Kat Timpf Like You’ve Never Seen Her: On Pregnancy, Panic Attacks, and the Fear of Losing Herself

Kat Timpf has never been afraid to make people laugh—or squirm. Known for her quick wit, biting humor, and candid presence on television, she’s made a name for herself by never sugarcoating anything. But in a deeply vulnerable new chapter of her life, the celebrated comedian, writer, and television personality is showing a different side of herself—one that’s raw, real, and refreshingly unfiltered.

At 35, Kat is expecting her first child. And despite the joy, she’s not pretending everything is perfect.

“I’m terrified,” she admits openly. “I waited this long for a reason. I love my career, I love my independence, and I wasn’t sure how becoming a mom would change me.”

Her candor isn’t just reserved for conversation—it’s poured onto every page of her new book, I Used to Like You Until…. It’s a deeply personal exploration of identity, fear, connection, and self-doubt. Woven through the narrative are honest reflections on grief, love, and mental health—topics Timpf says she once avoided but now sees as necessary.

One of the most striking revelations she shares is her struggle with depression triggered by medication. During a particularly dark stretch, she experienced suicidal thoughts and severe anxiety while still appearing on television every night. “People thought I was being distant or cold,” she says, “but what they didn’t see was someone who felt like the world was too good for her.”

Instead of hiding those experiences, Timpf did the unthinkable: she published parts of her personal diary in her book, giving readers a front-row seat to her most fragile moments. “I had a panic attack while reading the teleprompter one night,” she says. “And I wrote about that. I was scared people—especially at work—would think I was weak. But I shared it anyway.”

That choice—to be honest, even when it’s scary—is the heartbeat of her book and the season of life she’s currently in. “If someone reads what I wrote and realizes they’re not alone, then it’s worth it. Even if I’m terrified the night before it hits shelves.”

Timpf also reflects deeply on the milestone of becoming a mother without her own mom by her side. Her mother passed away ten years ago, and the grief still lingers. “There’s something surreal about preparing to have a baby while missing your own mom so much,” she says. “There’s this beautiful, aching full-circle feeling.”

And while she’s thrilled about motherhood, the fear of losing her identity is still there. “I don’t want to become boring,” she says with a laugh. “I’ve always been the girl who runs on three hours of sleep, who can work a full day and still be the life of the party. I don’t know who I’ll be when I’m a mom.”

Yet if her past is any indication, she’ll continue to evolve without losing what makes her, well, Kat. Marriage, she says, already proved her wrong once. “I used to think a serious relationship would derail my career. But since I met my husband, I’ve grown even more. I flourished.”

Now, with her baby due in February, she’s on tour every weekend—“until I’m no longer medically allowed to fly,” she jokes—connecting with fans in cities across the country. “It’s thrilling and scary. And that’s my favorite combination. If something doesn’t scare you at least a little, you’re not growing.”

When asked how she feels about performing while pregnant, she grins. “I’ll be waddling across the stage by December, but I’ll be there. I love it too much not to be.”

There’s a softness in Kat Timpf’s voice these days, but it doesn’t feel like she’s losing herself. It feels like she’s expanding—making room for a new life, and in the process, discovering new layers of her own. “I just want to see what kind of human I can create with the person I love,” she says, eyes gleaming.

The book, the baby, the vulnerability—it’s all part of a broader transformation. One that doesn’t ask her to choose between being a successful woman and being a mother. One that dares her to be both.

“I’m scared. But I’m also so excited,” she says. “And I think that’s exactly where I’m meant to be.”