In 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 leaving residential treatment work to practice outpatient therapy in Washington D.C., Keeleigh reflects on burnout, personal growth, fear-driven decision making, and the emotional challenges many young adults face while trying to figure out who they really are. Together, Zack and Keeleigh explore how modern culture, social isolation, perfectionism, and fear of being misunderstood are contributing to a growing loneliness epidemic among teens and young adults.

The conversation also dives into exposure therapy, authenticity, relationships, grief, self-compassion, and the courage it takes to embrace change. Keeleigh openly shares her own fears around career transitions, starting a private practice, purpose, belonging, and learning to slow down emotionally and professionally. This episode is an honest and relatable discussion for anyone struggling with anxiety, uncertainty, fear of vulnerability, or the pressure to constantly have life figured out.

Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Mary Morrissey of the Brave Thinking Institute to help you fear less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

What happens when the pressure to succeed in sports quietly turns into anxiety, perfectionism, or OCD? In this powerful episode, Zack talks with elite runner, therapist, and former Olympic Trials marathoner Dr. Cali Werner about her personal journey growing up as a high-achieving athlete while secretly battling OCD and anxiety. From compulsive pre-race rituals and overwhelming fear of failure to intrusive thoughts and perfectionism, Cali shares how mental health struggles can hide behind athletic success for years.

This episode is especially valuable for parents of athletes, coaches, and young people navigating competitive sports. Cali explains the difference between healthy routines and anxiety-driven rituals, how sports pressure can amplify OCD symptoms, and why early support matters. Zack and Cali also explore topics like reassurance seeking, shame, sports psychology, exposure therapy (ERP), identity outside of athletics, and how recovery is possible even after years of struggling. A hopeful and deeply relatable conversation for families trying to support anxious teens and young adults in sports.

Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from mixed martial artist and fighter Ronday Rousey to help you Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.

What does it really mean when a young adult receives a late diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder? In this thought-provoking episode, host Zack sits down with clinical psychologist Eric Beaudoin, Psy.D., Executive Director of Cornerstones of Maine, to explore a growing trend in mental health: the rise of late autism diagnoses in teens and young adults. Together, they unpack the complex overlap between autism, developmental delays, anxiety, and social skill deficits—raising important questions about whether some individuals are being misdiagnosed due to limited life experience, environmental factors, or gaps in comprehensive assessment.

More importantly, this episode shifts the focus away from labels and toward what truly matters: helping young people build meaningful, independent lives. Eric shares a powerful, function-first approach that emphasizes identity, purpose, and real-world engagement over diagnostic categories. For parents navigating uncertainty about their child's diagnosis—or wondering how best to support a struggling young adult—this conversation offers both clarity and hope, highlighting that growth, resilience, and capability are often far greater than a label might suggest.

Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from inspiring author, Norman Vincent Peale to help you Fear Less!

Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.