The Imposter Roster: The Secret Lives of Capable Women

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.

The Day I Said It Out Loud

Why does imposter syndrome show up so loudly in capable women—and why do so many of us believe we’re the only ones feeling it? In the very first episode of The Imposter Roster: The Secret Lives of Capable Women, host Christine Chubenko shares the origin story of the show: the moment she finally said out loud what so many brilliant women quietly carry—the fear of being found out, exposed, or labeled a fraud despite years of experience and success. Joined by Emily Wrobel, who was there when the idea for The Imposter Roster was born, Christine unpacks why this conversation matters, why it’s long overdue, and why naming imposter syndrome is the first step toward loosening its grip. In this episode, we talk about - * What imposter syndrome really feels like for capable, high-achieving women * Why self-doubt persists even with credentials, experience, and success * How silence and comparison keep women stuck in imposter thinking * The moment this podcast idea took shape—and why it wouldn’t let go * Why storytelling is a powerful way to normalize these experiences and move forward This episode sets the tone for the entire series: honest conversations, shared stories, and real voices from women who have questioned their place—and risen anyway. If you’ve ever wondered whether you truly belong in the room, this show is for you. You’re not alone.  You’re just on The Imposter Roster. 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.

Trailer

You're listening to the Imposter Roster-   The Secret lives of Capable Women: Where brilliant, badass women admit they've felt like complete frauds and then tell us how they rose anyway,  I'm your host, Christine Chubenko, and I'm not here to fix you. I'm here to get real, laugh a little, and remind you you're not alone. You're just on the imposter roster. If you're feeling this, please follow or subscribe to our show for free on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you're listening right now. 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.