Good Humans with Cooper Chapman

#242 Anna Ferguson — Anna the Anxiety Coach: How to Stay Calm When Life Throws You the Unthinkable

Good Humans with Cooper Chapman

Show Notes

Anna Ferguson, known to her 340k+ Instagram followers as @annatheanxietycoach, is a leading Australian anxiety therapist, somatic coach, and bestselling author. Her first book, The Vagus Nerve Reset, changed the way thousands of people understand their nervous system. Her brand-new book, 21 Days to a Less Anxious You, takes that work even further with a practical, science-backed 21-day toolkit to calm your body and mind.

But what makes this conversation so special isn't just what Anna knows. It's what she's lived.

In this episode, Anna opens up about a rollercoaster accident she experienced as a child and the lasting impact it had on her nervous system and her relationship with fear. She also shares one of the most courageous stories I've heard on this podcast: navigating life alongside her partner's brain cancer diagnosis, and how she used her own tools to stay grounded when everything fell apart.

This one is raw, real, and packed with practical takeaways for anyone who has ever felt like anxiety is running the show.

In this episode we cover: Anna's personal experience of childhood trauma and how it shaped her path into anxiety work What the vagus nerve actually is and why it matters for how you feel every day How your nervous system is wired to protect you (not betray you) The somatic tools Anna used to stay regulated while supporting her partner through brain cancer What to do when your anxiety toolkit gets tested by real-life crisis The key ideas behind 21 Days to a Less Anxious You and how to start building resilience today Simple, science-backed practices you can use right now to calm your nervous system

Whether you're someone who struggles with anxiety daily or you're supporting someone you love through a hard season, this episode will leave you feeling less alone and more equipped.

Connect with Anna: Instagram: @annatheanxietycoach Website: annatheanxietycoach.com/ Books: The Vagus Nerve Reset and 21 Days to a Less Anxious You (available everywhere books are sold)

—

1% Good Club Book!! The Good Human Factory Amazon Booktopia

Cooper's Socials Instagram TikTok Linked In

The Good Human Factory Links Instagram Website Workshop Enquiry THE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Good Humans with Cooper Chapman

Oct 20, 2026

I loved this one. Alexis has spent over a decade inside marketing, media and PR, so she knows exactly how our attention gets engineered. And she’s honest enough to call herself a tech addict too. Her new book Real: Reconnecting to Yourself in a World of Likes and Lies is three years in the making, and it’s all about how social media messes with who we think we are, and how to take that back. If you’ve ever closed an app feeling worse about yourself, this one’s for you.

Oct 13, 2026

This was a fascinating chat. Dr Joy Kong started out as a psychiatrist and addiction doctor before becoming one of the leading voices in stem cell therapy. She’s UCLA-trained, triple board-certified, and the founder of Chara Health in Los Angeles and the American Academy of Integrative Cell Therapy, where she trains doctors around the world. Joy cuts through the hype and tells it straight about what stem cells can and can’t do, and why she thinks we might be the first generation to reverse ageing. If you’re curious about longevity and where medicine is heading, you’ll love this one.

Oct 6, 2026

This week I sat down with Chris Mater, and this one is a masterclass in building a career by backing yourself at every turn.

Sep 30, 2026

⚠️ Content Warning This episode contains open discussions about suicide and the loss of a family member. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready. If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or visit lifeline.org.au

Sep 22, 2026

⚠️ Content Warning This episode contains open discussions about pregnancy loss, miscarriage, anxiety, endometriosis and the suspicious death of a family member. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready. If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or visit lifeline.org.au

See all episodes →