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Gratitude Through Hard Times: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Chris Schembra
Chris Schembra is a dinner host, question asker, and facilitator. He's a columnist at Rolling Stone magazine, USA Today calls him their "Gratitude Guru" and he's spent the last nine years traveling around the world helping people connect in meaningful ways. As the offshoot of his #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling book, Gratitude Through Hard Times, he uses this podcast to blend ancient stoic philosophy and modern day science to teach how the principles of gratitude can be used to help people get through their hard times. By finding the positive benefits from negative situations, and giving gratitude to them, listeners can develop the resilience and optimism needed to get through further trying times. Having used these principles to spark over 500,000 relationships through his workshops and his experiences, this podcast now aims to educate listeners across the world.
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- 5 days ago40 min
Colleen Joyce: Community as the New Competition
"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 resilience drives real growth. From starting in a green, part-time role to rising to CEO, Colleen shares key lessons from her mentor Gerry Gorman on leading with heart, leaning into an unstructured life, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to build something bigger than yourself. 10 Memorable Quotes: "I don't live well in the box because the box is not made for entrepreneurs." "In the world, a lot of luck matters." "Community is the new competition." "We suffer more in imagination than in reality." "You can't connect the dots looking forward, but you can only connect the dots looking backwards." "I lead with love, and it's kind of weird to say that in a business setting, but I truly care." "I'd rather have a small piece of a big pie than a big piece of a small pie." "There's no value in what's been said. There's only value in what's been unsaid." "Wisdom can't just be taught. It must be earned by getting through hard times." "Progress over perfection." 10 Key Takeaways: Betting on the Non-Linear Path: How saying "yes" to a part-time opportunity without a traditional corporate roadmap opened the door to building an eight-figure powerhouse. Inquisitive Empathy and Radical Candor: Balancing deep care for team members with the accountability needed to deliver direct, honest performance feedback. Competition as Collaboration: Embracing aspirational competitors, learning from industry adversaries, and bringing competing voices together to elevate the entire ecosystem. The "Give Maxing" Philosophy: Countering isolation and hardship by gathering people, asking thoughtful questions, and actively extending gratitude. The Trap of Jevons Paradox: Recognizing that time saved by AI tools often gets swallowed by routine busyness unless leaders intentionally reallocate it toward human connection. Unlocking Untapped Potential: Pushing past comfortable boundaries to help team members tap into their unsaid thoughts and internal genius. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Accepting that leading through rapid industry changes requires living in the present while continuously learning as technology evolves. Surrendering Control to Foster Growth: Giving up micro-management to allow team members the freedom to make mistakes, learn, and step into leadership roles. The Power of Intentional Disconnection: Practicing small daily habits—like stepping away from digital devices—to remain fully present for family and community. Abundance Mindset vs. Scarcity: Rejecting the idea that success is a zero-sum game, choosing instead to build partnerships that lift all participants faster. About our Guest: Colleen Joyce is the CEO of Lawyer.com, the #1 U.S. lawyer matching service and online legal directory. Over the past decade, she has helped transform Lawyer.com from a simple concept into an eight-figure legal powerhouse, growing the company's revenue by more than 20% in 2024 alone. She rose to the CEO seat by way of Senior Vice President of Lawyer Services and then President, and today leads the strategy, technology, and partnerships that connect consumers with qualified attorneys across every practice area and jurisdiction in the country. Colleen is also the Co-Founder of the Lawyer Growth Summit, a national conference that brings attorneys, legal technologists, and industry thought leaders together to share the strategies driving real growth in modern law firms. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, mentor, and podcast host, and her leadership has been featured in Authority Magazine's "Female Disruptors" and "Leading with Heart" series and recognized by Marquis Who's Who. Before her legal-industry career, she served as Director of Marketing and Publicity at PopStar.com (a subsidiary of World Media Group), producing celebrity content for a global audience and covering red carpets, press junkets, and awards shows. Colleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Illinois, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and describes herself first and foremost as a proud m
- 1 weeks ago1h 4m
Tyler Dickerhoof: The Things We Hide
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 tragic childhood loss of his younger brother, Joel, and how that single event led him to build a 25-year defensive wall of extreme intensity. Together, they explore how to break through the four walls of insecurity—intensity, inactivity, insensitivity, and isolation—to transition from a defensive, lonely "bulldozer" into a truly connected, impact-driven leader. 10 Memorable Quotes "My brother had died and it was an accident. I was fourteen and Joel was three." — Tyler Dickerhoof "Where we get in trouble is when we start to depict other people's interpretation of value as our own. And that's where everything goes awry." — Tyler Dickerhoof "I don't tell that story because I don't think it has value. I didn't understand that that manifestation of hiding those things was creating a barrier in my ability to connect." — Tyler Dickerhoof "Instead of it showing up at the bottom of a bottle or drugs... it was my intensity." — Tyler Dickerhoof "Intensity is a bulldozer. A bulldozer will clear a path, but it's going to leave carnage. And in a human sense, that carnage is relationships." — Tyler Dickerhoof "If you want to level some land, great, but I'm not gonna go hang out with you... because I was always on to the next thing." — Tyler Dickerhoof "If leadership is lonely, you’re doing it wrong." — Tyler Dickerhoof "I was marooned on an island because I thought I had to do it all... But I was the one that held the keys to the lifeboat." — Tyler Dickerhoof "When we're looking in the mirror, it looks real good. But then someone sits across from us and says, 'Hey, your face is flipped around the other way.'" — Tyler Dickerhoof "Too often we think impact is monumental... Joel was thirty-four months old when he died. His life made an impact." — Tyler Dickerhoof 10 Key Takeaways The Shield of Intensity: Extreme drive and work ethic can often be subconscious survival mechanisms built to mask grief, trauma, or insecurity. The "Bulldozer" Trap: While intensity clears paths and gets things done in business, it leaves a trail of damaged relationships if left unchecked. The Valuation Crisis: Real security begins when you stop adopting external definitions of success and start grounding yourself in your intrinsic value. The Four Walls of Insecurity: Leaders protect themselves through four distinct defensive mechanisms: Intensity, Inactivity, Insensitivity, and Isolation. The Illusion of Lonely Leadership: Loneliness at the top is not an inevitable byproduct of leadership; it is a self-imposed prison created by our unwillingness to be vulnerable. Windows vs. Mirrors: Leading effectively requires looking through a "window" to see how your actions affect others, rather than just looking in a "mirror" of your own intentions. Tech-Enabled Isolation: In the age of AI, we must be careful not to use productivity tools to further isolate ourselves, but rather to buy back our time for genuine human connection. The Power of the Round Table: High-level growth happens in layers when you surround yourself with a diverse group of peers who can pressure-test your perspectives. The 5 R's of Mindset: Maintaining a healthy leadership attitude requires a daily cycle of Routine, Reset, Remember (or Not), Realistic alignment, and constant Repetition. Redefining Impact: True, lasting impact isn't measured by scale or longevity, but by the depth of meaning we bring to the lives of those we touch. About Our Guest Tyler Dickerhoof is a keynote speaker, leadership coach, and host of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show. As the founder of Impact Driven Leader and developer of the Awaken the Leader Within framework, he helps executives and entrepreneurs grow in influence without losing their humanity. Tracing his leadership roots back to his agricultural upbringing, Tyler holds a degree from Cornell University and is based in Spokane, Washington. Learn more at tylerdickerh
- 3 weeks ago49 min
Cris Burnam: Curiosity Maxing
"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 Schembra explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, proactive resilience, and the universal language that unites us. Cris Burnam shares insights from his personal journey, including navigating a life-changing career evolution since pivoting from corporate agriculture to a transformative year in Japan in 1982, executing intense multi-billion-dollar real estate transactions, and the long road to paying forward the lessons of grit and character learned from his parents, Gordon and Mickey. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for others, the power of surrounding ourselves with people who challenge us, and how leaning into creative outlets outside the boardroom can fundamentally alter our perspectives. 10 Memorable Quotes: "In business, you're either moving forward or you're going backward. There's no treading water." "Dad was basically a serial entrepreneur, and we counted up over 35 different businesses that he was in... Now, he only made money in a couple of them." "She said that she could pick 100 pounds of cotton in a morning at their own fields before she was allowed to go over and pick for money in the neighbor's fields." "I woke up and I realized that I was not gonna get to where I wanted to be if I didn't do something to distinguish myself." "That's kind of when I realized that I had to do things for myself, and that maybe climbing the corporate ladder was not the career path for me." "We stopped off at a gas station and bought a 12-pack and drank it on the way home, strategizing about what comes next." "Nobody ever really wants to rent a storage unit. They do it because they have to. So how do we make ourselves a little more memorable, a little more fun?" "I constantly feel that I don't have to invent anything. I just have to innovate what's there and make it the best it can be." "I always go back to curiosity, 'cause that tells me that it's somebody who knows how to learn, who wants to learn." "If you ask me what one of my deepest fears are, it's retirement 'cause I'm not sure I can handle that. I feel like I still have like one more big deal in me." 10 Key Takeaways: The Test of Truth Tellers: Why surrounding yourself with realists who check you and challenge your ideas is infinitely better than building an inner circle of "yes people" who let you wander in a thousand directions. The Dreamer and the Realist Balance: Understanding the ultimate family and operational synergy created by combining a curious, creative idea person with a grounded, practical realist. The Transition from Analog to Digital: How the rise of automated platforms and AI is atrophying critical human muscles like radical curiosity and our basic willingness to listen to one another. Dismantling Structural Silos: Breaking away from transactional customer relations by injecting cheeky humor, satire, and unapologetic color into an otherwise boring and rigid industry. The "Three-Letter Word" Framework: Defeating corporate "calcification" by using gallows humor, adopting an A/B test mentality, and leaning into a "Win The Future" approach when faced with immediate crisis. Grit at the Dinner Table: Reclaiming the narrative of hard work by looking to foundational role models who understand the relentless, grinding effort required before chasing a reward. The Tyranny of the OR vs. The Genius of the AND: Learning that world-class leadership requires balancing business-minded curiosity with a deeply empathetic capacity to stop talking and truly listen. Failing Fast with Guidance: Why navigating massive, sudden transaction collapses under intense pressure alongside trusted "wingmen" is the ultimate vehicle for long-term relational and corporate survival. The Core Value of Peer Review: Recognizing that "perception is reality" in business, making it vital to step into the field, wander your competitors' floors, and experience what people actually think. Curiosity Maxing and the Renaissance Ideal: Shifting the goalposts of success from purely financial metrics to building a balanced life filled with intentional wandering and raising multi-dimensional individuals. <stro
- 4 weeks ago1h 12m
Samantha Wolfson: The Awkward Pause
"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 Schembra explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, proactive resilience, and the universal language that unites us. Samantha Wolfson shares insights from her personal journey, including navigating a life-changing career evolution since moving to Amsterdam in 2017, executing intense top-tier tech launches at Wieden+Kennedy, and the long road to paying forward the lessons of grit and character learned from her father, Steven. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for others, the power of surrounding ourselves with people who challenge us, and how leaning into creative outlets outside the boardroom can fundamentally alter our perspectives. 10 Memorable Quotes: "He is the reason I have become a pit bull in some areas and can be very soft in others because I see that is how he can both engage and react to the people around him." "Never did I think that could actually become such a quintessential part of my career." "I want every woman that's coming to not know each other. Just bring a bottle of wine and I will cook the food." "You don't have to trade a life that looks good on paper for a good life around the dinner table. It's an and, not or." "The moment you stop is when you'll fall into the trap of thinking you can do it all by yourself." "Growth starts at those points of like, 'Ooh, I don't know how I feel about that.'" "Who's at the table is as important as who's not at the table." "There's no value in what's been said. There's only value in what's being unsaid." "Community is the hardest thing to build because there is, for the most part, not crazy financial gain behind it." "Hard work breeds luck, and I definitely live by that." 10 Key Takeaways: The Test of Truth Tellers: Why surrounding yourself with an executive team and community that pressure-tests your ideas is infinitely better than building an inner circle of enablers. Six is the Gate: Understanding the tactical benefit of keeping meetings and gatherings to exactly six women so that everyone has an active voice, safety, and a real seat at the table. The Transition from Analog to Digital: How navigating high-intensity tech rollouts like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses exposed the deep human exhaustion behind the corporate digital push. Dismantling Structural Silos: Breaking away from transactional networking by designing spaces where professionals connect over shared human truths rather than industry metrics. The "Three-Letter Word" Framework: Cultivating deep conversation by refusing to counter someone's story with your own anecdote, choosing instead to simply ask "why?" to uncover what is unsaid. Grit at the Dinner Table: Reclaiming the narrative of hard work by looking to foundational role models, including Steven Wolfson's lessons on listening, character formation, and absolute abundance. The Tyranny of the OR vs. The Genius of the AND: Learning that world-class leadership requires balancing binary traits, integrating logical business goals with emotional human connections. Failing Fast with Guidance: Why moving forward through a community's hard times and "imperfect dinners" under strong internal resolve is the only real vehicle for long-term relational success. The Core Value of Peer Review: Recognizing that even in an automated, AI-driven environment, verified human connection and peer-reviewed credibility remain irreplaceable. Mudita and Pro-Social Gratitude: Shifting away from keeping score to actively finding joy in the achievements of others, which ultimately drives collective organizational momentum. About our Guest: Samantha (Sam) Wolfson is the founder of & the Table, a global dinner platform that brings ambitious women together around a shared meal. The platform operates on a distinct format: six women who have never met, three courses, one host-chosen theme, and a strict rule that everyone shows up completely alone. What began in 2022 as just five open spots at her Amsterdam apartment quickly went viral, drawing more than 500 applications in its very first open round. Today, & the Table has built a robust global presence, empowering more
- Jun 29, 202649 min
Phillip Greer: The Underdog Approach to Life
"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 Greer explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, proactive resilience, and the universal language that unites us. Philip shares insights from his personal journey, including navigating a life-changing career evolution since joining the firm in 2005 as a software engineer, building the company's first content management system, and the long road to paying forward the lessons of grit learned from his mother, Sherry. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for others, the power of surrounding ourselves with people who challenge us, and how leaning into creative outlets outside the boardroom can fundamentally alter our perspectives. 10 Memorable Quotes: "There was no position that was beneath her, but also no position was the ceiling." "Sometimes they say no because systems are built that way, but that doesn't mean the answer is no." "The bookkeeping of benefits is simple. It's all an expenditure. We give for the sake of giving. We do not keep score." "I have so much belief that if we keep saying the bad ones, the good ones will come to the top." "The more you congratulate others, the more they'll end up congratulating you." "The best man is a woman, and it's her right there." "Limitations are what created limitless belief." "I want to be able to solve problems that people say can't be solved." "We must step out of the Tyranny of the or and step into the genius of the and." "Just go out there and congratulate some people today." 10 Key Takeaways: The Test of Truth Tellers: Why surrounding yourself with an executive team and community that pressure-tests your ideas is infinitely better than building an inner circle of enablers. Eight is the Gate: Understanding the tactical benefit of keeping meetings and task forces to eight people or less so that everyone has an active voice and a seat at the table. The Transition from Analog to Digital: How leveraging a software engineering background allowed Philip to modernize a global data platform away from fax machines and phone calls. Dismantling Structural Silos: The strict rule that task forces must pull from multiple departments—such as research, engineering, sales, and finance—to achieve true cross-pollination. The "Tuesday Talks" Framework: Cultivating a transparent culture through monthly, small-group touchpoints that openly address what's working, what's failing, and high-level strategy. Grit on the Factory Floor: Reclaiming the narrative of hard work by looking to foundational role models, including Philip's mother breaking barriers in military transit and heavy manufacturing. The Tyranny of the OR vs. The Genius of the AND: Learning that world-class leadership requires balancing binary traits, integrating logical business goals with emotional human connections. Failing Fast with Guidance: Why moving forward and making quick mistakes under strong mentorship is a better vehicle for success than remaining frozen by the fear of limits. The Core Value of Peer Review: Recognizing that even in an automated, AI-driven environment, verified human connection and peer-reviewed credibility remain irreplaceable. Mudita and Pro-Social Gratitude: Shifting away from keeping score to actively finding joy in the achievements of others, which ultimately drives collective organizational momentum. About our Guest: Phillip Greer is the CEO of Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review resource for top talent in the legal profession. He has driven the company's continual evolution since joining in 2005, originally as a software engineer. By tapping into his engineering background, he built the company's first content management system and led the transition, in his own words, "from analog to digital." He was named President in 2013 and CEO in 2018. Under Phil's leadership, Best Lawyers has solidified its reputation as a market leader and innovator, processing millions of peer-review votes each year and powering rankings that are syndicated by partner publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Handelsblatt in Germany, and
- Jun 25, 202652 min
Chris Caldwell: The Inconvenient Path of Gratitude
"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 episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris Caldwell explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, healing, and the unexpected ways community anchors our lives. Chris shares insights from his personal journey, including navigating his rise from a part-time teller to the CEO of a historic community bank, the critical behind-the-scenes support of his wife Bettie, and his deep-seated commitment to paying forward success through active volunteerism. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for others during challenging times, the power of people who challenge us, and how a chance commitment to local service can bring an entire community to life. 10 Memorable Quotes: "If there’s an opportunity to be part of a conversation about gratitude... sign me up. I’m all for it." "When you understand that your job is to do more than just take a deposit to make a loan—it is to be an integral part of our community—that’s when we excel our best." "At the end of the day, that’s what we do. I mean, that’s our job... we’re professional helpers." "I can’t force others, I can’t change others, but I can have the courage to change how I show up, and the wisdom to know the difference." "If you don't take care of your customers, someone else will." "There are people out there that are willing to give up their time, the most expensive thing we have, and volunteer." "She is my biggest cheerleader. I wouldn't be where I am today without her support." "We want to make sure that we're there for them through the good times and the bad times." "Community is in our name, so we better do it right." "Go thank someone in your life, but do it the inconvenient way. Sit down and write a letter rather than just clicking a button to sending a gift card." 10 Key Takeaways: The Character Test of Leadership: Why surrounding yourself with people who challenge you and say the hard things is infinitely better than building an inner circle of enablers. The Evolution of a Community Banker: Understanding the stark reality of early career growth, where starting as a part-time teller teaches you the foundational value of frontline human interactions. The Power of Behind-the-Scenes Support: Recognizing the profound impact of spouses and loved ones whose quiet, proactive baseline contributions keep leaders grounded and supported. Active Volunteerism vs. Writing a Check: Dealing with the heart-centered shift from merely donating money to physically getting out into the field, proving that true community connection requires active presence. The Value of Leading by Example: Processing the realization that you cannot force a charitable mindset onto others; instead, you must consistently model the behavior to inspire your team. Balancing the Old and the New: Reclaiming the narrative around technological advancement by ensuring digital innovation (like AI) never replaces the human desire to "see and be seen" by someone you trust. Sympathy vs. Presence: Learning that showing up for a community in crisis requires skipping transactional interactions and simply sitting with people to understand their immediate needs. Bypassing the Corporate Script: A look at how unexpected, vulnerable bonds form when leaders choose to skip fiscal policy talk and instead lean directly into conversations about human gratitude. The Inconvenient Path of Gratitude: How breaking past personal convenience to write a handwritten letter rather than sending a digital gift card can fundamentally alter the energy of a relationship. The Micro-Intervention of Trust: How breaking past systemic corporate barriers to prioritize local relationships allows a business to become a true sanctuary for the people it serves. About our Guest: Growing up with a deep appreciation for local connection shaped the foundation of Chris Caldwell's work ethic and sense of purpose. As a dedicated leader in the banking industry with over 30 years of experience, he learned early the value of hard work, resilience, and the tradition of contributing to what you build together. Those early experiences—alongside holding advanced de
- Jun 25, 202643 min
Sandra Lopez: Delulu Soul Searching
"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 Lopez explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, healing, and the unexpected ways we tune back into our personal truths. Sandra shares insights from her personal journey, including navigating a high-stakes executive career at tech giants like Intel, Adobe, and Microsoft, confronting a pivotal 360-feedback review that labeled her a "robot," and utilizing the forced pause of the COVID-19 pandemic to embark on a radical road of self-discovery through Kabbalah. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for our teams with deep empathy, the power of using technology as a contrarian force, and how choosing a messy, non-traditional path allows leaders to trade superficial ego validation for lasting, soul-led growth. 10 Memorable Quotes: "Business is business, and you keep your personal life separate." "Until, you know, maybe two years into, uh, my management, I got my 360 feedback, and, feedback is a gift." "One of my team members said, 'I don't know Sandra. She seems to be like a robot.'" "A good leader delivers results, but how do you become a great leader? And the great leader is the understanding that we are all humans." "The greatest gift that I get isn't my bonus. It's the little emails that I get..." "I'm 53 and I would say most of my lifespan, was probably giving gratitude very superficially." "Am I doing this for my ego or am I doing this for my soul? And that's a very hard transition actually." "The soul responds to the soul. So when, if you're starting your own business and you really focus on what's the soul of the company... Humans are gonna respond to that." "The moments, the hardest moments of my life was when I saw exponential growth." "Be delusionally... Be delusional about finding your soul. How's that? DeLulo" 10 Key Takeaways: The Character Test of Feedback: Why embracing uncomfortable 360-degree reviews and extracting truth from critical peer assessments is infinitely better than building an inner circle of enablers. Good vs. Great Leadership: Understanding the stark reality of corporate metrics, where delivering OKRs only makes you a good leader, while a great leader prioritizes the unscalable human-to-human capacity. The Hidden Debt of the Ego: Recognizing the profound impact of modern business systems and digital platforms like LinkedIn, which function as machines engineered to feed external images rather than internal truths. The Evolving Rules of Tech: Dealing with the modern reality of AI engagement, choosing to use technology strictly as a contrarian tool to challenge strategic blind spots rather than a superficial echo chamber to validate existing bias. The Value of Trailing Humans: Processing the bittersweet realization that while tools can assist operations, chatbots lack a conscience, meaning true personal breakthroughs require stepping away from screens to converse with a real human being. Remembering COVID's Gift: Reclaiming the narrative around global and personal hardships by extending genuine gratitude to a crisis that forced a necessary internal pause and deep ancestral self-discovery. Systemic vs. Soul Presence: Learning that showing up authentically requires skipping rigid, traditional expectations of how leaders "should" live or format their personal partnerships and spaces. Sitting in the SAVERS Routine: A look at how intentional daily habits form resilience, utilizing quiet mornings dedicated to silence, gratitude, visualization, exercise, contrarian reading, and scribing. Certainty and Intuition: How dialing into your core intuition prompts people to pause, providing an unshakeable confidence that overrides logical fears when making massive career pivots. The Micro-Intervention of the Zag: How breaking past a commoditized, fast-paced, and highly automated corporate landscape to bring the purposeful messiness of the soul back into business is the ultimate competitive advantage. About our Guest: Growing up with a relentless work ethic shaped the foundation of Sandra Lopez's purpose-driven approach to leadership. Guided by the personal philosophy that "you are always a
- May 28, 202642 min
Abigail Beach: Angel Numbers
"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 Beach explores the growing cultural movement of human connection, healing, and the unexpected ways numbers anchor our lives. Abigail shares insights from her personal journey, including navigating a life-threatening placental abruption at age 22, the heartbreaking loss of her daughter Rayleigh, and the long road to paying forward the anonymous blood transfusions that saved her life. Together, the conversation dives into how we show up for others during grief, the power of people who challenge us, and how a chance moment sharing "angel numbers" at a housing innovation conference brought an entire auditorium to life. 10 Memorable Quotes: "I thought to myself, I can't say that I'm true to myself if I don't take this opportunity and run with it." "She said the things that I didn't wanna hear." "You don't wanna be in a room surrounded by a bunch of yes people." "The world needs more truth tellers, and sometimes the truth hurts." "So many things about our life are numbers." "Had it not been from them, or for them, I would've died." "There are people out there that are willing to give up their time, the most expensive thing we have, and volunteer." "It was sad that we had to bond over such a horrific incident, but it was nice to know I wasn't alone." "This is terrible, but I'm gonna sit in your grief with you." "The last thing we wanna do is be pitied. We just wanna be able to talk about our kid." 10 Key Takeaways: The Character Test of Ambers: Why surrounding yourself with people who challenge you and say the hard things is infinitely better than building a leadership team or inner circle of enablers. Eight is the Gate: Understanding the stark reality of critical health metrics, where dropping past a specific threshold means fighting a silent battle to survive. The Hidden Debt of 11 Transfusions: Recognizing the profound impact of anonymous blood, platelet, and fibrin donors whose proactive community contributions keep strangers alive. The Evolving Rules of Giving: Dealing with the heartbreak of a rare medical deficiency that temporarily blocked paying a life-saving gift forward until industry donation guidelines shifted. The Value of Trailing Volunteers: Processing the bittersweet realization that sometimes local giving organizations are entirely booked and busy, proving the baseline goodness of local communities. Remembering Rayleigh: Reclaiming the narrative around infant loss by keeping her alive through favorite family stories, including her reactions to Irish dancers in utero. Sympathy vs. Presence: Learning that showing up for a grieving parent requires skipping heavy looks of pity and simply giving them space to discuss their child openly. Sitting in the Grief: A look at how unexpected bonds form, such as crying with a local veterinarian during a standard animal wellness checkup over shared maternal loss. Angel Numbers and Synchronicity: How arbitrary moments on a clock or unexpected digital encounters prompt people to pause and realign their daily outlook. The Micro-Intervention of Yes: How breaking past personal discomfort to share vulnerable personal histories can fundamentally alter the energy of a room. About our Guest: Growing up in a farming community shaped the foundation of Abigail Beach's work ethic and sense of purpose. As the daughter of a third-generation fruit farmer — and now married to a third-generation farmer myself — she learned early the value of hard work, resilience, and the family tradition of contributing to what you build together. Raised alongside three sisters by parents who never questioned their ability to get the job done, those early experiences instilled in her a deep appreciation for perseverance, family, and creating a meaningful life rooted in community. After entering the workforce through a traditional 9-to-5 role, Abigail discovered a lasting passion for connecting with people within the multifamily industry. What began in leasing and property management evolved into a fulfilling career in marketing, where she currently focuses on digital marketing, customer service, and building authentic huma
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About Gratitude Through Hard Times
Chris Schembra is a dinner host, question asker, and facilitator. He's a columnist at Rolling Stone magazine, USA Today calls him their "Gratitude Guru" and he's spent the last nine years traveling around the world helping people connect in meaningful ways. As the offshoot of his #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling book, Gratitude Through Hard Times, he uses this podcast to blend ancient stoic philosophy and modern day science to teach how the principles of gratitude can be used to help people get through their hard times. By finding the positive benefits from negative situations, and giving gratitude to them, listeners can develop the resilience and optimism needed to get through further trying times. Having used these principles to spark over 500,000 relationships through his workshops and his experiences, this podcast now aims to educate listeners across the world.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Gratitude Through Hard Times daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Gratitude Through Hard Times as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
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When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
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No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Chris Schembra.
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How often does Gratitude Through Hard Times release new episodes?
Gratitude Through Hard Times publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Gratitude Through Hard Times cover?
Gratitude Through Hard Times covers topics including Education, Business, Entrepreneurship, Relationships, Culture, Society & Culture, Self-Improvement. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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