Gratitude Through Hard Times

"Culture is defined by how we treat each other when nobody’s watching." This philosophy, forged in the fires of firefighting and high-stakes football, has driven the growth of one of the Pacific Northwest’s most successful independent luxury real estate firms. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris Schembra sits down with Nick Schleckaway, the CEO and founder of Amherst Madison. Wh...

Stats drive scores, but stories stir souls." This philosophy, born in the radio booths of Singapore and driven by a transition from comfort to total disruption, has delivered over $2 billion in transformational impact for global executives. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Chris Shambra sits down with Jay Kiew, a world-renowned keynote speaker, author, and change strategist who ha...

"You’re going to be okay." These five simple words from a 98-year-old grandmother became the cornerstone of a leadership philosophy that has driven over $20 billion in revenue influence. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Chris Shambra sits down with Sandy Hogan—a powerhouse revenue leader who has held the helm at tech giants like Cisco, Rackspace, VMware, and LivePerson. But this i...

In a special role-reversal episode, host Chris Schembra steps into the hot seat as the interviewee, with award-winning strategist and Culture Changers host Allison Hare leading the conversation. Reflecting on a decade of building human connection, Chris explores why we are entering a new cultural chapter—shifting from the Knowledge Era to the Wisdom Era . The conversation explores the internal shi...

Chris sits down with Adam Famularo, CEO of WorkFusion, in a rainy New York City as the holiday season begins. Adam shares his unconventional path from elite Spartan racer to technology executive, and how endurance, resilience, and gratitude shaped his approach to leadership. His journey is a reminder that meaningful careers are rarely linear—and that growth often comes from overcoming challenges r...

Episode Summary In this episode, Chris Schembra sits down with Jessica Weiss to unpack a radical but practical idea: happiness at work isn’t something you wait for in a distant future, it’s something you actively create, even in imperfect conditions. Drawing from Jessica’s book Happiness Works , the conversation reframes happiness not as a fleeting mood or a vague “choice,” but as a set of tangibl...

Episode Overview In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris Schembra sits down with Brent Kenneway, National Group VP of Sales at UKG, for a conversation about the kind of relationships that aren’t transactional, the kind that actually nourish the soul.  Brent opens with the gratitude question and doesn’t hesitate: he gives credit to his wife, Jenny, the person he says made his life an...

Podcast Show Overview In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Chris Schembra welcomes back Julie Peck —a seasoned tech and growth executive and current CEO of Talent Neuron , a global leader in workforce intelligence. Returning after a powerful first conversation (“The Gift of the Curvy Path”), Julie brings both lived experience and a front-row seat to how AI is reshaping work, leadershi...

In a world obsessed with speed, optimization, certainty, and AI-driven answers, this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times offers a necessary pause. Chris Schembra sits down with Eric Stine , CEO of Sitecore, for a deeply human conversation about leadership, belonging, gratitude, and the courage to say yes before you feel ready. This is not a tactical episode about growth metrics or technology s...

Episode Overview In this rich, sensory journey through the Eternal City, I sit down with food historian, author, and Rome expert Katie Parla , a woman whose love affair with Rome began at sixteen thanks to her mother’s quiet act of generosity. What started as a high school Latin club trip became a lifelong devotion to understanding the flavors, history, and soul of a city that was never meant to e...

Episode Overview In this deeply personal episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra sits down in person with Sandra Campos , a trailblazing CEO, board advisor, and serial entrepreneur whose story spans global fashion houses, digital transformation, and compassionate leadership. From humble beginnings in her parents’ tortilla factory to leading billion-dollar brands like Diane vo...

Episode Summary In this deeply human and heartfelt conversation, Chris Schembra sits down with his longtime friend Kirti Naik , a powerhouse brand leader turned soulful storyteller, for an episode that moves beyond titles and accolades into the raw, unfiltered truth of a life well-lived. On this crisp New York City fall day, amid Yom Kippur reflections and the festive spirit of Diwali, Chris and K...

Episode Summary In this special episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , host Chris Schembra welcomes Drew Sullivan , a purpose-driven dealmaker, speaker advocate, and Senior Vice President at APB Speakers, for a raw and hope-filled conversation about the courage it takes to stop hiding and start living authentically. Drew’s story is both ordinary and extraordinary. Growing up as a middle child w...

Episode Summary This episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times is about one of the most important and misunderstood challenges in business today, how to build workplaces where people truly thrive . Host Chris Schembra welcomes Mark Rix , Group Managing Director of Wellbeing at Work , for an unfiltered conversation on belonging, resilience, and the human side of leadership. What makes this episode po...

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...