Episode 8: Let’s Normalize the Fact That No One Knows What They’re Doing

What if the big secret of adulthood is that no one actually knows what they’re doing? Not your boss. Not the mom with the perfectly packed lunches. Not the person confidently leading the meeting. This week on What Even Is This?, hosts Jane Doerman and Jordan Johnstone talk about the strange moment in adulthood when you realize you’re the adult in the room… and it feels slightly illegal. From imposter syndrome at work to parenting moments that require asking the pediatrician to explain things like you’re five, Jane and Jordan unpack the quiet pressure to appear confident while secretly wondering if everyone else got a handbook you somehow missed. Spoiler: they didn’t. If you’ve ever stared at your calendar, your responsibilities, or your life and thought “How am I in charge of anything?” — this episode is for you. Because sometimes the most freeing realization is this: Everyone is just figuring it out in real time.     In This Episode: • Why imposter syndrome shows up in work, parenting, and social life • The viral internet truth: “Adulthood is mostly whispering ‘what the heck is going on’” • Why we assume everyone else has the manual • What changes when we normalize being beginners • How learning in motion builds real confidence     Segments in This Episode: WHAT EVEN IS THAT? Jordan brings internet trends that prove we’re all collectively winging adulthood. WHAT EVEN IS THIS QUESTION? Jane and Jordan unpack the pressure to have life figured out and why most of us are just guessing with confidence. WHAT EVEN IS HAPPENING? Listener chaos stories including lunchbox mix-ups, a 24-hour crockpot situation, and a child who hums elevator music after being told “hold please.”     We Want to Hear From You Have a chaotic moment that made you think “WHAT EVEN IS HAPPENING?!” Email us: [email protected] Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatevenisthispodcast/ Your story might be featured in a future episode.     About the Podcast What Even Is This?! is a podcast for women navigating adulthood in real time — working, parenting, believing, doubting, achieving, unraveling, and trying to make sense of the chaos. Because: Life is messy. Chaos is real. And none of us actually have it all figured out. Which is exactly why we’re here.