Gratitude Through Hard Times

• Drew Sullivan: From What to Why

  Episode SummaryIn 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 with ADHD in a sports-obsessed town, he was labeled as “wrong” more often than he was encouraged to be curious. Teachers told him to be quiet, behavioral charts measured his worth, and well-intentioned parents and doctors tried their best but often focused on what he did rather than why he felt what he felt. Those early messages led to decades of self-doubt, addiction, and feeling “othered.”But Drew’s life didn’t end there. Sobriety became his turning point, not just quitting substances but rebuilding identity from the inside out. He realized the same curiosity and big-heartedness he was punished for as a child had become his superpowers as an adult: the ability to connect deeply, ask better questions, and champion others’ voices.Chris and Drew unpack big ideas that apply to everyone, whether you’re a parent trying to raise emotionally healthy kids, a leader navigating change with your team, or someone working on your own healing. Together, they talk about how to move beyond trauma without ignoring it, how to strengthen relationships through curiosity and vulnerability, and how connection isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential for growth.They dive into practical tools and powerful frameworks:The Military-Style Debrief — After any event or risk, ask three questions: What went well? What could have gone better? What will we do differently next time? From What to Why — Lasting growth comes not from obsessing over what happened but from exploring why it happened and using that insight to break harmful cycles. Ubuntu Philosophy — “I am because we are.” Success is never a solo act. Long-term fulfillment comes from shared humanity and supporting each other’s growth. Inside-Out Living — Stop chasing outside validation (titles, applause, perfection) and build a life anchored in authenticity and personal truth.This episode also wrestles with one of today’s cultural tensions: the “cult of trauma.” We live in a time where looking backward has become a primary mode of healing, therapy, revisiting wounds, and retelling past pain. That work is necessary but incomplete. Chris and Drew challenge listeners to balance reflection with forward momentum, to ask not just what went wrong, but how do we build what’s next?Their conversation is deeply practical yet profoundly human. Drew shares intimate stories — from being excluded at eighth-grade basketball tryouts to the loneliness of early sobriety — and turns them into wisdom for anyone trying to live and lead differently. Chris opens up about his own childhood with ADHD and how empathy and gratitude saved his life and career. Together, they model what it looks like to have brave, healing, and hope-filled dialogue.At its heart, this episode is a call to action: to show up for yourself and others with dignity, curiosity, and presence; to give gratitude in a way that lands; to stop letting shame and isolation write your story; and to embrace connection as the bridge between pain and growth.Whether you’re a parent, an educator, a leader building culture, or someone just trying to live a more wholehearted life, you’ll leave with practical tools and renewed belief that storms don’t last forever, and that you’re not alone in the work of becoming.10 Great Quotes“Not all gratitude given is gratitude received. We have to give in the language others like to receive.” — Drew Sullivan “Solutions are not found in the what; they’re found in the why.” — Drew Sullivan “Every storm has to end at some point — the clouds have to clear.” — Drew Sullivan “Don’t play hide and seek with yourself. Stop letting your thoughts hide.” — Drew Sullivan “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — Chris Schembra quoting Ubuntu “Without connection, there is no growth. It’s the water and fertilizer for real progress.” — Drew Sullivan “We spend so much emotional energy reliving what went wrong that we forget to dream about what can go right.” — Chris Schembra “Vulnerability 101: be honest about the truth of your life, not just where you are now but where you came from.” — Drew Sullivan “The greatest present you can give is your presence.” — Chris Schembra “When you know better, you do better — but only if you act on what you’ve learned.” — Drew Sullivan 10 Key TakeawaysEmpathy must lead to action — Listening and understanding are powerful, but transformation only happens when you do something with what you’ve learned. Reframe challenges into opportunities — Shift from “what went wrong” to “what can we do differently next time.” Ask “why,” not just “what” — Understanding the why behind behaviors, decisions, and pain creates the foundation for healing and growth. Connection is non-negotiable — Personal and professional growth withers without deep human relationships. Redefine vulnerability — Sharing your real story — even messy parts — builds trust and invites connection. Inside-out living beats outside-in validation — Chase alignment with values and purpose, not just achievements or appearances. Parents and leaders shape futures — Taking one extra step to understand and affirm can change someone’s entire trajectory. Reinvention is always possible — Like the Real Housewives metaphor, we all deserve new eras and second chances. Don’t let your past pilot your future — Carry your “stone,” but build the strength to make it a co-pilot, not the driver. Gratitude is a bridge — When expressed thoughtfully in someone’s love language, it deepens relationships and accelerates healing. 

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• Mark Rix: Shared Language Matters

  Episode SummaryThis 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 powerful isn’t just the frameworks and research Mark shares; it’s the raw, unexpected personal story that shaped his entire mission.At 18 years old, Mark found himself alone in South Africa’s gold mines, working one and a half kilometers underground among hundreds of men who didn’t speak his language. In an early and unforgettable moment, he was literally punched in the face for unknowingly saying something offensive in Afrikaans, a humiliating and dangerous misunderstanding that forced him to confront the difference between “blending in” and truly belonging. It also sparked a lifelong obsession with empathy, psychological safety, and how humans treat one another at work.Fast forward to today, and Mark leads a global movement to help organizations move wellbeing from a “nice-to-have” perk to a board-level strategy that drives engagement, innovation, and bottom-line results. His organization hosts summits on six continents, gathering thousands of leaders to explore the future of mental, social, and emotional wellbeing at work.Throughout the conversation, Chris and Mark explore:Why the next era of corporate wellbeing will be about social health — helping employees feel seen, safe, and connected. How to equip managers (most of whom were promoted without training) to coach with empathy and curiosity instead of simply direct or command. The role of shared language in creating psychological safety, and why your team’s inside jokes, acronyms, and short codes matter more than you think. Why leaders don’t have to rewrite every policy or undo every mandate; often, culture change begins by simply changing how you show up in the next conversation. How investing in employee wellbeing isn’t just ethical but deeply strategic, the highest-performing companies in the world are proving that people-first drives profit. This episode is as practical as it is inspiring. It reminds leaders that while technology and AI will keep reshaping the future of work, human connection remains our greatest competitive advantage.If you’ve been struggling with disengagement, low morale, or the exhaustion of leading through uncertainty, this conversation will give you both a fresh perspective and simple actions to start right away, like carving out time to talk, listen, and ask better questions.Above all, it’s a reminder that resilience and thriving cultures start with a choice: to lead with empathy and authenticity, one conversation at a time. 10 Memorable Quotes“You can blend but not belong. To bond, you have to give something of yourself.” — Mark Rix “Trust is built before it’s tested. If your people don’t feel safe, they won’t speak up when it matters.” — Chris Schembra “I realized after being punched that day — this is not how work should be. No one should feel unsafe simply trying to belong.” — Mark Rix “A shared language can literally save lives underground. In business, it can save culture.” — Chris Schembra “Most managers are promoted without the skills — or the mindset — to coach. And it’s costing engagement.” — Mark Rix “Empathy is listening to understand, then using that data to act differently tomorrow.” — Chris Schembra “Wellbeing isn’t fluffy. Companies investing in their people outperform the market.” — Mark Rix “You don’t have to change the policy to change the culture. Start by changing you.” — Chris Schembra “Connection is still our greatest competitive advantage — AI can enhance it but never replace it.” — Mark Rix “It doesn’t matter how hard you get punched; it’s about how well you get back up and keep leading with heart.” — Chris Schembra 10 Key TakeawaysBonding > Blending — True belonging comes when people feel safe to bring their full selves, not just adapt to fit in. Shared Language Matters — Developing clear, common language within teams builds trust and prevents miscommunication in high-stakes environments. Empathy Is Action-Oriented — It’s not enough to “feel for” others; leaders must use what they learn to lead differently. Managers Need Coaching Skills — Over half of managers aren’t prepared to lead; training them as coaches is one of the fastest ways to improve culture and engagement. Human Connection Fuels ROI — The best-performing companies on the stock market are investing heavily in employee wellbeing. Don’t Wait for Policy — Leaders can start culture change simply by slowing down, listening, and showing genuine interest. Social Wellbeing Is the New Frontier — Loneliness is an epidemic; companies must look beyond physical and mental health to build deep social connection. Technology Is a Tool, Not a Replacement — AI and data can measure and enhance wellbeing strategies but will never replace face-to-face connection. Your Personal Story Shapes Leadership — Early, even painful experiences can become catalysts for empathy-driven leadership. Resilience Is Built, Not Bought — Being “punched” — literally or figuratively — can teach leaders how to bounce back and guide others through adversity. 

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• Julie Peck: The Gift of a Curvy Path

  Episode OverviewSometimes 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 life didn’t begin with obvious momentum. She grew up in a household that didn’t talk about feelings, in the shadow of a brilliant but stoic father and amid early self-doubt that left her with little sense of self-worth. By her twenties, she found herself adrift, unhappy, financially unstable, stuck in unfulfilling relationships, and ultimately failing out of college. She ended up living in a crumbling apartment above a record store, sleeping on a mattress she salvaged from a frat house dumpster. From the outside, it looked like failure; from the inside, it felt like rock bottom.But Julie didn’t stay there. In this conversation, she shares the turning points that changed her trajectory: discovering the courage to face old wounds through therapy and 12-step recovery, deciding to rebuild her education while working full-time, and learning to measure her worth by more than just professional success. Along the way, she tapped into something profound, the ability to take one small action forward even when the long-term plan is unclear.That perseverance reshaped her career. Julie went from customer service to HR innovator to creative director, learning to package her “pile of skills and behaviors” into new opportunities. She took smart risks, like organizing a union drive not to win but to force leadership to listen — and watched those risks lead to promotions and purpose. Ultimately, she rose into C-suite leadership and CEO roles, scaling tech companies, driving triple-digit growth, and building cultures where people thrive. But she never forgot the messy middle or the tools that helped her climb out.Together, Chris and Julie go far beyond résumés and revenue. They unpack what resilience really looks like: the gritty inner work of building self-worth when no one hands it to you, the power of visualizing a future even if you don’t know how to get there, and the discipline of balancing the things you must do, should do, and want to do. They talk about how gratitude rewires imposter syndrome, how thanking those who invest in you is a way of saying, “I believe your belief in me.” They explore why everyone — even highly accomplished leaders — is “winging it” every day, and why that’s not weakness but reality.For anyone navigating uncertainty, Julie’s journey is a masterclass in turning pain into purpose and mistakes into momentum. It’s a reminder that your story doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful, in fact, the curve is where character is forged.This episode is a warm invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what matters: your own worth, the people who’ve lifted you along the way, and the belief that no setback is final. Whether you’re rebuilding after a career stumble, leading through change, or simply searching for hope in a hard season, Julie’s voice will feel like a steady hand on your shoulder.Stay tuned for part two, where Chris and Julie will dive deeper into leadership in the age of AI, the behaviors that outlast fast-changing technical skills, and how curiosity and gratitude shape the future of work.10 Standout Quotes“I had to organically discover my own self-worth. That’s been a 35-year journey, and I’m not done.” — Julie Peck “Everybody is unqualified for whatever is going to come on this day because they’ve never had this day before. We’re all winging it.” — Julie Peck “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater, even in the hardest seasons, you’re good at something. Start there.” — Julie Peck “Imposter syndrome is basically telling the people who invested in you: ‘I don’t trust your judgment.’ Gratitude flips that script.” — Chris Schembra “The impediment to action advances action; what stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius (quoted by Chris) “Progress comes from movement, not perfection. Just take one small step forward.” — Chris Schembra “The curvy path is a gift, because every detour teaches you something you’ll need later.” — Julie Peck “Skills expire faster than ever; behaviors like curiosity, resilience, and asking better questions endure.” — Chris Schembra “Boundaries are self-worth in action. Saying no is a complete sentence.” — Julie Peck “Connection is the opposite of feeling alone in the world, and it’s built one honest conversation at a time.” — Julie Peck 10 Key TakeawaysThe “Curvy Path” Is Normal: Career and life rarely follow a straight line; detours and setbacks are often where resilience is forged. Self-Worth Can Be Built: Therapy, reflection, and courageous action help rewire old narratives of “not enough.” Everyone Feels Like an Imposter: High achievers quietly doubt themselves — knowing this is freeing and normalizing. Gratitude Combats Self-Doubt: Thanking those who invest in you reframes fear and reinforces your value. Skills Fade — Behaviors Last: Curiosity, learning agility, and empathy outlast technical know-how in an AI-driven workplace. Visualize the Long Game: Thinking 15–20 years ahead helps shape better short-term decisions and career pivots. Boundaries Are Essential: Healthy limits protect time, energy, and self-worth, enabling sustainable success. Use Work as a Launchpad, Not an Escape: Achievements can build confidence but shouldn’t mask personal growth gaps. Take Brave Micro-Steps: Big change starts with one small action; movement matters more than perfection. Connection Breaks Isolation: Vulnerable storytelling, mentorship, and shared humanity turn loneliness into belonging. 

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• Mattan Griffel: Optimism Is a Discipline

  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 out.This isn’t a conversation about pretending everything is fine. It’s a practical, science-backed exploration of how to keep moving forward when the world tries to convince you to freeze. Chris and Mattan unpack the psychology of negativity, including the brain’s nine-to-one negative memory bias, nostalgia’s hidden trap, and how media algorithms profit from fear, and then turn to the tools that can rewire us toward progress and resilience.Along the way, they revisit some of Mattan’s most powerful ideas: the courage of “naive optimism” that makes founders start companies against impossible odds; serendipity bombs, small outward actions that quietly build networks and opportunity; and the truth that being wrong most of the time is the price of doing something original.The conversation is both personal and practical. Chris shares stories of producing a two-man play in Beverly Hills under the threat of a record-breaking El Niño storm, and how standing in the room with committed collaborators fueled hope despite fear. Mattan reflects on early YouTube criticism that almost derailed him, and how understanding our negativity bias changed his response to rejection and failure.Listeners will also hear how positive emotions aren’t just nice-to-have; they’re powerful mental technology. Chris cites Barbara Fredrickson’s “broaden-and-build” research, showing how gratitude, curiosity, and empathy expand our thought–action repertoire, unlock creativity, and make new solutions visible. Together they argue that optimism isn’t fluffy, it’s a survival skill in an age of AI disruption, social media outrage cycles, and cultural pessimism.By the end of the episode, you’ll have practical habits to invite luck and possibility into your own life: connect generously, say yes early and often, ship ideas at 90% instead of chasing perfection, and create rooms where pessimism can’t dominate. Most importantly, you’ll be reminded that hope is not passive, it’s built one intentional step at a time.10 Quotes“Optimism isn’t blind faith that everything will be fine, it’s the conviction that progress is buildable.” — Mattan“Our brains take in nine bits of negative information for every one bit of positive. That’s biology, not failure.” — Chris“Nostalgia can be beautiful, but it’s often denial, an inability to process the present.” — Chris“Systems are self-healing if we let them. The line of human progress trends up and to the right, even if it wobbles.” — Mattan“Negativity sells. Each negative word in a headline can boost clicks by 2.3%, but positive words get ignored.” — Chris“You have to be wrong most of the time to create something new. Error tolerance is optimism in action.” — Mattan“The stupid way to be selfish is to seek happiness for yourself alone; the intelligent way is to work for the welfare of others.” — Dalai Lama (quoted by Chris)“Say yes early and often because most conversations won’t go anywhere, but the one that does can change your life.” — Mattan“Progress comes from movement, not perfection. Press go at 90%.” — Chris“Positive emotions broaden your thought–action repertoire, gratitude and curiosity literally rewire your brain for resilience.” — Chris (referencing Barbara Fredrickson)10 Big TakeawaysOptimism is a discipline, not a mood. It’s about choosing to believe in forward momentum despite uncertainty.Understand your brain’s negativity bias. We’re wired to remember threats — knowing this can help us reframe and resist doomscrolling.Question nostalgia. Looking back with rose-colored glasses can fuel pessimism about the present.Negativity is profitable — be aware of media incentives. Don’t let clickbait headlines distort your worldview.Design serendipity. Small, outward-focused actions (helping others, showing up, connecting dots) compound over time.Practice error tolerance. Innovation and growth require being wrong most of the time; progress lives in mistakes.Generosity drives returns. Investing in other people — time, knowledge, introductions — creates long-term opportunity and resilience.Say yes more (strategically). Especially early in your journey, embrace exploration; one connection can transform everything.Start before you’re ready. Perfectionism delays progress; ship at 90% and learn in motion.Positive emotions fuel creativity. Simple acts of gratitude, kindness, and curiosity expand your capacity to see solutions and possibilities.On Negativity Bias & Media OutrageAdam Mastroianni & Daniel Gilbert’s Nature paper — The illusion of moral declineSteven Pinker’s The Better Angels of Our Nature (book summary)Tobias Rose-Stockwell — The Outrage MachineUpworthy headline negativity study (Columbia Journalism Review)On Positive Emotion & OptimismBarbara Fredrickson’s “Broaden-and-Build Theory” explainerDalai Lama quote on “intelligent selfishness”Adam Grant’s Give and TakeOn Startup Mindset & SerendipityMattan Griffel’s Medium essay: “You Have to Be Wrong”Mattan Griffel on Designing Serendipity (Forbes)How to Build Serendipity in Your Career (Harvard Business Review)On Connection & GenerosityChris Schembra’s Rolling Stone column archiveIkigai framework explainerPwC research on ROI of well-being programs

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• Swapnil Shinde: Strength Training for the Heart

  Episode SummaryIn 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 first startup—an early Bollywood music streaming service—nearly broke him as he faced late-night calls from music label executives, endless licensing negotiations, and the weight of operating in an industry he barely understood. Instead of giving up, those painful years became his greatest teacher, showing him how to manage stress, build courage, and navigate uncertainty. That experience laid the foundation for his second company, Mezi, an AI travel assistant acquired by American Express, and now his third, Zeni, which is reshaping the future of startup finance.But what makes Swapnil stand out is not just his entrepreneurial track record. It’s his deep conviction that true success begins on the inside. He describes gratitude as “strength training for your heart” and insists that life must feel good internally before it can ever look good externally. Meditation, mindfulness, and intentional daily rituals are cornerstones of his leadership. He blocks time every morning to ground himself—through Ayurvedic practices, breathwork, and meditation—before leading his team and scaling a company in hypergrowth.Throughout the conversation, Chris and Swapnil explore how slowing down can actually accelerate growth, why trusting your team and delegating is essential for visionary leadership, and how to separate vanity metrics from what really matters in building sustainable businesses. They also reflect on the dangers of “I’ll be happy when…” thinking, and the freedom that comes when you align with your life’s mission in the present moment.In a deeply moving section of the episode, Swapnil pays tribute to his late mother, Chaya, an artist who taught him and his twin brother to paint from the age of three. Those lessons in creativity and imagination, he says, were really lessons in how to dream and how to create—skills that became the backbone of his entrepreneurial journey. Speaking in front of one of her paintings during the interview, Swapnil shares how her influence continues to shape his life and leadership.This episode is a powerful reminder that behind every startup success story is a human being navigating hard times, rewiring through gratitude, and finding strength in stillness. Whether you’re a founder, leader, or simply someone searching for deeper alignment in your own life, Swapnil’s insights will inspire you to pause, reflect, and take bold steps toward building not just a business, but a meaningful legacy.10 Key Quotes“Gratitude is like strength training for your heart.” – Swapnil Shinde“Slowing down is the best way to run fast.” – Swapnil Shinde“The absence of knowledge teaches you to take risks you’d never take if you knew the pitfalls.” – Swapnil Shinde“If you don’t follow your gut, you will always feel incomplete.” – Swapnil Shinde“Life needs to look good from the inside before it can look good from the outside.” – Swapnil Shinde“The fewer things you have to do, the more time you have to think. The more you think, the more strategic you become.” – Swapnil Shinde“Are you aligned with your life’s mission? If you are, work feels like a hobby.” – Swapnil Shinde“Building sustainable long-term businesses is more important than growth at all costs.” – Swapnil Shinde“My mother taught me to paint at age three—and unknowingly, she taught me how to dream and create.” – Swapnil Shinde“Gratitude journaling and affirmations are a game changer. They rewire your brain toward health and optimism.” – Swapnil Shinde10 Key TakeawaysHard times can be teachers – painful entrepreneurial experiences build resilience and stress tolerance.Ignorance can be an advantage – not knowing all the risks can free you to take bold leaps.Gut as compass – true alignment comes from following intuition supported by meditation and reflection.Slowing down accelerates progress – stillness, meditation, and focus create clarity and expand time.Morning rituals matter – Swapnil’s daily turmeric-honey-lemon drink, breathwork, and meditation ground his leadership.Delegate and trust your team – great CEOs keep their to-do lists short by empowering 10x leaders.Measure what matters, not vanity metrics – focus on revenue, margins, and automation rates, not money raised or employee count.Sustainable businesses > growth at all costs – the startup landscape has shifted away from reckless scaling.Gratitude is proactive power – journaling and expressing thanks outwardly rewires perspective and culture.Legacy of love – Swapnil’s late mother, Chaya, instilled creativity and resilience that continues to guide his entrepreneurial mission.Guest BioSwapnil Shinde is the co-founder and CEO of Zeni, an AI-powered finance platform that automates bookkeeping, bill pay, reimbursements, and CFO-level insights in real time. A three-time entrepreneur, Swapnil co-founded Mezi, an AI-driven travel assistant acquired by American Express, and Dhingana, a Bollywood music streaming service acquired by Rdio. Alongside his identical twin brother Snehal, he has built a reputation as a visionary founder, angel investor, and advisor to AI startups.When he’s not scaling companies, Swapnil is passionate about Bollywood music, painting, meditation, and empowering entrepreneurs to align their work with their life’s mission.Learn more about Swapnil and Zeni:Zeni Official Website Swapnil Shinde on LinkedIn Follow Zeni on LinkedIn

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