In this special season finale episode, we pause together as co-hosts to reflect on Season 1's remarkable journey through challenge, fear, and growth. We share our personal takeaways from eleven powerful conversations, exploring how each guest's story revealed unexpected gifts within life's challenges. From creating "3am friends" to embracing vulnerability, we discuss how these conversations have changed our own lives while sharing our excitement about Season 2's inspiring stories launching January 28th, 2026.

Read the full show notes on our Substack: https://whatsfear.substack.com/p/s1e12

00:00 Season One Wrap-Up and Reflections

01:33 Key Takeaways from Guests

03:46 The Importance of Vulnerability and Support

05:35 Looking Ahead to Season Two

07:37 Diversity of Stories and Guest Experiences

09:26 Listener Engagement and Feedback

What happens when shared learning challenges become an unexpected gift? In this powerful conversation, father and daughter Michael Grinder and Krista Grinder-Dettloff reveal how their early struggles with reading sparked a transformative journey. As a teacher who had taught himself to read after high school, Michael understood his daughter's challenges uniquely. Together, they discovered that different minds process information differently. Now an internationally recognised pioneer in nonverbal communication, Michael, alongside Krista who became a reading specialist, shares insights about fear, self-acceptance, and learning differences. Their story demonstrates how embracing our unique ways of understanding the world can unlock extraordinary potential in ourselves and others.

About Our Guests

Michael Grinder, internationally recognised pioneer of nonverbal communication and founder of Michael Grinder and Associates, has trained thousands of executives and educators worldwide. With over 40 years of experience, he helps people assess others more accurately and connect more deeply through his expertise in translating nonverbal communication into practical leadership strategies.

Krista Grinder-Dettloff, CEO of Michael Grinder and Associates, brings over 30 years of educational expertise spanning from preschool through college level as a specialist and classroom teacher. Known for her insight, warmth, and practical application, she transforms complex concepts into accessible strategies that help others discover their unique potential.

Read the full show notes on our Substack: https://whatsfear.substack.com/p/s1e11

00:00 Intro Michael Grinder & Krista Grinder-Dettloff

09:04 Understanding Learning Styles and Their Impact

17:55 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

25:56 Building Self-Love and Overcoming Fear

31:53 The Power of Poetry and Self-Reflection

34:48 Understanding Nonverbal Communication

40:22 The Role of Nonverbal Cues in Relationships

45:27 Impact of COVID-19 on Communication

47:35 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

52:33 Lessons from Childhood and Personal Growth

01:02:17 It's A Wrap

What happens when your world crumbles to the point where you can't afford a ham sandwich? Martin Mileham shares his compelling journey from unstoppable success to standing at an ATM with just $2.40 to his name. When the Asian currency crisis hit, Martin lost everything society told him equalled success, but in this loss, he discovered an unexpected gift.

With remarkable honesty, Martin reveals how his "ham sandwich moment" became his greatest teacher, eventually leading him from Perth to Dubai, where he rose from site inspector to Vice President overseeing iconic projects like the Burj Khalifa. His story challenges our assumptions about success and security, while offering powerful insights about resilience and the courage to begin again.

About Our Guest

Martin Mileham has an Architecture degree and over 40 years of experience as a registered Architect. He has worked internationally on everything from delivering enormous palm-shaped islands in the Arabian Gulf, to being responsible for the tallest building in the world, through to designing one-off street furniture. He has been the CEO of the City of Perth, the capital of Western Australia and has lived in London, Dubai, Muscat and Melbourne. Martin and his wife now reside back home in Perth where Martin continues to consult in construction and development.

Read the full show notes on our Substack: https://whatsfear.substack.com/p/s1e10

00:00 Martin Mileham Intro

04:18 Lessons from Financial Struggles: Pride and Reality

08:28 Reassessing Values: What Truly Matters

12:41 The Journey to Dubai: Luck and Opportunity

20:53 Personal Growth: Flexibility and Life Lessons

22:15 Navigating Failure and Courage

25:34 The Liberating Experience of Disconnection

30:15 Embracing Change and the Concept of Luck

35:03 The Role of Fear in Motivation

39:44 Lessons from the Ham Sandwich Moment

43:01 It's A Wrap