Second Take Tuesday – Doubt, Curiosity, Courage

When I first thought about launching a podcast, I stalled.
Not because I didn’t want to do it — I really wanted to — but because of this voice in my head that kept whispering:

“Who are you to do this?”
“Why would anyone listen to you?”
“You’re not a journalist. You’re not an expert. You’re just a guy with a mic.”

But here’s the twist: I am just a guy with a mic — and 11 conversations later, that’s enough.
I’ve sat with farmers, professors, mental health experts, musicians, coaches, and thinkers. We’ve talked about masculinity, creativity, isolation, nature, and the systems shaping our lives.

And somehow, with each episode, the fear gets quieter.
Not because I killed it — but because I showed up.

Things I’ve Learned So Far

• Self-doubt doesn’t go away — it just comes along for the ride.

• If you’re genuinely curious, people will open up.

• Conversations don’t need polish — they need presence.

Your Weekly Nudge

If there’s something you’ve been putting off — a project, a conversation, a risk — because you don’t “feel ready,” here’s your reminder:

Start anyway.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to press record, send the email, make the ask, take the step.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s acting in spite of it.

 Next Week: I sit down with Max Ahonen, a young entrepreneur and co-founder of Dora, a company rethinking canine wellness through non-invasive health monitoring tech. We talk about building something meaningful at a young age, what it was like to pitch on Shark Tank, and how Finnish grit (Sisu) shapes his leadership.

This one’s for the dreamers, the builders, and anyone learning how to bet on themselves.

Thanks for reading Second Take Tuesday – Doubt, Curiosity, Courage.
If it resonates, forward it to a friend. If it challenges you — good. That’s the point.

See you next week,
Daniel