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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"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 numb...
"Anything will work again, as long as you unplug it long enough, even you." This simple principle serves as the heartbeat for reclaiming 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, Ashleigh Spiliopoulou explores the growing cultural movement of "Fric...
"We are better together than we are apart." This conviction, rooted in the belief that human connection is the ultimate "turbocharger" for growth, serves as the foundation for navigating the complex world of global acquisitions. In an era where AI agents are rapidly automating the "logic" of business, the true differentiator remains the "unscalable" trust built over a shared meal and a glass of bourbon. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Chris Schembra takes the show on the road t...
"Success shouldn't come at the cost of your soul—or your health." In an industry built on high-stakes pressure, Sophia Mullins is proving that peak performance and sustainable well-being aren't mutually exclusive; they are deeply interdependent. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Chris Schembra sits down with Sophia Mullins , Founder and CEO of Wall Street Wellness . Recorded live at a UBS conference, this conversation strips away the corporate veneer to explore the "reactive" jou...
"Do unto others as you want to do unto you." This simple principle, fueled by a "tambourine shake" of high energy, serves as the heartbeat for a life dedicated to high-performance joy. In a world optimized for digital efficiency and "frictionless" isolation, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the "unscalable" power of gathering people together. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Chris Schembra sits down with Christine Angles , a powerhouse Allstate agency owner and com...
"Whatever it is you want most in the world right now is what you need to give." This simple but profound realization, sparked during a silent meditation retreat, serves as the heartbeat for a movement dedicated to reclaiming our shared humanity. In a world optimized for digital efficiency, the true currency of a meaningful life remains the "un-scalable" power of human connection. In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times , Chris Schembra sits down with Aaron Hurst , the visionary CEO of th...
"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. While Nick is a titan of the real estate industry, this isn't a conversation about market trends or in...
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 has navigated the halls of power at firms like Deloitte and TELUS. But this isn't a conversation about...
"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 isn't a conversation about go-to-market strategies or revenue multiples. This is a deep dive into the...
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 shifts required to lead in a world being reshaped by AI. Chris discusses the transition from maternal e...
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 rather than avoiding them. The conversation centers on human-centric leadership in an AI-driven world...
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 tangible, science-backed tools anyone can use right now. They explore why the single most powerful first st...
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 and career possible by “holding down the fort” while he built his leadership path. From there, the conv...
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, leadership, and the talent market. The conversation opens with the show’s signature gratitude thread: Julie r...
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 stacks—it’s an exploration of what it means to lead, live, and connect in a time when instinct is bei...
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 exist. Rome began as a malarial, snake-infested swamp, yet somehow became the beating heart of Wester...
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 von Furstenberg and PetMeds , Sandra’s journey is one of grit, grace, and reinvention. Sheopens up abo...
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 Kirti explore the intertwined forces of fate, love, resilience, and identity. Kirti opens up about he...
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 with ADHD in a sports-obsessed town, he was labeled as “wrong” more often than he was encouraged to b...
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 powerful isn’t just the frameworks and research Mark shares; it’s the raw, unexpected personal story t...
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 life didn’t begin with obvious momentum. She grew up in a household that didn’t talk about feelings...
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-backe...
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 first startup—an early Bollywood music streaming service—nearly broke him as he faced late-night ca...
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 thousands of people: Who is one person you’ve never thought to thank? Seth doesn’t hesitate, he honors his ...
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 and burnout, performance and peace, ambition and alignment. Through stories both deeply personal and p...
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, Chris and Juan unpack the Confidence Cycle, a four-part science-backed framework (Micro Energy → Micro...
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 him through a dark moment in 2021, using hypnotherapy to reconnect him to purpose, possibility, and a ...
This episode features Sara Hardwick, who stewards John Ruhlin's "Beyond Giftology" philosophy. She shares her journey into strategic gifting and the importance of Return on Relationships (ROR) over short-term ROI, especially in today's AI-driven world. The discussion highlights practical rules for meaningful gifting, the power of community through the R.I.C.H. framework, and how generosity, guided by faith, builds lasting legacy and human connection.
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 therapy, and radical compassion into a user manual for becoming a better leader—by leading yourself f...
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 our personal and professional journeys. Tune in as we explore how small acts of kindness, mutual res...
