The Courage is Built Here Podcast

In this episode of Courage Is Built Here, Justine sits down with psychologist and researcher Dr. Clay Brigance to explore what happens when life forces you to let go of who you thought you would be. Through his personal infertility journey, Clay shares how shame, grief, identity struggles, and fear became the catalyst for deeper connection, meaningful research, and a new understanding of courage t...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Tim Bounds to explore Pathway Four, Love Others Well, and what it takes to stay connected when relationships get difficult. Tim shares how conflict, vulnerability, accountability, and honest conversations can strengthen trust, deepen relationships, and help people move from avoiding tension to navigating it with courage.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Dr. Jamie Burkhart to explore Pathway Three, Be Fully You, and what it looks like to care deeply for others without completely losing yourself in the process. Jamie shares how leadership, motherhood, faith, and service shaped her understanding of boundaries, resentment, asking for help, and reclaiming who she is beyond constantly car...

In this solo episode of Courage Is Built Here, Justine answers questions from her community about self-care, burnout, boundaries, and what it really means to show up for yourself. Through Pathway Two, Embody Again, she explores why so many people wait until they are exhausted before caring for themselves, how to start small when self-care feels overwhelming, and why caring for yourself is not self...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Mollie Bolton to explore Pathway One, Feel It All, and what it looks like to support others without absorbing their emotions. They talk about balancing empathy with boundaries, staying grounded in your values during difficult moments, and learning how to care for others without losing yourself in the process. 

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Dr. Kelley Watts to explore Pathway Five, Do the Work, and what it looks like to stop living from unspoken expectations and start clearly communicating your needs. Kelley shares how owning your part, recalibrating when things are not working, and letting go of old stories can transform relationships, reduce resentment, and create mor...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Sam Riden to explore Pathway Four, Love Others Well, and what it looks like to choose connection over being right. Sam shares how leadership, relationships, and personal growth have required him to lean into hard conversations, build trust through vulnerability, and move away from rescuing toward truly loving others with clarity and...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Steph Auping to explore Pathway Three, Authenticity, and what it looks like to stop playing a role and start showing up as your full self. Steph shares stories from her global leadership work and personal life about embracing vulnerability, navigating pressure, and learning that being fully yourself is what truly creates connection a...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Betsy Reznicek to explore Pathway Two, Embody Again, and what it looks like to stop running on empty and start taking care of yourself. Betsy shares her experience of burnout as a nonprofit founder, the moment she asked for help, and how a sabbatical not only restored her but reshaped her organization’s culture.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Dr. Darryl Diggs to explore Pathway One, Feel It All, and what it really means to experience your emotions without being ruled by them. Darryl shares a powerful story of failure, shame, and perseverance through his journey with triathlons, and how learning to align with his values helped him process emotions, ask for help, and ultima...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Mary Pat Jacobs to talk about Pathway Five, Do the Work, and what it really takes to stop people-pleasing and start choosing yourself. Mary Pat shares her journey of being laid off, starting her own business, and learning how to take risks, rewrite old stories, and move forward with courage even when fear and uncertainty are still pr...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Marcy Bursac to talk about Pathway Four, Love Others Well, and what it really looks like to choose love in the hardest moments. Marcy shares her journey adopting her children through foster care, the emotional weight of uncertainty, and the daily courage it took to fully love even when there was no guarantee of the outcome.

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Ali Carson to talk about Pathway Three, Be Fully You, and what it looks like to stop performing and start showing up authentically. Ali shares how years of trying to be perceived as professional led her to mask parts of herself, and how stepping into roles aligned with her strengths helped her embrace her true personality, let go of...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Jess Mader to talk about Pathway Two, Embody Again, and what it looks like to finally make yourself a priority. Jess shares how hitting a breaking point in her health, energy, and reactions at home led her to seek support, build small daily habits, and begin caring for herself in physical, emotional, and mental ways so she could show...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Andy Storch to talk about Pathway One, Feel It All, and what it looks like to move through fear by getting clear on your values. Andy shares how a shift from fixed mindset to growth mindset changed his life, leading him to take big risks like starting a business, publishing books, moving his family to Spain, and choosing courage agai...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with grief speaker, advocate, and author Leslie Weirich to talk about Pathway Five, Do the Work, and what it means to choose courage through grief and loss. Leslie shares how losing her son Austin to suicide shaped her work, how courage has led her into military suicide prevention, and why doing the next thing, capturing old narratives, a...

What if loving others well starts by letting go of the need to fix everyone? In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with Nancy Leonard to talk about Pathway Four, Love Others Well, and how courage begins by doing the work within yourself first. Nancy shares how the training changed the way she approaches empathy, trust, self-talk, and connection at work and at home, and why le...

What happens when someone you trust tells you that your greatest gift is nothing more than luck and connections? In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine and Alison Niermann, Founder and Managing Partner of Tilley Workforce Solutions, talk about what it looks like to reclaim the gifts and talents you were told you did not have. Alison shares how a defining moment at twelve years old on a...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine sits down with therapist, life and mindset coach, and owner of Sea Change Wellness, Lauren-Ashleigh Whitaker (LA), to talk about what it really looks like to stop hustling and start healing. LA shares her health journey living with endometriosis, how grit culture kept her pushing past her limits, and what finally shifted when she stopped performing...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine opens Pathway One, Feel It All, and sits down with her friend Barry Engelhardt to talk about the difference between reacting and responding when emotions hijack the brain. Barry shares a memorable moment with his wife that became a wake-up call about stress spilling from work into home life, plus what it was like growing up without language for fee...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine opens Pathway Five, Do the Work, and sits down with professional calligrapher and small business owner Leah Spiros. Together they talk about how old stories can keep us stuck to what feels familiar, why “the next step” matters more than the perfect step, and how intentionality, kindness, and joy shape the way Leah shows up in her business and her r...

In this episode of Courage Is Built Here , Justine opens Pathway Four, Love Others Well, with executive leader and advisor Rose Thompson. Together, they explore how accountability, empathy, boundaries, and vulnerability are essential to caring for and leading others well. Rose shares stories from her leadership journey about one-to-one connection, holding people accountable with love, navigating b...

In this episode of Courage Is Built Here, Justine opens Pathway Three, Be Fully You, and sits down with educator and superintendent Amy Ruzicka to talk about imposter syndrome, leadership, and the courage it takes to step forward before you feel ready. Amy shares how self-doubt, authenticity, boundaries, and embracing joy have shaped her leadership journey, including her decision to apply for supe...

In this episode of Courage Is Built Here, Justine opens Pathway Two, Embody Again, and sits down with leadership consultant and coach Gretchen Pettet to talk about how caring for yourself is not selfish, it is how you show up well for others. Gretchen shares how the sudden loss of her mom became the catalyst for slowing down, prioritizing self-care, and building intentional practices that transfor...

In this episode of Courage is Built Here, Justine opens Pathway One, Feel It All, with her friend and guest Becki Feldmann. Becki shares her story of walking through secondary infertility, grief, and loss, and how faith, values clarity, and emotional honesty helped her come home to herself. Together, they explore what it means to feel deeply, name misalignment, reclaim self worth, and choose coura...