Meet Kara Mayer Robinson

We recently connected with Kara Mayer Robinson and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kara, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

To be honest, sometimes I have to pinch myself.

I may be in the middle of a texting conversation with Talia Shire (Connie Corleone! From The Godfather! Yo, Adrian from Rocky!). Or getting a voicemail from Spike Lee. Or driving away from Jeff Garlin’s house in the Hollywood Hills after he revealed, for the first time, that he was suicidal after his character was written off The Goldbergs.

How did I get here? And who am I to be in the middle of these circles, having more intimate and meaningful conversations with celebrities than they have with friends and family? Who am I to be on the receiving end of their deepest, darkest secrets? And why do they say yes to being on my show (the celebrity-interview YouTube series Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson)?

About eight years after I started my show, I think I finally understand. I’m not an imposter. I earned it. I belong here.

For years, I didn’t get it. Even when I heard positive feedback from celebs who were on my show and read positive reviews, it didn’t quite sink in. It wasn’t until my own perspective shifted that I saw myself in a new light.

It started with one little book that seemed to magically appear on my phone one random day a few years ago. I don’t remember ordering it, but I opened one of my reading apps and there it was: You Are a Badass, by Jen Sincero. I started reading. And before long, my entire mindset about myself shifted. I realized that even though I’ve always been a self-aware, well-balanced person, I was still carrying around limiting beliefs that prevented me from truly owning it.

Suddenly, I saw how I sabotaged myself. And I started to see my value. I saw how comfortable I made other people and why they open up to me. Part of it is being a therapist. The other part is just accepting and being myself.

I also try to surround myself with positive influences. I always have a book or two on my phone about living with a mindset of abundance and expansiveness. And I love hanging out with people who challenge themselves to think differently, be all they can be, and soak up what the world has to offer.

I own my mindset now. I no longer fall into the trap of thinking I’m not good at something or that cool things only happen to other people. Sure, I have doubts like everyone, but I know I can push through them and get to the other side. And I’ve learned to see it as a challenge and opportunity to grow.

As a therapist, I often tell people that confidence doesn’t come from external validation; it’s an inside job. And now I’m happy to be walking the walk.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a licensed therapist and coach and the host and creator of Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson, where I have intimate, revealing talks with celebrities.

I’ve worked with hundreds of celebrities. I can’t reveal everything, but I’m lucky that many celebrities come on my show and reveal real struggles they’ve had in their personal and professional lives, so people can see that they’re not the only ones who struggle. Even celebs go through really difficult things.

Some of my biggest moments involve celebrities sharing something surprisingly personal with me during an episode of my show. Cesar Millan, aka The Dog Whisperer, opened up about attempting suicide. Melissa Benoist, aka Supergirl, revealed that her ex-husband physically abused her. Reid Scott, the actor from Veep and Law & Order, opened up about his mom having borderline personality disorder, and how it affects himself and his kids. You can see this on my YouTube channel, at YouTube.com/ReallyFamous.

I often ask celebrities to share something their therapist taught them. I have so many gems! They’ve come from Jameela Jamil, Jeff Garlin, Elle Macpherson and a bunch of others. I love posting these on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, so people can use that advice themselves, save it and share it. Suddenly, one therapist’s impact spreads beyond the person sitting across from them during a therapy session. You can see these litte gems on Instagram.com/karamayerrobinson and on TikTok @karamayerrobinson.

At the heart of my work as a therapist is the knowledge that anyone can change the trajectory of their life. No matter their struggles, no matter what’s happened to them, if they want to break the cycle, stop the spiraling and change their lives, they can. I love digging in with clients in my therapy practice because I see them changing right before my eyes and I know their lives will be transformed by the work they do in therapy. You can learn more about my practice at really-famous.com/therapy.

Now that I’m based in Los Angeles and New York, in addition to my private therapy and coaching practice, I also consult for television and film productions—before, during, and after filming. As a mental health advisor, I help keep productions running smoothly, keep an eye on everyone’s mental health, and prevent complications from emotional issues. You can learn more at hollywoodwellness.org.

I also speak on stage and in the media about mental health, celebrity wellness, personal connections, interviewing, podcasting, and more. I host talks, emcee events and moderate panels. And I love when the tables are turned. I’ve been a guest on other people’s shows, like Bialik’s Breakdown with Mayim Bialik, at conventions like Podcast Movement, and at industry conferences like Digital Hollywood.

When I first started my show I wasn’t sure if it should be a podcast, YouTube series or television show. Now I see clearly that being on YouTube is where it’s at. You can find it at YouTube.com/ReallyFamous. Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson has been found by people across the world and it’s accessible to everyone. I absolutely love reading comments about how moved people are by my guests’ stories. I feel lucky that I’m here doing the work I do and it has an impact on so many people.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

A mindset of abundance, perseverance (especially when you’re about to give up) and psychology. Read books, curate your social media feed and surround yourself with people who cheer you on.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

The antidote for anxiety is action. When you feel overwhelmed, break the cycle of rumination (where you keep thinking the same things over and over, in a loop) and start taking action. Make a list of things that will improve your situation. Then take one tiny thing from that list and do it. This has a one-two-three punch: It gets you out of the overthinking cycle (which never helps!), creates a sense of agency, and starts improving the situation that’s overwhelming you.

When I feel overwhelmed, I take a step back, breathe, then look at the big picture. What am I doing this for? Have I made it through things like this in the past? I remind myself of similar tough situations in which I survived and thrived, so I know I can do it again. Then I make a to-do list so I know what I need to do and can take it one item at a time. I may take my dog, Stella, for a walk, to gain perspective and a sense of calm. Then I get a move on. It’s time to do this thing!

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Kara Mayer Robinson

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