What happens when you finally confront the thing that’s shaped your identity for decades?

In this episode of Mindful Paths, Nick Day and Hari Kalymnios explore what really unfolds when fear is no longer avoided but faced head on.

What began as Nick’s decision to overcome a lifelong arachnophobia turned into something far deeper — a powerful exploration of anxiety, childhood imprinting, vulnerability, and how the nervous system wires fear into identity. After 37 years of living with a phobia, Nick underwent an intensive exposure session that triggered not just a physical reaction, but an emotional release that challenged who he believed himself to be.

Together, Nick and Hari unpack why we’re only born with two innate fears, how early experiences shape our nervous system, and why modern anxiety may simply be an outdated survival mechanism running in the wrong environment. They explore cognitive dissonance, compassion, courage, and the uncomfortable truth that much of what we call “personality” may actually be conditioned fear.

This episode isn’t really about spiders.

It’s about identity, anxiety, and whether courage can be cultivated.

If you’ve ever felt limited by fear or wondered why your mind defaults to worry even when you’re safe, this conversation will give you a new perspective.

Nick Day’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Podcast Website: Mindful Paths Podcast: https://jgarecruitment.com/the-mindful-paths-podcast/

Transformational Coaching with Nick or Hari Enquiries: nick@t4mcoach.com

Hari Kalymnios on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harikalymnios

Hari Kalymnios Website: https://harikalymnios.com

(00:00) Preview

(00:40) Nick’s Lifelong Fear of Spiders

(04:14) What Fear Actually Feels Like in the Body

(08:37) The Decision to Confront It

(12:58) Where the Fear Really Began

(18:50) The Emotional Breakthrough

(22:07) Reframing Fear Through Compassion

(24:50) Handling the Spider for the First Time

(28:19) Cognitive Dissonance in Real Time

(33:19) Identity, Vulnerability & Men

(40:00) Why Modern Anxiety Feels Constant

(46:04) Are We Searching for Things to Worry About?

(57:20) Stress Stored in the Body

(01:01:03) What You Can Actually Control

(01:04:44) Facing the Worst-Case Scenario

Peptides are everywhere right now.

From biohackers and athletes to skincare brands and longevity clinics, everyone seems to be calling them the next big health upgrade.

So what are they really? And do they actually work?

Nick and Hari break down the science behind peptides, what the research says, and where the hype gets ahead of reality. They explore collagen peptides for joints and skin, BPC-157 for injury recovery, gut health and autoimmune inflammation, and the growing conversation around brain recovery, stress resilience, and neuroplasticity.

The bigger takeaway is simple. Supplements don’t replace the fundamentals. Sleep, nutrition, movement, and recovery still do most of the work. Peptides may offer marginal gains, but only once the foundations are dialed in.

If you’re curious about peptides, biohacking, or smarter ways to support healing and long-term health, this episode gives you the clarity to decide what’s worth your time, money, and energy.

Follow Mindful Paths for practical tools that help you feel better, think clearer, and build resilience from the inside out.

Nick Day’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Podcast Website: Mindful Paths Podcast: https://jgarecruitment.com/the-mindful-paths-podcast/

Transformational Coaching with Nick or Hari Enquiries: nick@t4mcoach.com

Hari Kalymnios on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harikalymnios

Hari Kalymnios Website: https://harikalymnios.com

As we move into 2026, many people are trying to do more but feeling worse. Low energy, poor sleep, rising stress, and constant self-optimization are becoming the norm.

In this episode of Mindful Paths, Nick Day and Hari Kalymnios explore a more sustainable way forward. They unpack how stress, sleep, nutrition, recovery, and emotional load interact, and why pushing harder often creates the opposite of progress.

This conversation covers practical ways to reset your body and mind, calm the nervous system, improve sleep, and build habits that support long-term wellbeing without burnout. From wearables and biohacking to grief, aging, and recovery, this episode focuses on awareness, balance, and consistency over pressure and perfection.

If you want 2026 to feel more grounded, focused, and sustainable, this episode gives you a better framework to work from.

Nick Day’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/

Podcast Website: Mindful Paths Podcast: https://jgarecruitment.com/the-mindful-paths-podcast/

Transformational Coaching with Nick or Hari Enquiries: nick@t4mcoach.com

Hari Kalymnios on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harikalymnios

Hari Kalymnios Website: https://harikalymnios.com

(00:00) Preview

(00:29) Starting the Year Exhausted

(01:22) Insomnia and Routine Disruption

(07:58) Grief and Nervous System Triggers

(10:55) Fixing Sleep Fundamentals

(20:12) Biohacking vs Basics

(22:38) Fasting and Sleep Issues

(24:42) Aging and Recovery Limits

(26:13) Inflammation and Consistency

(34:25) Wearables and Stress

(40:43) Fear and Exposure Therapy

(47:04) Habits Over Resolutions

(49:00) Reset Without Self-Judgment