Niren Chaudhary Reflects on Rebounding From Grief and His Successful Career Leading With Gratitude and Love
Release Date: 07/30/2025
Stacey Garcia on Resilience and Optimism in the Face of Personal Roadblocks and Why She Thinks “Mondays are Magic”
Blue Sky
As a personal trainer and wellness coach, Stacey Garcia was doing everything right. She ate well, exercised, and took great care of herself. That’s why her cancer diagnosis came as an extra shock, and in this episode, she explains how she dealt with this news and found strength and resilience as she battled her disease. Now in recovery, Stacey helps guide others through similar challenges both in her daily work as well as her podcast . Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Stacey Garcia Bill Burke introduces Stacey Garcia, host of ‘Never Miss a...
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Astronaut Nicole Stott Reflects on Lessons She Learned in Outer Space and How They Changed Her View of Life on “Spaceship Earth”
Blue Sky
Nicole Stott had a remarkable career with NASA, logging more than 100 days in outer space. Her time on the International Space Station drives her appreciation for the importance of cooperation across cultures and national boundaries. On this Blue Sky episode, she describes lessons learned from her time as an astronaut, and the inspiring work she does today through the Space For Art Foundation, and her optimistic and solutions-oriented approach to life. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Nicole Stott This chapter introduces Nicole Stott, a retired NASA...
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Back to School Edition
Blue Sky
Host Bill Burke thinks back to his own back to school days and offers thoughts on what he might study were he an incoming student this fall. He also discusses what he might teach if he were a faculty member and encourages us all to keep learning in our lives, whether we are enrolled students or not.
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Marcy Syms on Her New Book and “Not Letting the Bad Guys Win”
Blue Sky
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Mike Goodwin on the Power of Humor and “The Comedian’s Mindset”
Blue Sky
Mike Goodwin grew up with a difficult and volatile father. As a child, he decided that one way he could help his mom would be to help make her laugh. He soon realized he had a talent for humor, but it wasn’t until after time in the US Army and a career in higher education that Mike made comedy his career. Host Bill Burke and Mike Goodwin share a lot of laughs and life lessons in this fun episode of Blue Sky. Chapters: 02:27 Meet Mike Goodwin Bill introduces Mike Goodwin, a comedian, humor coach, and keynote speaker known for his clean comedy style....
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Kristine Michie on Stirring Up Impactful Change Through Joy and Optimism
Blue Sky
In this Blue Sky conversation, Kristine Michie describes her path to a career marked by sparking joy in people and organizations to facilitate positive and impactful change. Earlier this year, she hosted Bill Burke on her and with this episode, the tables are turned and the result is a fun, inspiring conversation on the power of fun, joy, and optimism. Chapters: 02:05 Meet Kristine Michie Kristine Michie, founder of Impactfull, Inc. and host of the PlayFull podcast, joins Bill to discuss her journey and the importance of joy in making a difference. They delve into...
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Curiosity + Resilience: A Formula for Optimism
Blue Sky
Bill Burke reflects on an idea presented by Niren Chaudhary in episode 107. Niren described curiosity and resilience as two master skills required to successfully run the marathon of life. In this "A Bit of Blue Sky," Bill underscores Niren's belief and relates these qualities to optimism, providing examples through past Blue Sky guests.
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Niren Chaudhary Reflects on Rebounding From Grief and His Successful Career Leading With Gratitude and Love
Blue Sky
Niren Chaudhary has led a remarkable life while overcoming intense personal tragedies. He describes his success in running global business as stemming from a foundational belief in putting his employees first and leading them with love, gratitude, and respect. Chapters: 01:36 Meet Niren Chaudhary Niren Chaudhary, a visionary leader and CEO, shares his impressive career journey, highlighting his roles at Panera Bread and Yum! Brands. 04:04 The Power of People in Business Niren reflects on the significance of gratitude and treating employees...
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Heidi Johnson on Loss, Grief, and the Transformative Power of Giving
Blue Sky
Heidi Johnson was in a great spot in life. She had a great family, good job, all she could reasonably ask for. But when her mother was killed in a shocking accident, that all changed. After suffering from intense grief, Heidi’s life changed when she was asked to start a new initiative at her local children’s hospital. This led her to create and lead her own nonprofit and to a life today of service and also shining a light on other nonprofit leaders, through both a book and hosting her podcast, Charity Matters. Chapters: 00:30 Heidi Johnson’s Journey...
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Wounded Warrior Tom Deierlein’s Remarkable Story of Grit, Resilience, Service, and Optimism
Blue Sky
As a West Point graduate who had completed his required service, Tom Deierlein was well into a successful career in digital advertising when he was called up once again to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. There, while working to help struggling Iraqi families meet their basic needs, a sniper’s bullet would change his life’s trajectory. In this Blue Sky conversation, Tom shares his remarkable life story, on that is marked by inspiring grit, resilience, service, and optimism. Chapters: 02:11 Tom Deierlein’s Background Tom Deierlein shares insights about his...
info_outlineNiren Chaudhary has led a remarkable life while overcoming intense personal tragedies. He describes his success in running global business as stemming from a foundational belief in putting his employees first and leading them with love, gratitude, and respect.
Chapters:
01:36 Meet Niren Chaudhary
Niren Chaudhary, a visionary leader and CEO, shares his impressive career journey, highlighting his roles at Panera Bread and Yum! Brands.
04:04 The Power of People in Business
Niren reflects on the significance of gratitude and treating employees well, emphasizing that a positive work culture leads to better customer experiences.
09:02 Balancing Work and Family
Niren discusses the challenges of managing global responsibilities while remaining committed to his family, sharing insights on leadership as a privilege.
12:00 Navigating Personal Tragedies
The conversation shifts to Niren’s personal life, where he opens up about the loss of his daughters and the impact of grief on his journey.
23:03 Finding Hope After Loss
Niren shares how he transformed his grief into personal growth, emphasizing the importance of self-love, acceptance, and hope in overcoming hardship.
26:36 Aisha’s Legacy
Niren honors his daughter Aisha’s remarkable life, discussing her courage and values that continue to inspire him and shape his outlook on life.
30:01 The Lens of Gratitude
Niren shares how viewing life through gratitude enriches our experiences and reflects on Aisha’s wisdom about the importance of generosity and fulfillment. He highlights the profound impact of her words, emphasizing that even hardships can lead to deeper appreciation.
32:00 Aisha’s Lasting Impact
Reflecting on Aisha’s life, Niren discusses the lessons learned from her limited time and how her legacy inspires him to embrace life fully. He reveals how her perspective on enjoying life despite challenges continues to shape his journey.
33:12 Exploring New Horizons
As Niren transitions from corporate life, he outlines his current endeavors aimed at unlocking human potential through coaching, academics, and writing. He shares his excitement for teaching at Harvard and the importance of inspiring future leaders.
36:06 Writing for Change
Niren discusses his motivation behind writing two new books focused on resilience and leadership, aiming to inspire those he hasn’t met. He emphasizes the importance of sharing life lessons to help others navigate their own challenges.
39:03 The Power of Self-Talk
In this segment, Niren introduces the themes of his books, particularly the significance of self-talk and resilience in shaping our responses to life’s challenges. He encourages listeners to cultivate a positive inner dialogue to foster personal growth.
41:00 Mastering Time and Focus
Niren shares his daily routines and time management strategies that allow him to balance multiple projects while maintaining focus. He emphasizes the importance of engaging in activities that bring joy and energy, avoiding distractions that drain productivity.
46:04 Habits for Life’s Marathon
Niren concludes with powerful insights on the importance of curiosity and resilience as key habits for navigating life’s challenges. He encourages listeners to embrace learning and commit to their goals, even when faced with obstacles.