What if the thing you've been most embarrassed about is actually your superpower?
Own Your Awkward is a podcast about authenticity, growth, and the truth that what makes you different makes you valuable. Host Andy Vargo, keynote speaker, life coach, and proud awkward human, brings guests from every corner of life to explore what it means to stop fitting in and start standing out.
Real conversations. Honest stories. Practical insights you can actually use.
If you've ever felt like too much, not enough, or just a little off, you found your people. Hit follow and let's get awkward.
The Credibility Gap: Why Hard Work Alone Won’t Get You Promoted with Joe Kwon
What if the reason you're being overlooked has nothing to do with your performance?
In this episode of the Own Your Awkward Podcast, Andy Vargo sits down with leadership coach and Connection Counselor Joe Kwon to explore the concept of the Credibility Gap, the space between the value you create and the value decision makers perceive.
Joe shares why hard work alone doesn't guarantee promotion, how visibility and memorability impact career advancement, why being irreplaceable can actually hold you back, and what leaders can do to create stronger connections and greater influence.
In this episode you'll learn:
The three components of the Credibility Gap
Why high performers often get overlooked
How visibility impacts career growth
The hidden downside of being indispensable
Leadership lessons on connection, service, and influence
Connect with Joe: https://www.joekwonjoe.com/
Listen, watch, and share with someone who may be ready for their next opportunity.
Subscribe for more conversations on confidence, leadership, and owning your awkward.
🎤 Book Andy for a keynote or workshop: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/speaking/🎯 Explore life change coaching: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/coaching/🎟️ Current offers and upcoming events: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/awkward-links/🎙️ Join the community: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/community/ 🎧 Listen to the Own Your Awkward Podcast: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/podcast/📚 Get the books: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/books/Subscribe and Own Your Awkward.
12 May 2026
What 130 Podcast Episodes Taught Me About Owning Your Awkward
After hosting more than 130 podcast episodes, Andy takes a step back to reflect on what he has learned about awkwardness, confidence, growth, and authentic conversations. In this first solo episode, he shares why the podcast format evolved, what surprised him most about repeat guests and recurring topics, and why awkwardness looks completely different from person to person.
In this episode:
• Lessons learned from 130+ conversations
• Why authenticity matters more than sounding polished
•How self-imposed limits can hold us back
• The evolution of the Own Your Awkward Podcast
• Why future solo episodes are coming
Listen, share, and let Andy know what topics or awkward experiences you want explored in future episodes.
🎤 Book Andy for a keynote or workshop: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/speaking/🎯 Explore life change coaching: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/coaching/🎟️ Current offers and upcoming events: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/awkward-links/🎙️ Join the community: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/community/ 🎧 Listen to the Own Your Awkward Podcast: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/podcast/📚 Get the books: https://www.awkwardcareer.com/books/Subscribe and Own Your Awkward.
4 May 2026
Start Here: What Is Own Your Awkward?
What if the thing you've been most embarrassed about is actually your superpower?
This is Own Your Awkward, a podcast about authenticity, growth, and the uncomfortable truth that what makes you different makes you valuable.
Host Andy Vargo, keynote speaker, life coach, and proud awkward human, gives you a quick look at what this show is, who it's for, and why your awkward thing might be the most important thing about you.
Hit follow and let's get awkward.
Who has been a guest on Own Your Awkward
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Angela DiMarco
Amber Bate
Michael Driver
Coach Angie Jones
Marie Sonneman
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Contact Own Your Awkward
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Own Your Awkward?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
