What's Fear Got to Do With It | Fear, Growth & the Mind

In this conversation, Emma McLarty shares her personal journey through a perfect storm: when menopause, her children moving out, and supporting her aging parents all converged. Despite careful planning for this life transition, she found herself blindsided by the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges that arrived unexpectedly. Through vulnerability and honesty, Emma reveals how her drive for perfectionism became unsustainable. Trying to appear "fine" only deepened her overwhelm until exhaustion forced her to drop the mask, leading to a profound revelation: letting go of perfect wasn't failure, it was the pathway forward.

Emma shares how she learned...

In this episode, Jill Currie shares what happened when her child Luna (they/them), who is autistic, told her they thought they had Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). "No you don't," was Jill's initial response. Fear of judgement led her down a path of denial that hurt them both. When Luna's distress reached a breaking point, Jill confronted a powerful truth: no-one was coming to save them. The only thing she could change was herself. Through genuine vulnerability, Jill discovered that the parts of Luna she struggled to accept mirrored the parts of herself she'd been rejecting. Her journey took...

In this episode, Katie Rose shares her journey through anxiety, serious health conditions, and the life-changing moment when she finally said "I'm not okay." Living as ‘an actor in a play,’ she pursued others' dreams while hiding both physical and emotional pain to avoid disappointing people. When thoughts of ending her suffering became overwhelming, Katie courageously told her family, a confession that saved her life. She discovered our assumptions about others' reactions are often untrue. Katie's story powerfully redefines strength: sometimes the bravest act is stopping, honoring your inner voice, and telling others you're not OK.

Co...

In this episode, David Gregory, OAM, reveals how accepting fear as a daily companion shaped his extraordinary journey of service. From leaving home at fourteen to becoming a CEO and receiving an Order of Australia Medal, his philosophy of "if you can't beat fear, do it scared" has guided him through near bankruptcy to speaking at the United Nations. Ultimately, his journey reminds us that courage isn't about being fearless,  it's about letting our purpose become bigger than our fears.

About Our Guest

David Gregory, OAM, is the Executive Producer of "J...

In this episode, Hollie Andrew shares her courageous journey from accomplished actor to entrepreneur, revealing what happens when achieving all career goals leaves you searching for deeper purpose. After meeting every milestone she'd set as a young person, Hollie made the bold decision to walk away from acting success and create a not-for-profit charity supporting actors with disabilities. She speaks openly about the financial anxiety and shame she feels about experiencing fear, and how she's redefined success from external validation to authentic alignment with purpose.

About Our Guest

After 20 successful years across all...

In this episode, Olympian Sarah Straton shares what it was like to achieve one of the highest honours in sport, only to realise it didn’t quiet the inner voice telling her she wasn’t enough. Sarah speaks openly about the emotional cost of chasing perfection, the identity struggles beneath the surface, and the inner work it took to finally feel at peace beyond performance.

About our guest

Sarah Straton is an Olympic beach volleyball player who struggled with perfectionism and tying her self-worth to her achievements. After retiring from professional sport, she found purpose in h...

Simone Nabholz shares her raw journey from burnout to breakthrough, ignoring warning signs, wrestling with guilt, then finding healing through pottery and ocean swims. Her story reveals how setting boundaries and small daily practices can transform breakdown into profound self-discovery.

About our guest

Simone Nabholz is a designer, storyteller, and founder of Winterwares, a ceramics studio in Fremantle dedicated to the art of slow living. After experiencing burnout from a fast-paced lifestyle, Simone rebuilt her life with intention, creating work that helps others find beauty in everyday moments. Through her ceramics, writing, and workshops, she...

In this first episode, hosts Jo Wiese and Anne Wicking share the heart behind "What’s Fear Got to Do With It" a podcast created to explore life's challenges and how fear shapes our experiences. Underpinned by unfiltered conversations, Jo and Anne explore their guests' stories as they gently unfold, weaving between surface moments and deeper insights, so the story can be both felt and heard. With a light touch and thoughtful insights along the way, Jo and Anne highlight how storytelling can offer listeners practical wisdom, hope, and the powerful realisation that fear can be reframed as a te...