Thriving Outside the Box

What does it look like to stay true to your mission when the path changes? In this episode of Thriving Outside the Box, Dr. Kim sits down with Robin Rosenberg, PhD — clinical psychologist, executive coach, business advisor, and mentor — for a conversation about purpose, risk, and what recovery really looks like after a major chapter closes. Robin shares her remarkable journey from writing a psychology textbook to founding a venture-backed startup in the San Francisco Bay area that used virtual reality to address unconscious bias in the workplace — and what it took to keep going when that company had to close in 2020. This is a conversation about the many different forms a mission can take, the courage it requires to pursue it, and the mentorship relationships that sustain us along the way.

Guest Bio

Robin S. Rosenberg is a clinical psychologist with psychotherapy and coaching practices in California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and Utah. She is board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and has taught psychology at Lesley University and Harvard University.

Dr. Rosenberg specializes in treating anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depression, relationship and work-related issues, and couples and families. She is a Past President of the Women's Mental Health Consortium.

She writes about psychology for general audiences — often using fictional characters to illustrate psychological concepts — and has authored psychology textbooks for college students.

She received her BA from New York University and her MA and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, with clinical training at Massachusetts Mental Health Center/Harvard Medical School and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

Guest Links & Info

Website: drrobinrosenberg.com

Connect with me:

Website: www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @drkimbgrocher

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher

Wealth, Water, & Wellness Retreat- May 15th-16th, 2026-Clearwater Beach, FL

Credits:

Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT

Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr.

Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

What does it really mean to listen to yourself — and how does that shape the way you show up for everyone else? In this episode of Thriving Outside the Box, Dr. Kim sits down with Marie Deveaux, inclusive leadership coach and CEO of High Tides Consulting, for a deeply personal and honest conversation rooted in Marie's own journey and her work with leaders. They explore discernment as a daily practice, what it means to have a real relationship with fear, and how trusting yourself and staying in alignment with your own vision is foundational to every relationship you're in. Marie shares her perspective on what transformation actually requires: being resourced through community, an ecosystem of support, the humility to say you're at capacity, and the willingness to ask for — and allow yourself to receive — help. A rich, grounded conversation about the inner work that makes everything else possible.

Marie Deveaux is the Founder and CEO of High Tides Consulting, a learning and development agency dedicated to magnifying the voices of women and people of color in the workplace. Rooted in Black feminist praxis, her work blends applied sociolinguistics with practical leadership tools to challenge dominant narratives, dismantle bias, and foster truly inclusive cultures. Through workshops, coaching, and cohort learning, Marie empowers individuals and organizations to step boldly outside the "traditional" leadership box and thrive. Her approach is grounded in the belief that authentic communication—shaped by equity and lived experience—is the catalyst for cultural change.

Guest Links & Info

Websites: hightidesconsulting.co & mariedeveaux.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mariedeveaux

Resources:

Barriers to Bridges Leadership Assessment to explore traits of your own leadership ethos an culture

Barriers to Bridges ebook

Courses for Managers focused on interpersonal skill development

Connect with me:

Website: www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com

Instagram: @drkimbgrocher

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher

Credits:

Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT

Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr.

Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

What if the parts of yourself you've been hiding are actually your greatest gifts? In this episode of Thriving Outside the Box, Dr. Kim sits down with psychotherapist and author Melanie Ryan, LCSW — founder of The Golden Shadow Method — for a rich conversation about fearlessness, authenticity, and the parts of ourselves we've learned to conceal. Drawing on 30 years of clinical experience and the ancient wisdom traditions that underpin her work, Melanie offers a deeply humanizing framework for understanding the "golden shadow" — not as something to fear, but as the source of our truest potential. If you've ever felt like you were shrinking yourself to fit in, this episode will challenge you to reclaim what you left behind.

Guest Bio

Melanie Ryan has been a psychotherapist for 30 years. She is the author and founder of The Golden Shadow Method & Ancient Wisdom Today. Melanie specializes in helping others achieve their full potential by connecting with their true nature hidden within the golden shadow.

Guest Links & Info

Website: https://www.goldenshadowmethod.com/

Instagram: @golden.shadow.method | @ancientwisdomtoday

Facebook: @Melanie Ryan | @Ancient Wisdom Today

The Golden Shadow Method Retreat — August 2026, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY

Connect with Dr. Kim

Website: www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @drkimbgrocher

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher

Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT

Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr.

Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

Welcome back to Thriving Outside the Box — Season 2 is here.

This season, we're going a little deeper. I've lined up conversations with people who are living proof that your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's. I'll also be drawing on 20+ years of helping people get honest about their path — the one they're on, and the one their heart is calling them toward — whether those are the same road or something entirely different.

In this opener, I set the intention for Season 2 — and invite you into what we might discover together along the way.

Get comfortable. Season 2 starts now.

If this resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it — and make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode.

Connect with me:

Website: www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @drkimbgrocher

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-grocher

Credits

Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT

Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr.

Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

In this season finale, I want to thank everyone who has been part of this journey. I'll share the origin story behind the podcast, reflect on where we've been, and offer some final tips to help you continue designing the life you deserve.

Season 2 drops in early 2026—see you then!

Credits

Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT

Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr.

Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

Christian Brown is the founder and CEO of Blimish, a global wellness company using emerging technologies and psychologist-informed design to prevent burnout and support workplace mental wellness. After publishing his first book at age 20 and traveling to over 30 countries, Christian has spent the last three years building Blimish in France. His work bridges creativity, technology, and human connection, with a focus on helping humans flourish from the inside out. He is a storyteller at heart, with a purpose of helping others find happiness in their struggle and peace in their process of healing.

Christian enlightens us with his strategies for designing his life and business while keeping wellness at the heart of everything:

• Steering his personal journey & global perspective as a Black man from Atlanta, GA to Paris,France using intention as his guide
• Using emerging technologies to build a global business in the mental health & wellness industry
• Building relationships abroad
• Discovering your gifts and developing a path towards purpose

Connect with Christian and Blimish:

iamchristianbrown.com

blimish.com

LinkedIn

Credits

Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT

Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr.

Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

Dr. Stephanie Chambers is a holistic nurse practitioner with a private practice in Mount Vernon, New York. With over 20 years of dedicated service in the healthcare industry, Dr. Chambers specializes in multi-dimensional wellness approaches to primary healthcare, treating the whole person rather than just symptoms. Combining evidenced-based medicine with holistic principles, she creates a unique practice environment where patients feel supported in their journey toward complete wellness.

Join Dr. Kim for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Stephanie Chambers as Dr. Chambers shares how faith, courage, and the relentless pursuit of passion can transform both personal wellness and professional calling.

Connect with Dr. Chambers:

www.stopshrinkingback.com

https://Yourdoortohealthandwellness.com

Credits

Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT

Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr.

Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

Dr. Bosco-Ruggiero is a social scientist, adjunct professor, and founder of Oasis Consulting. She holds a PhD in Social Work from Fordham University, an M.A. in Public Policy from the University of Delaware, and a B.A. in Political Science from Vassar College. Her main research interests include social policy, child welfare, mental health, and spiritually transformative experiences.

Stephanie discusses:

1. The current challenges facing academia today

2. How to start your own research consulting company

3. Strategies for working smarter, not harder

Connect with Dr. Stephanie Bosco-Ruggiero:

https://oasis-consulting-services.org/

You Tube @ProfessorLady11

LinkedIn

Adopting Older Children

Credits

Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT

Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr.

Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

Results-driven CEO, visionary scholar, and social entrepreneur, Dr. Felecia Pullen, combines 30 years of corporate acumen with cutting-edge nonprofit leadership to transform systems of care for under-resourced communities. As the Founder and CEO of Let's Talk SAFETY, Inc., she has built New York State's highest-performing Recovery Community & Outreach Center, serving nearly 20,000 New Yorkers through culturally responsive, evidence-informed, and equity-centered programming.

In this episode, Felecia opens up about:

• The unexpected journey that helped her find her calling

• How she turned her darkest moments-battling addiction and depression-into her greatest strengths

• Why she's passionate about lifting up the people society often overlooks

• Real talk for anyone ready to stop just getting by and start truly living

Connect with Dr. Pullen:

[email protected]

www.pillarsnyc.org

www.safeinharlem.org

Credits

Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT

Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr.

Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC

There's a lot of chatter about retreats in wellness, corporate, and entrepreneurial spaces, but retreating isn't one size fits all and if you've never been on a retreat, you may be skeptical about a retreat being worth the investment of your time, money, and energy. And if you have been on retreats, maybe you're considering what your next one should be. The right retreat at the right time can definitely be a game changer (and in many cases, a lifechanger) as you're designing your path, but how do you know what's "right"?

In this solo episode, I break down:

• Vacations vs. Retreats vs. Residencies

• Retreats as a strategy to move you from where you are to where you desire to be

• Finding retreats and discerning which ones are right for you

• Creating your own retreat

Resources

Ep. 5 w/ Bridgette Simmonds

OMNoire

Insight Meditation Society

Coming Up: Reset, Revive, & Thrive- A Monthly Mini-Wellness Retreat for Women w/ Dr. Kim (August 17, 2025 Westchester County, NY)

More questions about retreats? Email Dr. Kim

Credits

Host: Dr. Kimberly Grocher PhD, MA, LCSW, ACC, RYT

Music: Gregory Brooks, Jr.

Sound Engineer: Hitz Muzic Group, LLC