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Would you follow someone up the hill if they’ve never taken one themselves?

That question sits at the center of our conversation with executive coach and keynote speaker Chris Harris, whose warrior mindset approach strips leadership down to what people actually feel: credibility, trust, and the calm confidence that comes from real resilience.

We get personal fast. Chris shares a defining moment from childhood homelessness, sitting on a curb and eating donuts found in a dumpster, and the decision that changed his trajectory: choosing self-worth. From there, we connect the dots between lived adversity and the kind of compassion that isn’t just empathy, but empathy in action. If you’re thinking about leadership development, mindset coaching, or building a resilient organization, this story is more than inspiration. It explains why care, standards, and accountability can coexist without becoming performative culture talk.

From elite special operations lessons to corporate reality, we unpack what makes teams strong under pressure: psychological safety that’s real, shared purpose that’s clear, and leaders whose character, values, and integrity align without friction. Chris also teaches a practical metacognition tool, “Sit, Stand, Open, Close,” to help you break autopilot, notice what you’re thinking, and adjust in real time, especially when stakes are high and stress is loud. And we end with a reminder worth borrowing: you’re under no obligation to be the same version of yourself you were ten minutes ago.

If this helped you think differently about resilient leadership, mindset, and trust at work, subscribe and share it with a colleague. What’s one leadership behavior that instantly builds trust for you?

Chris Harris is a coach, author, and keynote speaker. He is an accomplished black belt and U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee, and has trained thousands — from the U.S. military to its global allies — in close-quarters combat and mental toughness.

Website: https://chrisharrisllc.com/

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Producer / Editor: Neel Panji

Invite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity. Learn more: www.manyachylinski.com/services

Subscribe to the newsletter: manyachylinski.com/notes

Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.

#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

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Doctor visits can feel like a high-stakes performance: you get 15 minutes, you are anxious, and you only remember the perfect question after you leave.

We sit down with Dana Sherwin, a healthcare management consultant and speaker specializing in patient-physician communication, to make those minutes count and to make the relationship feel like a partnership instead of a power struggle.

We dig into what patient engagement actually looks like in real life and why it links to better health outcomes. Dana shares a simple, repeatable way to prepare for a doctor appointment: write down your top priorities, your symptom timeline, and the questions you cannot afford to forget. We also talk about a surprising idea many people miss: a huge share of diagnoses comes from what you tell the doctor, which makes your story, your context, and your clarity a clinical tool.

If you want more confident conversations and a clearer plan after every appointment, listen now.

Dana Sherwin is a consultant and speaker focused on healthcare management and patient-physician communication. In prior executive and consulting roles, Dana worked in hospitals, managed care plans, and three public accounting/consulting firms. She is also a 6 ½ year survivor of a stem cell transplant for a blood cancer disorder.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desherwin/
• Website: The Thinking Patient

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__________

Producer / Editor: Neel Panji

Invite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity. Learn more: www.manyachylinski.com/services

Subscribe to the newsletter: manyachylinski.com/notes

Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.

#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor

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A bomb explodes across the street, and you walk away with both your legs. People call that fine.

But your body tells a different story for years. On the 13th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, I share what that day felt like from the bleachers, what came after, and why invisible injuries like trauma, PTSD symptoms, and nervous system triggers can be so hard to explain to anyone who hasn't live them.

Then we turn the lens toward leadership, crisis management, and employee well-being. Operations can return to normal while people are still not okay, and anniversaries are one of the clearest moments when that gap shows up.

I talk about the two common mistakes leaders make: saying nothing and leaving people alone with the date, or over-commemorating in ways that feel performative and can reopen wounds. The goal is not a perfect script. The goal is a culture that can acknowledge reality without controlling how people grieve.

You will also hear a personal contrast that still shapes how I think about institutions: one response that felt human and one that felt like a form-letter refusal. We close with practical, trauma-informed actions you can take now, including marking key dates on your calendar, offering support resources, checking in and listening, and giving everyone clear permission to opt out of remembrance.

If you found this helpful, subscribe to Notes on Resilience, share the episode with a leader who needs it, and leave a review. What anniversary do you wish your workplace had handled differently?

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__________

Producer / Editor: Neel Panji

Invite Manya to inspire and empower your teams and position your organization as a forward-thinking leader in well-being, resilience, and trauma sensitivity. Learn more: www.manyachylinski.com/services

Subscribe to the newsletter: manyachylinski.com/notes

Please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your listening platform of choice. It really helps others find us.

#trauma #resilience #compassion #MentalHealth #CompassionateLeadership #leadership #survivor