87. Fear and Fatherhood Pt. 2: Reflections on Becoming A Dad for a Second Time
Description
Is having another child an anxiety provoking experience? Our host Zack Shafer returns for a solo episode reflecting on the arrival of his second child, baby Meli and how becoming a parent again reshaped his understanding of fear and anxiety. He revisits the worries he had before his first child's birth—fears about not having life perfectly organized—and how becoming a dad taught him that anxiety doesn't disappear, but you learn you can handle uncertainty anyway. With more experience under his belt, Zack describes approaching this second birth with less panic and more presence, recognizing how exposure—doing something hard once—builds confidence the next time around.
He also explores the unique fears that surfaced as he became a father to a daughter and how societal expectations shaped his protective instincts. The episode expands into a powerful conversation about men's mental health, the pressure many fathers feel to "hold everything together," and how rarely dads are asked how they're coping. Zack encourages parents—especially fathers—to talk openly about stress, seek support, and remember that you don't need to be perfect to be a good parent. You just need to show up, stay aware, and keep going.
Zack's Hack- In this week's anxiety hack Zack shares a quote from Ama H. Vanniarachchy, author and anthropologist to help you Fear Less!
Fear Less is sponsored by Mountain Valley Treatment Center.
Zack's episode about anxiety related to his first child was first released in July of 2024- 36. Fear, Fatherhood, and Transformation: Zack's Journey to Becoming a Dad
United States
