In this week’s episode, Dr. Robyne is joined by workplace culture expert, founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, author, and keynote speaker Heather R. Younger for an uplifting conversation about leadership, hope, and well-being.

Together, they explore the importance of aligning actions with core values, holding yourself accountable with compassion, and moving from "waiting for permission” to becoming your own green light. They unpack the hidden costs of social comparison and how reframing comparison into celebration can invite learning, connection, and collaboration. Their conversation also highlights the power of intentionally choosing hope as a steadying force in uncertain times, creating space for possibility, growth, and purposeful action.

Through real-world stories and actionable insights, this episode offers encouragement and practical ways to cultivate strength, steadiness, and unshakable leadership, so you can show up for yourself and for others at your best.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why self-leadership is the root of caring leadership
2. How knowing and living by your values creates alignment
3. Why waiting for permission or “a green light” from others can keep us from living and leading fully
4. The importance of developing practical self-care routines that enable sustainable performance and leadership
5. The distinction between hope and optimism, and why hope is the remedy the world needs right now
6. The importance of collaboration and community in personal and professional growth
7. Simple mindset shifts and strategies for managing overwhelm, reframing social comparison, and showing up authentically for yourself and those around you

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Pre-order your copy of I Hope So (releasing February 10, 2026) by visiting https://drrobyne.ca/hope/

Additional Resources:

1. Heather’s Podcast: Becoming Unshakable
2. The Art of Self-Leadership: Discover the Power Within You and Learn to Lead Yourself by Heather R. Younger
3. Books by Heather R. Younger
4. Dr. James Rouse
5. Dr. Jen Wolkin

Get in Touch with Heather:

1. Website: https://heatheryounger.com/
2. Instagram:

In this final episode of the year, Dr. Robyne invites us to set aside the relentless pressures of “new year, new you,” and instead approach January with greater self-compassion and a gentler pace.

She reflects on the familiar cycle of well-intentioned resolutions that often don’t last and shares practical guidance for building habits that feel sustainable and aligned with our genuine capacity, energy, and the feelings we truly want to cultivate.

Rather than wiping the slate clean or striving for a total reset, she also offers a tender reminder that there is wisdom and hard-earned learning worth carrying forward from both the challenges and the bright moments of the year behind us.

Plus, a fresh perspective on what we’re really searching for in the “scavenger hunt” of life in 2026, and why hope might be the key.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why many resolutions are abandoned by mid-January, and how to approach change with more kindness and realistic expectations
2. Why January doesn’t have to represent a dramatic “fresh start” and how to bring last year’s hard-earned wisdom forward
3. The concept of “feeling casting” and designing your days with intention
4. Practical strategies for holding difficult conversations
5. Insights on habit formation: understanding cues, behaviors, and the role of rewards and reinforcements
6. The power of self-awareness and positive reinforcement in creating lasting behavioral change
7. How to use curiosity instead of judgment when reflecting on your own behaviors and routines

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Pre-order your copy of I Hope So (releasing February 10, 2026) by visiting https://drrobyne.ca/hope/

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Next Stress Wisely Lab: January 12, 2026

Join Dr. Robyne for a 90-minute, research-informed experience designed to help you understand your habits, shift what’s no longer serving you, and build routines that better support how you want to feel and show up in your days.

There’s a spot waiting for you.

Bring a friend for free with our 2-for-1 offer: add two tickets to your cart and use coupon code 2for1 at checkout.

Learn more and register today: https://drrobyne.ca/stress-wisely-labs/

Additional Resources:

1. Previous episode mentioned: How to Have a Difficult Conversation

Get in Touch with Dr. Robyne:

1. Watch episodes on YouTube

In this gentle solo episode, Dr. Robyne invites you to pause amid the busyness of the season, offering a warm, compassionate space to simply exhale.

She reflects on the complexity of the holidays, from the full spectrum of emotions and the pressure to make everything magical, to the messy, sometimes uncomfortable “in-between” days that follow. Along the way, she shares thoughtful invitations for protecting your peace, setting meaningful boundaries, holding big emotions with compassion, and honoring time for rest and recovery.

Whether you find yourself celebrating, recalibrating, or simply catching your breath, this is your gentle reminder to make what matters most matter most, cherish your progress, and nurture hope as you enter the new year.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why the holiday season can feel overwhelming and full of complex emotions
2. Why rest might feel uncomfortable if you thrive on busyness
3. How to make peace with productivity guilt and accept that you’ve already done enough
4. Strategies for giving yourself spaciousness and setting boundaries
5. How adjusting expectations can help protect your peace
6. A gentle approach to big emotions
7. The power and necessity of self-kindness and self-care
8. How to use this season for planting little seeds of hope for the future
9. The value of community and connection in difficult times

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Pre-order your copy of I Hope So (releasing February 10, 2026) by visiting https://drrobyne.ca/hope/

***

Next Stress Wisely Lab: January 12, 2026

Join Dr. Robyne for a 90-minute, research-informed experience designed to help you understand your habits, shift what’s no longer serving you, and build routines that better support how you want to feel and show up in your days.

There’s a spot waiting for you.

Bring a friend for free with our 2-for-1 offer: add two tickets to your cart and use coupon code 2for1 at checkout.

Learn more and register today: https://drrobyne.ca/stress-wisely-labs/

Additional Resources:

1. Dr. James Rouse

Get in Touch with Dr. Robyne:

1. Watch episodes on YouTube