What’s Possible w. Ilene Schaffer

As we step into a new year, one thing is clear: our social connections are not optional, they’re essential.

In this special In the Moment New Year’s episode, Ilene Schaffer explores why investing in relationships may be the most powerful decision you make for your health, happiness, and well-being in 2026.

Drawing on research from Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Ilene shares why social disconnection can be just as harmful as smoking, and how high-quality relationships protect against burnout, improve mental health, and even increase productivity.

This episode goes beyond theory and into practice. Ilene offers simple, human ways to strengthen connection: starting conversations, reaching out first, helping others, creating small rituals, and identifying the people who make you feel seen and supported. She also shares a personal story that illustrates how powerful, and life-changing, genuine connection can be.

If you’re entering the new year craving deeper relationships, more community, or a greater sense of belonging, this episode is a reminder that connection is a skill, a practice, and a choice — and it’s one worth making.

Let’s find out what’s possible when we prioritize connection, presence, and care for ourselves and for one another.

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Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

Sometimes life gives us “pinnacle moments”—those rare times when everything feels aligned, purposeful, and alive. In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer and Christian van Nieuwerburgh share personal and professional stories of reaching these high points, from speaking at wellness retreats to riding with hundreds of motorcyclists up a volcano.

Together, they explore what creates these moments and how to intentionally prepare for them while staying open to emergence and flow.

You’ll learn:

• The role of preparation, agency, and intentionality in creating life-changing experiences
• How to balance structure with presence so you can notice and embrace what emerges
• Why community connection and authenticity fuel our deepest moments of joy
• Practical ways to reflect on and leverage your own pinnacle experiences

Whether you’re seeking renewal, inspiration, or practical tools for well-being, this conversation will help you recognize and create more of your own pinnacle moments.

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Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

What does it really means to connect with others, whether in the workplace, on a Zoom call, or in everyday life? In this part of the series, Ilene Schaffer and Christian Van Nieuwerburgh talk about creating authentic connection in a disconnected world.

Drawing from personal stories, practical experience, and expert insights, they discuss the transformative power of listening, the importance of genuine presence, and how authenticity can unlock stronger relationships.

You'll learn actionable strategies for how to:

• Make others feel seen and heard
• Build bridges in micro-moments
• Balance your true self with situational professionalism.

This episode is perfect for leaders, coaches, and anyone seeking more meaningful connections.

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Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

What if the way we talk to people is the thing that most shapes whether they feel heard, valued, and understood?

In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with communication scientist and author Dr. Haesun Moon to explore the extraordinary power of ordinary words, and how small shifts in language can transform coaching, leadership, and everyday human connection.

Dr. Moon shares insights from her groundbreaking research, including:

• Why rapport isn’t something you build, it’s something you preserve
• How complaining reveals what people value and want to protect
• The difference between describing and explaining, and why descriptions unlock connection
• How to tune into “dreams and dreads” to understand what truly matters to others
• Practical coaching tools like calibration, formulation, and preserving language

Whether you’re a leader, coach, HR professional, or anyone longing for deeper communication and stronger relationships, this episode offers a fresh, research-backed approach to connecting with others in a fast-moving world.

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Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

We’re obsessed with time management—but what about energy management? In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer and ‪Christian Van Nieuwerburgh unpack practical strategies to sustain and recharge your energy throughout the week.

Through tools like energy audits, color-coding your calendar, and creating “replenishment wheels,” Ilene and Christian show how small shifts can prevent burnout and keep you thriving. They share real-world examples—from choosing a motorcycle ride over email, to finding micro-moments for music or walking—that restore energy even on the busiest days.

You’ll learn:

• How to identify activities that drain vs. replenish you
• Why planning energy boosts in advance matters more than waiting until you’re depleted
• The science of flow and reciprocity in energizing work
• Quick, everyday rituals to refuel your mind, body, and spirit

If you’ve ever felt the “fuel light” come on in your life, this episode offers practical ways to refuel before you hit empty.

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Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

What does it really take to scale coaching across an organization, and how do you measure its impact?

In this episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with two of her trusted partners, Eric Wong and Kailey Alongi from Adobe, for a candid and forward-looking conversation about the evolution of executive coaching.

Together, they unpack how coaching has shifted from a “wild west” approach where access depended on title or luck, to a strategic, data-informed practice that develops leaders at every level. Eric and Kailey share how Adobe has built a coaching culture rooted in measurable ROI, manager involvement, and democratized access, combining human connection with AI-powered nudges to make growth scalable, inclusive, and actionable.

Listeners will learn:

• How to design coaching programs with clear ROI metrics, from retention and promotion to measurable behavior change
• Why manager alignment is essential before and after every coaching engagement
• How AI and micro-learning are helping organizations democratize coaching for all employees
• What “executive presence” really means and how coaching helps leaders build it authentically
• The importance of having a strategic North Star for leadership development

Whether you’re a leader, HR professional, or organizational designer, this conversation offers a rare inside look at how one of the world’s most innovative companies is redefining what effective, human-centered leadership development looks like at scale. 

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Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

In this special series from "In the Moment," Ilene Schaffer and Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh turn the coaching lens on themselves. After years of guiding leaders and clients through transformation, they reflect on the lessons that unexpectedly reshaped their own lives.

At the root of this new essential series, Ilene and Christian share what it looks like to “walk the talk.” From weight management breakthroughs to pursuing long-deferred dreams, like riding Route 66 on a motorcycle or finally completing a master’s degree in positive psychology, you'll learn:

- Why clients often hold up a mirror to our own lives
- The role of intentionality, courage, and seizing the moment
- How practices like pre-savoring, savoring, and alignment fuel well-being
- The importance of turning “someday” goals into real action

Whether you’re a coach, leader, or lifelong learner, this conversation will inspire you to apply your own wisdom and discover what’s possible when you do.

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Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

What if loving your job wasn’t just a nice idea, but an achievable goal?

In this inspiring episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Dr. Arlene Pace Green, CEO of Enelra Talent Solutions and author of You Deserve to Love Your Job. Drawing from her 20 years as an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and Fortune 500 leader, Dr. Green shares a refreshing, faith-grounded, and actionable approach to finding fulfillment at work.

Together, Ilene and Arlene explore how to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be in your career, blending optimism, honesty, and self-reflection with practical tools for growth. From navigating transitions to reframing challenges, this conversation helps you see work not as a grind, but as an opportunity for purpose and thriving.

Listeners will learn:

• Why loving your job begins with self-awareness and mindset
• How to identify what’s working (and what’s not) in your current role
• Dr. Green’s simple model: “Look In, Look Out, Look Forward”
• Practical steps to improve job satisfaction, without changing everything at once
• How purpose, optimism, and reflection can transform your work and your life

Whether you’re navigating a career transition, seeking more meaning in your current role, or simply ready to reconnect with what lights you up, this episode reminds you that deep satisfaction at work is possible, and worth pursuing.

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Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

What makes a leadership offsite truly effective? How can you make sure your team leaves more aligned, connected, and inspired than when they arrived?

In this episode of minisode, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Eric Wong, Principal of Organizational Effectiveness at Adobe, to break down the art and science of a successful offsite.

With experience facilitating more than 500 leadership sessions, Eric shares four key elements every great offsite needs. Plus, Eric shares how clarity, creativity, and fun (yes, even ice cream contests!) drive real alignment and results.

If you’re a leader, HR professional, or facilitator planning your next offsite, this quick conversation is packed with practical ideas for boosting engagement, collaboration, and performance.

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Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

How does self-awareness impact your leadership? In this episode, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with speaker, author, educator Margaret Andrews to explore the foundations of great leadership: self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and managing yourself before leading others.

Margaret’s new book, Managing Yourself to Lead Others, distills decades of research and experience from her acclaimed Harvard course and her work as founder of The MYLO Center, helping leaders develop the mindset and tools needed to navigate today’s complex workplaces.

Ilene and Margaret dive into what it truly means to “lead yourself first” and how understanding your own motivations, emotions, and values can make you a more grounded, empathetic, and effective leader.

Listeners will learn:

• Why self-awareness is the foundation of leadership
• Six key questions every leader should ask to understand themselves
• How to create a personal “operating manual” to improve communication and collaboration
• Practical strategies for managing up and partnering effectively with your boss
• How to align intentions with behaviors to earn trust and lead with authenticity

Whether you’re a manager, executive, or aspiring leader, this conversation is full of actionable tools and reflective questions that will help you understand yourself—and lead others—with greater clarity, confidence, and compassion.

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Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube
Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.