Gratitude Through Hard Times

Episode Overview Sometimes the most remarkable leaders don’t arrive at the top by climbing a neatly planned ladder, they stumble, pivot, and rebuild along winding roads. In this deeply personal and unexpectedly funny episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra welcomes Julie Peck , a transformative CEO whose story proves that a “curvy path” is not a flaw, it’s a strength. Julie’s...

In a time when the headlines are bleak and social feeds are filled with outrage, what does it mean to be deliberately optimistic ? In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra sits down with returning guest Mattan Griffel , two-time Y Combinator–backed founder, award-winning Columbia Business School professor, and longtime startup coach, to rethink optimism from the inside...

Episode Summary In this special episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra sits down with Swapnil Shinde , a three-time entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Zeni , the AI-powered finance platform transforming how startups manage their financial operations. Swapnil’s journey is a story of resilience, risk-taking, and relentless alignment with purpose. He shares how his very...

Episode Overview What does it mean to live a life worth talking about? In this deeply moving and soul-stirring episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra invites us into an extraordinary conversation with Seth Dechtman, a man whose journey has been defined not by fame or fanfare, but by grit, love, listening, and legacy. The story begins with a question Chris has asked to thousan...

Episode Summary In this powerful, emotionally resonant episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down with one of the world’s most respected thought leaders on human-centered performance: Ryan Estis . Ryan isn't just a keynote speaker or former Fortune 500 Chief Revenue Officer. He’s a guide for leaders navigating complexit y, a man who’s lived the tension between growth an...

Episode Description In this electrifying episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Chris Schembra sits down with transformational speaker, coach, and author Juan Bendana, whose new book Confident by Choice is poised to reshape how we think about courage, action, and self-belief. This conversation dives deep into a liberating truth: confidence isn’t a fixed trait—it's a daily decision. Together, Ch...

Episode Summary In this riveting and deeply personal conversation, Chris Schembra sits down with Grace Smith — one of the world’s most respected hypnotherapists and the founder of the #1 hypnotherapy brand in the world — to explore how hypnosis can unlock peak performance, emotional clarity, and authentic leadership in the modern workplace. Chris opens the episode by recounting how Grace helped hi...

In this deeply moving and insight-rich episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra welcomes Sara Hardwick, the Community Relationship Strategist at the Gift•ology Group and steward of the late John Ruhlin’s enduring legacy. What begins as a conversation about gifting quickly unfolds into a masterclass in human connection, spiritual resilience, and the transformative power of long...

What if your inner critic isn’t the enemy—but a misdirected inner coach waiting for the right conversation? On today’s soul-shifting episode, Chris Schembra sits down with licensed clinician and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Britt Frank to explore the untapped potential of your internal world. Britt’s new book, Align Your Mind , blends Internal Family Systems (IFS), neuroscience, trauma t...

Welcome back to another episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times ! Today, your host Chris Schembra is joined by the insightful and inspiring Dr. Steve Elias, Dean of the Katz School of Business at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Amidst the polar vortex sweeping through New York City, we dive into a heartwarming discussion about mentorship, leadership, and the power of gratitude in shaping...

Welcome to a soul-stirring episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times with your host, Chris Schembra. Set against the festive backdrop of New York City during the holiday season, this conversation is an inspiring reminder of the power of gratitude, connection, and intentional living. Joining Chris is Felipe Gómez, a world-renowned thought leader, virtuoso pianist, and keynote speaker who has captivat...

In this captivating episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra welcomes innovation expert, entrepreneur, and jazz musician Josh Linkner to explore the profound connection between creativity, gratitude, and success. Josh, a New York Times bestselling author and founder of five tech companies, shares how his diverse experiences—from navigating high-stakes business ventures to perf...

In this inspiring episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra sits down with David Landman, a former senior HR executive at Goldman Sachs, to explore his transformative journey from corporate success to living a life centered on joy, gratitude, and purpose. David, who is passionate about making work more sustainable, fulfilling, and inclusive for everyone, shares how his career t...

In this insightful episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra welcomes Mitch Warner, Managing Partner at The Arbinger Institute and co-author of Leadership and Self-Deception . Mitch guides us through the core principles of Arbinger’s groundbreaking work, exploring the central idea of self-deception —a psychological barrier that prevents individuals from seeing others clearly an...

In this deeply moving and insightful episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra engages in a heartfelt conversation with Sandeep Angra , Chief Information and Technology Officer (CIO/CTO) of the 40,000 person strong company, Unifi, the largest airport ground-handling company in North America and Europe. With over three decades of IT leadership experience spanning various industr...

In this insightful episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra sits down with Michael J. O'Brien, founder of The BluePrint Toolset®, Inc. , to explore how leaders can ignite the joy of work and foster positive cultural transformation within organizations. With over 35 years of experience coaching executives and consulting across diverse industries, Michael shares his journey from...

In this powerful episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra engages in a deep and insightful conversation with Dr. Tony Nader, a leading neuroscientist, global head of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement, and author of the groundbreaking book Consciousness Is All There Is . Together, they explore the profound impact of understanding and expanding consciousness on persona...

In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra sits down with Ash Shehata, Chief Information Officer of AHMC Healthcare System, to explore the intersection of leadership, adaptability, and human connection. Ash shares the story of a life-changing health crisis that transformed his perspective on healthcare and leadership, leading him to adopt a philosophy inspired by the ada...

In this episode of "Gratitude Through Hard Times," host Chris Schembra welcomes Francesco Pastore, the Chief Marketing & Sales Officer and Corporate Communication Director of the global paper leader, Sofidel. Francesco discusses the concept of a "portfolio career," emphasizing the importance of diverse experiences, continuous learning, and adaptability. He shares his strategy for balancing short-t...

In this episode of "Gratitude Through Hard Times," host Chris Schembra welcomes Steve Tcherchian, Chief Product Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at XY Pro, to discuss the profound impact of gratitude, resilience, and vulnerability in leadership. The conversation begins with Steve’s journey through the competitive cybersecurity industry, where he transitioned from a high-pressure, suc...

In this episode of "Gratitude Through Hard Times," Chris Schembra welcomes Elaine Knight, the Chief People Officer at Behavioral Health Link. Elaine shares her journey and insights on creating a positive and supportive work culture in the behavioral health sector. The conversation delves into the importance of gratitude, mindfulness, and empathy in leadership, and how these values can transform wo...

In this conversation, Chris Schembra interviews Enrico Galasso, the CEO of Peroni, an iconic Italian beer brand. They discuss Enrico's new book, “Per I Prossimi 175 Anni”, the importance of empathy and meaningful connections in leadership, and the challenges and opportunities of managing a brand with a long history. Enrico emphasizes the need for leaders to be adaptable, to learn from both success...

In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , we're thrilled to welcome Lisa Besserman, a luminary in both the technology and venture capital worlds. Lisa, the Founder of Startup Buenos Aires—which was successfully acquired—has made remarkable strides in the tech industry, earning her a spot among Business Insider's "Top 100 Most Influential Women in Tech," alongside notable figures like Shery...

We’ve all experienced it: that feeling of being stuck on an endless treadmill. It can be soul-crushing, but our guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times is a peak performance coach is here to help us change the narrative heading into 2024. Erin Stafford, author of  "The Type A Trap: Five Mindset Shifts to Beat Burnout and Transform Your Life," explains to Host Chris Schembra the under...

Nothing creates team buy-in more effectively than the “ownership mindset” espoused by our guest on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times. What’s the secret sauce? Kerry Siggins, CEO at StoneAge Inc., shares with Host Chris Schembra her powerful building blocks for cultivating workplace cultures rooted in accountability. It’s about caring – for colleagues, customers and ourselves – and ensur...