Work From The Inside Out

In this week’s episode of Work from the Inside Out, Tammy welcomes longtime friend and mission-driven leader Steve Zuckerman, whose multifaceted career spans private equity, economic justice work, and co-founding Stroke Onward, the nonprofit he founded with his wife, author and professor Debra Meyerson. Steve shares how his grounded upbringing, infused with values of service and perseverance, informed the choices he made throughout his professional and personal life.

Steve walks us through his career journey, from his entry into consulting, to private equity, to becoming a stay-at-home dad during a major life shift, and eventually pivoting to non-profit leadership. He describes his ‘strategically opportunistic’ mindset which developed over time. Steve reflected on how this approach enabled him to see opportunities beyond conventional pathways and engage with both planned and unexpected situations. 

In 2010, the unexpected occurred when Steve’s wife, Deb experienced a life threatening stroke Debra, leaving her with a paralyzed right side and no speech at all. We discuss her continual recovery efforts, limitations imposed by her aphasia, and their collaborative mission to expand the conversation around identity loss and rebuilding after stroke. Steve shares how this experience reshaped his career priorities, leading to the founding of Stroke Onward and the second edition of Deb’s book Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke. Their goal: transform how the medical and rehabilitation systems support the long-term emotional journey of recovery.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How Steve’s childhood values shaped his lifelong commitment to service and purpose-driven work.
• Why he turned down traditional career pathways in favor of roles aligned with his values.
• The philosophy of being “strategically opportunistic” and how it can guide career decisions.
• The year-long Mediterranean family sailing adventure that changed their perspective on life.
• Deb’s stroke, her life with aphasia, and how Steve supports her identity rebuilding.
• How the book Identity Theft evolved into a second edition and the founding of Stroke Onward.
• The systemic gaps in stroke recovery and why emotional healing needs long-term support.
• Steve’s advice for making career decisions rooted in clarity, compassion, and self-awareness.

Learn more about Steve:

• Learn more about Stroke Onward 
• Follow on Instagram: @strokeonward
• Follow on Facebook: Stroke Onward’
• Follow Steve on LinkedIn
• Subscribe on YouTube: @strokeonward
• Read: Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke
• Listen to the audiobook: Identity Theft: Rediscovering Ourselves After Stroke
• Read: Identity Theft: Second Edition



Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

This week on Work From The Inside Out, I am joined by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ken Corigliano, known widely as Air Force Ken. His story is one of extraordinary contrast: early years filled with love and community, followed by intense personal upheaval, homelessness, and loss. Ken’s path could easily have gone in a very different direction, but a pivotal encounter with a sharp-eyed recruiter and the devastating death of his sister sparked an internal shift that changed everything. What followed was a relentless commitment to service, personal responsibility, and rebuilding himself from the ground up.

Ken went on to become an award-winning enlisted Airman, a commissioned officer, an intelligence leader supporting Air Force One, a triathlete striving for the Olympics, and ultimately a decorated lieutenant colonel. But his journey was far from linear. A catastrophic accident derailed his athletic aspirations and left him with an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury that he quietly navigated for seven years while still serving. His recovery, physical, cognitive, and emotional, unfolded slowly and unexpectedly, culminating in breakthrough results from peptide therapy through Transcend, the company he now serves as an executive.

Today, Ken channels his life experience, scientific curiosity, and unmatchable resilience into helping others restore their health, energy, and quality of life. In this conversation, he opens up about trauma, service, rebuilding identity, the limitations of grit, and the importance of choosing the “hardest things” for the sake of becoming who we’re truly meant to be. His story is energizing, humbling, and an unforgettable reminder that transformation is always possible.

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How early childhood shaped Ken’s belief in community, nature, and connection
• The unraveling he experienced during adolescence and the turning point that changed his life
• The recruiter whose tough honesty set Ken on a path of service and growth
• Ken’s rise from struggling student to award-winning Airman and commissioned officer
• His near-Olympic pursuit in triathlon and the extreme dedication behind it
• The life-changing accident that caused a traumatic brain injury—and the seven years he hid it
• How he navigated military service while dealing with cognitive and physical challenges
• His remarkable recovery through peptide therapy and why it transformed everything
• Ken’s work at Transcend and how advanced therapies are helping people regain their vitality
• The philosophy behind his “Seven Gates” leadership model and what drives his passion for hard challenges

Learn more about Ken:

• Read: State of Being by Ken Corigliano
• Watch Ken’s story on YouTube
• Watch the Ultimate Beastmaster on Netflix
• Visit: Transcend Foundation
• Visit: Transcend Company
• Instagram: @airforceken
• LinkedIn: Ken Corigliano 

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

This week on Work From the Inside Out, I had the pleasure of speaking with Casey Berman, a strategic advisor, writer, and career transition expert. Casey is best known for his platform, Leave Law Behind, which has helped countless attorneys move beyond the legal field into roles that truly meet their interests. Today, he extends that mission more broadly through CaseyBerman.com, guiding professionals of various backgrounds to discover their “unique genius,” the blend of skills and talents that makes them valuable.

Casey’s own story is one of persistence, pivots, and discovery. Though pushed into law school by well-meaning advice, he quickly realized the traditional path of practicing law wasn’t for him. After failing the bar exam once, and later passing, Casey’s career took an unexpected turn when he joined a startup during the dot-com era. There, he began to recognize and develop strengths he didn’t even know he had, communication, negotiating, and leadership. Casey saw how he could leverage those skills to shape a career beyond law.

Now based in Maui, Casey helps people identify their invisible strengths, what he calls Casper the Friendly Ghost skills, and bring them to life in both meaningful and sustainable ways. From founding his own businesses to launching an AI-powered coaching tool, Casey models what it means to embrace risk, trust the process, and build a career that truly fits.

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• Discover your unique genius — Your most valuable strengths may not be obvious; ask others what they notice in you.
• Don’t just do what you’re good at. Do what you enjoy. Success and fulfillment meet at the intersection of skill and passion.
• Redefine career paths as multi-dimensional. You don’t have to stay in one lane; your career can reflect many ways of creating value.
• Do it your own way. Frameworks and advice are useful, but the most authentic and sustainable path is the one that fits you.

Learn more about Casey:

• Website: www.caseyberman.com
• X: @caseyberman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseybermansf/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/caseybermansf

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Follow Tammy on Instagram
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

In this week’s episode of Work From The Inside Out, I had the pleasure of speaking with Doug Hall, author, inventor, and founder of Eureka Ranch and Brain Brew Distillery. Named one of America’s top innovation experts, Doug has spent his career turning big ideas into practical, reproducible systems for organizations worldwide. His journey began as a curious kid in Maine, supported by his family who encouraged his inventiveness, which set the stage for a lifetime of discovery and problem-solving.

Doug shared how his father’s introduction to Dr. W. Edwards Deming’s systems thinking completely transformed his perspective on work. At Procter & Gamble, Doug applied these principles to bridge departments, optimize processes, and launch groundbreaking products. Eventually, he walked away from corporate life to found Eureka Ranch, where he pioneered approaches to innovation that were data-driven, scalable, and effective.

Today, Doug is passionate about teaching organizations and individuals how to find joy in their work by eliminating waste, engaging employees, and encouraging curiosity. His latest book, Proactive Problem Solving, captures decades of experience and provides accessible tools for managers and frontline workers alike. Doug reminds us that growth, learning, and curiosity are the essential ingredients of meaningful work.

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How curiosity drives innovation: Staying curious opens doors to lifelong learning and reinvention.
• Fixing systems, not people. Most problems lie in broken processes, not individual shortcomings.
• Why small wins create big engagement: Eliminating everyday frustrations helps employees find pride in their work.
• Keep asking if you’re growing. Regularly reflect on whether you’re smarter than you were six months ago.
• Meaningful work fuels joy. Fulfillment comes from work that matters, not just tasks that keep us busy.

Learn more about Doug:

• Visit Doug’s website at doughall.com
• Visit Eureka Ranch’s website at eurekaranch.com
• Visit Brain Brew Distillery



Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Follow Tammy on Instagram
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

I’m back! Though in many ways, I never really left. After taking a pause from Work from the Inside Out and my usual online presence, I wanted to share what this time away has taught me. The pause was prompted by the loss of my father, an experience that brought deep reflection, and ultimately, gratitude.

In this solo episode, I talk about what it means to allow ourselves to pause and to stop pushing; and instead, allow life to unfold into its own rhythm. I’ve learned that stepping back doesn’t mean giving up; it’s an act of honoring what’s happening and trusting that healing and clarity can come in their own time.

I also revisit the stories of past guests who have inspired me through their own transformative experiences; people like Michael O’Brien, Luis Velasquez, and Jenny Lisk. Each of them found new meaning after their lives changed in unexpected ways. Their stories and my own, remind me that when we allow life’s pauses to do their work, they often guide us toward growth and deeper purpose.

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• Why I chose to take a pause and what it taught me
• How grief can reveal new layers of gratitude and insight
• The unexpected gifts that come with slowing down
• The resilience and reinvention of past guests Michael O’Brien, Luis Velasquez, and Jenny Lisk
• How honoring life’s pauses can help you live and work with more meaning

Revisit Past Episodes:

• 6: Hitting the Pause Button with Michael O'Brien
• 35: Adapt and Thrive with Luis Velasquez
• 113: From Grief to Giving, One Step at a Time with Jenny Lisk

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Follow Tammy on Instagram
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter
• Subscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloeb

On Work from the Inside Out, episode 280, I spoke with Camilla Kring, an engineer turned expert in work-life balance and circadian rhythms. With a PhD in work-life balance and decades of experience across the globe, Camilla has dedicated her career to helping individuals and organizations create flexible cultures that honor people’s natural rhythms.

In our conversation, she explained how identifying your chronotype, whether you’re an early bird, night owl, or somewhere in between, can transform productivity, creativity, and overall well-being. She shared her journey of writing, researching, and working during her peak energy hours, even if they didn’t fit the traditional nine-to-five mold.

Through her company, Super Navigators, and nonprofit, The B-Society, Camilla has led change in both workplaces and schools. Her mission is clear: to empower us to live in sync with our rhythms, embrace self-compassion, and design lives that are sustainable, healthy, and fulfilling.

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• Understanding biological clocks, being an early bird or night owl, and how this impacts productivity and health.
• Tools and frameworks to intentionally design time, goals, and rhythms for a fulfilling life.
• How organizations can support diverse schedules, build trust, and boost employee well-being and performance.
• Advocacy for later school start times and the need to align societal norms with natural rhythms.
• Accepting one’s natural rhythm, releasing guilt from societal pressures, and embracing authenticity.

Learn more about Camilla:

• Visit Super Navigators
• Visit B-Society
• Read Unleashed by Anne Morriss and Frances Frei
• Subscribe to YouTube: @camillakring
• Follow Camilla on LinkedIn: Camilla Kring, PhD
• Read: Life Navigation Concept
• Download ebook: Life Navigation: Tools to Improve Your Work-Life Balance
• Read: Chronoleadership: How to create healthier and more productive rhythms in your work and life
• Visit: Bodyclock.Health
• Subscribe: Life Navigation Newsletter
• Visit: Applied Chronobiology
• Test your Chronotype

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Follow Tammy on Instagram
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide, which may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening.

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, I’m so excited to bring you my dear friend and colleague, Dr. Christina Guthier. Christina is an occupational health psychologist who has studied burnout and exhaustion for over a decade. What makes her perspective unique is her discovery of something she calls joyful exhaustion—a state of being physically tired, yet emotionally fulfilled, because the work feels meaningful and worthwhile.

In our conversation, Christina opens up about the personal experiences that shaped her research journey, including the contrasting ways her grandparents and father experienced work, and the tragic loss of her godfather, which left a deep impression on her understanding of burnout. She also shares how her academic path was shaped by both serendipity and deep reflection, leading to her award-winning research and upcoming book, Joyfully Exhausted.

What I loved most about this interview is Christina’s grounded, compassionate take on what it means to live and work in sustainable, satisfying ways. If you’ve ever felt wiped out but fulfilled, or burned out and stuck, this episode will help you reflect on what truly makes your efforts feel worthwhile. And stay tuned for more when the English translation of her book launches in the U.S.!

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• Discover the concept of joyful exhaustion, where tiredness comes from meaningful effort, not depletion.
• Understand how personal history and family dynamics can shape our experience of work and burnout.
• Learn why recovery is essential, even when you love what you do.
• Hear the powerful story of how Christina’s godfather’s death influenced her mission to humanize work.
• Get a sneak peek into Christina’s upcoming book and how she’s helping people reframe burnout through science-backed insights.



Learn more about Christina:

• Visit Christina’s Website
• Connect on Linkedin
• Follow Christina on Instagram: @christinaguthier
• Watch Christina’s TEDx talk: Let’s Talk About the Bright Side of Exhaustion

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, I’m so excited to welcome back Kathy Oneto. Kathy is the founder of Sustainable Ambition, a coach, speaker, and now the author of Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work. Her new book is a thoughtful and deeply practical guide for redefining what success and ambition can look like on your own terms. In our conversation, Kathy shares how the idea for the book was born out of years of reflection, coaching, and personal experience. We talk about what it means to honor your ambitions not just in work, but in all areas of life.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was how Kathy differentiates between staying busy and being intentional. She reminds us that ambition isn’t only about professional goals, it’s also about creating a fulfilling life. From nurturing creativity to becoming a better sleeper, she offers a broader and more compassionate view of what it means to pursue something meaningful. Kathy walks us through her process of writing the book with sustainability in mind, and the power of pacing, spaciousness, and grace along the way.

We also explored how so many people are operating on autopilot, rushing from one thing to the next without asking why. Kathy encourages us to pause, reflect, and claim the ambitions that genuinely matter to us right now. Her work is a refreshing reminder that slowing down isn’t a weakness. It’s a strategy. If you’re seeking clarity, realignment, or simply a more nourishing path forward, I know this conversation will speak to you. And don’t forget—her book launched last June 10th!

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• Generating your own ideas for success: Break through old habits of following what others suggest and focus on what matters most and feels right to you.
• How taking it slower can help you clarify your direction: It can help you to focus your thoughts, feel less stressed, and enjoy what you're doing.
• Why life goals are just as important to your ambitions as school or work: Wanting to be a better friend, developing hobbies, or improving sleep are all important ambitions.
• How asking yourself “why” can help you focus your choices in more authentic ways: By pausing to think before acting, you will choose what you want, not just what others expect.
• How simple tools can help you reach your goals: Kathy shares fun and easy exercises in her book to help you figure out what you want and how to get there.

Learn more about Kathy:

• Visit Sustainable Ambition
• Listen to the Sustainable Ambition Podcast
• Follow Kathy on Instagram: @koneto12
• Follow Kathy on LinkedIn: Kathy Oneto
• Read: Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work



Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, I spoke with Sabina Nawaz, executive coach and author of You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need. She brings with her decades of wisdom gained from leading executive development at Microsoft and later coaching C-suite leaders around the globe. But it’s not just her impressive credentials that left an impact, it’s her honesty and clarity about what shapes us, both the difficult and the delightful.

Sabina took us back to her early days in Calcutta, where adults trusted her with decisions at just eight years old, and where living in a home affected by domestic violence sharpened her intuitive grasp of human behavior. She attributes her extraordinary ability to read people to the influence of these childhood experiences, which now helps her support leaders facing the pressures of power and performance. Her journey from a successful software engineer to a sought-after leadership coach was anything but linear, and that's exactly what makes it so inspiring.

We talked about how she made the leap from a corporate powerhouse role, including advising Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, to starting her own business while starting her family, in search of a life where she could be in charge of her own time. Sabina’s wisdom around power, pressure, and presence is powerful for anyone seeking fulfillment and navigating a path to leadership. If you’re wondering how to best identify your strengths, or how to show up as a leader without losing yourself, you’ll want to take in Sabina’s insights.

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How Sabina’s early life shaped her leadership lens 
• Why getting promoted can be the riskiest moment in your career, and how to navigate the shift in how others perceive you as you take on more authority.
• Why it’s pressure—not power—that can derail leaders, and how recognizing your emotional patterns under stress is key to leading with integrity.
• The power of leaning into your strengths—and how Sabina used her gifts in communication, ideation, and connection to pivot from tech to leadership development.
• Why embracing experimentation can transform your career, from saying “yes” to unexpected opportunities to launching a global coaching practice while seven months pregnant.

Learn more about Sabina:

• Read You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)
• Download free book guides
• Visit: sabinanawaz.com
• Follow: LinkedIn
• Follow: Instagram

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter

In this episode of Work from the Inside Out, Dr. Gian Varbaro, MD, MBA–Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Ambulatory Services at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, New Jersey–shares a deeply personal and inspiring story of how grit, curiosity, and a relentless drive for justice shaped his career in healthcare leadership. From humble beginnings working in construction alongside his immigrant father to earning his MD from NYU and an MBA from Yale, Gian’s story is a testament to the power of intention, adaptability, and standing up for what matters. Today, as Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Ambulatory Services at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, he leads with empathy, insight, and a clear vision for health equity and organizational transformation.

Gian opens up about his early resistance to following his father’s dream of him becoming a doctor, his disillusionment with medical education, and how unexpected opportunities, and even moments of failure, led him to forge a unique path as a changemaker in hospital medicine. He also reflects on the mentors who shaped his leadership, the importance of learning from both positive and ineffective examples, and the role of intentionality in making meaningful career decisions. Whether you're in healthcare or navigating a different career journey, this episode is filled with practical wisdom and heart.

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How frustration can be a powerful catalyst for discovering purpose and direction in your career
• Why intentionality matters and how to approach your next move with a sense of clarity and a strategy
• The value of learning from both positive and ineffective leaders to shape your leadership style
• The evolving role of the hospitalist and how Dr. Varbaro helped pioneer hospital-based care
• The importance of mentorship and being mentored—even in unconventional or informal ways
• Why equity and trust are essential to transforming institutions and rebuilding morale



Learn more about Dr. Gian Varbaro:

• Follow on Facebook 
• Follow on LinkedIn 
• Follow on Instagram

Stay Connected:

• Connect with Tammy on LinkedIn
• Buy Me A Coffee
• Work From The Inside Out Website
• Subscribe to the newsletter