In this empowering and thought-provoking episode, Dr. Amelia Kelley sits down with bestselling author and podcast host Mary Marantz to unravel the myths of perfectionism and explore the truth behind our inner critics. Mary shares her deeply personal story—from growing up in a trailer in rural West Virginia to becoming a Yale Law graduate and accomplished writer—highlighting how perfectionism, fear, and self-doubt often mask themselves as ambition. Together, they explore how fear shows up as overthinking, imposter syndrome, and people-pleasing—and how these patterns are especially common in sensitive, neurodiverse, and high-achieving individuals. The episode dives into the neuroscience of creativity, the emotional toll of being “the one no one has to worry about,” and how sustainable growth starts with self-compassion. If you’ve ever felt like your inner critic was in charge, or believed that your perfectionism was a virtue, this conversation will offer a powerful and loving wake-up call.