Gratitude Through Hard Times

"Trying to be transformational in all of your relationships instead of transactional is probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, takeaway." — Bill Barrett In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris Schembra sits down with Bill Barrett, CEO of Mandelbaum Barrett, a full-service law firm headquartered in New Jersey with over 150 attorneys practicing in 30 practice areas. Bill hos...

Rick Sems: Heart at Peace "The get-rich-quick scheme is actually to do a couple of things really well for a sustained period of time, and you set yourself apart." — Rick Sems Real leadership isn't about running fast in every direction—it's about building deep human relationships, compounding wisdom over decades, and choosing peace over perpetual conflict. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard...

"The more that you learn about what is, the more it frees you up to think about what could be." — Kimberli Carroll In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra sits down with Kimberli Carroll, President and CEO o...

"If you stop learning, you stop growing." — Philip Schembra In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this landmark 300th episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra welcomes his father, Philip Anthony Schembra, owner and Broker-in-Charge of Schembra Real Es...

"Living a life of gratitude eliminates entitlement and eliminates so many obstacles to success." — Kevin Jones In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this special 299th episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra sits down with Kevin Jones, founder and CE...

"When you're in need, you realize you need help. And when you're successful, you realize you got help all along." — James Farrin In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra sits down with James "Jim" Farrin, fou...

"We don't really think as much about who we are when no one's watching... that's where a lot of integrity comes from, and it's where we learn to enjoy our lives." — Kathryn Jezer-Morton In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , h...

"When something becomes a measurement, it stops becoming a good target." In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down with Nishat Mehta, CEO of Lexitas. A Harvard-trained mathematician and computer scien...

"Work-life balance isn't a thing... it's about work-life harmony." In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down with Ayla Nova, founder of Yoga Nidra & Beyond and creator of The Peace in Rest Program. Fr...

In a hyper-connected world filled with constant noise, notifications, and performance, we often travel just to capture the photo rather than live the moment. But what happens when true luxury isn't about being seen—it's about the privilege of disappearing? In this profound episode, Chris Schembra sits down with Nicolas Peluffo , CEO of Awasi Lodges. With over two decades of experience across hospi...

We often think of groundbreaking innovation in terms of technology, spreadsheets, and complex engineering. But what happens when humanity's most ambitious moonshots—literally reaching for the stars and returning to the moon—depend entirely on the subtle, daily interactions of human connection and moral courage? In this powerful episode, Chris Schembra sits down with Janet Grondin , CEO of Stellar...

"Work-life balance isn't a thing... it's about work-life harmony." In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Paul Mersino, President and CEO of Butzel, breaks down why true leadership requires excellence, mentorship, and continuou...

"I don't live well in the box because the box is not made for entrepreneurs." In a world obsessed with digital efficiency and quick fixes, the real currency of a meaningful life remains independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Colleen Joyce, CEO of Lawyer.com, breaks down why community is the new competition and how proactive resilien...

Philosophical Hook We often treat professional drive, relentless intensity, and self-reliance as badges of honor. But what happens when our greatest leadership strengths are actually walls we built to hide our deepest pain? In this powerful episode, Chris Schembra sits down with leadership coach and author Tyler Dickerhoof to discuss his new book, The Things We Hide . Tyler opens up about the trag...

"Those who can't do are good hype men for others." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris...

"Those who can't do are good hype men for others." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris...

"The best man on the floor is actually a woman." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Philip...

"At the end of the day, that's what we do. I mean, that's our job... we're professional helpers." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this...

"You are always a student, never a master." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort.   In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Sandra Lop...

"So many things about our life are numbers." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Abigail Bea...

"Anything will work again, as long as you unplug it long enough, even you." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for reclaiming a life dedicated to authentic human depth. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" convenience, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the unscalable power of independent thought, presence, and intentional effort. In this episode of...

"We are better together than we are apart." This conviction, rooted in the belief that human connection is the ultimate "turbocharger" for growth, serves as the foundation for navigating the complex world of global acquisitions. In an era where AI agents are rapidly automating the "logic" of business, the true differentiator remains the "unscalable" trust built over a shared meal and a glass of bo...

"Success shouldn't come at the cost of your soul—or your health." In an industry built on high-stakes pressure, Sophia Mullins is proving that peak performance and sustainable well-being aren't mutually exclusive; they are deeply interdependent. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Chris Schembra sits down with Sophia Mullins , Founder and CEO of Wall Street Wellness . Recorded live a...

"Do unto others as you want to do unto you." This simple principle, fueled by a "tambourine shake" of high energy, serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to high-performance joy. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" isolation, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the "unscalable" power of gathering people together. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard...

"Whatever it is you want most in the world right now is what you need to give." This simple but profound realization, sparked during a silent meditation retreat, serves as the heartbeat for a movement dedicated to reclaiming our shared humanity. In a world optimized for digital efficiency, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the "un-scalable" power of human connection. In this episode o...