What happens when two podcasters decide to slow down, join forces, and have the kind of conversation many leaders are quietly craving right now?
This week, I am doing something I have never done before. I am collaborating with my friend and colleague, Dr. Robyne Hanley Dafoe, on a shared episode that will be available on both our podcasts. This is not an interview swap or a highlight reel. It is a real, unscripted conversation between two women who care deeply about leadership, resilience, and what it actually takes to stay grounded in a world that feels loud, divided, and emotionally exhausted.
We talk openly about why self-leadership feels harder right now, why so many capable people feel stuck waiting for permission, and why caring leadership cannot stop at the edges of our organizations. Together, Dr. Robyne and I explore the connection between values, self-worth, perfectionism, and hope. We explain why hope is often dismissed as unrealistic, even though science suggests it may be one of the most practical tools we have. We also reflect on what it means to lead when you are tired, under-resourced, and still figuring things out yourself.
You will hear us wrestle with real questions leaders face every day. How do you stay steady without pretending you are fine? How do you care for others without abandoning yourself? How do you build resilience without turning it into another performance metric? And how do hope, compassion, and self-leadership actually show up in daily choices rather than big statements?
This conversation is personal, reflective, and deeply human. It is for leaders, caregivers, parents, and professionals who are trying to do good work without burning out. If you have ever felt pulled between responsibility and self-preservation, or wondered how to stay unshakable without becoming hardened, this episode is for you.
I look forward to your listening, reflection, and sharing what resonates most with you.
Dr. Robyne Hanley Dafoe is an award-winning psychology and education behaviorist, recognized as one of the most trusted voices on resiliency, stress, and hope. She helps people and organizations achieve meaningful success and productivity, without sacrificing well-being. Known for her unique ability to bridge research and real-life application, Dr. Robyne delivers science with heart. Her work makes complex ideas simple, relatable and immediately usable, offering practical frameworks for staying steady, capable and kind in a world that often feels anything but.
A former high school dropout turned university professor, bestselling author and mother of three, Dr. Robyne’s story is as compelling as her science. She has delivered more than 2,000 keynotes globally and reached millions through her writing, teaching and digital platforms.
Her award-winning books Calm Within the Storm and Stress Wisely have established her as a global authority on resiliency, sustainable performance and psychological safety. Her upcoming release, I Hope So: How to Choose Hope, Even When It Is Hard (February 2026), offers a groundbreaking perspective on hope as a practical skill, a strategic advantage that fuels leadership, protects mental health and strengthens communities.
Dr. Robyne has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, Fast Company, Shondaland and Live Happy. She is a weekly contributor to Psychology Today, was recognized by BookLife as a Grand Prize Non-Fiction Winner and is trusted by Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems and educators around the world. She is the expert organizations call when they want their people to perform at their best and stay well doing it.
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About Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP
Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP is a highly sought-after speaker, 2x-TEDx speaker, diversity, equity and inclusion strategist, and contributor to leading news outlets. She is also the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and consulting firm. After over 25,000 employee engagement surveys and years of working with organizations to transform employee engagement, here’s what Heather has seen over and over: When you know how to listen, employees will tell you exactly what they need to bring their full selves to work. Book Heather to speak at your event or organization.
Visit heatheryounger.com or https://www.cmispeakers.com/heather-r-younger for more details.
