The Fear Less Now

In today's episode I had the honor of speaking with master voice alignment coach Matt Berthot. Matt Berthot works through the doorway of voice and presence. He has a keen understanding of the brilliant, intuitive, albeit noisy ADHD mind. He's a Voice Alignment Coach, speaker, Estill Master Trainer, After 19 years as a public-school music educator, he helps leaders, speakers, and executives stop pe...

In today's episode I had the pleasure of speaking with the brilliant Dr. Todd Burstain ( www.drtoddburstain.com ), a physician, researcher, and the author of the upcoming book, FEAR ITSELF: Learning to See Yourself Through New Eyes [November 10, 2026]. Dr. Burstain's work on how the brain constructs identity in response to fear and trauma often intersects significantly with the experiences of thos...

In today's episode I had the honor of speaking with legendary biochemist, immunologist, Master NLP Practitioner, and originator of Healing from the Body Level Up™ (HBLU™), Dr. Judith Swack. Judith A. Swack, Ph. D., is a biochemist, immunologist, Master NLP Practitioner, and originator of Healing from the Body Level Up™ (HBLU™), a methodology designed to clear the effects of trauma. For decades, Dr...

The best way to celebrate episode #200 and 6 years of The Fearless Now Podcast is having an amazing guest on the show. On today's episode I have the brilliant writer (and fellow technicolor ADHD'er) Jillian Ivey ( www.jilletante.com ) on the show.  Jillian is a storytelling consultant with a BA and MFA in creative writing (Penn and Rutgers, respectively) who helps founders and executives strip out...

In today's conversation I have the honor of speaking to reoccurring guest and friend of the show, Nina Bettinger. Nina and I explore the wisdom and knowing on how to do life (even in very challenging external situations) once we see what is true and what can never be true (the making stuff up machine of our personal mind) and what never changes (our grounding and inner resilience) that is our esse...

In this episode I have the honor of speaking to a reoccurring guest and friend of the show, the amazing Jozi Radus. Jozi's work explores the healing power of rhythm, mindfulness and human connection. She earned her MSW with Honors from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and brings more than 30 years of experience in therapeutic practice, group facilitation and experiential learnin...

Today I had the honor of speaking with ADHD coach and therapist Juliet O'Rourke.  Juliet was diagnosed with ADHD at 50, after a lifetime of believing she was fundamentally flawed. That moment changed everything. It led her to explore not just the science of ADHD, but also the deeper, spiritual side of being human and to completely change her career path from therapy to coaching. Today, she's a cer...

It was an honor to speak with the host of the critically acclaimed top 1% globally listened to podcast, "Judging Meghan." Meghan is a trauma survivor from a very early age and has been diagnosed with Complex PTSD. Meghan has been surrounded by death, abuse, and abandonment for much of her  life. She has been dragged through the mud, and have been to the point of not wanting to go on anymore. Throu...

Today I had the honor of speaking with Sarah Iengo and Lixon Nelson of ACES. ACES  ( www.acesmiami.org ) is dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities, youth, families, and underserved members of the community through education, employment support, mentorship, advocacy, and access to meaningful resources. Our mission is to help individuals build confidence, independence, and pathways to...

Today I sat down with the talented Ezra Vancil ( www.ezravancil.com ). Ezra Vancil is a Texas singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and recovery advocate whose life has been shaped by music, addiction, family, and restoration. His work has been recognized by the International Songwriting Competition, Kerrville New Folk, NewSong, and Unsigned Only, with songs featured on VH1, Discovery, and the...

You know how ADHD + abandonment wounds mix?  It's rocket fuel for pain. Rejection hits harder. Silence feels like danger. One "read" text and you're spiraling for days.  But what if no one's actually abandoning you?  What if it's just fast thought + old feelings moving through?   In this episode, we look at where that pain _really_ comes from…  And how presence heals what time never could. This ch...

Mark Steiner built GigSalad ( www.gigsalad.com/blog/meet-the-ceo-of-gigsalad ) from zero to booking millions of events. But the real story isn't the  hustle. It's what he saw his omnipotential underneath the noise of a mind that just works differently. And most importantly how Mark found peace inside chaos, why "hard" is just thought, and the mindset shift that made business easier.

Scott Lackey ( https://scottlackey.com/product/wake-up-to-die-again-book/ built the "perfect" life: U.S. Army veteran, Ironman finisher, entrepreneur with a U.S. patent + multimillion-dollar company. From the outside, it looked like success. Inside? Something felt off.  Then life broke him open. Investors removed him from his own company. Identity cracked. Control slipped. And in that collapse, Sc...

You know the pattern. 12 hours locked in. Zero food. Zero water. You're in the zone — building, creating, solving. It feels like a superpower. Then it hits. The crash. Brain fog. Exhaustion. Can't answer emails. Can't do dishes. Can't even think. And the shame voice starts: "What's wrong with me? Why can't I be consistent?" Mind is never broken.  It's thought-on-thought-on-thought. And thought alw...

ADHD paralysis isn't laziness. It's your nervous system slamming the brakes. We break down why "just try harder" backfires for ADHD brains, and why the freeze you feel is actually 100% thought + 0% truth. This episode exposes the real culprit behind getting stuck: not your ADHD, but the belief that you should be unstuck right now. 

After 50 years of silence, Darlene Lekowski ( www.darlene-lekowski.com/) found her voice—and won. In this powerful episode, Sam Led talks with Darlene, a survivor, Amazon #1 best-selling author, and advocate who transformed childhood sibling sexual trauma into a platform for healing and truth.   Darlene shares how resilience isn't something you build from nothing. It's already within you, waiting...

In this episode we unpack why hopelessness isn't proof of brokenness it's just thought in overdrive. We explore how the ADHD mind gets trapped in cycles of self-doubt, burnout, and "what's the point," and how that loop is fueled by taking our thinking too seriously.  Underneath the noise is a quieter wisdom that's always there. This episode is a reminder that we don't have to fight hopelessness to...

Ever feel like you're running on autopilot? Reacting, spiraling, or self-sabotaging before you even realize it? In this episode, Jozi Radus ( WWW.JoziRadus.com IG: Jozi_Radus) joins us to break down the invisible patterns driving our choices. We explore how unconscious reactions keep us stuck in fear, self-doubt, and old stories, and how bringing awareness to them creates space for something new....

Ever feel like ADHD is messing with your friendships? In this episode, we dive into how understanding  the Three Principles can be a game-changer for navigating ADHD relationships. We explore how seeing things differently can shift your connections, reduce friction, and help you show up authentically. From miscommunications to feeling like you're always 'on', we'll discuss practical ways understan...

In today's episode I has the honor of speaking with the briliant ADHD entrepreneur Ken Deckinger.  Ken Deckinger is an entrepreneur, photographer, documentary filmmaker, and founder of Big Photo Hunt, an online photography community built to help photographers grow through feedback, connection, and creative momentum. Earlier in his career, he was the co-founder and CEO of HurryDate, a pioneering s...

In today's episode I sat down with Gabe Fisz, Gabe is a freelance graphic designer and ADHD content creator behind the YouTube channel Hey Fidgety. Through honest storytelling, humor, and personal experience, he talks about the real side of living with ADHD, including impulsivity, emotional overwhelm, and the feeling of being misunderstood. His goal is to break down stigma around ADHD and help peo...

In today's episode I have Glenn Sturm in the studio. Glenn ( www.glennsturm.com ) is a 17-year cancer survivor, four-time bestselling author, and a decorated military officer with over three decades of service. He's battled incurable cancer for 16 years and does not just talk about survival. He shows us what it means to reshape our identity after everything changes. Glenn's transition from a top a...

In this episode of "The Fear Less Now," we dive into the complex relationship between ADHD and impatience, exploring how the 3 Principles – Thought, Consciousness, and Mind – offer a fresh perspective on this common challenge. We'll examine how our thoughts can create a sense of urgency and restlessness, leading to impatience and frustration. By understanding that our thoughts are just thoughts, n...

In this episode of "The Fear Less Now," hosts Jamie Pastrano and Brittany Moser join me to discuss the launch of Synchrony's innovative AI-powered social support tool, Jesse. Designed specifically for neurodivergent adults, Jesse offers real-time conversation coaching to help reduce social anxiety and foster deeper connections.   The conversation will delve into the pressing issue of social isolat...

In this heartwarming and insightful episode, I sit down with one of my mentors, Dr. Dicken Bettinger, to explore the liberating wisdom of the 3 Principles. We dive into the common experience of Adhd'ers (and non-Adhd'ers) getting caught up in our thoughts, believing they're real, and how we can gently find our way back to a more peaceful, present state. *Key Takeaways:* - How our thinking creates...