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Fear Less

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by Zack Schafer

4.7(37 reviews)

111 episodes

Updated Daily

Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸

Podcast Authority

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FairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more

Quality67

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Engagement71

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Podcast Overview

Welcome to the Fear Less podcast, a show dedicated to discussing anxiety, fear, and general mental well-being. In this podcast, host Zack Schafer sits down with clinical professionals, educators, parents, and individuals with anxiety to have meaningful conversations about fear and how to manage it. Through expert knowledge, personal stories, and practical everyday tips, Zack helps listeners gain the insight, confidence, and skills necessary to master their fears. Zack Schafer, MS, OTR/L, is a mental health occupational therapist and the executive director of Mountain Valley Treatment Center (MVTC), a non-profit residential treatment program for youth with debilitating anxiety. This podcast is sponsored by MVTC and aligns with the program's mission to help anxious young people to fear less and live fully. However, fear and anxiety don't just impact young people—they affect everyone. Our collective fears and anxieties shape the health of our communities and society as a whole. The Fear Less podcast was created to reach a broad audience and inspire all who listen to come together, face their fears, and live courageously. For more information visit: • www.mountainvalleytreatment.org • Instagram: @mountainvalleytreatmentcenter • LinkedIn: Mountain Valley • LinkedIn: Zack Schafer

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

8/1/2023

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🇺🇸 Charts #3

Outreach generated

Apple 142

Spotify 827

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FairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more

Quality67

Social0

YouTube0

Engagement71

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50 minutes

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Recent Episodes

July 1, 2026

112. Your OCD Will Hate This Episode: Nathan Peterson on Exposure Therapy and Lasting Recovery

Why does OCD make harmless thoughts feel so frightening—and what actually helps people recover? In this episode Zack sits down with OCD specialist, therapist, author, and educator Nathan Peterson to explore how obsessive-compulsive disorder works, why intrusive thoughts affect everyone, and what separates OCD from ordinary anxiety. Nathan explains why OCD is often called the "disorder of doubt," how compulsions unintentionally strengthen the cycle of fear, and why Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) remains the gold-standard treatment for OCD. Drawing from his years of clinical work, popular educational videos, and his new book "<a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Your-Will-Hate-This-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/B0FV7CC7DH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18C7ZPECER4RG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mbaxuxNjH_3vsmL456xoCg2NFVNaCSUJVbsgFLI2070CDE3uR2WBMXsP5tsbAX3cxh1yk5cmNsFOC9nRfFbUoeZ-E50Lt_bj8KAxDnT19MlxS7WBkA0CMxhBICvDRjOdKB3VY7sYYEVTKbVDRmQ3UKiu1rRvsxLfwdedOjkeUglSN0Y-5Yf1BWdocI5ic274CGM4V0c_SHyegx5Cw35aIJgcvSjyHbmKPxzhqpn2hC8.jj_3CGpg03q7usZkZuK3WeMRjtc73AfHgwnPixoRYgc&dib_tag=se&keywords=your+ocd+will+hate+this+book&qid=1782849285&sprefix=Your+OCD+%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1">Your OCD Will Hate This Book"</a>, Nathan breaks down complex concepts into practical, easy-to-understand strategies that listeners can begin applying immediately. The conversation also explores how OCD changes throughout life, why it often attacks the things we value most, and how embracing uncertainty becomes the foundation for lasting recovery. Nathan discusses building an "exposure lifestyle," overcoming the fear of starting treatment, the importance of family support, and why meaningful change begins with taking action rather than waiting to feel ready. Whether you're living with OCD, supporting a loved one, or simply wanting to better understand obsessive-compulsive disorder, this episode offers compassionate, evidence-based guidance and practical hope that recovery is possible. Zack's Hack: In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Michel del Montaigne, an influential writer of the French Renaissance. Fear Less is sponsored by <a href= "https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/&source=gmail&ust=1782935632624000&usg=AOvVaw39AoRV7Wp5X-YDuSCmgVWw"> Mountain Valley Treatment Center</a>

June 17, 2026

111. Suicide Prevention and Exposure Therapy: Training Therapists to Fear Less and Help More

Suicide assessment is one of the most anxiety-provoking responsibilities in mental health care—but what if clinicians could use the same evidence-based principles they teach their clients to overcome their own fears? In this episode Zack interviews <a href= "https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p8162081" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p8162081&source=gmail&ust=1781647622501000&usg=AOvVaw3rQLCR_ZFC8l0_zVa9MwTI"> Emily Becker-Haimes, Ph.D.,</a> psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania and Clinical Director of the Pediatric Anxiety Treatment Center (PATCH), about groundbreaking research using exposure-based training to help therapists become more confident, competent, and effective when working with suicidal clients. Together they explore why fear can lead clinicians to avoid difficult conversations, over-refer to hospitalization, or struggle with suicide risk assessment, and how carefully designed exposure exercises can improve clinical decision-making while maintaining compassion and safety. Listeners will learn current best practices for suicide screening, suicide risk assessment, safety planning, means restriction, and working collaboratively with families and support systems. Dr. Becker-Haimes also discusses emerging research showing how exposure-based clinician training may improve the quality of suicide prevention care while reducing provider anxiety and avoidance. This episode is an essential resource for therapists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, graduate students, and anyone interested in suicide prevention, exposure therapy, clinician resilience, and evidence-based mental health treatment. Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Tony Robbins, an inspiring motivational speaker and life coach. Fear Less is sponsored by <a href= "https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/&source=gmail&ust=1781647622501000&usg=AOvVaw0BqYoniOXhNQ8OPMTTrnFw"> Mountain Valley Treatment Center</a>

June 10, 2026

110. Exposure to Exposure: Dr. Emily Bilek on Building Confidence in Anxiety and OCD Treatment

Why do so many therapists hesitate to use one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and OCD? In this episode, Zack sits down with <a href= "https://medschool.umich.edu/profile/4080/emily-l-bilek">Dr. Emily Bilek, a clinical psychologist at the University of Michigan,</a> to explore an innovative approach to training clinicians in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Dr. Bilek shares how her work focuses not only on helping children and adolescents with anxiety and OCD, but also on improving access to evidence-based care by increasing therapist confidence and competency in delivering exposure therapy. Together, they discuss why ERP can feel counterintuitive to clinicians and how fear often becomes a barrier to implementing effective treatment. The conversation dives into Dr. Bilek's groundbreaking "Exposure to Exposure" training model, which asks therapists to face their own fears as part of learning how to deliver ERP. Drawing from research, adult learning science, and real-world clinical practice, she explains how experiential training can increase clinician confidence, improve treatment fidelity, and ultimately expand access to quality anxiety and OCD care. The episode also explores emerging innovations, including the use of AI and simulated patients to train therapists, and highlights the broader implications of exposure-based learning for suicide risk assessment, clinician development, and the future of mental health treatment. This is a must-listen episode for psychologists, social workers, counselors, trainees, and anyone passionate about evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders and OCD. Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Henry Ford who was an American industrialist. Fear Less is sponsored by <a href= "https://mountainvalleytreatment.org/">Mountain Valley Treatment Center</a>

111 total episodes available

Recent guests on Fear Less

Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.

Cam Sherman

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Izzy Carosi

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Brittany Little LCSW

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Dr Roberto Olivardia

Guest

Gin Majka

Guest

See every guest on Fear Less

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Frequently asked questions

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What is Fear Less?: Welcome to the Fear Less podcast, a show dedicated to discussing anxiety, fear, and general mental well-being. In this podcast, host Zack Schafer sits down with clinical professionals, educators, parents, and individuals with anxiety to have meaningful conversations about fear and how to manage it. Through expert knowledge, personal stories, and practical everyday tips, Zack helps listeners gain the insight, confidence, and skills necessary to master their fears.

Zack Schafer, MS, OTR/L, is a mental health occupational therapist and the executive director of Mountain Valley Treatment Center (MVTC), a non-profit residential treatment program for youth with debilitating anxiety. This podcast is sponsored by MVTC and aligns with the program's mission to help anxious young people to fear less and live fully.

However, fear and anxiety don't just impact young people—they affect everyone. Our collective fears and anxieties shape the health of our communities and society as a whole. The Fear Less podcast was created to reach a broad audience and inspire all who listen to come together, face their fears, and live courageously.

For more information visit: • www.mountainvalleytreatment.org • Instagram: @mountainvalleytreatmentcenter • LinkedIn: Mountain Valley • LinkedIn: Zack Schafer
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Information about guest appearances is not available.

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