Can you introduce yourself and share your experience as a leadership advisor and speaker?
My name is Darryl, and about 10 years ago, I left corporate America to pursue speaking full-time. Since then, I’ ve become an author, a speaker, and a“ fear collector.” But when I talk about fear, I don’ t mean fears of spiders or heights— I mean the deeper fears we don’ t always share. These are the fears that hold us back from stepping up as leaders, both personally and professionally. Over the years, I’ ve collected nearly 75,000 fears from people spanning five generations— from fourth graders to retirees. My mission isn’ t to make people fearless, but to help them“ fear less” so they can move forward in their journeys. Fear isn’ t something we eliminate— it’ s something we learn to manage, navigate, and use to our advantage.
What does it mean to be“ Fearless Inside”? How does fear play a role in shaping leaders?
Darryl Bellamy,
School BUSRide spoke with Darryl Bellamy, the keynote speaker at this year’ s NAPT ACTS in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Darryl’ s keynote at ACTS 25 is sponsored by Transfinder. Darryl is set to take the general session stage for this keynote presentation on Saturday, November 1st at 2:00 p. m. EST.
Darryl Bellamy is the founder of FearLESS Inside ™, a movement dedicated to helping individuals embrace fear and gain confidence. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Darryl has collected thousands of fears from people across forty states and five generations, using these insights to teach practical strategies for growth.
As an author and TEDx speaker, Darryl is celebrated for his ability to connect with audiences and inspire FearLESS Moments— transformative experiences where individuals face their fears and take bold steps forward. His engaging presentations have empowered thousands worldwide to see fear as something to embrace and move beyond.
When I started speaking, my message was all about being fearless. I would tell people to“ be fearless,” but I quickly realized that wasn’ t always helpful. People would come up to me afterward and say,“ But Darryl, what about courage? What about the fact that I still feel afraid?” That’ s when I started shifting my message. Being“ Fearless Inside” doesn’ t mean eliminating fear— it means understanding that fear is part of growth. Fear tells us we care about something. It means we’ re stepping into the unknown, and that’ s where leadership happens. My work is about helping people acknowledge their fear, accept it, and then act despite it. That’ s why I focus on the concept of“ fearing less” instead of being fearless. For example, imagine a student who’ s afraid to raise their hand in class or a professional nervous about speaking up in a meeting. Their fear is valid, but if they can push through it— even in small ways— they start building confidence. That’ s how great leaders develop. They don’ t become fearless overnight; they learn to fear a little less each day.
What are the most common fears you encounter?
The top fear I’ ve collected is the fear of judgment and rejection— worrying about how others will perceive us if we take action. Whether it’ s speaking in public, pursuing a dream, or standing up for what we believe in, people are often afraid of being criticized or not fitting in. The second major fear is pain, both emotional and physical. People hesitate to make changes because they fear discomfort or hurt. This could be the pain of failure, the pain of embarrassment, or even the pain of disappointing others. Next is the fear of loss— whether it’ s losing a job, a relationship, or a sense of security. Fear of losing what we already have often stops us from taking risks that could lead to something even better. Finally, uncertainty looms large. Many fears ultimately tie back to the unknown. People say they fear failure, but when we dig deeper, it’ s often about judgment, loss, or pain. Identifying the root of a fear makes it easier to manage and overcome. When I work with individuals, I often ask them to write their fears down. Seeing those fears in words makes them more tangible, and breaking them down into categories helps people realize that fear is something they can understand and navigate.
30 | SCHOOL-BUSRIDE. COM | APRIL 2025