This week, we’re digging into the things you’re terrified of — the concrete stuff like fear of spiders and heights, as well as the more conceptual, existential anxiety we all have about just being alive. First, we interview Dean Sluyter, author of the new book Fear Less: Living Beyond Fear, Anxiety, Anger, and Addiction. Then Ben Brock Johnson, host of the Reddit podcast “Endless Thread,” shares the scariest stories from Reddit. But first, Alice and Melissa confront two of their worst fears — and you get to listen in.
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In This Episode
Introduction (0:00 – 6:07)
Alice and Melissa check out some spiders and stand on a plank, thanks to the magic of virtual reality. (It’s more frightening than you’d think.)
Your Worst Fears (6:08 – 9:33)
Levi Sharpe takes to the streets of NYC to ask passers-by what they’re most frightened of.
The Interview: Dean Sluyter (10:36 – 27:02)
We talk to Dean Sluyter about our out-of-control fears and how to manage them.
Scary Corner: The Scariest Stories from Reddit (28:12 – 36:01)
Ben Brock Johnson terrifies us with stories he’s found in the darkest nooks and crannies of Reddit.
Upgrade of the Week: (37:15 – 41:25)
We return with Dean Sluyter and Levi to discuss the little changes we’ve made to our lives. This week: a trick to help you listen to audio files on your iPhone; a leash for all your devices; and getting up at the same time every day.
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