Your Body Language Is Telling You You're Not Safe | Amy Cuddy episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 28, 2026 · 1H 43M

Your Body Language Is Telling You You're Not Safe | Amy Cuddy

from The School of Greatness · host Lewis Howes, Amy Cuddy

Your body is talking to your brain constantly, telling it either 'I'm safe' or 'I'm not safe.' The posture you default to when no one's watching might be the thing keeping you stuck. Amy Cuddy, the social psychologist behind one of the most-watched TED Talks ever, sat down to unpack what actually builds confidence when the world feels unstable. She talks about the difference between faking it and becoming it, why imposter syndrome hits 75-85% of people, and why the bullies who came after her post-TED fame taught her more about personal power than the research ever did. You'll hear about the exact breathing pattern she uses before high-stakes moments, the simple writing exercise that beats any pep talk, and why she thinks reframing anxiety as excitement changes everything. There's also a story about a nurse named Alex Wubbels who got thrown against a wall for doing the right thing, and what that taught Amy about the kind of bravery that has no glory attached to it. This conversation will make you rethink every time you've shrunk yourself to avoid being noticed. Sit up straight, not for anyone else, but because you deserve the respect you keep giving away. Bullied: The Culture of Cruelty and the Surprising Power of Social Bravery Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges Amy’s website Amy on Instagram Amy on LinkedIn Amy’s TED Talk In this episode you will: Reclaim your sense of personal power using postural feedback and 4-7-8 breathing before high-stakes moments Rewrite the self-doubt that keeps you silent by practicing self-affirmation theory rooted in your core values Transform pre-performance anxiety into excitement using Alison Wood Brooks's reframing research Discover why bumblers earn more trust than pointers when things go wrong in public Overcome imposter syndrome by shifting focus from how you're judged to how you can serve others Draw the line between confidence and arrogance so self-belief fuels you instead of blinding you For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1973 More SOG episodes we think you’ll love! Get More From Lewis! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 28, 2026

Embed this episode

Amy Cuddy, social psychologist, Harvard Business School lecturer, and former Kellogg School of Management faculty, discusses power posing, postural feedback, self-affirmation theory, and 4-7-8 breathing. Topics include her TED Talk research, meta-analyses of power posing studies, Alison Wood Brooks’s anxiety-reframing research, and her friendship with Alex Wubbels. References include What Every Body is Saying, 12 Rules For Life, and imposter syndrome data from Harvard Business School students.

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

NOW PLAYING

Your Body Language Is Telling You You're Not Safe | Amy Cuddy

0:00 1:43:14

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The School of Greatness?

This episode is 1 hour and 43 minutes long.

When was this The School of Greatness episode published?

This episode was published on August 28, 2026.

Can I download this The School of Greatness episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!