😨 FEAR: Will I have enough? Am I enough?

Frankie Russo has built and sold companies.

📈 60X growth.

🏆 Inc. 500 — 8 years in a row.

📚 2 bestselling books.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A family man with six kids.

But that kind of success doesn’t silence fear. It amplifies it.

In this raw episode of One Fear Per Year, Frankie opens up about a moment that would break most people…

“I lost my whole business… my first business blew up.”

 “The fear of financial insecurity drove me through my 20s —and drove me into the ground.”

“I worked myself into a state of burnout.”

This is the moment many leaders hit a wall.

But Frankie used it as a door.

What changed?

➡️ He got honest with himself.

➡️ He got clear on what mattered.

➡️ And he committed to leading with authenticity,imagination, and generosity.

The truth is:

Even the most successful people feel fear.

The difference is… they face it.

🎧 You’ll walk away from this episode not justinspired — but equipped.

To love your weird.

To stop pretending.

To lead with your whole self — especially wheneverything is uncertain.

Frankie doesn’t just talk about transformation. He’s lived it.

And now, he shares the blueprint for thriving when fear is loudest.

In this soul-nourishing conversation, Megan Walrod opens up about her journey of walking through fear — a journey that led her all the way to Bali. She talks about shedding her possessions, embracing the unknown, and facing the deep fear of ending up alone or destitute. Instead of running from fear, she leaned into trust — trust in herself and in the guidance of something greater.

We talked about how courage doesn’t show up before we act — it grows through our actions. From driving motorbikes in Thailand to navigating painful relationships, both of us shared how stepping outside our comfort zones has been the gateway to freedom, self-discovery, and deep transformation.

Megan also gave us a peek into her creative world — her upcoming novel and coaching program are rooted in the same message: live your yes, face your fears, and find the magic on the other side. This was a heart-expanding, real-deal convo about bravery, messy action, and creating a life that feels truly aligned.

More about Megan:

As a Women's Empowerment Coach, she supports women to “author their lives” and create audacious, authentic lives that light them up.

Her personal journey inspired the “Live Your Yes” philosophy, which comes from her deep knowing that when women become the creators of their lives and prioritize their joy, they become more magnetic and create greater success and fulfillment in all areas of their lives.Her new novel is available for pre-orders! It's Always Been Me is so much more than an entertaining read. It’s an empowering novel about how often we as modern women are torn between the pressures of cultural convention and our desire to follow our hearts. It also serves as a roadmap for how, even in the direst of circumstances, we can reclaim our power and get on track with our dreams.

Find Megan at: www.meganwalrod.com

Fear has never stopped me from doing something… except when it has....walked up to the edge of an Olympic diving board and not jumped.

Matt and I have both had moments where fear won. And yet, every time I’ve actually pushed through—whether it was stepping on stage, making a life-changing decision, or just doing something that made me uncomfortable—I’ve never regretted it.

Fear might feel like a stop sign, but most of the time, it’s just a suggestion.

• We fear the worst-case scenario (that rarely happens).

• We fear what people might think (they won’t think about it at all).

• We fear failure (when, in reality, not trying is the only true failure).

You don’t have to be fearless to push through fear. You just have to be courageous enough to act despite it.

Matt Havens is an international keynote speaker, former corporate leader, son of a comedian, and firm believer we overcomplicate work by overthinking the solutions. Matt’s high-energy, engaging presentations deliver insightful, actionable strategies – all with a surprisingly entertaining twist.

As the son of a headlining comedian, Matt grew up in the back room of comedy clubs around the world, where he witnessed the infectious impact of laughter. He believes business growth and fun don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Find out more about Matt at www.matthavens.com

Nobody warns you about this part of chasing big goals.

Not the productivity gurus.

Not the motivational speakers.

Not even your well-meaning friends.

It’s the gut-punch fear that shows up right before you take action.

• That moment before you hit “publish” on a bold idea.

• The silence before you walk onto a stage.

• The terrifying realization that people might not just dislike your work—they might actually talk about howmuch they dislike it.

That fear isn’t just annoying. It can be paralyzing.

And the worst part? It creates a whole alternate reality where everything you do is a disaster before it even begins.

Nobody will read it.

Nobody will care.

Nobody will show up.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the kicker: Fear only exists in the waiting.

Once you start moving, it fades.

• The roller coaster is scariest when you’re in line, not when you’re flying down the tracks.

• The book launch is terrifying before the doors open, not when the room is packed.

• The speech is unbearable in the first three minutes, then suddenly, you’re in the zone.

Action is the antidote.

Not overthinking. Not waiting for “the right time.” Not perfecting it to death.

Just doing the thing.

So if you’ve been stuck, trapped in that parallel fear-world where your worst-case scenario plays on repeat—what’s one small action you can take today to break the cycle?

Because the only wayout… is through.

More about Patricia Bathory:

Patricia is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to thrive in today's interconnected world.
She helps build connected cultures in the workplace through:
• Impactful keynote speeches
• Interactive workshops
• Personalized individual sessions
• Helping you get started on your journey with her book, 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅: 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑨𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕
She offers a holistic approach to personal and professional growth, drawing from her private psychotherapy practice, leadership insights, and the transformative power of connection.

I sat down with Kevin Joyce for a conversation that took a turn I wasn’t expecting.We started with fear. How it creeps in. How it shapes our decisions.How it convinces us we’re not good enough.But what Kevin said next hit me right in the gut:“The opposite of fear isn’t courage. It’s flourishing.”Definitely a unique answer I wasn’t expecting…Not pushing through.Not fighting harder.Not just “getting over it.”But flourishing—stepping into who we are, embracing fear as part of the journey, and using it to fuel growth.We covered:• The real reason we fear not being good enough (and how to rewire it)• Why imposter syndrome doesn’t go away— and why that’s actually a good thing• How fear shifts when you make your work about service, not self• The neuroscience behind stress responses (and how to hack them)And a whole lot more.If you’ve ever felt like fear is holding you back—or worse, that it’s a sign you’re not ready—this conversation will change the way you see it.More about Kevin:Kevin is Producing Director of EnJoy and oversees EnJoy’s unique approach to auctions, meetings and communication training. He is an actor, musician, auctioneer, facilitator and trainer, as well as a student of religion, comedy and neuroscience. Known for his humor, improvisation, original music and characters, Kevin brings EnJoy’s unique event hosting approach to life in collaboration with partner Martha Enson.Kevin has hosted hundreds of events for corporations and associations, and auctioneered for over 500 regional and national non-profits, in the process becoming one of the most popular and sought-after fundraising hosts in the Pacific Northwest. Find him at www.en-joyproductions.com🎙️ #OneFearPerYear

Meet Tanisha! A powerhouse of talent and expertise. As a teenage mom, she worked hard to becomes a successful business owner and she still has BIG plans and dreams. She has years of experience as an HR Consultant shaping people, strategies and business solutions. As a Keynote Speaker, she brings energy, insight, and inspiration to audiences around the world. A passionate Global Traveler, Tanisha is always on a quest for growth and new perspectives, and as a proud Momma Bear, she balances it all with grace. She is the Host of her own video and podcast series where she promotes that we are all Too Skilled To Fail.

We talk about fear, change, imposter syndrome, and how Tanisha keeps herself on track. Don't miss hearing from this incredible woman!

I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with "Hover to Fly" Chris Wilson! We talk about his fear of the ocean, and sharks in particular, and how he eventually faced his fear and truly looked it right in the eyeballs!After leading a successful 14-year career in aviation as a Commercial Helicopter Pilot and Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Chris flew into business to impact the next generation in their careers and lives.He's the founder of Mentee, 2 x author, keynote/TEDx speaker, and CTI coach. Today, he's on a mission to help the next generation impact the world through his Hover to Fly framework by setting the course, starting with yes, taking the controls, and navigating forward.

"Show my your greatest fear, and I'll show you what your next task is."

I loved this quote that Micah used during his interview! He took it seriously too. After his divorce, he decided to sit with the pain of having an anxious attachment style and his reliance of getting validation from others.

He traveled around the U.S. in his van for one year and then went to East Asia for another year. Micah knows and shares all about personal growth and self-discovery.

After 2 years of hard work and learning and frustration and more hard work, he's finally been awarded his first utility patent with the US Patent for a consumer electronic IoT product that will make big waves in the health & wellness market, by leveraging breathwork to mitigate stress and anxiety for mental and physical health benefits.

I loved this interview SO much!

To connect with Micah:

Personal Insta - https://www.instagram.com/haveyoumetmicahyet

ILU Innovations Insta - https://www.instagram.com/iluinnovations

ILU Innovations website - https://iluinnovations.com

Kim dives into the fear of not belonging and the fear of not being good enough and tells us what she did to walk through those fears.

Jeff shares what helped him deal with fear as a top performing athlete. It's simpler than you might think..

Jeff Salzenstein is a professional speaker, performance coach, world class athlete, and seasoned entrepreneur.