Gene paniek

In this first episode, Philippe, a fear coach, begins a program with Veronica. She has had a terrifying fear of water since childhood; he wants to get her used to deep water and has arranged her first swimming lesson. Another fear he wants to address is arachnophobia; for this, Philippe has assembled a group of six people whom he wants to help overcome their fear of spiders in a few short and powerful steps. He guides the participants from an innocent lesson about spiders and careful contact with a house spider to a dark basement full of tarantulas.

Philippe takes on a double challenge: one for Peter and one for himself. Peter struggles with a fear of flying. Philippe wants to start small and takes him to a flight simulator, but for Peter, this proves to be quite a challenge. Philippe discovers that he too harbors a fear of flying. Before he can guide Peter further, he will first have to face his own fear. During the process with Veronica, it becomes painfully clear that her fear of water isn't just superficial, but deeply ingrained.

After consultation with the psychologists, Philippe decides to expose Veronica to her fear of water in a very firm manner. Peter gains more and more control over his fear of flying until he has to face his greatest fear and really let go of all control. Philippe wants to help Mies and Nel overcome their stage fright. The twins can sing beautifully, but not in front of an audience and certainly not in front of a jury. Philippe already sees a first logical step for them: participating in an audition.

In the traffic park, Philippe tests the driving skills of four participants who would rather let go of the wheel than hold it. He presents them with their ultimate goal: participating in a real race. But when he takes them out onto the public road afterwards, it becomes truly clear just how severe their fear of driving is. Mies and Nel are being groomed for the next step: singing for the first time in front of a large audience at the KV Mechelen football arena.

Philippe continues to get his racing team ready and takes them to Lommel for a skid course. Mies and Nel, the twins with stage fright, are confronted with their greatest fear: singing in front of a packed Afas Dome during the 'Night of The Proms'. Philippe wants to help Evi and Jorn overcome their fear of heights and rediscovers that he still struggles with fears.

Kaatje has had a phobic fear of cats her entire life. Philippe attempts to confront her with these animals for the first time in an enclosed space. Evi and Jorn have a fear of heights and try to master the skills of slacklining together with Philippe. Together with driving coach Sam Dejonghe, Philippe introduces his racing team to a real race car and a real circuit; a tough confrontation for some of them.

When Philippe wants to help Evi and Jorn overcome their fear of heights, mortal terror surfaces within him. He decides that he must tackle his own fear in order to continue the journey with them as a coach. Philippe has homework for Kaatje: he transforms her entire house into a cat oasis. And finally, the moment has arrived: the day of the race. Philippe and his racing team stand at the starting line of a six-hour race—the Junkyard Race in Assen—with a fear of driving.

Philippe is completing the final stages. For Kaatje, he has organized a photoshoot involving one of her biggest fears: a pack of cute kittens. As the ultimate goal, he is taking her to a cat show. In front of some 300 cats, Kaatje must prepare the cat Maximus for first place. Together with Evi and Jorn, Philippe is also facing his own 'finale'. He will attempt to overcome his own greatest fear: highlining at a height of 35 meters, right in the middle of the TT district in Hasselt.