Gratitude Through Hard Times

By Chris SchembraSociety & Culture Business Entrepreneurship Education Self-Improvement Relationships

Gratitude Through Hard Times episodes

August 07Janet Grondin : Reaching the High Ground
We often think of groundbreaking innovation in terms of technology, spreadsheets, and complex engineering. But what happens when humanity's most ambitious moonshots—literally reaching for the stars and returning to the moon—depend entirely on the subtle, daily interactions of human connection and moral courage?
In this powerful episode, Chris Schembra sits down with Janet Grondin, CEO of Stellar Solutions and former U.S. Air Force Colonel.
Janet shares her journey from a small town in Iowa to directing teams of top engineers and advisors on humanity’s most critical space and defense missions, including NASA's Artemis program. Together, they explore the tragedy that shaped her childhood, how to lead with moral courage through delayed gratification, why true leadership means helping every employee find their "dream job," and why human vision—not AI—will always be the ultimate driver of high-ground innovation.

10 Memorable Quotes
"You won't survive in our business if you don't work hard and have a solid ethical foundation." — Janet Grondin

"When you do see someone who could use a hand, reach out and take action. Don't walk by that problem." — Janet Grondin

"For you to operate maritime, terrestrial forces, really hold your nation secure, you do need the high ground of space." — Janet Grondin

"Processes don't build systems. Paper doesn't build systems... People build systems. People have visions." — Janet Grondin

"Very subtle, small human interactions can have outsized impact on the mission." — Janet Grondin

"If leadership is lonely, you’re doing it wrong." — Janet Grondin

"Mission success is paramount. People are paramount." — Janet Grondin

"The connection is through the question, and then you have to be ready for the answer because it's not always the answer you want." — Janet Grondin

"AI is not going to put those together and go, 'Hey, we should build a spaceship... to create diamonds and silicon.' Humans do that." — Janet Grondin

"The work is done by people. And without people, I don't care what you're building, you're not gonna build much without people." — Janet Grondin

10 Key Takeaways
The Ethical Foundation: High-stakes leadership requires an unshakeable ethical foundation and a commitment to leaving every environment better than you found it.

Taking Action over Bystander Mindset: Real leadership means taking immediate action when you spot someone in need or identify a flaw in a critical system.

The High Ground Advantage: Long-term security, communication, and economic innovation depend on securing and developing the "high ground" of low Earth orbit and lunar bases.

Humans Build Systems, Not Spreadsheets: Technology and processes are just tools; the human connection between designers, builders, and leaders is the true "secret sauce" of complex mission success.

Psychological Safety in Engineering: High-performing cultures require enough trust and moral courage for team members to raise flags when something isn't right without fear of dismissal.

The "Dream Job" Culture: Regularly asking employees "Are you in your dream job?" builds deep alignment and ensures the company evolves in the direction of its people.

Combating Productivity Paradoxes: Instead of letting efficiency gains get swallowed by routine administrative busywork, leaders must intentionally protect space for collaboration and connection.

Intentional Community Building: Distributed and remote teams require intentional, high-touch connection points, from monthly one-on-ones to biannual retreats and collaborative strategy sessions.

Human Vision vs. AI Execution: While AI excels at data sifting and routine tasks, original genius, cross-domain breakthroughs, and visionary courage remain uniquely human.

Redefining Impact and Boundaries: True growth comes from recognizing you are a small, vital part of something much bigger than yourself—and expanding your sights beyond terrestrial boundaries.
About Our Guest
Janet Grondin is the Chief Executive Officer of Stellar Solutions, Inc., a woman-owned aerospace engineering services firm and Malcolm Baldrige Award winner serving intelligence, defense, civil, commercial, and international customers. Janet’s career spans three decades across the U.S. Air Force—where she retired as a Colonel—Fortune 500 defense contractor Northrop Grumman, and now Stellar Solutions. Winner of the 2022 Women in Aerospace Leadership Award, she serves as Chair of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Space Division. Janet holds a B.S. magna cum laude in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and master’s degrees from AFIT, the Air War College, and the Air Command and Staff College. She resides in Reston, Virginia with her husband Pat. Learn more at stellarsolutions.com.
54 min
August 04Human Leadership with Paul Mersino
"Work-life balance isn't a thing... it's about work-life harmony." In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.
In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Paul Mersino, President and CEO of Butzel, breaks down why true leadership requires excellence, mentorship, and continuous improvement. From starting as a young student guided by a transformative professor to steering a historic law firm as it approaches its 175th anniversary, Paul shares key lessons on leading with heart, embracing work-life harmony, and surrounding yourself with a team that pushes you to aggregate daily marginal gains.

10 Memorable Quotes:
"If you could do everything just 1% better... and you aggregate up all of those little marginal gains, think of how much further you're going to be ahead."

"You are who you are when nobody is watching. And that's integrity."

"Iron sharpens iron, and steel sharpens steel."

"If people turned off cable news and social media and looked next door at their neighbors, they'd realize the world is actually a pretty good place."

"Work-life balance isn't a thing... it's about work-life harmony."

"Moving fast isn't necessarily a threat or too big of a risk—you either get it right fast or find out sooner so you can adjust."

"History's innovation is just history repeating itself looking different."

"You can be a zealous advocate and a zealous competitor and still do it professionally like a gentleman or a lady."

"Inspecting excellence is about focusing less on what's going wrong and elevating more of what's going right."

"Gratitude doesn't change your circumstances; it changes your capacity to carry them."
10 Key Takeaways:
The Life-Changing Power of Mentorship: How a dedicated professor founding a mock trial team sparked a passion that launched a multi-decade career in law.

Inspecting Excellence and Marginal Gains: Focusing on daily 1% improvements across all operations to create compounding, unstoppable progress over time.

The "PR Problem" of Human Kindness: Recognizing that real-world kindness hasn't declined—our perception of it has been distorted by negative media cycles.

Embracing Work-Life Harmony: Moving past the rigid trade-offs of "work-life balance" to build a synergistic lifestyle where professional passion and personal fulfillment energize each other.

Radical Candor and Psychological Safety: Cultivating a team culture so tight and trusting that colleagues can give direct, honest feedback without destroying relationships.

Combatting AI Isolation with Connection: Addressing employee anxiety around AI by intentionally using saved time for deeper mentorship, cross-functional collaboration, and human presence.

Respectful Dissonance and Tactical Empathy: Setting ego aside in high-stakes negotiations and trial advocacy to find common ground and convert adversaries into friends.

Honoring Legacy Through Shared History: Building firm culture by constantly communicating history, values, and traditions across generations and remote offices.

The 3 Pillars of Trustworthy Communication: Over-communicating openly, speaking candidly, and actively soliciting feedback to continuously grow.

Leading with Integrity: Embracing the mindset that true professional success is defined by how you act when no one is watching.

About our Guest: Paul M. Mersino is the President and CEO of Butzel, one of the oldest and most respected law firms in the United States, currently celebrating its 170th anniversary and approaching its 175th. Appointed to the CEO role in March 2023, he sits on the firm's Board of Directors and previously served as Chair of Butzel's Litigation Practice Department, overseeing the firm's commercial litigation attorneys and strategic growth.
A commercial litigator by trade with nearly two decades of experience, Paul handles complex commercial litigation and "bet-the-company" matters spanning contract disputes, trade secrets, automotive supplier disputes, construction, and First Amendment litigation. He is admitted to practice before every level of Michigan state court, multiple U.S. District and Circuit Courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States. In addition to advising and sitting on the boards of several startup companies to help them navigate early-stage legal needs, Paul serves as a Trustee of the Butzel Charitable Trust and sits on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Regional Chamber.
His leadership has earned him extensive recognition, including DBusiness magazine's Detroit 500, Crain's Detroit Business "Who's Who" and "40 Under 40," Michigan Lawyers Weekly's "Up and Coming Lawyers," a Detroit Business "30s in Their 30s" honoree, and a Michigan Super Lawyer. Paul holds a B.B.A. from Northwood University (2005) and earned his J.D. magna cum laude from Ave Maria School of Law (2008), where he served on Law Review and won a state moot court championship. Beyond his practice, he is deeply committed to community service, youth sports coaching, and his most cherished role as a dedicated husband and father.
42 min
July 25Colleen Joyce: Community as the New Competition
"I don't live well in the box because the box is not made for entrepreneurs." In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.
In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Colleen Joyce, CEO of Lawyer.com, breaks down why community is the new competition and how proactive resilience drives real growth. From starting in a green, part-time role to rising to CEO, Colleen shares key lessons from her mentor Gerry Gorman on leading with heart, leaning into an unstructured life, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to build something bigger than yourself.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"I don't live well in the box because the box is not made for entrepreneurs."

"In the world, a lot of luck matters."

"Community is the new competition."

"We suffer more in imagination than in reality."

"You can't connect the dots looking forward, but you can only connect the dots looking backwards."

"I lead with love, and it's kind of weird to say that in a business setting, but I truly care."

"I'd rather have a small piece of a big pie than a big piece of a small pie."

"There's no value in what's been said. There's only value in what's been unsaid."

"Wisdom can't just be taught. It must be earned by getting through hard times."

"Progress over perfection."

10 Key Takeaways:
Betting on the Non-Linear Path: How saying "yes" to a part-time opportunity without a traditional corporate roadmap opened the door to building an eight-figure powerhouse.

Inquisitive Empathy and Radical Candor: Balancing deep care for team members with the accountability needed to deliver direct, honest performance feedback.

Competition as Collaboration: Embracing aspirational competitors, learning from industry adversaries, and bringing competing voices together to elevate the entire ecosystem.

The "Give Maxing" Philosophy: Countering isolation and hardship by gathering people, asking thoughtful questions, and actively extending gratitude.

The Trap of Jevons Paradox: Recognizing that time saved by AI tools often gets swallowed by routine busyness unless leaders intentionally reallocate it toward human connection.

Unlocking Untapped Potential: Pushing past comfortable boundaries to help team members tap into their unsaid thoughts and internal genius.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Accepting that leading through rapid industry changes requires living in the present while continuously learning as technology evolves.

Surrendering Control to Foster Growth: Giving up micro-management to allow team members the freedom to make mistakes, learn, and step into leadership roles.

The Power of Intentional Disconnection: Practicing small daily habits—like stepping away from digital devices—to remain fully present for family and community.

Abundance Mindset vs. Scarcity: Rejecting the idea that success is a zero-sum game, choosing instead to build partnerships that lift all participants faster.
About our Guest:
Colleen Joyce is the CEO of Lawyer.com, the #1 U.S. lawyer matching service and online legal directory. Over the past decade, she has helped transform Lawyer.com from a simple concept into an eight-figure legal powerhouse, growing the company's revenue by more than 20% in 2024 alone. She rose to the CEO seat by way of Senior Vice President of Lawyer Services and then President, and today leads the strategy, technology, and partnerships that connect consumers with qualified attorneys across every practice area and jurisdiction in the country.
Colleen is also the Co-Founder of the Lawyer Growth Summit, a national conference that brings attorneys, legal technologists, and industry thought leaders together to share the strategies driving real growth in modern law firms. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, mentor, and podcast host, and her leadership has been featured in Authority Magazine's "Female Disruptors" and "Leading with Heart" series and recognized by Marquis Who's Who. Before her legal-industry career, she served as Director of Marketing and Publicity at PopStar.com (a subsidiary of World Media Group), producing celebrity content for a global audience and covering red carpets, press junkets, and awards shows.
Colleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Illinois, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and describes herself first and foremost as a proud mama. Her guiding mantra: progress over perfection.
41 min
July 20Tyler Dickerhoof: The Things We Hide
Philosophical Hook
We often treat professional drive, relentless intensity, and self-reliance as badges of honor. But what happens when our greatest leadership strengths are actually walls we built to hide our deepest pain?
In this powerful episode, Chris Schembra sits down with leadership coach and author Tyler Dickerhoof to discuss his new book, The Things We Hide. Tyler opens up about the tragic childhood loss of his younger brother, Joel, and how that single event led him to build a 25-year defensive wall of extreme intensity. Together, they explore how to break through the four walls of insecurity—intensity, inactivity, insensitivity, and isolation—to transition from a defensive, lonely "bulldozer" into a truly connected, impact-driven leader.

10 Memorable Quotes
"My brother had died and it was an accident. I was fourteen and Joel was three." — Tyler Dickerhoof

"Where we get in trouble is when we start to depict other people's interpretation of value as our own. And that's where everything goes awry." — Tyler Dickerhoof

"I don't tell that story because I don't think it has value. I didn't understand that that manifestation of hiding those things was creating a barrier in my ability to connect." — Tyler Dickerhoof

"Instead of it showing up at the bottom of a bottle or drugs... it was my intensity." — Tyler Dickerhoof

"Intensity is a bulldozer. A bulldozer will clear a path, but it's going to leave carnage. And in a human sense, that carnage is relationships." — Tyler Dickerhoof

"If you want to level some land, great, but I'm not gonna go hang out with you... because I was always on to the next thing." — Tyler Dickerhoof

"If leadership is lonely, you’re doing it wrong." — Tyler Dickerhoof

"I was marooned on an island because I thought I had to do it all... But I was the one that held the keys to the lifeboat." — Tyler Dickerhoof

"When we're looking in the mirror, it looks real good. But then someone sits across from us and says, 'Hey, your face is flipped around the other way.'" — Tyler Dickerhoof

"Too often we think impact is monumental... Joel was thirty-four months old when he died. His life made an impact." — Tyler Dickerhoof

10 Key Takeaways
The Shield of Intensity: Extreme drive and work ethic can often be subconscious survival mechanisms built to mask grief, trauma, or insecurity.

The "Bulldozer" Trap: While intensity clears paths and gets things done in business, it leaves a trail of damaged relationships if left unchecked.

The Valuation Crisis: Real security begins when you stop adopting external definitions of success and start grounding yourself in your intrinsic value.

The Four Walls of Insecurity: Leaders protect themselves through four distinct defensive mechanisms: Intensity, Inactivity, Insensitivity, and Isolation.

The Illusion of Lonely Leadership: Loneliness at the top is not an inevitable byproduct of leadership; it is a self-imposed prison created by our unwillingness to be vulnerable.

Windows vs. Mirrors: Leading effectively requires looking through a "window" to see how your actions affect others, rather than just looking in a "mirror" of your own intentions.

Tech-Enabled Isolation: In the age of AI, we must be careful not to use productivity tools to further isolate ourselves, but rather to buy back our time for genuine human connection.

The Power of the Round Table: High-level growth happens in layers when you surround yourself with a diverse group of peers who can pressure-test your perspectives.

The 5 R's of Mindset: Maintaining a healthy leadership attitude requires a daily cycle of Routine, Reset, Remember (or Not), Realistic alignment, and constant Repetition.

Redefining Impact: True, lasting impact isn't measured by scale or longevity, but by the depth of meaning we bring to the lives of those we touch.
About Our Guest
Tyler Dickerhoof is a keynote speaker, leadership coach, and host of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show. As the founder of Impact Driven Leader and developer of the Awaken the Leader Within framework, he helps executives and entrepreneurs grow in influence without losing their humanity. Tracing his leadership roots back to his agricultural upbringing, Tyler holds a degree from Cornell University and is based in Spokane, Washington. Learn more at tylerdickerhoof.com.
1 hr 5 min
July 08Cris Burnam: Curiosity Maxing
"In business, you're either moving forward or you're going backward. There's no treading water." This core philosophy, passed down from serial-entrepreneur parents, has driven Chris Burnham and his family to transform a single storage location into a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise. Yet, despite overseeing vast international real estate holdings, the heartbeat of the company remains rooted in humor, local family values, and an endless appetite for innovation.
In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down with Chris Burnham, President of StorageMart, to discuss the human foundation behind exponential growth. Burnham reflects on his early career moves—from studying Japanese business dynamics in 1980s Tokyo to walking away from corporate commodity trading—and shares how embracing curiosity, family unity through high-stakes deals, and a signature dose of wit helped shape brands like Manhattan Mini Storage. Together, they explore what it takes to navigate business setbacks, empower the next generation, and raise true "Renaissance men" in a rapidly changing world.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"In business, you're either moving forward or you're going backward. There's no treading water."

"I realized that I had to do things for myself, and that maybe climbing the corporate ladder was not the career path for me."

"Ganbatte means go get it... attack, charge."

"If you ask me what one of my deepest fears are, it's retirement 'cause I'm not sure I can handle that."

"That feeling that you wake up in the morning and you can hardly wait to get to work—that's what keeps me going."

"We got on the airplane... and as I was leaving, I got a phone call: 'Deal's off.' We stopped off at a gas station, bought a 12-pack, and drank it on the way home, strategizing about what comes next."

"Laughter is one of the most essential parts of life... I try to find humor in everything."

"I don't have to invent anything. I just have to innovate what's there and make it the best it can be."

"I always go back to curiosity, 'cause that tells me that it's somebody who knows how to learn."

"I wanted them to be able to fight a battle on the front line, come home and write a sonnet, paint a picture, or climb a mountain."
10 Key Takeaways:
The Dreamer and the Realist Dynamic: How balancing big-picture curiosity with grounded realism creates the ideal environment for testing and executing ideas.

No Treading Water: Why staying static in business or personal life eventually leads to decline, and why navigating obstacles requires constant forward motion.

The 'Ganbatte' Mindset: Channeling the Japanese ethos of active drive and fierce determination when confronting major career turning points.

The Power of Family Wingmen: Relying on familial trust and unity during high-stakes business reversals rather than retreating into isolation.

Cheeky Brand Differentiation: How turning a dry, functional product into a memorable experience through bold, satirical local advertising builds massive brand equity.

Innovation Over Invention: Recognizing that long-term enterprise growth often comes from refining and elevating existing models rather than starting from scratch.

Curiosity Maxing as a Core Skill: Framing critical thinking, awareness, and reverse-engineering as essential human traits in an automated economy.

Proactive Resilience: Developing the mental agility and endurance needed to bounce back quickly when major deals fall through at the eleventh hour.

Wandering and Competitive Research: Understanding that true market intelligence comes from physically stepping into customer experiences and actively listening.

Raising Renaissance Leaders: Fostering multi-faceted capability in the next generation—combining hard work, intellectual depth, and artistic appreciation.
About Our Guest:
Chris Burnham is the President of StorageMart, the world’s largest privately and family-owned self-storage company. Over a 40-year family legacy in the self-storage industry, Burnham and his family have scaled the business from a single location to over 250 properties worldwide, overseeing more than $8 billion in real estate transactions. Known for preserving local, values-driven leadership while scaling exponentially, StorageMart’s footprint includes iconic regional brands such as New York City’s Manhattan Mini Storage.
A former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year recipient, Chris studied agricultural economics and spent his early academic years studying Japanese business in Japan before working as a commodity trader at Cargill. He later rejoined his family business to help lead its global expansion. Dedicated to mentorship, customer satisfaction, and continuous innovation, Chris lives and works alongside multiple generations of the Burnham family.
50 min
July 02Samantha Wolfson: The Awkward Pause
"Those who can't do are good hype men for others." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.
In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris Schembra explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, proactive resilience, and the universal language that unites us. Samantha Wolfson shares insights from her personal journey, including navigating a life-changing career evolution since moving to Amsterdam in 2017, executing intense top-tier tech launches at Wieden+Kennedy, and the long road to paying forward the lessons of grit and character learned from her father, Steven. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for others, the power of surrounding ourselves with people who challenge us, and how leaning into creative outlets outside the boardroom can fundamentally alter our perspectives.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"He is the reason I have become a pit bull in some areas and can be very soft in others because I see that is how he can both engage and react to the people around him."

"Never did I think that could actually become such a quintessential part of my career."

"I want every woman that's coming to not know each other. Just bring a bottle of wine and I will cook the food."

"You don't have to trade a life that looks good on paper for a good life around the dinner table. It's an and, not or."

"The moment you stop is when you'll fall into the trap of thinking you can do it all by yourself."

"Growth starts at those points of like, 'Ooh, I don't know how I feel about that.'"

"Who's at the table is as important as who's not at the table."

"There's no value in what's been said. There's only value in what's being unsaid."

"Community is the hardest thing to build because there is, for the most part, not crazy financial gain behind it."

"Hard work breeds luck, and I definitely live by that."
10 Key Takeaways:
The Test of Truth Tellers: Why surrounding yourself with an executive team and community that pressure-tests your ideas is infinitely better than building an inner circle of enablers.

Six is the Gate: Understanding the tactical benefit of keeping meetings and gatherings to exactly six women so that everyone has an active voice, safety, and a real seat at the table.

The Transition from Analog to Digital: How navigating high-intensity tech rollouts like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses exposed the deep human exhaustion behind the corporate digital push.

Dismantling Structural Silos: Breaking away from transactional networking by designing spaces where professionals connect over shared human truths rather than industry metrics.

The "Three-Letter Word" Framework: Cultivating deep conversation by refusing to counter someone's story with your own anecdote, choosing instead to simply ask "why?" to uncover what is unsaid.

Grit at the Dinner Table: Reclaiming the narrative of hard work by looking to foundational role models, including Steven Wolfson's lessons on listening, character formation, and absolute abundance.

The Tyranny of the OR vs. The Genius of the AND: Learning that world-class leadership requires balancing binary traits, integrating logical business goals with emotional human connections.

Failing Fast with Guidance: Why moving forward through a community's hard times and "imperfect dinners" under strong internal resolve is the only real vehicle for long-term relational success.

The Core Value of Peer Review: Recognizing that even in an automated, AI-driven environment, verified human connection and peer-reviewed credibility remain irreplaceable.

Mudita and Pro-Social Gratitude: Shifting away from keeping score to actively finding joy in the achievements of others, which ultimately drives collective organizational momentum.
About our Guest:
Samantha (Sam) Wolfson is the founder of & the Table, a global dinner platform that brings ambitious women together around a shared meal. The platform operates on a distinct format: six women who have never met, three courses, one host-chosen theme, and a strict rule that everyone shows up completely alone. What began in 2022 as just five open spots at her Amsterdam apartment quickly went viral, drawing more than 500 applications in its very first open round. Today, & the Table has built a robust global presence, empowering more than 75 hosts in over 10 countries, spanning from Nigeria to Spain to Hungary.
A Philadelphia native, Sam studied Media, Culture, and Communications at New York University before launching into the music industry, where she spent years on the road producing branded sponsorships for major music festivals across Mexico, Australia, and beyond as an account manager at LiveStyle, Inc. After falling for Amsterdam during a work trip, she relocated there permanently in 2017 and transitioned into advertising. She served as an Account Director at world-class agencies Wieden + Kennedy and TBWA\NEBOKO, leading global campaigns for heavyweights like Airbnb, Samsung, Ray-Ban, and Adidas.
Before scaling & the Table into a full platform, she honed the concept as "Sam's Dinners"—her personal hosting practice designed to meet other women and build deep connections in a new city. Outside of her dinner platform, Sam is also the co-founder of the card game WHAT ARE THE ODDS, and frequently shares her insights as a speaker at events like the Self-Made Summit in the Netherlands. She currently lives in west Amsterdam with her partner and her dog.
1 hr 13 min
June 29Phillip Greer: The Underdog Approach to Life
"The best man on the floor is actually a woman." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.
In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Philip Greer explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, proactive resilience, and the universal language that unites us. Philip shares insights from his personal journey, including navigating a life-changing career evolution since joining the firm in 2005 as a software engineer, building the company's first content management system, and the long road to paying forward the lessons of grit learned from his mother, Sherry. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for others, the power of surrounding ourselves with people who challenge us, and how leaning into creative outlets outside the boardroom can fundamentally alter our perspectives.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"There was no position that was beneath her, but also no position was the ceiling."

"Sometimes they say no because systems are built that way, but that doesn't mean the answer is no."

"The bookkeeping of benefits is simple. It's all an expenditure. We give for the sake of giving. We do not keep score."

"I have so much belief that if we keep saying the bad ones, the good ones will come to the top."

"The more you congratulate others, the more they'll end up congratulating you."

"The best man is a woman, and it's her right there."

"Limitations are what created limitless belief."

"I want to be able to solve problems that people say can't be solved."

"We must step out of the Tyranny of the or and step into the genius of the and."

"Just go out there and congratulate some people today."
10 Key Takeaways:
The Test of Truth Tellers: Why surrounding yourself with an executive team and community that pressure-tests your ideas is infinitely better than building an inner circle of enablers.

Eight is the Gate: Understanding the tactical benefit of keeping meetings and task forces to eight people or less so that everyone has an active voice and a seat at the table.

The Transition from Analog to Digital: How leveraging a software engineering background allowed Philip to modernize a global data platform away from fax machines and phone calls.

Dismantling Structural Silos: The strict rule that task forces must pull from multiple departments—such as research, engineering, sales, and finance—to achieve true cross-pollination.

The "Tuesday Talks" Framework: Cultivating a transparent culture through monthly, small-group touchpoints that openly address what's working, what's failing, and high-level strategy.

Grit on the Factory Floor: Reclaiming the narrative of hard work by looking to foundational role models, including Philip's mother breaking barriers in military transit and heavy manufacturing.

The Tyranny of the OR vs. The Genius of the AND: Learning that world-class leadership requires balancing binary traits, integrating logical business goals with emotional human connections.

Failing Fast with Guidance: Why moving forward and making quick mistakes under strong mentorship is a better vehicle for success than remaining frozen by the fear of limits.

The Core Value of Peer Review: Recognizing that even in an automated, AI-driven environment, verified human connection and peer-reviewed credibility remain irreplaceable.

Mudita and Pro-Social Gratitude: Shifting away from keeping score to actively finding joy in the achievements of others, which ultimately drives collective organizational momentum.
About our Guest:
Phillip Greer is the CEO of Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review resource for top talent in the legal profession. He has driven the company's continual evolution since joining in 2005, originally as a software engineer. By tapping into his engineering background, he built the company's first content management system and led the transition, in his own words, "from analog to digital." He was named President in 2013 and CEO in 2018.
Under Phil's leadership, Best Lawyers has solidified its reputation as a market leader and innovator, processing millions of peer-review votes each year and powering rankings that are syndicated by partner publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Handelsblatt in Germany, and the Australian Financial Review. He has led international expansion strategies that bring Best Lawyers recognition to attorneys and firms in markets including the United States, Canada, Australia, Spain, and Germany.
Phil is a graduate of Augusta University and is based in North Augusta, South Carolina. A lifelong musician, he writes and performs music with his family (most recently with his daughter) and is a frequent supporter of his son's musical theater and dance productions. His perspective on leadership and disruption has been featured in Authority Magazine's "Meet The Disruptors" series and on Gina Rubel's "On Record PR" podcast, where his episode was the #1 downloaded of 2023.
50 min
June 25Chris Caldwell: The Inconvenient Path of Gratitude
"At the end of the day, that's what we do. I mean, that's our job... we're professional helpers." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.
In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris Caldwell explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, healing, and the unexpected ways community anchors our lives. Chris shares insights from his personal journey, including navigating his rise from a part-time teller to the CEO of a historic community bank, the critical behind-the-scenes support of his wife Bettie, and his deep-seated commitment to paying forward success through active volunteerism. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for others during challenging times, the power of people who challenge us, and how a chance commitment to local service can bring an entire community to life.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"If there’s an opportunity to be part of a conversation about gratitude... sign me up. I’m all for it."

"When you understand that your job is to do more than just take a deposit to make a loan—it is to be an integral part of our community—that’s when we excel our best."

"At the end of the day, that’s what we do. I mean, that’s our job... we’re professional helpers."

"I can’t force others, I can’t change others, but I can have the courage to change how I show up, and the wisdom to know the difference."

"If you don't take care of your customers, someone else will."

"There are people out there that are willing to give up their time, the most expensive thing we have, and volunteer."

"She is my biggest cheerleader. I wouldn't be where I am today without her support."

"We want to make sure that we're there for them through the good times and the bad times."

"Community is in our name, so we better do it right."

"Go thank someone in your life, but do it the inconvenient way. Sit down and write a letter rather than just clicking a button to sending a gift card."
10 Key Takeaways:
The Character Test of Leadership: Why surrounding yourself with people who challenge you and say the hard things is infinitely better than building an inner circle of enablers.

The Evolution of a Community Banker: Understanding the stark reality of early career growth, where starting as a part-time teller teaches you the foundational value of frontline human interactions.

The Power of Behind-the-Scenes Support: Recognizing the profound impact of spouses and loved ones whose quiet, proactive baseline contributions keep leaders grounded and supported.

Active Volunteerism vs. Writing a Check: Dealing with the heart-centered shift from merely donating money to physically getting out into the field, proving that true community connection requires active presence.

The Value of Leading by Example: Processing the realization that you cannot force a charitable mindset onto others; instead, you must consistently model the behavior to inspire your team.

Balancing the Old and the New: Reclaiming the narrative around technological advancement by ensuring digital innovation (like AI) never replaces the human desire to "see and be seen" by someone you trust.

Sympathy vs. Presence: Learning that showing up for a community in crisis requires skipping transactional interactions and simply sitting with people to understand their immediate needs.

Bypassing the Corporate Script: A look at how unexpected, vulnerable bonds form when leaders choose to skip fiscal policy talk and instead lean directly into conversations about human gratitude.

The Inconvenient Path of Gratitude: How breaking past personal convenience to write a handwritten letter rather than sending a digital gift card can fundamentally alter the energy of a relationship.

The Micro-Intervention of Trust: How breaking past systemic corporate barriers to prioritize local relationships allows a business to become a true sanctuary for the people it serves.
About our Guest:
Growing up with a deep appreciation for local connection shaped the foundation of Chris Caldwell's work ethic and sense of purpose. As a dedicated leader in the banking industry with over 30 years of experience, he learned early the value of hard work, resilience, and the tradition of contributing to what you build together. Those early experiences—alongside holding advanced degrees in history from Manchester and Ohio Universities and an MBA from Anderson University—instilled in him a deep appreciation for perseverance, lifelong learning, and creating a meaningful life rooted in community.
After entering the financial workforce, Chris discovered a lasting passion for connecting with people within the community banking space across Indiana and Vermont. What began as an early career in commercial banking and business consulting evolved into a fulfilling leadership path, culminating in his role as President and CEO of Community Bancorp and Community National Bank. Dedicated to being both a steward and advocate for the regions he serves, Chris actively believes relationships are at the heart of meaningful work. Outside of his career, he stays involved in his community by serving on the boards of the Green Mountain United Way and Manchester University, championing a culture of gratitude as a core leadership practice, and enjoying life in Newport, Vermont, with his wife Bettie.
53 min
June 25Sandra Lopez: Delulu Soul Searching
"You are always a student, never a master." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.

In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Sandra Lopez explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, healing, and the unexpected ways we tune back into our personal truths. Sandra shares insights from her personal journey, including navigating a high-stakes executive career at tech giants like Intel, Adobe, and Microsoft, confronting a pivotal 360-feedback review that labeled her a "robot," and utilizing the forced pause of the COVID-19 pandemic to embark on a radical road of self-discovery through Kabbalah. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for our teams with deep empathy, the power of using technology as a contrarian force, and how choosing a messy, non-traditional path allows leaders to trade superficial ego validation for lasting, soul-led growth.

10 Memorable Quotes:
"Business is business, and you keep your personal life separate."

"Until, you know, maybe two years into, uh, my management, I got my 360 feedback, and, feedback is a gift."

"One of my team members said, 'I don't know Sandra. She seems to be like a robot.'"

"A good leader delivers results, but how do you become a great leader? And the great leader is the understanding that we are all humans."

"The greatest gift that I get isn't my bonus. It's the little emails that I get..."

"I'm 53 and I would say most of my lifespan, was probably giving gratitude very superficially."

"Am I doing this for my ego or am I doing this for my soul? And that's a very hard transition actually."

"The soul responds to the soul. So when, if you're starting your own business and you really focus on what's the soul of the company... Humans are gonna respond to that."

"The moments, the hardest moments of my life was when I saw exponential growth."

"Be delusionally... Be delusional about finding your soul. How's that? DeLulo"
10 Key Takeaways:
The Character Test of Feedback: Why embracing uncomfortable 360-degree reviews and extracting truth from critical peer assessments is infinitely better than building an inner circle of enablers.

Good vs. Great Leadership: Understanding the stark reality of corporate metrics, where delivering OKRs only makes you a good leader, while a great leader prioritizes the unscalable human-to-human capacity.

The Hidden Debt of the Ego: Recognizing the profound impact of modern business systems and digital platforms like LinkedIn, which function as machines engineered to feed external images rather than internal truths.

The Evolving Rules of Tech: Dealing with the modern reality of AI engagement, choosing to use technology strictly as a contrarian tool to challenge strategic blind spots rather than a superficial echo chamber to validate existing bias.

The Value of Trailing Humans: Processing the bittersweet realization that while tools can assist operations, chatbots lack a conscience, meaning true personal breakthroughs require stepping away from screens to converse with a real human being.

Remembering COVID's Gift: Reclaiming the narrative around global and personal hardships by extending genuine gratitude to a crisis that forced a necessary internal pause and deep ancestral self-discovery.

Systemic vs. Soul Presence: Learning that showing up authentically requires skipping rigid, traditional expectations of how leaders "should" live or format their personal partnerships and spaces.

Sitting in the SAVERS Routine: A look at how intentional daily habits form resilience, utilizing quiet mornings dedicated to silence, gratitude, visualization, exercise, contrarian reading, and scribing.

Certainty and Intuition: How dialing into your core intuition prompts people to pause, providing an unshakeable confidence that overrides logical fears when making massive career pivots.

The Micro-Intervention of the Zag: How breaking past a commoditized, fast-paced, and highly automated corporate landscape to bring the purposeful messiness of the soul back into business is the ultimate competitive advantage.
About our Guest:
Growing up with a relentless work ethic shaped the foundation of Sandra Lopez's purpose-driven approach to leadership. Guided by the personal philosophy that "you are always a student, never a master," she learned early that true wisdom requires a lifelong commitment to unlearning, learning, and continuously putting one foot in front of the other, no matter how grueling the path becomes. Raised to appreciate the delicate balance between high-stakes profit metrics and a deep responsibility to give back, those early values instilled in her a lasting dedication to community advocacy, representation, and leading with radical transparency.
After entering the technology workforce, Sandra discovered a deep passion for driving corporate transformation at an elite level, spending over twenty years holding executive and leadership roles at iconic global brands including Intel, Adobe, and serving as the former CMO of Microsoft Advertising. What began as a traditional path focused on hard business outcomes evolved into a fulfilling calling as the CEO of Ambi Ventures, where she partners with ambitious businesses to provide elite fractional CMO services, advisory expertise, and investments. Dedicated to being an active advocate for Latina executives across America and serving as a co-chair for the World Economic Forum's AR/VR Model Commission, Sandra believes that integrating empathy and humanity into corporate spaces is at the heart of meaningful growth. Outside of her advisory career, she stays actively involved in exploring diverse spiritual and mindfulness practices like Kabbalah, prioritizing intentional morning routines, and inspiring the next generation of leaders to look past the ego to connect deeply with their soul's true purpose.
44 min
May 28Abigail Beach: Angel Numbers
"So many things about our life are numbers." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.
In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Abigail Beach explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, healing, and the unexpected ways numbers anchor our lives. Abigail shares insights from her personal journey, including navigating a life-threatening placental abruption at age 22, the heartbreaking loss of her daughter Rayleigh, and the long road to paying forward the anonymous blood transfusions that saved her life. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for others during grief, the power of people who challenge us, and how a chance moment sharing "angel numbers" at a housing innovation conference brought an entire auditorium to life.
10 Memorable Quotes:
"I thought to myself, I can't say that I'm true to myself if I don't take this opportunity and run with it."

"She said the things that I didn't wanna hear."

"You don't wanna be in a room surrounded by a bunch of yes people."

"The world needs more truth tellers, and sometimes the truth hurts."

"So many things about our life are numbers."

"Had it not been from them, or for them, I would've died."

"There are people out there that are willing to give up their time, the most expensive thing we have, and volunteer."

"It was sad that we had to bond over such a horrific incident, but it was nice to know I wasn't alone."

"This is terrible, but I'm gonna sit in your grief with you."

"The last thing we wanna do is be pitied. We just wanna be able to talk about our kid."
10 Key Takeaways:
The Character Test of Ambers: Why surrounding yourself with people who challenge you and say the hard things is infinitely better than building a leadership team or inner circle of enablers.

Eight is the Gate: Understanding the stark reality of critical health metrics, where dropping past a specific threshold means fighting a silent battle to survive.

The Hidden Debt of 11 Transfusions: Recognizing the profound impact of anonymous blood, platelet, and fibrin donors whose proactive community contributions keep strangers alive.

The Evolving Rules of Giving: Dealing with the heartbreak of a rare medical deficiency that temporarily blocked paying a life-saving gift forward until industry donation guidelines shifted.

The Value of Trailing Volunteers: Processing the bittersweet realization that sometimes local giving organizations are entirely booked and busy, proving the baseline goodness of local communities.

Remembering Rayleigh: Reclaiming the narrative around infant loss by keeping her alive through favorite family stories, including her reactions to Irish dancers in utero.

Sympathy vs. Presence: Learning that showing up for a grieving parent requires skipping heavy looks of pity and simply giving them space to discuss their child openly.

Sitting in the Grief: A look at how unexpected bonds form, such as crying with a local veterinarian during a standard animal wellness checkup over shared maternal loss.

Angel Numbers and Synchronicity: How arbitrary moments on a clock or unexpected digital encounters prompt people to pause and realign their daily outlook.

The Micro-Intervention of Yes: How breaking past personal discomfort to share vulnerable personal histories can fundamentally alter the energy of a room.
About our Guest:
Growing up in a farming community shaped the foundation of Abigail Beach's work ethic and sense of purpose. As the daughter of a third-generation fruit farmer — and now married to a third-generation farmer myself — she learned early the value of hard work, resilience, and the family tradition of contributing to what you build together. Raised alongside three sisters by parents who never questioned their ability to get the job done, those early experiences instilled in her a deep appreciation for perseverance, family, and creating a meaningful life rooted in community.
After entering the workforce through a traditional 9-to-5 role, Abigail discovered a lasting passion for connecting with people within the multifamily industry. What began in leasing and property management evolved into a fulfilling career in marketing, where she currently focuses on digital marketing, customer service, and building authentic human connections. Dedicated to being both a steward and advocate for the communities she serves, Abigail believes relationships are at the heart of meaningful work. Outside of her career, she stays actively involved in her community by volunteering with the local little league, enjoying the outdoors with her family, and raising children to see barriers as challenges they have every capacity to overcome.
43 min

About Gratitude Through Hard Times

From the publisher's feed

Chris Schembra is a dinner host, question asker, and facilitator. He's a columnist at Rolling Stone magazine, USA Today calls him their "Gratitude Guru" and he's spent the last nine years traveling around the world helping people connect in meaningful ways.