The Courage is Built Here Podcast

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Betsy Reznicek to explore Pathway Two, Embody Again, and what it looks like to stop running on empty and start taking care of yourself. Betsy shares her experience of burnout as a nonprofit founder, the moment she asked for help, and how a sabbatical not only restored her but reshaped her organization’s culture.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Dr. Darryl Diggs to explore Pathway One, Feel It All, and what it really means to experience your emotions without being ruled by them. Darryl shares a powerful story of failure, shame, and perseverance through his journey with triathlons, and how learning to align with his values helped him process emotions, ask for help, and ultimately cross his own finish line.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Mary Pat Jacobs to talk about Pathway Five, Do the Work, and what it really takes to stop people-pleasing and start choosing yourself. Mary Pat shares her journey of being laid off, starting her own business, and learning how to take risks, rewrite old stories, and move forward with courage even when fear and uncertainty are still present.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Marcy Bursac to talk about Pathway Four, Love Others Well, and what it really looks like to choose love in the hardest moments. Marcy shares her journey adopting her children through foster care, the emotional weight of uncertainty, and the daily courage it took to fully love even when there was no guarantee of the outcome.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Ali Carson to talk about Pathway Three, Be Fully You, and what it looks like to stop performing and start showing up authentically. Ali shares how years of trying to be perceived as professional led her to mask parts of herself, and how stepping into roles aligned with her strengths helped her embrace her true personality, let go of perfection, and lead with authenticity.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Jess Mader to talk about Pathway Two, Embody Again, and what it looks like to finally make yourself a priority. Jess shares how hitting a breaking point in her health, energy, and reactions at home led her to seek support, build small daily habits, and begin caring for herself in physical, emotional, and mental ways so she could show up differently for her family and her life.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Andy Storch to talk about Pathway One, Feel It All, and what it looks like to move through fear by getting clear on your values. Andy shares how a shift from fixed mindset to growth mindset changed his life, leading him to take big risks like starting a business, publishing books, moving his family to Spain, and choosing courage again and again even when fear was still present.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with grief speaker, advocate, and author Leslie Weirich to talk about Pathway Five, Do the Work, and what it means to choose courage through grief and loss. Leslie shares how losing her son Austin to suicide shaped her work, how courage has led her into military suicide prevention, and why doing the next thing, capturing old narratives, and choosing connection can help people hold on through their darkest moments.

What if loving others well starts by letting go of the need to fix everyone? In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Nancy Leonard to talk about Pathway Four, Love Others Well, and how courage begins by doing the work within yourself first. Nancy shares how the training changed the way she approaches empathy, trust, self-talk, and connection at work and at home, and why learning to stop fixing, honor her limits, and ask for what she needs has helped her show up with more authenticity and care.

What happens when someone you trust tells you that your greatest gift is nothing more than luck and connections? In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine and Alison Niermann, Founder and Managing Partner of Tilley Workforce Solutions, talk about what it looks like to reclaim the gifts and talents you were told you did not have. Alison shares how a defining moment at twelve years old on a stage in front of fifteen thousand people was followed by words that nearly extinguished her light, and how she eventually chose to return to the stage, trust her gifts, and stop letting someone else control her light switch. Together they explore vulnerability, authenticity, encouragement, and what it means to show up fully as who you were created to be.