Gratitude Through Hard Times

Episode Summary

In this episode, Chris Schembra sits down with Jessica Weiss to unpack a radical but practical idea: happiness at work isn’t something you wait for in a distant future, it’s something you actively create, even in imperfect conditions. Drawing from Jessica’s book Happiness Works, the conversation reframes happiness not as a fleeting mood or a vague “choice,” but as a set of tangible, science-backed tools anyone can use right now. They explore why the single most powerful first step toward happiness is simply finding a friend at work, how resilience is a muscle built through small, confidence-building decisions, and why “good enough” choices often lead to more satisfaction than endless optimization. Together, they dismantle common myths about happiness, connect gratitude and joy to long-term resilience, and show how depersonalizing failure and using feedback as data can transform setbacks into progress. The episode culminates in Jessica’s five-part framework—connection, resilience, optimism, trust, and progress—offered not as a rigid sequence, but as a buffet of tools listeners can draw from as needed. At a moment defined by burnout, uncertainty, and rapid change, this conversation makes a compelling case that happiness isn’t fluffy or naïve; it’s a strategic advantage for individuals, teams, and organizations alike.

10 Quotes

1. “Happiness isn’t something you wait for in the future; it’s something you build, even in imperfect conditions.”
    
2. “The fastest way to improve your happiness at work is shockingly simple: find a friend.”
    
3. “Happiness is not the absence of unhappiness; it’s having tools you can rely on when things get hard.”
    
4. “Resilience isn’t a personality trait. It’s a muscle, and you build it through small decisions.”
    
5. “Good enough decisions often create more happiness than perfect ones that take forever.”
    
6. “Happiness isn’t a choice. It’s strategies, tactics, and habits you practice every day.”
    
7. “Failure is inevitable. The real skill is learning how to depersonalize it and extract the lesson.”
    
8. “Trust is the foundation of feedback—if you don’t trust the source, the message won’t land.”
    
9. “Gratitude and joy aren’t just reflections; they’re mindset-shifting tools that build resilience.”
    
10. “You don’t need to change your entire life to be happier—small, consistent actions change the trajectory.”
     

10 Takeways

1. Happiness is actionable.
   It’s not a vague feeling or personality trait—it’s built through repeatable tools and behaviors.
    
2. Connection comes first.
   Having even one genuine friend at work dramatically improves engagement, wellbeing, and performance.
    
3. Resilience is built in micro-moments.
   Small, quick decisions create confidence and momentum over time.
    
4. Perfection kills happiness.
   “Maximizers” suffer more than “satisficers.” Aim for progress, not perfection.
    
5. Tools beat willpower.
   Relying on “choosing happiness” isn’t sustainable. Systems and habits are.
    
6. Gratitude trains the brain.
   Practices like joy journaling rewire attention toward presence, meaning, and resilience.
    
7. Depersonalizing failure is a superpower.
   Treat setbacks as data, not identity, to grow faster and suffer less.
    
8. Trust enables honest feedback.
   Without psychological safety and trust, feedback becomes noise or threat.
    
9. Progress fuels motivation.
   Ending the day knowing you moved something forward is essential to long-term happiness.
    
10. Happiness scales across life stages.
    From basic security to meaning and purpose, happiness tools apply at every level of Maslow’s hierarchy.

In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris Schembra sits down with Brent Kenneway, National Group VP of Sales at UKG, for a conversation about the kind of relationships that aren’t transactional, the kind that actually nourish the soul. 

Brent opens with the gratitude question and doesn’t hesitate: he gives credit to his wife, Jenny, the person he says made his life and career possible by “holding down the fort” while he built his leadership path. From there, the conversation expands into parenting, identity, and leadership, especially Brent’s lived experience of managing “multiple personalities” at home with four kids and at work with diverse teams. The thread that ties it together is intentionality: Brent wants to be more present when he comes home, more human at work, and more consistent about building culture one interaction at a time.

Chris and Brent then go deep on a core leadership shift: moving from blame to radical accountability, and from problem-obsession to solution-finding. They talk about debriefing as a life skill (“What went well? What could have gone better? What will we do differently next time?”), and they challenge the cultural reflex to fix what’s wrong without first helping what’s already right go more right. Brent adds a key leadership balance: culture without systems breaks, and systems without culture underperform, you need both.

Finally, they tackle the future: AI, change, and uncertainty. Brent argues for People-First AI—AI as augmentation, not replacement, using the story of the handheld calculator as a reminder that tools can free humans to do more meaningful work. The takeaway is clear: the companies (and families) that win won’t be the ones that move fastest alone; they’ll be the ones who pair speed with depth—building trust, presence, and gratitude at scale.

1. Gratitude isn’t a “soft” thing—it’s a performance tool for leadership, retention, and resilience in hard moments.
    
2. Give credit to the people behind your success—Brent names Jenny as the foundation of his career and family stability.
    
3. Parenting and leadership are the same craft: multiple personalities, different motivations, one mission—learn what makes each person tick.
    
4. Presence is a transition skill: coming home from “business mode” requires intentional switching into family mode.
    
5. Radical accountability beats blame: the real shift isn’t “what did I do wrong?” but “how can I be better next time?”
    
6. Debriefs create growth without shame: “What went well / better / differently” builds learning loops that scale.
    
7. Culture + systems = results: positivity without structure fails; structure without humanity underperforms.
    
8. Leaders don’t hand answers—they develop thinkers: Brent mentors by asking, “What do you think we should do?”
    
9. Standardize first, operationalize second: clarity reduces confusion; consistent process multiplies performance.
    
10. People-First AI is the way forward: AI should remove the mundane and return time to relationships, creativity, and real human connection.

1. “We’re here to talk about relationships and gratitude—but not the transactional type. The soul needs nourished.”
    
2. “I’m not at the position I am in my life without [Jenny’s] backing, her support, her guidance.”
    
3. “All four kids—completely different personalities. That’s the joy of parenting… and leadership.”
    
4. “If you’re present and recognizing the situation, it’s a lot easier to have that inward focus.”
    
5. “People are distracted… and that makes it harder to stay solution-oriented.”
    
6. “Culture without systems breaks—and systems without culture underperform.”
    
7. “I never give the answers. I ask: ‘What do you think you should do?’”
    
8. “We’re spending more time at work than we are with our families—so you might as well make it fun and human.”
    
9. “People-first AI… it’s augmentation. It speeds up the mundane so you can spend more time with people.”
    
10. “You can never connect the dots forward—only backwards.”

In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris Schembra welcomes back Julie Peck—a seasoned tech and growth executive and current CEO of Talent Neuron, a global leader in workforce intelligence. Returning after a powerful first conversation (“The Gift of the Curvy Path”), Julie brings both lived experience and a front-row seat to how AI is reshaping work, leadership, and the talent market.

The conversation opens with the show’s signature gratitude thread: Julie re-centers her enduring gratitude for her mother—an “anchor” figure defined by generosity, steadiness, and wisdom. From there, the episode expands into a bigger thesis: we’re moving from a knowledge economy (being paid to “know”) to a wisdom economy (being valued for discernment, context, ethics, and humanity), right as AI accelerates technical capability faster than society’s ability to govern it wisely.

Julie explains what she’s seeing in real time—from the lightning-fast evolution of “prompt engineering” (job → skill → everywhere) to the rise of AI agents, “managers of agents,” and even early signals around digital twins / digital clones. The discussion is both exciting and sobering: the future isn’t just humans using tools—it’s organizations learning to coordinate human employees + virtual workers while wrestling with ownership, ethics, and identity.

They land the plane with an antidote: in a world speeding up, the advantage is learning to reclaim your humanity—through presence, boundaries, real conversation, and the ancient technology of the dinner table. Chris frames it as “slow food and fast cars” (Emilia-Romagna) and the “AND, not OR” mindset: use AI to amplify impact and protect what makes life meaningful.

• We’re shifting from “knowing” to “discerning.” AI can produce answers; humans are needed for wisdom, ethics, and context.
   
• The pace is the story. Roles like “prompt engineer” moved from nonexistent → hot → embedded in everything in about a year.
   
• Soft skills are becoming the real differentiator. Adaptability, learning agility, collaboration, and communication are what survive a fluid world.
   
• Digital cloning raises ownership questions. If your work footprint trains a “you,” who owns it—you or your employer/platform?
   
• Reclaim humanity through designed friction. Put the phone down, limit your digital exhaust, and build anchor points (like dinners) where real presence returns.
   

• Julie Peck: “I call that reclaiming your humanity.”
   
• Chris Schembra: “The dinner table is truly the last thing that AI can get to.”
   
• Julie Peck: “The technical capabilities of AI are evolving far faster than the world’s ability to be wise about how we build it and interact with it.”
   
• Julie Peck: “Put the phone down and talk to each other and actually look each other in the eyes.”
   
• Julie Peck: “If you’re standing at Lake Geneva and you’re looking at the Alps, don’t try and take a picture of it. Just look at it.”
   
• Chris Schembra: “We’re living through the collapse of the knowledge economy… What if we’ve been playing the wrong game all along?”
   
• Julie Peck: “We don’t understand the rules of the game… and we’re unprepared for it.”

In a world obsessed with speed, optimization, certainty, and AI-driven answers, this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times offers a necessary pause. Chris Schembra sits down with Eric Stine, CEO of Sitecore, for a deeply human conversation about leadership, belonging, gratitude, and the courage to say yes before you feel ready. This is not a tactical episode about growth metrics or technology stacks—it’s an exploration of what it means to lead, live, and connect in a time when instinct is being outsourced and humanity is at risk of being optimized away.

Eric reflects on a 25-year career across some of the world’s most influential enterprise technology companies, but reframes success through a different lens. Rather than crediting restraint or perfection, he points to saying yes as the defining strategy of his life, yes to unfamiliar roles, yes to reinvention, yes to creativity, fatherhood, philanthropy, and Broadway. Along the way, he opens up about imposter syndrome, those quiet moments of doubt that surface even at the highest levels of leadership, and why authenticity—not certainty—is what ultimately creates trust and psychological safety for teams.

The conversation reaches back to Eric’s eighth-grade years, when he felt like an outsider searching for his people. Theater became the place where he learned that difference wasn’t something to hide, but something to bring forward, a lesson that continues to shape how he builds culture today. That theme of belonging becomes especially resonant in today’s age of fragmentation and loneliness, where many people feel disconnected not because they lack opportunity, but because they lack spaces where they can show up fully as themselves.

Midway through the episode, Eric answers the signature gratitude question, offering heartfelt thanks to his father, Mark, whose belief in living authentically influenced everything from Eric’s leadership philosophy to a Tony Award win on Father’s Day. The moment grounds the conversation in gratitude, not as sentiment, but as a force that shapes identity, values, and legacy across generations.

This episode is especially important now because it confronts a growing cultural tension: while AI can deliver answers at unprecedented speed, it cannot deliver wisdom, belonging, or meaning. Eric draws a clear distinction between systems of record and systems of engagement, arguing that the future belongs to leaders and organizations that pair data with instinct, scale with empathy, and efficiency with humanity. In an era where people are burning out not just from work, but from hiding who they are, this conversation offers a different model, one rooted in community, peer-driven recognition, and shared accountability rather than control.

Ultimately, The Power of Saying Yes is a reminder that culture cannot be engineered from the top down and growth cannot be achieved through optimization alone. Culture comes from community. Belonging comes from permission. And the most meaningful paths in life are rarely the safest ones. This episode invites listeners to slow down, embrace impermanence, and choose the more interesting path, not because it’s easy, but because it’s human.

1. Saying yes creates momentum.
   Progress, growth, and meaning often come from leaning in before you feel ready—not from waiting for certainty.
    
2. Authenticity is a leadership advantage, not a liability.
   When leaders model vulnerability, they unlock psychological safety and better performance across teams.
    
3. Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear—it becomes a compass.
   Doubt is often a signal that you’re stretching into something meaningful.
    
4. Finding “your people” changes everything.
   Belonging fuels confidence, creativity, and resilience—whether in theater, business, or family.
    
5. Gratitude is a strategic tool, not a soft one.
   Recognizing people for their impact on others builds trust, loyalty, and culture at scale.
    
6. Culture cannot be built top-down.
   Leaders can only create the conditions; community does the building.
    
7. AI needs humans in the loop.
   Data delivers insight, but instinct and empathy deliver relevance.
    
8. Impermanence creates meaning.
   Moments matter more when we know they won’t last—whether on stage, at work, or around the dinner table.
    
9. Accountability is empowering when framed as ownership.
   We don’t work in isolation—we work in ecosystems where shared responsibility drives excellence.
    
10. The best life is an AND life, not an OR life.
    Passion and profit. Speed and care. Technology and humanity. Both can be true.

Eric Stine Bio

Eric Stine is the Chief Executive Officer of Sitecore, driving the company's vision and strategy to unlock business value for clients by empowering them to create compelling digital experiences. Eric was previously Chief Operating Officer, where he led all customer-facing functions.

Before Sitecore, Eric was Chief Executive Officer of Elemica. Previously, he was Chief Commercial Officer of Skillsoft and Chief Revenue Officer of Qualtrics. Eric has also held executive roles at companies such as SAP, Ciber, and Blackboard.

Eric earned a law degree at Boston University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts at Northwestern University, where he and his husband are the founders of the Eric and Neil Stine-Markman Scholarships. They are the first permanent endowments at either institution directing funds toward LGBTQ+ students.

He is based near New York City.

Episode Overview

In this rich, sensory journey through the Eternal City, I sit down with food historian, author, and Rome expert Katie Parla, a woman whose love affair with Rome began at sixteen thanks to her mother’s quiet act of generosity. What started as a high school Latin club trip became a lifelong devotion to understanding the flavors, history, and soul of a city that was never meant to exist. Rome began as a malarial, snake-infested swamp, yet somehow became the beating heart of Western civilization.

Katie has written, edited, or contributed to more than twenty books and countless articles in publications like The New York Times, Vogue, and The Guardian. Her newest work, Rome: A Culinary History Cookbook and Field Guide to the Flavors That Built a City, is not just another recipe collection. It’s a layered love letter, part history book, part field guide, and part emotional map to the spirit of a city that has endured famine, fire, empire, and rebirth. Together, we explore what Rome can teach us about leadership, gratitude, and the art of being human in an age of acceleration.

We begin where all gratitude stories begin, at the table. Katie gives thanks to her mother, “Jojo,” who worked multiple jobs to make that first trip to Rome possible. Through her mother’s sacrifice, Katie learned the essence of perseverance, the same relentless spirit that built the city she now calls home. From there, we wander through the neighborhoods of Rome, from the ancient core to the medieval center, and finally to Testaccio, her favorite district, where modern graffiti meets ancient terracotta ruins. It’s there that Katie goes to meditate on impermanence and the balance between chaos and beauty.

As our conversation unfolds, history becomes a mirror for modern leadership. We talk about Rome’s “bread and circuses,” how the government once used food and entertainment to keep citizens loyal, and we draw parallels to today’s corporate perks and engagement programs. We explore the emperors of old and the executives of now, and what it means to “be a Caesar, not an Augustus,” a leader who serves with benevolence and dignity rather than domination and fear. We even touch on the city’s engineering genius, from the 2,700 nasoni fountains that keep Romans hydrated to the grain ships that once fed an empire. Every system, every aqueduct, every loaf of bread carried a lesson about sustaining people, not just power.

But Rome’s real brilliance lies in its contradictions, what I call the “and” mindset. It’s a city of war and peace, tragedy and triumph, speed and stillness. It forces us to hold two opposing truths at once: to hate what was violent and love what was beautiful, to accept the brokenness and still celebrate the feast. In our current age of AI and instant answers, Rome reminds us of the value of friction, imperfection, and effort.

We wander next into the Roman Forum, where citizens once gathered to argue, trade, eat, and bear witness. It was the original “third place” between home and work, the birthplace of civic belonging, a space for conversation and connection. Katie draws a line from the Forum to today’s trattorias and pizza-by-the-slice counters, where people stand shoulder to shoulder, talking to strangers, sipping espresso, or sharing a quick lunch of supplì or cacio e pepe. These are the modern temples of togetherness.

Then comes the food. Not just the postcard dishes of carbonara and amatriciana, but the soulful, often forgotten recipes of Rome’s working class: chicken gizzards with fettuccine, veal intestines simmered in tomato sauce, and involtini, rolled beef stuffed with prosciutto, carrots, and celery, cooked slowly until tender. Katie calls it “one pot, two dishes,” a metaphor for efficiency and abundance at once. Her approach to cooking, and to life, can be summed up in three simple words: just enough.

By the end of our conversation, one theme rises above all others: dignity. From her mother’s resilience to the humble Roman bakers who built an empire on grain, from the laborers who carved aqueducts to the chefs who open their kitchens to curious foreigners, Katie’s gratitude is for everyone who never gave up. “Leave so much time in Rome unplanned,” she says, “and dare to have an adventure.” It’s not just travel advice, it’s a philosophy for life.

Rome, like gratitude, is a practice. It reminds us to slow down, to see the sacred in the mundane, and to find beauty in imperfection. Leadership, whether in the Senate or the boardroom, is about giving people both challenge and dignity. Progress and empathy are not opposites, they are partners.

Katie’s story reminds us that effort is its own art form. Whether you’re simmering a pot of cacciatore or steering a company through uncertainty, the recipe is the same: patience, precision, and a dash of love. The lesson of Rome is the lesson of humanity, that endurance, generosity, and curiosity will always outlast convenience.

Katie’s independently published masterpiece Rome: A Culinary History Cookbook and Field Guide to the Flavors That Built a City is available at shop.katieparla.com. You can find her Rome travel guides, restaurant recommendations, and food tours at katieparla.com, and follow her everyday adventures on Instagram at @katieparla.

To explore more stories of gratitude, connection, and leadership, visit 747club.org and join our growing community.

Episode Overview

In this deeply personal episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down in person with Sandra Campos, a trailblazing CEO, board advisor, and serial entrepreneur whose story spans global fashion houses, digital transformation, and compassionate leadership.

From humble beginnings in her parents’ tortilla factory to leading billion-dollar brands like Diane von Furstenberg and PetMeds, Sandra’s journey is one of grit, grace, and reinvention. Sheopens up about her mother’s influence as an immigrant and lifelong learner, how that shaped her own discipline and drive, and why gratitude remains the throughline of every chapter in her life.

Together, Chris and Sandra unpack the difference between knowledge and wisdom, exploring how true leadership comes not from perfection but from experience, the kind earned through risk-taking, failure, and self-belief. Sandra shares how she’s learning to slow down, to truly listen to the sounds around her, from the birds on her rescue horse farm to the people who cross her path, and why presence might be the most powerful skill in business today.

They talk about the courage to show up before you’re ready, the importance of respect in partnerships, and how every ending can be the start of a new beginning if you meet it with optimism and curiosity. Sandra’s reflections on authenticity, self-authorship, and purpose offer timeless lessons for anyone navigating change or chasing meaning in modern leadership.

This episode is a reminder that you can’t teach wisdom — you live it. It’s a celebration of resilience, risk, and gratitude, and an invitation to believe that, no matter your age or stage, you’re always just beginning.

Themes & Highlights

●​ How Sandra’s immigrant mother instilled grit, gratitude, and lifelong learning 
●​ From “knowledge builds confidence” to “experience builds wisdom”

●​ Taking uncalculated risks — and learning to thrive through failure 
●​ The emotional intelligence behind leading through change 
●​ Presence as the ultimate leadership skill

●​  Why reinvention is not a restart, but a continuation of purpose​

Why Listen

At a time when leadership often feels defined by speed and perfection, Sandra reminds us that true wisdom comes from slowing down, showing up, and learning through experience. Her journey from small-town Texas to the global stage is proof that success built on gratitude, curiosity, and courage doesn’t just change careers...it transforms lives.

“Experience Builds Wisdom” is more than a conversation, it’s an invitation to see every risk, every chapter, and every quiet moment as a teacher.

In this deeply human and heartfelt conversation, Chris Schembra sits down with his longtime friend Kirti Naik, a powerhouse brand leader turned soulful storyteller, for an episode that moves beyond titles and accolades into the raw, unfiltered truth of a life well-lived. On this crisp New York City fall day, amid Yom Kippur reflections and the festive spirit of Diwali, Chris and Kirti explore the intertwined forces of fate, love, resilience, and identity.

Kirti opens up about her unexpected journey into motherhood and how her daughter, Kiran, became her North Star, pushing her to finish business school while pregnant, guiding her to build a better life, and teaching her lessons in forgiveness and courage. Together, Chris and Kirti unpack the subtle art of pausing in a world obsessed with speed: pausing before responding to an email, pausing to think, pausing to realign with who we are and who we want to become.

They delve into the heavy weight and quiet liberation of reputation, how cultural expectations and personal setbacks (like divorce) shape us, and how we can reclaim our own narrative even after painful turning points. Kirti shares how love and partnership with Greg have reshaped her family and her understanding of commitment — beyond paperwork and traditions — into something deeply chosen and resilient.

The conversation moves fluidly from practical life strategies (like managing anxiety, editing before you send, embracing imperfection) to profound reflections on destiny (or “amor fati”), legacy, and the humility that comes with decades of personal and professional growth. We hear about parenting in New York City, the courage to let go of perfectionism, and how success is measured not just by business milestones but by the depth of relationships we nurture along the way.

This is not a business episode,  it’s a blueprint for living with greater presence, courage, and gratitude. Whether you’re navigating big career decisions, untangling old expectations, or learning to pause before reacting, Kirti’s story is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and embrace the beautiful messiness of life.

1. “Kids, don’t worry about people knowing you. Make yourself worth knowing.” — Chris (quoting Fiorello LaGuardia)
    
2. “She was my North Star — the reason I wanted to be a better person, to work harder, and to finish what I started.” — Kirti
    
3. “Progress comes from movement, not perfection.” — Chris
    
4. “I’ve shifted from people pleasing to teaching and communicating what I authentically think.” — Kirti
    
5. “Precision requires pause. Sometimes waiting 15 minutes changes everything.” — Chris
    
6. “Reputation is hard to rewrite — but it’s not impossible when you lead with honesty and vulnerability.” — Kirti
    
7. “Material things don’t really matter. We don’t actually need anything but each other and some Netflix.” — Kirti
    
8. “We have to rise above business success and find success in our personal lives — the world needs that.” — Chris
    
9. “Love doesn’t have to be defined by societal milestones. Commitment can be something deeply chosen.” — Kirti
    
10. “It’s humbling to realize we’re still learning — not about tools or tactics, but about ourselves.” — Kirti
     

1. Pause Before You React — Writing a draft and waiting before sending helps you edit, clarify, and prevent future missteps.
    
2. Redefine Reputation — Your past doesn’t have to define you; vulnerability and new actions can reshape how others see you.
    
3. Parenthood as Catalyst — Unexpected life events, like surprise motherhood, can bring purpose and resilience you didn’t know you had.
    
4. Move from People Pleasing to Authenticity — Stop avoiding conflict; respectfully communicate your needs and boundaries.
    
5. Love Beyond Paperwork — Lasting commitment isn’t about traditional milestones but about shared choice and partnership.
    
6. Cultural Expectations Can Be Rewritten — Even deeply ingrained norms can shift when you choose your own happiness and truth.
    
7. Imperfection Is Human — Let go of needing to be flawless; aim for 80–90% and move forward.
    
8. True Success Is Relational — The depth of mentorship, family bonds, and love defines life more than job titles.
    
9. Anxiety Can Be Managed with Pause — Small intentional habits — like stepping back before acting — can reduce fear and increase control.
    
10. Fate vs. Coincidence — Sometimes the unexpected (from your child’s name to life detours) is guiding you toward who you’re meant to become.
     

In this special episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra welcomes Drew Sullivan, a purpose-driven dealmaker, speaker advocate, and Senior Vice President at APB Speakers, for a raw and hope-filled conversation about the courage it takes to stop hiding and start living authentically.

Drew’s story is both ordinary and extraordinary. Growing up as a middle child with ADHD in a sports-obsessed town, he was labeled as “wrong” more often than he was encouraged to be curious. Teachers told him to be quiet, behavioral charts measured his worth, and well-intentioned parents and doctors tried their best but often focused on what he did rather than why he felt what he felt. Those early messages led to decades of self-doubt, addiction, and feeling “othered.”

But Drew’s life didn’t end there. Sobriety became his turning point, not just quitting substances but rebuilding identity from the inside out. He realized the same curiosity and big-heartedness he was punished for as a child had become his superpowers as an adult: the ability to connect deeply, ask better questions, and champion others’ voices.

Chris and Drew unpack big ideas that apply to everyone, whether you’re a parent trying to raise emotionally healthy kids, a leader navigating change with your team, or someone working on your own healing. Together, they talk about how to move beyond trauma without ignoring it, how to strengthen relationships through curiosity and vulnerability, and how connection isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential for growth.

They dive into practical tools and powerful frameworks:

• The Military-Style Debrief — After any event or risk, ask three questions: What went well? What could have gone better? What will we do differently next time?
   
• From What to Why — Lasting growth comes not from obsessing over what happened but from exploring why it happened and using that insight to break harmful cycles.
   
• Ubuntu Philosophy — “I am because we are.” Success is never a solo act. Long-term fulfillment comes from shared humanity and supporting each other’s growth.
   
• Inside-Out Living — Stop chasing outside validation (titles, applause, perfection) and build a life anchored in authenticity and personal truth.

This episode also wrestles with one of today’s cultural tensions: the “cult of trauma.” We live in a time where looking backward has become a primary mode of healing, therapy, revisiting wounds, and retelling past pain. That work is necessary but incomplete. Chris and Drew challenge listeners to balance reflection with forward momentum, to ask not just what went wrong, but how do we build what’s next?

Their conversation is deeply practical yet profoundly human. Drew shares intimate stories — from being excluded at eighth-grade basketball tryouts to the loneliness of early sobriety — and turns them into wisdom for anyone trying to live and lead differently. Chris opens up about his own childhood with ADHD and how empathy and gratitude saved his life and career. Together, they model what it looks like to have brave, healing, and hope-filled dialogue.

At its heart, this episode is a call to action: to show up for yourself and others with dignity, curiosity, and presence; to give gratitude in a way that lands; to stop letting shame and isolation write your story; and to embrace connection as the bridge between pain and growth.

Whether you’re a parent, an educator, a leader building culture, or someone just trying to live a more wholehearted life, you’ll leave with practical tools and renewed belief that storms don’t last forever, and that you’re not alone in the work of becoming.

1. “Not all gratitude given is gratitude received. We have to give in the language others like to receive.” — Drew Sullivan
    
2. “Solutions are not found in the what; they’re found in the why.” — Drew Sullivan
    
3. “Every storm has to end at some point — the clouds have to clear.” — Drew Sullivan
    
4. “Don’t play hide and seek with yourself. Stop letting your thoughts hide.” — Drew Sullivan
    
5. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — Chris Schembra quoting Ubuntu
    
6. “Without connection, there is no growth. It’s the water and fertilizer for real progress.” — Drew Sullivan
    
7. “We spend so much emotional energy reliving what went wrong that we forget to dream about what can go right.” — Chris Schembra
    
8. “Vulnerability 101: be honest about the truth of your life, not just where you are now but where you came from.” — Drew Sullivan
    
9. “The greatest present you can give is your presence.” — Chris Schembra
    
10. “When you know better, you do better — but only if you act on what you’ve learned.” — Drew Sullivan
     

1. Empathy must lead to action — Listening and understanding are powerful, but transformation only happens when you do something with what you’ve learned.
    
2. Reframe challenges into opportunities — Shift from “what went wrong” to “what can we do differently next time.”
    
3. Ask “why,” not just “what” — Understanding the why behind behaviors, decisions, and pain creates the foundation for healing and growth.
    
4. Connection is non-negotiable — Personal and professional growth withers without deep human relationships.
    
5. Redefine vulnerability — Sharing your real story — even messy parts — builds trust and invites connection.
    
6. Inside-out living beats outside-in validation — Chase alignment with values and purpose, not just achievements or appearances.
    
7. Parents and leaders shape futures — Taking one extra step to understand and affirm can change someone’s entire trajectory.
    
8. Reinvention is always possible — Like the Real Housewives metaphor, we all deserve new eras and second chances.
    
9. Don’t let your past pilot your future — Carry your “stone,” but build the strength to make it a co-pilot, not the driver.
    
10. Gratitude is a bridge — When expressed thoughtfully in someone’s love language, it deepens relationships and accelerates healing.

This episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times is about one of the most important and misunderstood challenges in business today, how to build workplaces where people truly thrive.

Host Chris Schembra welcomes Mark Rix, Group Managing Director of Wellbeing at Work, for an unfiltered conversation on belonging, resilience, and the human side of leadership. What makes this episode powerful isn’t just the frameworks and research Mark shares; it’s the raw, unexpected personal story that shaped his entire mission.

At 18 years old, Mark found himself alone in South Africa’s gold mines, working one and a half kilometers underground among hundreds of men who didn’t speak his language. In an early and unforgettable moment, he was literally punched in the face for unknowingly saying something offensive in Afrikaans, a humiliating and dangerous misunderstanding that forced him to confront the difference between “blending in” and truly belonging. It also sparked a lifelong obsession with empathy, psychological safety, and how humans treat one another at work.

Fast forward to today, and Mark leads a global movement to help organizations move wellbeing from a “nice-to-have” perk to a board-level strategy that drives engagement, innovation, and bottom-line results. His organization hosts summits on six continents, gathering thousands of leaders to explore the future of mental, social, and emotional wellbeing at work.

Throughout the conversation, Chris and Mark explore:

• Why the next era of corporate wellbeing will be about social health — helping employees feel seen, safe, and connected.
   
• How to equip managers (most of whom were promoted without training) to coach with empathy and curiosity instead of simply direct or command.
   
• The role of shared language in creating psychological safety, and why your team’s inside jokes, acronyms, and short codes matter more than you think.
   
• Why leaders don’t have to rewrite every policy or undo every mandate; often, culture change begins by simply changing how you show up in the next conversation.
   
• How investing in employee wellbeing isn’t just ethical but deeply strategic, the highest-performing companies in the world are proving that people-first drives profit.
   

This episode is as practical as it is inspiring. It reminds leaders that while technology and AI will keep reshaping the future of work, human connection remains our greatest competitive advantage.

If you’ve been struggling with disengagement, low morale, or the exhaustion of leading through uncertainty, this conversation will give you both a fresh perspective and simple actions to start right away, like carving out time to talk, listen, and ask better questions.

Above all, it’s a reminder that resilience and thriving cultures start with a choice: to lead with empathy and authenticity, one conversation at a time.

1. “You can blend but not belong. To bond, you have to give something of yourself.” — Mark Rix
    
2. “Trust is built before it’s tested. If your people don’t feel safe, they won’t speak up when it matters.” — Chris Schembra
    
3. “I realized after being punched that day — this is not how work should be. No one should feel unsafe simply trying to belong.” — Mark Rix
    
4. “A shared language can literally save lives underground. In business, it can save culture.” — Chris Schembra
    
5. “Most managers are promoted without the skills — or the mindset — to coach. And it’s costing engagement.” — Mark Rix
    
6. “Empathy is listening to understand, then using that data to act differently tomorrow.” — Chris Schembra
    
7. “Wellbeing isn’t fluffy. Companies investing in their people outperform the market.” — Mark Rix
    
8. “You don’t have to change the policy to change the culture. Start by changing you.” — Chris Schembra
    
9. “Connection is still our greatest competitive advantage — AI can enhance it but never replace it.” — Mark Rix
    
10. “It doesn’t matter how hard you get punched; it’s about how well you get back up and keep leading with heart.” — Chris Schembra

1. Bonding > Blending — True belonging comes when people feel safe to bring their full selves, not just adapt to fit in.
    
2. Shared Language Matters — Developing clear, common language within teams builds trust and prevents miscommunication in high-stakes environments.
    
3. Empathy Is Action-Oriented — It’s not enough to “feel for” others; leaders must use what they learn to lead differently.
    
4. Managers Need Coaching Skills — Over half of managers aren’t prepared to lead; training them as coaches is one of the fastest ways to improve culture and engagement.
    
5. Human Connection Fuels ROI — The best-performing companies on the stock market are investing heavily in employee wellbeing.
    
6. Don’t Wait for Policy — Leaders can start culture change simply by slowing down, listening, and showing genuine interest.
    
7. Social Wellbeing Is the New Frontier — Loneliness is an epidemic; companies must look beyond physical and mental health to build deep social connection.
    
8. Technology Is a Tool, Not a Replacement — AI and data can measure and enhance wellbeing strategies but will never replace face-to-face connection.
    
9. Your Personal Story Shapes Leadership — Early, even painful experiences can become catalysts for empathy-driven leadership.
    
10. Resilience Is Built, Not Bought — Being “punched” — literally or figuratively — can teach leaders how to bounce back and guide others through adversity.

Sometimes the most remarkable leaders don’t arrive at the top by climbing a neatly planned ladder, they stumble, pivot, and rebuild along winding roads. In this deeply personal and unexpectedly funny episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra welcomes Julie Peck, a transformative CEO whose story proves that a “curvy path” is not a flaw, it’s a strength.

Julie’s life didn’t begin with obvious momentum. She grew up in a household that didn’t talk about feelings, in the shadow of a brilliant but stoic father and amid early self-doubt that left her with little sense of self-worth. By her twenties, she found herself adrift, unhappy, financially unstable, stuck in unfulfilling relationships, and ultimately failing out of college. She ended up living in a crumbling apartment above a record store, sleeping on a mattress she salvaged from a frat house dumpster. From the outside, it looked like failure; from the inside, it felt like rock bottom.

But Julie didn’t stay there. In this conversation, she shares the turning points that changed her trajectory: discovering the courage to face old wounds through therapy and 12-step recovery, deciding to rebuild her education while working full-time, and learning to measure her worth by more than just professional success. Along the way, she tapped into something profound, the ability to take one small action forward even when the long-term plan is unclear.

That perseverance reshaped her career. Julie went from customer service to HR innovator to creative director, learning to package her “pile of skills and behaviors” into new opportunities. She took smart risks, like organizing a union drive not to win but to force leadership to listen — and watched those risks lead to promotions and purpose. Ultimately, she rose into C-suite leadership and CEO roles, scaling tech companies, driving triple-digit growth, and building cultures where people thrive. But she never forgot the messy middle or the tools that helped her climb out.

Together, Chris and Julie go far beyond résumés and revenue. They unpack what resilience really looks like: the gritty inner work of building self-worth when no one hands it to you, the power of visualizing a future even if you don’t know how to get there, and the discipline of balancing the things you must do, should do, and want to do. They talk about how gratitude rewires imposter syndrome, how thanking those who invest in you is a way of saying, “I believe your belief in me.” They explore why everyone — even highly accomplished leaders — is “winging it” every day, and why that’s not weakness but reality.

For anyone navigating uncertainty, Julie’s journey is a masterclass in turning pain into purpose and mistakes into momentum. It’s a reminder that your story doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful, in fact, the curve is where character is forged.

This episode is a warm invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what matters: your own worth, the people who’ve lifted you along the way, and the belief that no setback is final. Whether you’re rebuilding after a career stumble, leading through change, or simply searching for hope in a hard season, Julie’s voice will feel like a steady hand on your shoulder.

Stay tuned for part two, where Chris and Julie will dive deeper into leadership in the age of AI, the behaviors that outlast fast-changing technical skills, and how curiosity and gratitude shape the future of work.

1. “I had to organically discover my own self-worth. That’s been a 35-year journey, and I’m not done.” — Julie Peck
    
2. “Everybody is unqualified for whatever is going to come on this day because they’ve never had this day before. We’re all winging it.” — Julie Peck
    
3. “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater, even in the hardest seasons, you’re good at something. Start there.” — Julie Peck
    
4. “Imposter syndrome is basically telling the people who invested in you: ‘I don’t trust your judgment.’ Gratitude flips that script.” — Chris Schembra
    
5. “The impediment to action advances action; what stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius (quoted by Chris)
    
6. “Progress comes from movement, not perfection. Just take one small step forward.” — Chris Schembra
    
7. “The curvy path is a gift, because every detour teaches you something you’ll need later.” — Julie Peck
    
8. “Skills expire faster than ever; behaviors like curiosity, resilience, and asking better questions endure.” — Chris Schembra
    
9. “Boundaries are self-worth in action. Saying no is a complete sentence.” — Julie Peck
    
10. “Connection is the opposite of feeling alone in the world, and it’s built one honest conversation at a time.” — Julie Peck
     

1. The “Curvy Path” Is Normal: Career and life rarely follow a straight line; detours and setbacks are often where resilience is forged.
    
2. Self-Worth Can Be Built: Therapy, reflection, and courageous action help rewire old narratives of “not enough.”
    
3. Everyone Feels Like an Imposter: High achievers quietly doubt themselves — knowing this is freeing and normalizing.
    
4. Gratitude Combats Self-Doubt: Thanking those who invest in you reframes fear and reinforces your value.
    
5. Skills Fade — Behaviors Last: Curiosity, learning agility, and empathy outlast technical know-how in an AI-driven workplace.
    
6. Visualize the Long Game: Thinking 15–20 years ahead helps shape better short-term decisions and career pivots.
    
7. Boundaries Are Essential: Healthy limits protect time, energy, and self-worth, enabling sustainable success.
    
8. Use Work as a Launchpad, Not an Escape: Achievements can build confidence but shouldn’t mask personal growth gaps.
    
9. Take Brave Micro-Steps: Big change starts with one small action; movement matters more than perfection.
    
10. Connection Breaks Isolation: Vulnerable storytelling, mentorship, and shared humanity turn loneliness into belonging.