One Fear Per Year

You know what the opposite of fear is?

For Kathy Guest, it’s laughter.

(Healthy laughter… the kind that frees you)

Kathy spent 20+ years in the tech world by day…and on comedy stages by night.

At first, she kept those worlds separate.

Professional Kathy.

Funny Kathy.

 But that fragmentation wasn’t sustainable.

 So she did the brave thing and merged them.

 Now she teaches teams how to break out of rigidity, bring play into the workplace, and unlock innovation, through comedy and improv.

Fear, uncertainty, and rigidity are creativity killers.

But play?

Micro-moments of laughter?

A culture that makes it safe to take risks?

That’s where innovation actually lives.

As Kathy says:

“20 years in tech didn’t make me braver. Comedy did.”

And that bravery is what she now helps others build.

 You're going to love this insightful conversation!

Kathy’s energy, wisdom, and humor are a reminder that we don’t have to choose between “serious” and “silly.”

We can be both.

In fact, we need both.

Here's to lots of laughter sprinkled in and lots of safe places to innovate!

#onefearperyear

Julian Pistone left his 10-year career at Google.

Moved continents.

Walked through chronic pain.

And committed his life to one mission:

 💡 To study, capture, and live courage.

 Not in theory. But in practice.

 In the Amazon, he sat with women fighting cartels.

In Colombia, he filmed a story of forgiveness between a brother andhis sibling’s murderer.

And in the middle of it all, he found one surprising truth:

 🚫 Courage isn’t fearlessness.

✨ It’s purpose.

✨ It’s action.

✨ It’s love.

 (And yes, love can be terrifying too.)

 🎙️ In this conversation, Julian shares:

→ How savoring pain became his greatest teacher

→ Why forgiveness may be the ultimate act of courage

→ And how you, too, can move through fear by listening to your heart

 This one will stay with you.

More about Julian: Google Leader turned Filmmaker, Advisor & Speaker at Fortune 500 companies and global leadership conferences.
Julian has guided top leaders from McKinsey, Google, IBM, YouTube, and many others to make bold decisions, and leave meaningful legacies in an era of unprecedented change.
Co-founder of Cor:age, a global impact network, Julian unites CEOs, founders, changemakers, policy leaders, philanthropists, investors, and scientists to ignite meaningful action, foster transformative partnerships, and drive systemic change.
Host of Cor:age Docu-series, produced with visionary social entrepreneurs, award-winning filmmakers from Netflix, National Geographic, and the creators of MTV 4REAL

You know that fear that makes your heart race…

…the one that makes you want to hand the phone to someone else andrun?

Marjie Haddad knows it well. 

At 12 years old, she was terrified to pick up the phoneand call a local councilman for a school assignment.

Tears. Drama. Full meltdown.

(And a mom who refused to make the call for her.) 

That single moment changed her forever.

It built the courage muscle she’s been using for 40+ years in thePR world. Helping leaders and organizations share their magic with the world.(And having the ability to call whoever she wants, whenever haha)

 In this episode of One Fear Per Year, wetalk about:

• How to stop being so darn critical of yourself

• Why visibility is essential  [even when it feels scary]

• The Irish proverb that will change how you face obstacles

• How to make friends in seconds (even with strangers)

If fear has been keeping you quiet, this conversation will hand youthe “key” to walk right out of that prison.

Fear. Anxiety. Depression.

They can sneak into our lives quietly…or slam into us full force—like what happened to Dr. Michael Amster during his medical school exams.

(Full-blown panic attack. Heart racing. Mind blank.)

That fear led him to a discovery that would change his life and now, the lives of thousands of others. He calls it microdosing awe.

Just 15 seconds. Three deep breaths. A moment of noticing something beautiful in the ordinary and your nervous system shifts from fear… to peace.

In this episode of the One Fear Per Year podcast, Dr. Amster shares:

• How awe rewires your brain and body

• The simple A.W.E. Method (you can try it anywhere...even at a stoplight)

• Why fear can become your teacher… if you let it

This conversation left me breathing slower, feeling lighter, and honestly more alive.

I think I could get used to these microdoses. :D

#OneFearPerYear

Rachel Griffith had a breakthrough and wrote a letter to her fear:

You my shadowed companion have lingered long within my breath, echoing doubts in chambers of my heart. Drawing maps of limitations where dreams might have dwelled.

I see you now, not as my captor, but as the guardian of doors untried. You whispered warnings, not to wound me, yet your trembling voice cannot silence my fire.

I thank you for your caution, for the lessons you've woven in my scars, but I will not longer wear your chains as ornaments of safety.

I will meet you with an open hand no longer fighting, nor fleeing for I am the storm you feared that I would become: fierce, unapologetic, and free.

Stand aside fear, or walk beside me, for my path is carved in courage and I will not abandon my becoming.

Rachel story floored me (someone I have known since high school!)

She realized that the extra weight she had been carrying wasn’t just from 2020, or from “bad habits.” It was her protection. Her way of holding onto her dad after losing him.

And when she finally named that fear—(Saying it out loud, first to herself, then to her husband)—everything shifted.

Because fear doesn’t disappear when we ignore it. It loses its grip when we face it. When we thank it for trying to protect us, but tell it:

“I don’t need you to keep me safe anymore. I’m ready to live.”

Rachel’s breakthrough reminded me: Self-compassion is the first step to any real transformation.

And it’s never too late to show that grace to yourself. What fear are you ready to face—and thank—so you can finally step into your becoming?

#OneFearPerYear

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

(Presence is what unlocks the path forward.)

This week on the One Fear Per Year Podcast, I sat downwith Mike Lee—a former NBA skills coach who’sworked with legends like Steph Curry and Joel Embiid,and now a leadership consultant, keynote speaker, and #1best-selling author.

But Mike’s story isn’t just about basketball or business.

It’s about how he walked through one of the darkest seasons of hislife—

a brutal 9-month withdrawal from antidepressants thatleft him battling anxiety, fear, and emptiness for years—

and came out the other side with a radicalunderstanding of presence.

Today, Mike helps world-class athletes, Fortune 500 executives, andhigh-performing teams tap into this same power—

because, as he says, “True performance only happens whenyou’re fully present.”

We talk about:

➜ How fear shows up for NBA players at the highestlevel.

➜ The connection between mindfulness, leadership, andresilience.

➜ Why trust—not fear—is the ultimate game-changer.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, anxious, or unsure of your next move,this episode is your permission slip to pause, breathe, and step into thepresent moment.

You don’t have to speak perfectly.

(You just have to speak truthfully.)

When Jen Oliver talks about fear—she doesn’t just talk about the stage. She talks about dating. Divorce. Difficult conversations.

Telling someone the truth…even when it hurts.💥

Because that’s the real fear, isn’t it? Not the microphone necessarily but the moment where your voice shakes because your truth matters.(And you don’t know how it will be received.)

But Jen?

She’s been walking through it. One hard conversation at a time.

🌀 Reframing fear as energy.

🌱 Giving her younger self compassion.

💡 Practicing radical honesty—not to control the outcome, but to give the other person the dignity of their own response.

And her word? The opposite of fear?

WORTH.

When you’re rooted in your worth, you don’t need to perform. You just need to be real.

🎧 This episode might change how you view fear forever.

👇 Listen in. Be moved. Be brave.

👋 Follow One Fear Per Year for more human, healing stories

More about Jen Oliver: She's a speaking coach who helps women speak from a space of authenticity and power – in any situation. Her approach is highly connective, collaborative, and custom to each individual.

She teaches how to communicate REAL – in a way that is Relational, Engaging, Authentic, and Life-Altering. Find her at: https://realjenoliver.com/

#Vulnerability #PublicSpeaking #Courage #Worth

You are worth the awkward.

(Kara said that—and I haven’t stopped thinking about it.)

When Kara Haug walked onto the One Fear Per Year podcast,she didn’t tiptoe around the hard stuff.

She walked straight into it—with grace, humor, and truth.

She talked about growing up in a house shaped by fear.

(“We’d go out on a sunny day bike ride and hear, ‘Someonegot stabbed there once!’”)

She gets it. She lived it.

And then… she broke it.

She decided the generational fear stops with her.

She signed her kids up for swim lessons before they could form fullsentences. 

They jump in, splash wildly, and swim free—

while she still quietly stands at the edge, healing the childinside who once stood too scared to move.

But this isn’t just a story about parenting. 

Kara never thought she’d run a business.

(“I’m the turtle,” she said. “Slow, steady, lots of processing.”)

She never dreamed she’d be a sexualhealth educator with a theology degree and a background in youth ministry.

(Yes—those coexist.)

✨ She teaches kids and adults how to talk about sexwithout shame.

✨ She creates sacred spaces where people feel safe toask the uncomfortable questions.

✨ She reminds people that healing is awkward…but you are worth it.

And maybe the bravest part? She’s learning to dance again.

Not the way she did in college…

But in a new way—shoes on, fear present, heart open.

So I’ll leave you with this:

💭 What’s one thing fear is keeping you from—

that might actually be the invitation you need?

Kara’s definition of the opposite of fear?

Invitation.

Not comfort. Not certainty.

But a quiet pull into the space you’re meant to grow.

She’s walking through it.

So can we. Tune into this weeks episode!

#OneFearPerYearPodcast #OneFearPerYear

I met Brianna Greenspan just hours before this interview…And within minutes, I admired her.💥 She shared something she’d never said publicly before.Not in this way and not this raw.For 17 years, she’s lived with a complex chronic illness.And for most of that time, she stayed quiet about it because the fear of being truly SEEN was louder than her courage to speak.But that’s changed.She told me about a moment—the darkest day of her life—where she questioned whether she even wanted to go on.And then… one question changed everything.A question that sparked her comeback.That reconnected her to life.That became the seed of a book now in the making.📘 She’s co-authoring a follow-up to the original Book of Questions—but this time, for those living with chronic illness.That kind of bravery?It doesn’t come easy.She resisted at first.(I mean, who wants to relive their lowest point?)But her mentor said something that landed deep:🌀 “What if your fear of sharing is the exact thing blocking someone else from healing?”So she said yes.Not because she was ready.But because she knew… someone out there needed to hear it.And I’m just in awe.Of her honesty.Of her strength.Of her willingness to turn pain into purpose.Because like she said—“The opposite of fear… is opportunity.”💡 And every time we tell the truth,we open the door for others to do the same.👋 Follow One Fear Per Year for more stories of courage#ChronicIllnessAwareness #OneFearPerYear

More about Brianna:

Brianna Greenspan is an inspirational author, speaker, and CEO of Brianna Greenspan International (BGI), a global leader in educational training, tools, and support focused on fostering a growth mindset and well-being. Born with a complex chronic illness that shaped her journey, Brianna faced immense physical challenges, which inspired her to ask powerful, life-changing questions. These questions became the foundation for her personal transformation, leading her to a calling dedicated to health, wellness, and personal development.

You don’t always have to beat fear.

(But you can learn to dance with it.)

I sat down with Chris Dyer—author, keynote speaker, leadership expert—to talk about one of life’s most uncomfortable teachers: Fear.

Here's what he said:💭 “Fear can be a driver. A protector. A boundary.”

When his wife almost died… (yes—almost died) it wasn’t the fear that broke him. It was the fear that moved him. To ask more questions. To research like crazy. To advocate like her life depended on it. Because it did.

And then he said this:

💬 “Every relationship has a sand timer…But it’s in a bag. We don’t know how much time we have.”

So he lives in the moment. Not to fight fear…but to honor it. He reframes a lot of fear positively. To let it remind him what matters.

He also shared something that made me smile:

🧠 “When I was younger, I’d sit in a room full of 40-year-olds,thinking they’d laugh at me…not realizing I was a bargain—hungry, driven, and ready to show up. For half the price!"

Sometimes fear tells us we’re not ready. But maybe… just maybe…Fear is proof that we are. That we care enough to show up. That we’re growing into the person we’re meant to become.

Chris reminded me: The opposite of fear isn’t bravery.(It’s calm.)It’s that deep, centered presence that helps us be here while we’re here.

So I’ll ask you:💡 What fear are you facing right now that might be asking you to prepare, not retreat?

It's asking you to show up.

Speak up .And live fully—while the sand is still falling.

👋 Follow One Fear Per Year for more conversations like this.

More about Chris: Chris Dyer is a culture builder disguised as a serial entrepreneur, CEO, and consultant. His companies were named a Best Place to Work 15 times and featured on Inc. Magazine’s list of fastest-growing companies five times.

Named the #1 Leadership Speaker on Culture by Inc. Magazine, Chris also pioneered a radical approach to meetings that gives people time and energy back. He’s written bestselling books, hosted a globally ranked leadership podcast, and driven transformation that lasts. https://chrisdyer.com/

#OneFearPerYear #Leadership #FearAsFuel #ChrisDyer #PersonalGrowth