What if fear isn't your enemy, but actually your greatest secret weapon?

In this powerful episode of Gen Mess with Tess, host Tess Brigham sits down with the dynamic Jacqueline Wales—TEDx speaker, author, coach, and all-around powerhouse—to unpack how fear runs (and often, ruins) our lives, across every generation. Jacqueline, whose inspiring journey includes overcoming childhood trauma, financial devastation, and a life rebuilt from scratch, reveals why “being fearless” is a myth—and why courage is really about making your next bold move in the face of fear, not its absence.

Key Highlights:

Fear Exposed: Hear why Jacqueline calls fear a “strategic advantage”—and how to use it as fuel for your own growth.
The Science of Fear: Gain crucial insight into the biology and stories your mind fabricates, including how fear operates on a subconscious and cellular level, and why most of our fears are based on imagined threats.
Generational Mess: Explore why Gen Z is more risk-averse and anxious than previous generations, and what boomers get wrong (and right) about the next wave of leaders.
Deceitful Thinking: Discover how “deceitful thinking” tricks us into believing self-doubt, procrastination, and perfectionism are facts—not just stories we’ve internalized over time.
Real-Life Tools: From simply saying “thank you” to a compliment, to breaking through resistance and perfectionism, get actionable steps to flip the fear narrative in your daily life.

Ready to clean up your gen mess by turning fear into your fiercest ally? Listen in, challenge your old beliefs, and take bold steps toward the life you want. And don’t forget—stay curious, stay courageous, and stop letting fear run the show.

Connect with Jacqueline Wales:

Website
LinkedIn (search Jacqueline Wales)
Email for the free 30-Day Fear Busting Challenge: jacqueline@jacquelinewales.com

Let us know how you’re using these lessons—share your breakthroughs and questions with us, and keep the conversation going. Until next time, own your power and don’t let the gen mess mess with you!

Timestamped Overview

00:00 "Gen Mess Podcast: Fear as Advantage"

05:32 Confronting Fear and Self-Limitation

06:50 Struggles with Self-Worth

13:20 "Deceitful Thinking Explored"

16:28 "Growing Up in Unsettled Times"

17:57 "Personal Growth and Social Impact"

22:49 Fostering Understanding and Curiosity

26:41 "Embrace Self-Worth Over Validation"

27:51 Healing Emotions at Cellular Level

30:49 Reclaim Your Personal Power

34:38 "Horror Curiosity and Women's Voice"

37:16 Generational Workplace Expectations Clash

40:42 "30-Day Fear-Busting Challenge"

Follow for weekly episodes, and be sure to visit tessbrigham.com to learn more about Tess's work as a licensed therapist and certified coach.

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Ep 13: FEAR: The Greatest Strategist You've Never Hired

Ep 13: FEAR: The Greatest Strategist You've Never Hired

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