#37 - You Got This: Self-Confidence, Belonging & Aligned Actions with Dr. Ivan Joseph
Today’s guest is Dr. Ivan Joseph
Dr. Ivan Joseph is tackling a double-sided problem: people—especially those from marginalized communities—are battling self-doubt in systems that are stacked against them, while many well-meaning allies feel unsure how to move from guilt and outrage to meaningful, sustained action. In this episode he focuses on how to build real self-confidence and belonging, and how to turn tiny “1%” daily choices into both personal breakthroughs and tangible social change.
In today’s conversation Ivan Joseph explores what it means to build genuine self-confidence and belonging in a world still shaped by systemic racism and bias. He shares his journey from growing up in Guyana and a tough Toronto neighbourhood to becoming a national championship coach, PhD sport psychologist, and university vice president—yet still hearing the “twice as good” mantra every Black kid knows. He and Dr. Wells dive into allyship, protests, and why performative, “tourist” activism isn’t enough; instead they talk about micro-behaviours, access to education, and the power of 1% changes that compound over years.
They finish by unpacking Ivan’s core work on self-confidence—self-talk, affirmations, gratitude letters, and his “You Got This” letter—and how those same tools help us stay in hard conversations about race, leadership, and change.
You will learn why Ivan defines self-confidence as a skill—the genuine belief in your ability to accomplish the task at hand and handle adversity—rather than a fixed personality trait, and how that belief drives performance in sport, work, and life. You will learn how he separates negative feedback that tears you down from critical feedback that still supports your growth, and why curating who you listen to is essential for high performers.
You will learn the practical tools he uses with teams and executives: writing a “You Got This” letter listing your past wins, using three daily affirmations, and writing gratitude letters that boost optimism and rewire how you respond to setbacks. You will also learn his 1% approach to social change—simple daily acts like who you sit beside, who you greet, and where you offer free access to your work—that expand belonging and opportunity, especially through education.
You will discover that confidence and allyship both grow the same way: through repeated reps under tension, not one-off grand gestures or viral posts. You will discover how changing the words you use with yourself—shifting from “I can’t” to “I’ve got this, and here’s the proof”—reshapes your beliefs, your behaviour, and ultimately the impact you have on the people and systems around you.
Many people feel stuck between self-doubt (“Who am I to do this?”) and overwhelm about injustice (“It’s too big; nothing I do matters.”). Dr. Joseph’s work bridges that gap by offering concrete mental tools to build self-confidence and a clear roadmap of small, intentional actions so listeners can both pursue ambitious goals and contribute to a more equitable world—without burning out or checking out.
Key take aways:
Self-confidence is a skill you can practice and master.
Guard your circle: avoid negativity, welcome caring, critical feedback.
Write a “You Got This” letter listing your past wins.
Use three daily affirmations to sharpen focus and performance.
Change the world with 1% inclusive actions, every day.
“Sometimes I win, sometimes I learn.”
Today’s Expert Guest - Dr. Ivan Joseph
Dr. Ivan Joseph is a world-renowned leadership expert, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and award-winning performance coach whose work centers on self-confidence, high performance, and diversity. Born in Guyana and raised in Toronto, he has served as a national championship soccer coach, university director of athletics, and vice president, while earning a BA in Physical Education and Health, a Master’s in Higher Education Administration, and a PhD in Sport Psychology. His TEDx talk “The Skill of Self Confidence” has been viewed tens of millions of times worldwide and was named by Forbes as one of the top talks about the meaning of life.
Ivan’s work is distinct because it sits at the intersection of science, coaching, and lived experience as a Black leader navigating predominantly white institutions. On one side, he draws from rigorous sport-psychology research on self-efficacy, grit, and high performance; on the other, he brings decades of coaching national-championship teams, leading major university departments, and speaking to organizations around the world. He doesn’t treat confidence as fluffy motivation: he links it to cohesion, belonging, and diversity—showing that relationships and psychological safety drive performance just as much as tactics and strategy—and he translates all of that into simple, repeatable practices people can use the same day they hear him speak.
Take 20–30 minutes to write a “You Got This” letter to yourself: list specific challenges you’ve overcome, degrees or projects you’ve completed, moments you persisted, and times you were proud of who you were. Then keep that letter somewhere visible and, each day, pair it with three short affirmations (“I’ve done hard things before; I can do this now”) and one 1% inclusive action—greeting someone who’s often ignored, choosing to sit with a colleague who doesn’t look like you, or opening part of your work for free to an under-resourced community.
Follow Dr. Ivan Joseph on Instagram & Linked In.
Check out his website.
You Got This:
Mastering the Skill of Self-Confidence
Studies show that the happiest, most successful people have a deep-rooted belief in themselves, and their ability to accomplish any task.
Award-winning coach, mentor, and speaker Dr. Ivan Joseph shares a transformational guide to sky-rocketing your self-confidence. Self-confidence is a skill that you can master, and this book provides step-by-step exercises to guide you towards greatness.
This podcast contains advice and information relating to health and wellness. It should be used to supplement rather than replace the advice of your doctor or another trained health professional. If you know or suspect that you have a health problem, seek your physician’s advice before embarking on any medical program or treatment. All efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the information contained in this podcast / interview / article as of the date of publication. The author and publisher disclaim liability for any medical or other outcomes that may occur as a result of applying the methods suggested in this material.
