Alan Furlong shares his journey from high-achieving executive and entrepreneur to discovering authentic purpose. Throughout his successful career, including building and leading the team that scaled a business to £42 million in revenue, he admits he found himself living in shades of grey, successful on paper, but silently disconnected from what truly mattered. When burnout forced him to stop, hospitalised with what seemed like a heart attack, Alan began a journey of deep questioning and reflection. He reveals how his relentless drive for success masked deeper childhood trauma and also left him feeling hollow. Through vulnerability and courage, Alan shares how he learned to trust himself and walk away from everything. He now helps people with barriers to education and employment to build their own remarkable lives and describes his transformation simply: "Life is colourful." A story about recognising when grey is asking for your attention and discovering that letting go is the first act of courage that can transform your life.

About Our Guest

Alan Furlong is a successful former entrepreneur and executive who built and mentored multiple start-ups, and used his hard-won commercial expertise to help scale one business to £42 million in three years. Yet despite this extraordinary achievement, he realised he was living someone else's idea of a successful life. After stepping away from it all to wrestle with the deeper question "What is the point of me being here?" Alan now dedicates himself to teaching and helping people live more meaningful, impactful, and healthier lives.

Read the full show notes on our Substack: https://whatsfear.substack.com/p/s2e1

00:00 Facing Life's Challenges: A Personal Journey

04:20 The Turning Point: Embracing Change and Surrender

14:09 The Messy Middle: Navigating Uncertainty and Growth

19:45 Spiritual Awakening: Trusting the Process

22:53 The Journey of Surrender and Spiritual Growth

24:28 Navigating Career Transitions and Personal Insights

27:12 Understanding Fear and Embracing Change

30:00 Finding Color in Life: From Gray to Vibrant

31:30 The Power of Physical Challenges and Self-Discovery

36:13 Lessons from Pain and Growth

38:08 Advice to My Younger Self: Faith and Courage

39:34 The Gift of Peace Through Life's Journey

40:41 Top Tips for Embracing Your Calling

42:29 It's A Wrap

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