The Certain Growth Podcast with Joey Chandler

Introduction

In this episode of the Certain Growth Podcast, we are joined by Melissa Hurrington, the CFO and Vice President of Operations at Premier Claims. Melissa, a champion of continuous self-improvement and servant leadership, shares her journey of scaling a small team to over 80 professionals while cultivating a strong personal brand through vulnerability and human connection. The conversation explores the multifaceted nature of growth, leadership, and the critical reality of burnout. Melissa candidly details her own experience with clinical burnout, the physical and mental toll it took, and her ongoing recovery journey centered on re-prioritization and finding joy within her demanding roles as a leader, mother, and wife.

Follow Melissa Hurrington on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissahurrington/

Timeline

• 0:00 - 1:07: Introduction to Melissa Hurrington, her professional background at Premier Claims, and the podcast's focus on growth and burnout.
• 1:07 - 3:00: Melissa discusses her personal motto of prioritization—wife first, mother second, leader third—and how neglecting herself led to burnout.
• 3:00 - 4:43: The moment of realization: Melissa describes nearly falling asleep at the wheel in the summer of 2025 and her subsequent diagnosis of clinical burnout involving organ dysfunction.
• 4:43 - 6:05: Discussion on the commonality of burnout experiences and the initial feeling of being "done".
• 6:05 - 8:36: Melissa’s choice to recover while staying in her career, her difficult conversation with her team and CEO, and the counterintuitive lesson of giving less to be a better leader and parent.
• 8:36 - 11:15: Why Melissa chose not to quit her life but to change how she operated, setting a six-month timeframe to see scientific improvements in her health.
• 11:15 - 14:38: Practical steps for recovery: The impact of removing the phone from the bedroom, establishing a "dumb phone" setting at 9 PM, and prioritizing basic needs like protein, water, and movement.
• 14:38 - 17:15: Reflections on scaling weight loss and how prioritizing physical health improved her energy and presence in both professional and family life.
• 17:15 - 19:42: The return of patience and support in her marriage, especially during her husband’s surgery recovery, and the joy of being "fun" again during a rare date night.
• 19:42 - 21:51: Recognizing the signs of burnout: Overstimulation, living on autopilot, and a lack of emotional highs or lows (adrenal insufficiency).
• 21:51 - 24:12: The struggle with resting: Melissa discusses her ongoing difficulty with passive rest and how she uses reading to "trick" her brain into feeling productive while resting.
• 24:12 - 25:31: Conclusion and contact information for Melissa Hurrington on LinkedIn and TikTok.

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In this episode of the Certain Growth Podcast, host Joey Chandler sits down with Steve Cadigan, the former first HR Director of LinkedIn and a globally recognized talent strategist. Moving beyond the typical "New Year, New Me" tropes, Steve shares his unique journey from a plan-less college graduate to scaling one of the world's most influential tech companies.

The conversation dives deep into the psychology of resolutions, the power of intentionality, and why looking backward is the most effective way to plan your future. Whether you are navigating a career pivot or looking for a more "felt" approach to your personal goals, Steve’s insights offer a grounded and inspiring roadmap for the modern professional.

Episode Timeline

• 00:00 – Intro: Joey introduces Steve Cadigan, first HR Director for LinkedIn.
• 01:30 – The Power of "No Plan": Steve discusses his experimentation-led education at Wesleyan University.
• 04:00 – From HR Skeptic to CHRO: Scaling LinkedIn and finding passion in the "art of coordinating people".
• 08:20 – The Ritual of Intentionality: How setting annual personal and professional goals led to international moves and book deals.
• 11:50 – SMART vs. FEET Goals: Joey and Steve discuss the difference between tactical goals and goals that align with your values.
• 14:30 – Finding Your "Professional Edge": Why you don’t need to follow a pre-set mold to be great in your field.
• 19:15 – Navigating the "FOBO" (Fear of Being Obsolete): Advice for the younger generation facing high anxiety in the modern workforce.
• 23:00 – Backward Planning: Steve shares a Tim Ferriss-inspired technique for auditing your energy and time.
• 27:40 – The Conductors of Energy: Why "newness" and growth are the ultimate drivers of employee loyalty.
• 32:15 – Overcoming the Perfection Trap: Tips for starting new projects (like writing a book) without having it all figured out.
• 38:40 – Closing: Steve’s resolutions for the year and where to connect with him.

Guest Bio: Steve Cadigan

Steve Cadigan is a world-renowned talent advisor, leadership strategist, and the author of the groundbreaking book Workquake. Best known as LinkedIn’s first CHRO, Steve was instrumental in scaling the company from 400 to 4,000 employees across 17 countries during its most pivotal growth era. His work in building world-class cultures has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal and Fortune.

Named one of the Top 200 Global Thought Leaders in People & Talent for three consecutive years, Steve now advises some of the world’s most prestigious organizations, including Google, Salesforce, the BBC, and McKinsey, as well as top-tier VC firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia. Today, Steve focuses on helping leaders navigate the future of work and the transformative impact of AI on the global workforce.

Ricky Scoggan is an expert in OCD, human behavior, and high-performance coaching who specializes in shifting individuals from future-oriented goals to immediate, behavioral systems. As the founder of The Scoggan Institute, he utilizes his background in emotional regulation and family systems to help clients challenge intrusive thought patterns and reclaim control over their lives. In this episode, Ricky breaks down the neurological reasons why traditional resolutions fail and how to use repetitive actions to rewire the brain for success.

Website: https://scogganinstitute.com

Episode Timeline

• 02:31 Ricky explains the neurological difference between setting a goal and building a system, noting that the most successful people focus on the now rather than the future.
• 05:01 The "Boston Story": Ricky shares how he helped his son overcome school failure by removing performance anxiety and focusing strictly on one repetitive behavior—handing in assignments on time.
• 09:31 Understanding Mindset: Ricky defines mindset as the 20% consisting of internal rules, while 80% of success is driven by the behaviors we implement.
• 12:46 The Reset Switch: Ricky discusses the "Reset Switch" for handling setbacks, emphasizing the need to fight through negative emotions until you return to your system.
• 16:21 Anticipatory Anxiety: A deep dive into how anxiety regarding outcomes and performance creates "textbook anxiety" that stops people from even starting.
• 20:16 The Power of Three: Ricky introduces his strategy of doing three specific things a day to create a "snowball effect" in business or personal health.
• 25:01 Markers of Success: Ricky explains how rewarding yourself serves as a psychological marker that solidifies a new identity and prevents you from sliding back into old habits.
• 29:31 Hacking the Brain: Ricky describes the "plumbing" of the brain in OCD cases and how changing mechanical behaviors causes the brain to adapt and go into remission.
• 33:16 Character vs. Reputation: Ricky cautions against "dream bragging" and explains why living in your character—focused on the daily process—is more effective than feeding your reputation.

We talked purpose, then we talked love, and now we are talking money and resolutions.

Starting new and starting fresh is part of the human experience, so somehow this is perfect.

I am interested in resolutions because they are part of the human experience. If they weren't, we would have stopped doing them, given that millions of people set resolutions every year and less than 10% succeed.

In RR, we'll talk about what does and doesn't work with resolutions and how to make them happen.

Epic love starts with owning the fact that you are deserving of that love. Lilli Bewley talks about how to own that fact even before that love shows up in your life. This was a great conversation.

Bio:

Lilli Bewley is a Feminine Dating Coach with over 10 years of experience in personal development. She, herself, went from just surviving in life to thriving in love & purpose. Currently, she is helping women who are single and struggling to date with confidence so that they can find epic, magnetic, extraordinary love with their soul mate. Lilli is on a mission to educate people on how dating can be fun again after a divorce or even in their 30s and 40s and even if they have been single forever. We have the ability to create magnetic energy in our dating lives even if we have to perform and be high achievers in other areas of our lives. 

Social Media

● Website: https://www.lillibewley.com/quiz

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillibewley/

Special Offer: http://www.findepiclove.com/

I loved this conversation with Rachel Elder because she is so grounded and clear in how she helps people. In this day and age, with so much uncertainty and stress, staying calm and curious is such a good approach to life and relationships.

Rachel Elder is a Couples Therapist and Relationship coach helping career-driven women create passionate relationships with their partners. She is a mom to a two-year-old, wife of a fellow entrepreneur, and lover of iced mochas and the office.

Social Media

• Website: https://racheleldercoaching.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/racheleldercoaching/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.jones.904750
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-elder-b023a844/

I loved this conversation with Professor Sandra Langeslag where we talk about the science of love. She shares her research on ways that we can identify and navigate the various stages of love.

Bio:

I earned my Ph.D. in Biological and Cognitive Psychology at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Netherlands. I moved to the United States in 2011 to become a post doc at the University of Maryland. I became an Assistant Professor in Psychological Science / Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Missouri - St. Louis in 2014. I was promoted to Associate Professor last year and I am now also Associate Chair of the department.

I have three research lines. I study how 1) love improves cognition such as attention and memory, 2) love distracts people from other tasks such as homework or work, and 3) how we can increase or decrease our love feelings using cognitive strategies.

Social Media

• Website: http://www.umsl.edu/~langeslags/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NEM-Lab-at-UMSL-845384912243204
• Twitter: @NEM_Lab

A couple that effectively loves each other and holds each other accountable to be their best selves is something special for sure. Tommy and Dianne McCollister share insights and wisdom from their journey of young love, breakup, and refinding each other to create a successful relationship and marriage coaching business.

Bio:

We are Tommy and Dianne McCollister, Marriage Coaches. We’ve been married for 16 years, together for 23, we have two kids, and have been through life just like everyone!

Marriage coaching is technically what we do, but in a truly unique and effective way.   

We often become unfulfilled from over pursuing. When we are not happy with ourselves, we can’t fully show up for our relationship. What most don’t understand is they think it’s the marriage that’s the problem, not the unhappiness that we are bringing to ourselves. You can never have a successful marriage if one or both people are unfulfilled, stressed, full of anxiety, or overwhelmed.

Social Media

• Website: https://www.highlevelhusband.com
• Instagram: @tommymccollister
• Facebook: Tommy McCollister
• Youtube: Tommy and Dianne McCollister
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CePZii72wwKiZFfAZWfyf?si=Daq9HnKBSROLPlpftERv3Q
• TikTok: @tommy_dianne

I loved this conversation with David Stanley because he breaks love down to the very simple idea of being good and decent. When you look at love in those simple forms you can apply it to business, friendships, life, science, and everything else. This is what David does and that makes for a great conversation.

Bio

David L. Stanley, B.Sc, M.A., is a teacher, poet and author, voice-over actor, and speaker. His work has appeared in national magazines on topics from professional bicycle racing to men, depression, and suicide. His first book, Melanoma, It Started with a Freckle was hailed by Prof. Tom Foster of How to Read Novels Like a Professor as “harrowing, insightful, technical, and hilarious.” Stanley’s second book, co-authored with Willie Artis is From Jim Crow to CEO, the Willie Artis Story, available via AUX Media. His latest book is Rants & Mutters, an essay collection. In addition, you can read his poetry on his Medium page. Much of his prose is found on his personal blog, Rants & Mutters, and his Vocal.Media page.

David Stanley has read his sonnets to audiences at the Dad 2.0 Summit; North America’s largest gathering of dads and brands. His poetry has been featured in blogs and literary magazines. He is the narrator of 40 audiobooks on subjects ranging from Alzheimer’s, bicycle racing, the NBA, to mountaineering.  Stanley travels to speak on melanoma awareness, fatherhood and life, and The Art of the Pitch.

Social Media

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dstan_58/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelanomaBook/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DStan58
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-stanley-26809b3b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0QzyesToNnTvJ_JhcBE5NQ
• Podcast: https://getpodcast.com/dk/podcast/cycling-legends-history-podcast-free-version-no-premium-access/the-feed-zone-episode-2_5b5bbdccd6
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dstan58

On what date do I bring up that I have bipolar disorder?” That is a question that I have never had to answer and I can only imagine how challenging that must be. Which is why l loved this conversation with Bailey Reber who talks about what it’s like to love yourself and love others while having bipolar disorder.

Bio:

At the age of 16, Bailey Reber was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. For years, she struggled with not only managing her mental illness, but also with accepting it while the outside world around her did not. She started the podcast she hosts, Distressed to Joyful; Bailey’s Way, in order to help encourage others to seek any professional help they may need, especially in times of darkness. She hopes that being vulnerable on hard topics via her podcast will be a “beacon of light” for listeners who are currently struggling with similar situations. She also hopes to bring about new perspectives to those not directly affected by mental illness in order to help them understand the world with a kinder heart.

Social Media

• Website: https://whatisheybailsdoing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/distressedtojoyful_baileysway/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/distressedtojoyful.baileysway/
• Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/distressed-to-joyful-baileys-way/id1513854091?itsct=podcast_box&itscg=30200