The Courage is Built Here Podcast

Ryan McCrea joins Justine to explore Pathway Two, Embody Again, and what it truly means to take care of yourself as a leader. They talk about courageous conversations, managing energy instead of just time, setting boundaries around work, and why self care is foundational to showing up well for others. This episode dives into leadership, embodiment, and caring for the whole human at work and at home.

COO and mom of four boys, Meg Brown, joins Justine to explore Pathway One: Feel It All. They talk about values as deep roots, getting hooked in big emotions, and the courage it takes to circle back, repair, and respond instead of react. Meg also shares how living her values of unconditional love and courage shapes her parenting, leadership, and the culture at Cambridge Air Solutions.

Derek Weber joins Justine for Pathway Five, Do the Work, to explore what it truly means to rewrite old narratives, challenge the stories that shape us, and walk courageously toward healing. Derek shares how a three and a half month sabbatical shifted his beliefs about success, health, presence, and identity. Together they discuss belief systems, the mind body connection, triggers, and why self care is one of the most courageous choices you can make.

Lisa Nichols joins Justine to explore Pathway Four: Love Others Well. They talk about courageous conversations, accountability, forgiveness, emotional regulation, and why real love requires truth, empathy, and brave leadership. Lisa also shares how stillness, faith, and surrender shaped her courage through her daughter’s long health journey.

Chel’Lee Whitten joins Justine to explore what it really means to Be Fully You. She shares how letting go of playing small, keeping promises to herself, and rooting into her values of love and knowledge helped her step into authentic leadership. Together they talk about trust, presence, imposter syndrome, and why showing up as your full self creates space for others to grow too.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine and her friend and online business manager, Kristen Hanff, talk about what it looks like to learn self care as an adult when you did not have a healthy model growing up. Kristen shares how leaving corporate, homeschooling, a life changing DNA discovery, and starting her own business became a season of learning to love herself, build non negotiables, and move from survival into a more grounded, values based rhythm of life.

In this first full episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine and her longtime friend, author and micro school founder Rebecca Pierce, talk about what it means to feel it all without being ruled by our emotions. Rebecca shares how she went from growing up in a family that boxed up feelings to becoming a “big feeler” who helps kids, staff, and her own family name, honor, and move emotions through the body with courage, values, and connection.

Courage is not something you magically have. It is something you build. In this introductory episode, Justine Froelker shares why courageous leadership matters more than ever and what listeners can expect from the Courage Is Built Here Podcast. She introduces the five pathways that guide her leadership development framework and explains how courage shows up in everyday life and work.

Welcome to The Courage is Built Here Podcast. I am Justine Froelker, and I am grateful you are here. This space is for anyone who is choosing to grow, to lead, and to live with more self-awareness, authenticity, courage, and resilience. In this podcast, we talk honestly about what courage looks like in real life. Courage is not something you magically have or do not have. It is something you build through practice, through presence, and through choosing to show up for yourself and for the people in your life. This work asks us to stay grounded, curious, connected, and compassionate, even when it is hard. Every episode explores ideas from The Five Pathways to a Courageous Life, from my curriculum Courage is Built Here™, which guide all of my work: 1. Feel It All: How to feel and not be our emotions 2. Embody Again: How to take care of ourselves 3. Be Fully You: How to show up authentically 4. Love Others Well: How to live with, relate to, and lead others well 5. Do The Work: How to live courageously My mission is to teach people how to live, love, and lead well. After more than 25 years of being a therapist, coach, author, and facilitator, I know that meaningful change is built in honest conversations, real stories, and tiny choices that add up over time. This podcast brings that work to life through teaching and through conversations with leaders who are practicing courage in their own lives. If you want to strengthen your courage, deepen your relationships, and grow in how you show up in the world, this podcast is your starting point. Courage is built here, and you are invited to practice it with us.