MAKING UX WORK: The Joe Natoli Podcast

A lot of career discomfort comes from trying to lead, present, or speak in a way that isn’t actually you.
In this episode, Joe talks about why borrowed scripts, leadership clichés, and “how you’re supposed to do it” advice often only make things worse.
You’ll learn why authenticity reduces anxiety, how small moments of comfort are proof you’re capable and why judging your work by other people’s reactions is a losing game.
This one is about trusting your own style — and letting go of the need to perform.
If this episode resonated, consider subscribing to Making UX Work.
Each episode explores the human side of UX and product careers — confidence, power, impostor syndrome, boundaries and the challenges that never show up in books or conference talks.
No hype. No platitudes. Just honest perspective, earned the hard way.

If authority figures still trigger old emotional responses for you, you’re not alone.
In this episode, Joe explores why feedback from bosses can feel so personal — and how early conditioning often shapes the way we react to power, criticism, and expectations at work.
You’ll hear why being challenged doesn’t mean you’re failing, how to separate your worth from other people’s reactions and what it really means to set boundaries with confidence — without becoming defensive or combative.
This is about reclaiming your absolute right to exist, speak up and take up space.
If this episode resonated, consider subscribing to Making UX Work.
Each episode explores the human side of UX and product careers — confidence, power, impostor syndrome, boundaries and the challenges that never show up in books or conference talks.
No hype. No platitudes. Just honest perspective, earned the hard way.

Fear thrives in ambiguity.
In this episode, Joe digs into why hesitation, overthinking, and self-doubt get worse the longer you sit with them — and why asking for clarity immediately is one of the most powerful tools you have.
You’ll hear practical ways to interrupt fear before it snowballs, how to ground yourself physically in tense moments, and why prioritizing your own calm is NOT selfish — it’s essential.
This is about learning to replace imagined danger with actual information and taking your power back — one moment at a time.
If this episode resonated, consider subscribing to Making UX Work.
Each episode explores the human side of UX and product careers — confidence, power, impostor syndrome, boundaries and the challenges that never show up in books or conference talks.
No hype. No platitudes. Just honest perspective, earned the hard way.

When fear hits, most people push harder.
That instinct — to defend, explain, prove, or fight — is exactly what makes things worse.
In this episode, Joe shares a critical life lesson he learned from his father that applies directly to moments of panic at work, especially when conflict, resistance, or pressure show up unexpectedly.
You’ll learn why the first move isn’t steering or reacting; it’s removing the pressure. How slowing things down can instantly change the outcome of difficult conversations. 
And why fear-driven environments aren’t personal — even when they feel that way.
If this episode resonated, consider subscribing to Making UX Work.
Each episode explores the human side of UX and product careers — confidence, power, impostor syndrome, boundaries and the challenges that never show up in books or conference talks.
No hype. No platitudes. Just honest perspective, earned the hard way.

Impostor syndrome doesn’t come from nowhere — and it’s rarely about what just happened.
In this episode, Joe breaks down why your strongest self-doubt reactions often have very little to do with the moment you’re in — and everything to do with patterns formed long before your career even started.
You’ll learn how to recognize when fear is being triggered by the past, how to interrupt the panic spiral in real time, and why the goal isn’t to eliminate impostor syndrome — but to manage it. To remove its hands from the wheel and put yourself back in the driver's seat.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Why am I reacting this way?” ...this episode is for you.
If this episode resonated, consider subscribing to Making UX Work.
Each episode explores the human side of UX and product careers — confidence, power, impostor syndrome, boundaries and the challenges that never show up in books or conference talks.
No hype. No platitudes. Just honest perspective, earned the hard way.