I have now asked 1,000 people across the world what their biggest fear is. When I set out on this journey in the spring of 2022, I suspected that death would be high on the list. But I also thought that war, climate crisis and the rise of totalitarianism would be top contenders. I was wrong about the latter. Only about 4.5% of respondents mentioned bigger global themes. Death, in some shape or form, was indeed top of the list; about 20% said that what they feared most was los

One week before I put on the show “ Let’s Talk About Fear ” at the Comedy Studio in Cambridge I was nervous. Well, let’s skip the euphemism: I was having a minor meltdown. There are so many things that can go wrong with a production. I feared that not enough people would come. I feared that too many people would come and not like the show. I feared people would be offended and judge me. With any type of art, it is impossible to predict how it will be received. It is equally i

Walking through a park close to Kendall Square I came across a couple of picnic tables. It was a beautiful day, and people were enjoying meals outside. Smack on top of one of the tables was a fairly sizeable dog, munching away from its owner's take-out container. Two thoughts came to mind: 1) WTF and 2) gross. I continued walking and wondered why I had not said anything. If I felt so strongly about it, why didn't I share my views? Was I afraid what they would think of me? Was