In this episode of New Material, Herbert and Hamza dive deep into the murky waters of imposter syndrome and its potentially crushing effect on creative work. Hamza shares the raw reality of tackling a high-stakes textbook update project, facing a torrent of feedback that left him questioning his own skill. He reflects on the challenge of navigating criticism while holding onto his creative voice. Meanwhile, Herbert opens up about his own battles with editorial scrutiny and why staying true to your creative vision matters, even when external voices get loud. Together, they explore the push and pull of self-doubt, learning to separate your work from your worth, and embracing uncertainty as part of the creative journey. If you’ve ever wrestled with feelings of inadequacy or wanted a glimpse into the creative process's messier side, this episode gives you an honest look at what it means to create with integrity and resilience.

Edited by ⁠Evan Mader⁠