Raised in the Southern Baptist church, Robbie struggled with questions about faith, authority, and identity. Her turning point came unexpectedly when someone addressed her as “Reverend Robbie”—a moment that forced her to confront both her calling and the self-doubt that came with it. Christine and Robbie dive into how imposter syndrome shows up when you're challenging powerful cultural narratives—and why stepping into your truth can feel like rebellion. They also discuss: Why imposter syndrome often appears when you're thinking independently The courage required to question systems that say “don’t get above your raising” Robbie’s path to becoming both an ordained minister and a professional astrologer The myth of Mercury retrograde and how collective belief shapes our experiences Why questioning authority can be a powerful form of spiritual authenticity Robbie’s approach to astrology blends history, psychology, religion, and plain common sense. Her mission: challenge “junk astrology” and encourage people to think for themselves. If you've ever felt the internal voice asking, “Who do you think you are?”, this episode will remind you that sometimes that question is the very doorway to your true calling. At 63, Robbie says she has finally stepped fully into her voice—and in this conversation she shows us what it looks like to step off the imposter roster and into the spotlight. The Imposter Roster is produced by Imposter Roster Media. Hosted on Simplecast via JAG Podcast Productions: www.jagpodcastproductions.com [https://www.jagpodcastproductions.com] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.