My Website - http://iamlaurenrose.com
My Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laurenr_rose
My Book - https://www.amazon.com.au/Here-You-Are-Courageous-Relationship/dp/1401994415
In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I’m joined by Flo Hohenleitner, who spent years climbing the corporate ladder after moving to Malta a decade ago, eventually stepping into leadership roles—while privately battling severe anxiety. A breaking point came in New York, where a major panic attack pushed him to make a life-changing choice: to face his anxiety head-on. That decision led him to Bali, where he immersed himself in mindfulness, wellness, and connection-based practices.
Today, he’s an event organiser and the host of Grow with the Flo, a podcast exploring how to grow with more presence, openness, and intention. Flo opens up about his 10-year journey with anxiety—particularly toilet anxiety and panic—and the ways it shaped his daily life, relationships, and ability to travel. From worrying about using bathrooms while apartment hunting with his girlfriend, to panic attacks in taxis, restaurants, and even while abroad, his story is both raw and deeply relatable.
We dive into:
How anxiety can intensify over time, and what it looks like when it begins to dominate everyday life.
The turning point when a panic attack in New York forced Flo to confront his fears, eventually leading him to build a new life in Bali.
The complicated impact of toilet anxiety—from romantic relationships to the constant fear of being an “inconvenience” to others.
The importance of vulnerability, openness, and self-compassion in managing anxiety and connecting with others.
Practical ways Flo manages his anxiety today: mindfulness, movement, focusing on the present, and speaking openly about his experiences.
Flo’s story is a reminder that even when life looks “successful” on the outside, it’s possible to be overwhelmed on the inside—and that both truths can exist at once. His journey shows the power of hitting rock bottom, choosing presence over fear, and learning to live with anxiety rather than against it. You can find Flo on instagram https://www.instagram.com/grow.with_the.flo/ YouTube @GrowWithTheFloPodcast and Spotify
If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com. I would love to have you!
For all enquiries, please email me at "hello@iamlaurenrose.com"
If you are struggling with an anxiety disorder, PLEASE don't be afraid to seek help. You can get help RIGHT NOW from Beyond Blue - call 1300 22 4636, or visit https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support?&gclid=CjwKEAjwkPS6BRD2ioKR7K245jASJAD1ZqHOKpibw-KeAuRr2anqlMlyC8Kg0qn04AeBkubgTE1xhBoCN0Xw_wcB
