#90 - Michelle 'MACE' Curran - How to Turn Fear into Fuel

Send us Fan MailMeet Michelle "Mace" Curran, former Air Force Thunderbird pilot, keynote speaker, and author. The conversation kicks off with Michelle sharing her excitement about the upcoming release of her first nonfiction book, The Flip Side: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower. She explains how the book, infused with lessons and stories from her 13 years flying fighter jets, aims to help readers transform fear into a tool for growth and resilience.-Key takeaways include: Flip Your Fear: Michelle’s new book, The Flip Side, is rooted in the idea of reframing fear. Instead of trying to “turn off” fear, she encourages leaning into it—because growth often happens at the edges of our comfort zones. Small, bold choices add up over time!Normalize Doubt: Even at the top, imposter syndrome is real. Michelle emphasizes separating our inner critic from our true abilities, reframing negative self-talk, and recognizing that even the highest performers have doubts—they just don’t let it keep them from showing up.Relatability Drives Impact: Whether inspiring kids through her children’s books or adults with leadership lessons, Michelle’s authenticity and willingness to share both the triumphs and the fears makes her story relatable—and that’s where true impact lies.-Time Codes:00:00 "Fighter Pilot's Fear Flipping Lessons"04:20 Inspiring Young Aviators: A Journey08:21 Female Mentorship in Military Aviation12:36 Silencing the Inner Critic16:02 Pilot Stress and Arousal Levels19:43 Nostalgia Amid Digital Overload21:39 Weekly Debrief for Improvement26:26 First Flight Experience28:08 "Daytona Beach Flyover Query"31:54 F16 Training Anticipation33:48 From Intimidation to Friendship39:48 "Editing a Manuscript Journey"42:04 Humbling Moments Amid Accomplishments45:06 "Start Before You're Ready"50:08 "Persistence Pays: Bold Follow-Up"51:00 "Appreciation and Recording End"Support the showConnect with Passing The Torch: Facebook and IG: @torchmartinMore Amazing Stories:Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You InsecureEpisode 81: Kurt Warner – Perseverance, Humility, and Lighting the Way Episode 90: Michelle 'MACE' Curran – How to Turn Fear into Fuel------------© 2026 TORCH LEAP®, LLC. All rights reserved.