From Hidden to Heard: Josh Cary on Fear, Identity, and Authentic Leadership

Kristen Vermel hosts "Makers of the USA," highlighting the diverse and rich landscape of American artisans and creators. In this episode, she discusses the transformative power of authenticity with guest Josh Carey, host of "The Hidden Entrepreneur Show." Josh shares his journey from hiding his true self to embracing authenticity, which led to personal and professional growth. They explore the challenges entrepreneurs face, such as fear and self-doubt, and emphasize the importance of inner work to overcome these barriers. The conversation underscores the value of storytelling in building personal brands and connecting with audiences.

• The podcast "Makers of the USA" focuses on highlighting artisans, craftsmen, photographers, musicians, and other creatives in America.
• Host Kristen Vermel emphasizes the importance of recognizing local makers over major online retailers.
• The show aims to explore the stories and crafts of these individuals across the country.

"The United States of America, Home of the brave. A place that is filled with different cultures, diversity, beautiful scenery. A place I call home."

• This quote sets the stage for the podcast's focus on celebrating the diversity and creativity within the United States.

• The host reflects on the past year, describing it as a period of transformation and growth.
• Kristen's participation in Miss America was driven by a desire to showcase American-made products.
• The new year, 2026, is symbolized by the Chinese zodiac's year of the horse, representing courage, independence, and forward motion.

"So before we dive in, I also wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the energy we are stepping into into this new year, 2026."

• This quote highlights the host's optimistic outlook for the new year and the symbolic significance of the year of the horse.

• Josh Carey, known as the Hidden Entrepreneur, is the guest on the podcast.
• He spent 40 years hiding his true self and only found fulfillment when he embraced authenticity.
• His podcast, "The Hidden Entrepreneur Show," focuses on helping others reveal their true selves and overcome fear and self-doubt.

"Josh spent 40 years in hiding. He showed up with masks, trying to be who he thought others expected and feeling exhausted by it."

• This quote underscores Josh Carey's personal journey from living inauthentically to embracing his true self, which is central to his work as a podcaster and entrepreneur.

• Kristen and Josh discuss the idea that everyone has a craft, even if it's not traditional craftsmanship.
• Josh's journey from actor to entrepreneur is highlighted as a path of personal growth and self-discovery.
• The importance of making deliberate choices to improve oneself and help others is emphasized.

"My brand is the hidden entrepreneur because I spent all of those years hiding my true talent and ability in exchange for seeking approval."

• This quote highlights Josh's realization that he was not living authentically and his subsequent transformation into the Hidden Entrepreneur.

• The conversation delves into the challenges of embracing one's true self and the fear associated with it.
• Josh's experience as an actor taught him the importance of authenticity and the limitations of seeking external validation.
• The discussion emphasizes the importance of aligning one's internal state with external circumstances to attract positive outcomes.

"What I've come to really embrace and believe is that what we put out is what we attract."

• This quote encapsulates Josh's belief in the power of authenticity and the law of attraction, which is a key theme in his work and personal philosophy.

• Emphasizes the importance of taking personal responsibility for one's circumstances and the power to change them.
• Highlights the empowerment that comes from recognizing one's ability to alter less-than-ideal situations.

"It's on me to change it, and I have the power and the ability to do it, so let me do it. And that's, that's how empowering."

• Acknowledges the control individuals have over their circumstances and the empowerment derived from taking action.

• Discusses the start of an entrepreneurial journey in 2017 and the subsequent launch of a podcast in 2018.
• Describes the podcast as a passion project that turned into a successful venture affiliated with iHeartRadio.
• The podcast serves as a platform to help others achieve similar success.

"I started the show in 2018, still running strong, over 400 episodes. Now affiliated with iHeartRadio."

• Highlights the success and growth of the podcast, indicating its impact and reach.

• Describes the process of nurturing skills as a show host and helping others become effective podcast guests.
• The business model focuses on developing personal brands and overcoming mental and emotional blocks to achieve goals.

"The business model now is helping leaders, executives, entrepreneurial-minded individuals figure out how to really, it's coming down to develop a personal brand."

• Emphasizes the importance of personal branding and overcoming internal barriers to success.

• Identifies common fears among entrepreneurs and leaders about sharing their stories and the effectiveness of marketing efforts.
• The top challenges include questioning the value of storytelling and fear of looking foolish.

"Is this actually going to matter? Should I waste my time? Should I invest my time putting energy into what you're suggesting?"

• Illustrates the fear-based concerns individuals have about the impact and perception of their storytelling efforts.

• Utilizes a six-question framework to uncover core beliefs and personal stories that resonate with audiences.
• Core beliefs serve as the foundation for storytelling and help humanize and emotionally connect with the audience.

"The first question is what is your overriding belief about the world? What is the way you see the world that people don't understand yet?"

• Highlights the role of core beliefs in creating authentic and relatable stories that support personal and professional narratives.

• Acknowledges that storytelling is not limited to podcasts but is applicable across various media channels.
• Emphasizes the need to adapt stories for different outlets to maintain freshness and relevance.

"The belief just becomes the foundation for what we talk about. Then from there, we find the stories that support that and, again, tie into what you do."

• Demonstrates the adaptability of storytelling and the continuous exploration of themes to engage diverse audiences.

• The fear of appearing foolish often hinders personal and professional growth.
• Embracing discomfort and vulnerability is essential for self-improvement and breaking free from societal expectations.
• Support systems, such as mentors, can aid in navigating the fear of looking foolish and encourage personal development.

"I'm writing a book that's called the Art of Looking Foolish. And that's really, I think, the fundamental thing that we fear. We don't want to do something, say something, put ourselves out there and look what we perceive as foolish."

• This quote highlights the central theme of fearing judgment and the importance of overcoming it to achieve growth.

"The art of looking foolish is finding the comfort and the ability to rise from the identity expectation people have of you currently and realize you got to re-establish yourself."

• Emphasizes the need to break free from others' expectations and redefine oneself to progress.

• Entrepreneurs often struggle with personal branding and understanding the importance of vulnerability in business discussions.
• Many founders have misconceptions about their roles, especially regarding fundraising and scaling their businesses.
• Effective personal branding and vulnerability can significantly impact fundraising and scaling efforts.

"I think entrepreneurs have a misconception of just like they're heading up this organization, they have a passion and they miss out on, you know, I have to get myself out there as, like, my personal brand, my own brand."

• Highlights the common oversight among entrepreneurs regarding the importance of personal branding.

"How can you be a little bit vulnerable and having those discussions? Because that's a hard discussion to have."

• Stresses the importance of vulnerability in business conversations to facilitate growth and success.

• Personal development and self-awareness are crucial for success in business endeavors like fundraising and scaling.
• Entrepreneurs must address personal blocks and insecurities to become effective leaders and attract the right opportunities.
• The concept of becoming an "energetic and vibrational match" is essential for aligning with business goals.

"We have to see ourselves legitimately. This is where the inner work comes from. There's no way around it."

• Underlines the necessity of self-awareness and personal development for business success.

"We have to become the version of ourselves that are capable of attracting the right people."

• Emphasizes the importance of aligning personal growth with business aspirations to attract opportunities.

• Success does not equate to having everything figured out; even successful individuals face fears and insecurities.
• The presence of imposter syndrome and uncertainty is common among high-achieving individuals.
• Authenticity and genuine effort are vital in navigating unknown territories and achieving success.

"Everybody across the board, C suite on down, have fears, blocks and insecurities. Nobody is a happy, go, lucky, clean slate with just smooth sailing."

• Reveals the universal nature of fears and insecurities, even among successful individuals.

"The game is doing the best you can, making it look like you're good at what you do as authentically and genuinely and figuring it out along the way."

• Encourages authenticity and continuous effort as key strategies for overcoming challenges and achieving success.

• Life is inherently unpredictable, and no one has all the answers.
• Embracing uncertainty and being adaptable is crucial for navigating life's surprises.
• Experience can guide actions, but outcomes remain uncertain, necessitating a flexible approach.

"Life is completely unpredictable. Nobody knows the first thing about anything."

• Conveys the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of adaptability.

"We don't know what we're doing. We're figuring it out in real time every step of the way."

• Highlights the ongoing process of learning and adapting as a fundamental aspect of life and business.

• Matt Higgins, a successful investor and author of "Burn the Boats," exemplifies the notion that even seemingly successful individuals experience self-doubt.
• Despite his achievements, Higgins felt nervous and questioned his belonging on platforms like Shark Tank.

"He's humble. He talks about all the stuff we're talking about here. Scared out of my mind, didn't know what I was doing."

• This quote highlights Higgins' humility and vulnerability, emphasizing that success does not eliminate fear or uncertainty.

• The speaker transitioned from a career in acting and comedy to entrepreneurship, finding value in diverse experiences.
• The challenges faced in the entertainment industry provided essential skills and lessons for future endeavors.

"It didn't have longevity beyond the 15 years for me, but it's every bit a plus and a positive because it gave me the experience I absolutely needed to, to be here."

• This quote underscores the importance of embracing past experiences and using them as a foundation for new opportunities.

• The speaker advises embracing pivots and changes without shame, encouraging action even without a clear plan.
• Emphasizes the importance of internal work and self-improvement as foundational to success.

"Don't be afraid to try anything and everything with conviction, with direction. But again, you don't have to have every step."

• This quote encourages taking initiative and moving forward despite uncertainty, highlighting the importance of action and self-belief.

• The Hidden Entrepreneur aims to help individuals present their stories authentically and powerfully.
• Inspired by Ryan Seacrest, the speaker aspires to diversify and expand their influence through a podcast network.

"I'm all about helping you show up through your story and messaging as authentically and deliberately and powerfully to the success of yourself, myself, personally, and in business."

• This quote reflects the speaker's commitment to empowering others through storytelling and personal growth.

• The speaker attributes personal and professional success to the energy and opportunities of New York City.
• Highlights the significance of community and local influence in shaping one's persona and career.

"I attribute so much of my Persona and success to what the heart of New York represents."

• This quote emphasizes the impact of one's environment on their identity and achievements, celebrating the vibrancy of New York City.