What really shapes our lives. Our thoughts. Our feelings. Our behavior. Or something deeper? In this episode, I revisit familiar psychological models like CBT and expand them with two elements that are often overlooked. Your environment and your inner state. Drawing from neuroscience, nervous system regulation, and my work with humans and animals, I explain why outcomes alone are a poor measure of success. And why lasting change starts with presence, not performance. This episode also marks the beginning of a short series where we’ll explore practical levers for real change. Without overthinking. Without forcing positivity.

Looking back at a year usually means counting results. This episode asks a different question: How did those moments actually feel in your body and nervous system? Not what happened. But the state you were in before and after. A gentle year-end reflection.

The holiday season often comes with pressure, noise, and hidden stress. This short episode is different. In Episode 101 of Lead Well!, I invite you to a brief resilience break. A guided pause to help your nervous system shift out of stress mode and into a calmer, more regulated state. You can listen while sitting, resting, or even while waiting for the bus. No special setup needed. This episode is meant as a gift. A few quiet minutes for yourself during a busy time of year. ✨ Wishing you a calm holiday season and a gentle transition into the new year.

Episode 100 is a moment to pause. Not to summarize achievements, but to acknowledge influence. In this solo episode, Christine reflects on gratitude. Not as a feel-good concept, but as a stabilizing force for the nervous system, perspective, and leadership. She shares the stories of nine people. Most of them podcast guests. All of them deeply influential. Teachers, mentors, colleagues, and thinkers who shaped how she works, leads, and lives today. This episode is both a thank-you and an invitation. To revisit conversations that matter. And to notice how the people we meet quietly change the direction of our lives.

Deutsche Originalaufnahme - to listen to the English Dub version, forward to chapter 3 at timestamp 00:26:28. In this episode, Dr. Ulrike Stefanowski joins me to explore one of the most underestimated foundations of mental and physical health: sleep. Ulrike is a medical doctor, coach, and founder of INSANO, an institute focused on mental well-being and nervous-system regulation. She combines medical understanding with modern self-regulation methods to help people regain deep rest, calm, and stable energy. Together we unpack… • Why we cannot catch up on chronic sleep loss • What really happens in deep sleep and REM sleep • How our 25-hour internal clock sabotages mornings • Why teens and night owls struggle in an early-bird society • How morning light, movement, and evening rituals set the brain for rest • What to do if you wake up at 2 or 3 AM with your mind racing • Why rumination is strongest at night • How stress hormones and circadian dips influence night-time awakenings • What simple habits reliably improve sleep quality This conversation blends science, practicality, and compassion for all of us who want to feel more rested, clearer, and more grounded.

In this practical and energizing conversation, movement educator and physical therapist Eileen Kopsaftis explains why pain does not have to be a natural part of aging. She shares the most common myths about decline, how the brain loses contact with parts of the body, and why most people unknowingly train in ways that reinforce stiffness instead of reducing it. Eileen demonstrates a simple seated three-plane routine to improve thoracic rotation, release the neck, and support lower back health. We discuss why manual therapy can be supportive but never restores function on its own, how much daily movement is needed, and why strength gains are possible at any age. A hopeful and highly useful episode for anyone who wants to move better, feel better, and age with freedom instead of fear.

Betrayal trauma expert Mr. Jay explains what betrayal trauma really is, why it rewires the nervous system, and how to rebuild safety, trust, and self-worth from the inside out. A powerful, practical conversation on healing, boundaries, and self-leadership.

What if vitality is not about pushing harder, but about listening more deeply? In this conversation with Dr. Deborah Zucker, naturopathic physician, mental-health counselor, and author of The Vitality Map, we explore the nine keys to deep vitality. Deborah shares her own health crisis, the wake-up call that changed her life, and the foundational skills most of us were simply never taught: attunement, listening to inner feedback, embracing our shadows, and cultivating “easeful discipline.” We talk about burnout, overwhelm, early warning signs, micro-resilience practices, and the courage to honour your Deep Yes. This episode is especially relevant for leaders navigating high pressure environments, busy professionals on the edge of exhaustion, and anyone who wants to reconnect with their own wellbeing as a daily practice.

What does it take to move from surviving to truly thriving after trauma? In this powerful episode, Dr. Dawnmarie Risley-Childs, a psychiatrist, author of The Offering, and self-proclaimed “Hope Dealer”, shares her personal journey through childhood abuse, complex PTSD, and the radical act of forgiving without forgetting. Together, we explore how trauma shapes the nervous system, how healing can begin through the body, and why reclaiming your personal power as a woman means no longer settling for crumbs.

In this episode, Christine explores The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz — a timeless guide to personal freedom and self-leadership. These four simple yet profound principles can transform the way you relate to yourself and others: Be impeccable with your word Don’t take anything personally Don’t make assumptions Always do your best Christine connects each agreement to her NeuroPositive framework, showing how Presence, Perspective, and Progress can turn these ideas into daily practice.

In this solo episode, Christine Schickinger explores a timeless communication method that helps you say less - and mean more: the Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto. If you’ve ever been told to “get to the point,” or struggled to make your ideas heard, this method will transform how you structure your thoughts, presentations, and even emails.

Bianca D’Alessio is one of New York’s top real estate leaders, a TV personality from Selling the Hamptons, and the author of Mastering Intentions: 10 Practices to Amplify Your Power and Lead with Lasting Impact. In this episode, we talk about why purpose and intention matter more than goal-chasing, how to quiet the “brain bully” that sabotages success, and how to play the long game in leadership and life.

When success turns hollow, how do you find your way back to purpose? Christine talks with lawyer-turned-novelist Anusia Gillespie about burnout, healing, and her debut novel Soul Toll, which blends ambition with spiritual awakening.

What if your creativity didn’t have to please anyone but yourself? In this inspiring conversation, Amandine de Gaspari—a neurodivergent, purpose-driven coach—talks with Christine Schickinger about embracing your authentic voice, finding freedom in creativity, and redefining what it means to “be too much.”

In this inspiring episode of Lead Well!, I talk with Kevin Field, co-founder of WeFayo – a free platform connecting over 180 communities across the U.S. for families and individuals living with medical conditions or special needs. Kevin shares how his journey with his wife’s Crohn’s disease and raising a child with special needs turned into a mission: building a place where no one has to navigate health challenges alone.

What if respect and safety were the standard in every home? In this episode of Lead Well!, I speak with Sabrina Osso, founder and CEO of Osso Safe, about her mission to create safe environments where people live, learn, work, and play. Sabrina shares her powerful story as a survivor of violence, how her one-woman show grew into a movement, and why safety at home impacts every part of our lives - from school to the workplace. We also talk about her Home Safe Home children’s book, the Osso Safe property certification, and the small but impactful ways anyone can intervene to give power back to victims.

What if the answers you’ve been searching for were already inside you? In this conversation with Jamie Lerner, Integrating Wellbeing Therapist and co-author of The Ever Loving Essence of You, we explore how to shift the stories that keep us stuck, tap into our intuition, and build more authentic connections — with ourselves, others, and even nature.

In this episode of Lead Well!, Christine talks with Rebecca Bush, a specialist in dyslexia who brings both professional expertise and lived insight into what it means to learn differently. We explore: Why dyslexia is about much more than reading difficulties The hidden strengths of dyslexic thinkers – from creativity to problem-solving Practical ways to support children and adults with dyslexia How workplaces can better include neurodiverse talent Whether you’re a parent, teacher, leader, or someone navigating dyslexia yourself, this conversation will inspire you to see learning differences through a new lens.

When I asked Letitia Blanker how she was doing, she answered with two words: “I am.” In this conversation, Letitia opens up about a season when everything seemed to land at once: her father’s sudden illness, the end of a 20-year relationship, selling her home, losing her job—and then a breast cancer diagnosis just one month later. What surprised both of us: cancer didn’t break her. It gave her structure and even purpose for a time. We also talk about: Why she always wears purple, and what it means to her Discovering she’s highly gifted at 58, and how that reframed her story Her dream of becoming a different kind of funeral guide Living with the aftermath of loss while still moving forward It’s not a tidy story. But it’s an honest one—and if you’re in a hard stretch yourself, I think Letitia’s words will feel like company.

This week I talk to Pia Mailhot-Leichter. Her book "Welcome to the Creative Club: Make Life Your Biggest Art Project" is part memoir, part manifesto, and part gentle rebellion against the myth that “creativity” belongs only to the gifted few. We talk about: How Pia rediscovered her creativity on a Trans-Siberian journey Why neuroscience shows your best ideas come during rest (hello showers & daydreams!) The courage it takes to share meaningful creations — and why vulnerability connects us all Practical ways to create space for imagination, even in busy lives Why life itself is an “active sport” and you are the creative director of your own story