the performance of authenticity

Everyone tells us to "just be authentic."

But what if we've completely misunderstood what authenticity actually is?

In this episode, Stephanie unpacks why authenticity has become one of the most overused—and performative—words on the internet. From curated vulnerability to manufactured relatability, she explores how we've started measuring authenticity by how much people reveal instead of whether their lives actually reflect what they believe.

Drawing from one of the most transformative seasons of her own life, Stephanie shares what it looked like to navigate being misunderstood, losing important relationships, and discovering that clarity doesn't attract everyone—it filters everyone.

If you've ever felt the pressure to soften your convictions, explain yourself endlessly, or become a version of yourself that's easier for other people to understand, this conversation will challenge the way you think about authenticity, leadership, and what it really means to find your voice.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why authenticity has become another performance.
• The difference between transparency and authenticity.
• Why vulnerability isn't the same as congruence.
• The hidden cost of living for other people's understanding.
• How clarity repels, attracts, and reveals the right people.
• Why the goal isn't to be understood by everyone—it's to live in integrity with your own convictions.

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to share it with a friend, leave a rating or review, and tag me on Instagram @stephanie.schutt so I can hear what stood out to you.

Thanks for listening to Pretty Vocal.