Intro To 7:47 Conversations Podcast

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. Adam explains why technology should exist to elevate people, not replace them, and how a “giver” mindset, genuine curiosity, and gratitude have guided his success. Rather than chasing outcomes, he focuses on helping others thrive—trusting that success follows naturally.Chris and Adam also explore what leadership looks like during times of crisis, including the responsibility to prioritize people over business when it matters most. Adam reflects on using gratitude as a tool for resilience and the importance of acknowle

Episode SummaryIn 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 step toward happiness is simply finding a friend at work, how resilience is a muscle built through small, confidence-building decisions, and why “good enough” choices often lead to more satisfaction than endless optimization. Together, they dismantle common myths about happiness, connect gratitude and joy to long-term resilience, and show how depersonalizing failure and using feedback as data can transform setbacks into progress. The episode culminates in Jessica’s five-part framework—connection, resilience, optimism, trus

Episode OverviewIn 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 conversation expands into parenting, identity, and leadership, especially Brent’s lived experience of managing “multiple personalities” at home with four kids and at work with diverse teams. The thread that ties it together is intentionality: Brent wants to be more present when he comes home, more human at work, and more consistent about building culture one interaction at a time.Chris and Brent then go deep on a core leadership shift: moving from blame to radical accountability, and from problem-obsession to solution-findi

Podcast Show OverviewIn 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 re-centers her enduring gratitude for her mother—an “anchor” figure defined by generosity, steadiness, and wisdom. From there, the episode expands into a bigger thesis: we’re moving from a knowledge economy (being paid to “know”) to a wisdom economy (being valued for discernment, context, ethics, and humanity), right as AI accelerates technical capability faster than society’s ability to govern it wisely.Julie explains what she’s seeing in real time—from the lightning-fast evolution of “prompt engineering” (job → skill → eve

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 being outsourced and humanity is at risk of being optimized away.Eric reflects on a 25-year career across some of the world’s most influential enterprise technology companies, but reframes success through a different lens. Rather than crediting restraint or perfection, he points to saying yes as the defining strategy of his life, yes to unfamiliar roles, yes to reinvention, yes to creativity, fatherhood, philanthropy, and Broadway. Along the way, he opens up about imposter syndrome, those quiet moments of doubt that surfac

Episode OverviewIn 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 Western civilization.Katie has written, edited, or contributed to more than twenty books and countless articles in publications like The New York Times, Vogue, and The Guardian. Her newest work, Rome: A Culinary History Cookbook and Field Guide to the Flavors That Built a City, is not just another recipe collection. It’s a layered love letter, part history book, part field guide, and part emotional map to the spirit of a city that has endured famine, fire, empire, and rebirth. Together, we explore what Rome can teach us about

Episode OverviewIn 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 about her mother’s influence as an immigrant and lifelong learner, how that shaped her own discipline and drive, and why gratitude remains the throughline of every chapter in her life.Together, Chris and Sandra unpack the difference between knowledge and wisdom, exploring how true leadership comes not from perfection but from experience, the kind earned through risk-taking, failure, and self-belief. Sandra shares how she’s learning to slow down, to truly listen to the sounds around her, from the birds on her rescue horse farm

Episode SummaryIn 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 her unexpected journey into motherhood and how her daughter, Kiran, became her North Star, pushing her to finish business school while pregnant, guiding her to build a better life, and teaching her lessons in forgiveness and courage. Together, Chris and Kirti unpack the subtle art of pausing in a world obsessed with speed: pausing before responding to an email, pausing to think, pausing to realign with who we are and who we want to become.They delve into the heavy weight and quiet liberation of reputation, how cultural expe

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

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

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 conve

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, sma

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 entrepreneu

Episode OverviewWhat 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 mother, Lenore, a woman who raised four children alone after the sudden passing of her husband. In Seth’s words, her life was a masterclass in grace, humility, and strength. Her resilience wasn’t loud, it was deliberate. Her courage wasn’t showy, it was sacred. That tribute sets the tone for everything that follows.From there, we follow Seth’s winding journey from a paperboy in New Jersey to an international basketball coach in Venezuela, from assisting coaching legends to curating keynotes for some of the biggest brands

Episode SummaryIn 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 complexity, a man who’s lived the tension between growth and burnout, performance and peace, ambition and alignment. Through stories both deeply personal and professionally profound, Ryan takes us behind the curtain of a life built on momentum through harmony—and how choosing wellness, wisdom, and worth have shaped his impact. From founding ImpactEleven (which achieved a 500% growth rate, 1300% increase in shareholder value, and 90% client retention in just two years), to standing ovations across global stages, Ryan’s track record is undeniable. But what makes this episode different is what’s unsaid—the inner work of reclaiming health, reconnecting to truth, and redefining succe

Episode DescriptionIn 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 Courage → Micro Action → Micro Proof) designed to help everyday people break through fear and build an inspired life—one step at a time.But this episode is more than a framework. It’s a heart-to-heart about mentorship, identity, failure, and the beauty of baby steps. Juan opens up about battling binge eating, hitting rock bottom, and how a good friend’s invitation to California helped him reset his entire life. From the weight of imposter syndrome to the surprising science behind confidence and Olympic achievement, Juan

Episode SummaryIn 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 record-breaking year in business. From there, the conversation expands to cover Grace’s origin story, her groundbreaking work with high-achieving CEOs, and why hypnosis is less about “fixing” and more about revealing the strength already inside us.Grace shares stunning stories from her early career — including how she helped a paralyzed man regain movement in a single session, a man who would later become her father-in-law. Together, they explore how the subconscious governs behavior, how leaders can reprogram outdated b

In this deeply moving and insight-rich episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra welcomes Sara Hardwick, the Community Relationship Strategist at the Gift•ology Group and steward of the late John Ruhlin’s enduring legacy. What begins as a conversation about gifting quickly unfolds into a masterclass in human connection, spiritual resilience, and the transformative power of long-game generosity.Sara shares her unexpected journey into this world of relational marketing—how a nudge from her college roommate and a single Google search led her to John’s work, and how her bold outreach blossomed into a mentorship, a career, and a calling. Chris and Sara reflect on how the principles of Beyond Gift•ology are not just business strategies—they’re spiritual frameworks for living well, loving deeply, and leading with purpose.The episode pays tribute to John Ruhlin, a father, husband, and business visionary who turned gifting into an art form and relationship-building into an enterprise. John passed aw

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 first.In this raw, riveting, and often funny dialogue, Britt shares the ALIGN framework: a five-step method to transform the swirl of internal chaos into clarity, confidence, and calm leadership. You’ll walk away with tools to stop spinning, drop shame, and start collaborating—with all the voices in your head.Chris and Britt explore:How circus training helped Britt tame her mind and discover flow Why shadow parts aren’t saboteurs—they’re secret allies The real difference between solitude and loneliness How to negotiate wi

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 respect, and a commitment to connection can create a lasting impact in our lives and communities.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:How a simple shoulder tap can change the course of a careerThe importance of mentorship and building reciprocal relationshipsLessons from Governor Gary Carruthers on leadership and respect across differencesWhy celebrating the success of others (Mudita) is key to fulfillmentThe Platinum Rule: Treating others the way they want to be treatedHow small, cumulative actions can create meaningful changePr