DARE: Panic & Anxiety Relief Podcast

Built around Barry McDonagh's DARE method (Defuse, Allow, Run Toward, Engage), this podcast extends the philosophy of his bestselling book into an audio format hosted by coaches Michelle Cavanaugh and Aida Beco. The core message is counterintuitive but compelling: you don't end anxiety by trying to be calm, you end it by acting bravely. The show ran for 63 episodes before wrapping up in August 2024, with the team shifting their focus to YouTube content and the DARE app. Episodes typically ran about an hour, giving the hosts space to thoroughly explore anxiety management topics, answer listener questions, and walk through the DARE approach in detail. What made this podcast distinctive was its emphasis on acceptance-based strategies over avoidance. Instead of teaching you to reduce or avoid anxious feelings, the DARE method encourages you to run toward discomfort and engage with life anyway. It's a specific, structured framework rather than general advice, which gives listeners something concrete to practice. The 4.5-star rating from 62 reviewers reflects a smaller but dedicated audience. With only 63 episodes, the catalog is manageable enough to work through completely, which is actually an advantage if you prefer a structured learning experience over an endless feed. Even though new episodes have stopped, the existing content remains a solid introduction to the DARE approach for anyone dealing with panic attacks, generalized anxiety, or avoidance patterns. The companion book and app fill in the gaps if you want to go deeper.