Oct 28, 202647 minS1
When a teenager struggles with OCD, what happens to the brother or sister trying to hold everything together? In this episode Zack speaks with Austin Kang, a high school senior whose experience growing up alongside an...
health
Fear Less
Hosted by Zack Schafer · health · EN
About this Podcast:
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 L
Pitch Analysis
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Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
35%
Guest openness
Selective
80/100
Required Score
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Signup to Generate a PitchQuestions about Fear Less
What is Fear Less about?
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.
Who hosts Fear Less?
Fear Less is hosted by Zack Schafer. The show has published 124 episodes to date.
What has Fear Less covered recently?
Recent episodes include "126. The Hidden Struggle: How OCDs Impact's Siblings and How to Support Them" (28 October 2026, 47 minutes), "125. Finding Your Place: Neurodivergence, Anxiety, and the Transition to Adulthood" (21 October 2026, 42 minutes), and "124. More Than Therapy: Jay Wolter on Helping Youth Thrive and Founding Mountain Valley" (14 October 2026, 60 minutes).
How often does Fear Less publish?
Fear Less publishes roughly weekly, with episodes averaging 44 minutes across 124 episodes.
How hard is it to get booked on Fear Less?
Booking probability for Fear Less is 35%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Fear Less requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Fear Less's contact route on record: verified email.
Who should pitch Fear Less?
The strongest fits for Fear Less are Health & Wellness Services and Therapists & Other Health Practitioners. Fear Less has a health audience.
About the host
Zack Schafer hosts Fear Less, a health podcast with 124 episodes published.
Verified host email: ████████@████.comSign in to unlock →
Recent episodes
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- Oct 21, 202642 minS1
What makes the transition to adulthood feel overwhelming for many neurodivergent young adults—and how can families help? On this episode, Zack interviews Justin Messinger, LCMHCS, Clinical Director at Intrepid Young...
- Oct 14, 20261 hourS1
How did a family's commitment to education and experiential learning lay the groundwork for Mountain Valley Treatment Center ? In this episode Zack speaks with Jay Wolter, president of Moosilauke Visions, the nonprofit...
Episode #123
123. Understanding the Anxious Brain: Dr. Bruce Perry on Stress, Regulation & Why Connection Matters
Oct 7, 202655 minS1Why is it so hard to think clearly when anxiety takes over—and why can telling someone to "calm down" make things worse? In this episode Zack welcomes Dr. Bruce Perry, child and adolescent psychiatrist, neuroscientist...
Episode #122
122. Is Marijuana Helping Your Anxiety? Dr. Roberto Olivardia on ADHD, Anxiety, and Cannabis Use
Sep 23, 20261h 6mS1Can marijuana help you feel calmer or fall asleep while gradually becoming something you depend on? In this episode, Zack welcomes back clinical psychologist Dr. Roberto Olivardia to explore the relationship between...
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- Sep 16, 202633 minS1
What will the next chapter of Mountain Valley Treatment Center look like—and how can alumni, parents, families, and community members help make it possible? As Mountain Valley celebrates its 15th anniversary, Executive...
Episode #120
120. Anxious—and Doing It Anyway: James Norris's Journey from Mountain Valley Resident to Future Therapist
Sep 9, 202640 minS1What is it like to return to Mountain Valley Treatment Center as an intern after once being a client? James Norris first arrived at Mountain Valley in 2021 after social anxiety had begun to derail his life. Emerging...
Episode #119
119. When Helping Hurts: Josh Doyle on Parental Accommodation and Letting Young Adults Struggle
Sep 2, 202644 minS1When does helping a struggling child become over-accommodating them? Educational and therapeutic consultant Josh Doyle joins host Zack to explore why loving, well-intentioned parents may repeatedly rescue an anxious...
- Aug 26, 202639 minS1
A second episode, recorded live at Mountain Valley's 2026 alumni reunion, brings together more former residents to reflect on treatment, friendship and personal growth. It starts as Zack encourages more alumni to share...
- Aug 19, 202639 minS1
Recorded live at Mountain Valley Treatment Center's 2026 alumni reunion, this episode brings together former residents to reflect on treatment, friendship and personal growth. Willow recalls how an unexpected roadside...
- Aug 12, 202646 minS1
Every major transition—retirement, a career change, an empty nest, a loss, or an unexpected new direction—can bring uncertainty and anxiety. In this episode, Zach talks with Dr. Will White about navigating his own...
Episode #115
115. Beyond Picky Eating: Autism, ARFID, and Building a Healthier Relationship with Food
Aug 5, 202638 minS1Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is much more than picky eating—and for many autistic children, teens, and adults, it can become a serious challenge that affects nutrition, family life, and emotional...
- Jul 15, 202630 minS1
Feeling overwhelmed by work, parenting, relationships, and the endless pressure to keep up? In this deeply personal solo episode Zack shares his own experience navigating burnout, exhaustion, and the constant feeling...
Episode #113
113. A Mountain Valley Success Story: Overcoming Social Anxiety, Depression, and School Avoidance
Jul 8, 202654 minS1What does it really feel like to be a teenager struggling with debilitating anxiety, school refusal, and depression—and what happens when residential treatment finally begins to work? In this inspiring episode of Fear...
Episode #112
112. Your OCD Will Hate This Episode: Nathan Peterson on Exposure Therapy and Lasting Recovery
Jul 1, 202646 minS1Why 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...
Episode #111
111. Suicide Prevention and Exposure Therapy: Training Therapists to Fear Less and Help More
Jun 17, 202650 minS1Suicide 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...
Fear Less
110. Exposure to Exposure: Dr. Emily Bilek on Building Confidence in Anxiety and OCD Treatment
Jun 10, 202645 minWhy do so many therapists hesitate to use one of the most effective treatments for anxiety and OCD? In this episode, Zack sits down with Dr. Emily Bilek, a clinical psychologist at the University of Michigan, to explore...
- Jun 3, 202620 minS1
What happens when someone you love dies by suicide—and you never saw it coming? In this deeply personal and vulnerable solo episode, Zack shares the story of losing one of his closest friends to suicide during Memorial...
- May 27, 202647 minS1
In this episode Zack speaks with landscape architecture experts Amy Wagenfeld and Daniel Winterbottom about the growing role of therapeutic gardens, healing landscapes, and nature-based environments in supporting mental...
May 20, 202639 minS1In this deeply personal and wide-ranging episode Zack welcomes therapist Keeleigh Mahler back to Mountain Valley Treatment Center for a candid conversation about anxiety, loneliness, vulnerability, and identity. After...
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