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Fear of being seen keeps many entrepreneurs from stepping into their potential, and imposter syndrome often has less to do with confidence than with how the nervous system reacts to visibility. In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with therapist and visibility coach Anna Holtzman about what’s really happening beneath the surface when we hesitate to show up. Why does sharing your work online or talking about your business feel so uncomfortable? And how can you train your body to see visibility as safe instead of threatening?

Anna shares how the fear of being seen is often a protective response, not a personal flaw, and how learning to recognize that can shift the way you approach your work. She explains her method of “graded exposure” (taking small, consistent steps toward being visible) as a way to build trust in yourself and lessen the grip of imposter syndrome over time.

This conversation feels like a gentle permission slip for anyone who’s tired of pretending to be confident. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of what it means to show up authentically and a few ways to make visibility feel less like a performance and more like self-trust in action.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 The Fear of Visibility

12:03 Navigating Career Transitions

24:07 Overcoming Visibility Challenges

26:52 Building Comfort in Visibility

30:46 The Power of One-on-One Coaching

31:52 Authenticity in Consistency

35:01 Navigating Negative Feedback

39:05 Personalized Coaching Experiences

45:35 Actionable Steps to Increase Visibility

Links:

Follow Anna on Instagram