Helping Gen Z Thrive: The Path to Becoming Unshakable
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
Release Date: 01/27/2026
The Recovery Advantage: High Standards without Burning Out
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
What if the very drive that helped you succeed is the same force quietly pushing you toward exhaustion? In this conversation with Dr. Selina Neri, I explore a tension so many high performers live with but rarely name. The desire to hold high standards, to lead well, to deliver excellence, and at the same time feel deeply depleted. Selina brings both research and lived experience to this topic, helping us understand that burnout is not a sign of weakness. It is often the byproduct of sustained overextension without intentional recovery. We talk about what recovery really means. It is not about...
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Turning Setbacks Into Strength: The 3 Types of Failure and How to Bounce Back
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
What if the very thing you are trying hardest to avoid is the doorway to becoming unshakable? In this episode of Becoming Unshakable, I sit down with Amy C. Edmondson, Harvard Business School professor and the thinker behind psychological safety, to reframe how we see failure. Amy has spent decades studying leadership, teamwork, and learning organizations, and in this conversation, she brings her newest body of work into sharp focus. Together, we unpack the three distinct types of failure and why only one of them truly moves us forward. Amy challenges the simplistic messages we often hear,...
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The Resilience Toolkit: Practices That Help You Bounce Back?
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
What does it really mean to become unshakable when your career, your family life, and the world around you all feel uncertain at the same time? In this episode of Becoming Unshakable, I sat down with Christine Ann Miller for a conversation that stayed with me long after we stopped recording. From the very first question, Christine grounds resilience in something more profound than grit or endurance. She shares how becoming unshakable is tied to purpose, faith, and the courage to stay anchored to who you are, even when the path forward is unclear. Christine takes us through her journey as a...
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How Leaders Remain Compassionate While Scaling Fast
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
What does it really take to stay grounded, human, and compassionate as a business grows faster than you ever imagined? In this episode of Becoming Unshakable, I sit down with Nicolas Breedlove for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, growth, and the internal work required to scale without losing yourself or the people around you. Nicolas shares what becoming unshakable has meant for him over the years, including the hard-earned discipline of emotional self-control and the realization that true leadership starts with self-leadership. We talk openly about his early mistakes, moments of...
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Helping Gen Z Thrive: The Path to Becoming Unshakable
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
What does it really mean to become unshakable when life starts testing you before you can even put words to what you are feeling? In this deeply personal episode of the Becoming Unshakable podcast, I sit down with my daughter, Gabriela, for a conversation I have long wanted to record. As her mom, I have watched her journey from the very beginning, through medical uncertainty, learning challenges, therapy rooms, and moments that could have easily shaken her sense of self. As a listener, you get to hear Gabriela tell her story in her own words, with honesty, reflection, and a quiet strength that...
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Why Self-Leadership Starts with Knowing and Living Your Values with Dr. Robyne
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
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...
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Identifying the Leadership Gaps That Matter Most
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
What does it actually take to spot the leadership gaps that matter, especially when life and work keep speeding up? In this episode of Becoming Unshakable, I sit down with Erik Dodier, an entrepreneur who describes his career as a “30-year overnight success.” Erik takes us from his early love of business and entrepreneurship to building a company through decades of pivots, pressure, growth, and change. What stood out to me right away was his willingness to discuss the pause that comes after the grind, that moment when you stop running and finally have enough space to reflect on who you...
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Are you willing to be served in 2026?
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
What happens when the identity I hold most proudly becomes the very thing that limits connection? In this solo episode of Becoming Unshakable, I share a moment of reflection that surfaced for me during a retreat I attended in Canada at the end of the year. I went there to speak, but also to listen, learn, and be present as a participant. In the middle of all the meaningful conversations and connections, one simple question from another attendee stopped me cold and stayed with me long after the retreat ended. I have always been comfortable giving, serving, and pouring into others. That part of...
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Soft Landings and Hard Truths in Team Building
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
What does it take to lead with heart in one of the most demanding, misunderstood public service sectors? In this episode of the Leadership With Heart Podcast, I spoke with Billie Jo McCarley, Deputy Director of Operations at the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department. From the moment I saw her speak on a panel, I was drawn to her clarity, purpose, and grounded approach to leading in a system that rarely gets the spotlight it deserves. Her words were honest, her tone firm, and her leadership style deeply human. Billie Jo shares her journey from a union kid in upstate New York to a...
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Faith Bigger Than Fear: Finding Ground in an Unsteady World
Becoming Unshakable With Heather R. Younger
In this episode of the Becoming Unshakable podcast, I sit down with Neri Karra Sillaman, and this conversation stayed with me long after we stopped recording. I first met Neri at the Thinkers50 event in London, where she was recognized as a Radar Award winner. The moment she spoke about her work and her life, I knew I had to learn more. This episode is the result of that instinct. Neri shares her powerful journey as an immigrant entrepreneur and refugee, forced to leave Bulgaria at the age of eleven with her family and only two suitcases. She takes us inside what it means to rebuild life from...
info_outlineWhat does it really mean to become unshakable when life starts testing you before you can even put words to what you are feeling?
In this deeply personal episode of the Becoming Unshakable podcast, I sit down with my daughter, Gabriela, for a conversation I have long wanted to record. As her mom, I have watched her journey from the very beginning, through medical uncertainty, learning challenges, therapy rooms, and moments that could have easily shaken her sense of self. As a listener, you get to hear Gabriela tell her story in her own words, with honesty, reflection, and a quiet strength that continues to move me.
Gabriela shares what becoming unshakable means to her, not as a destination, but as a grounded sense of peace, confidence, and presence. We talk openly about growing up with heart conditions, speech therapy, sensory processing differences, IEP support, and the emotional weight of feeling different at school. She reflects on how those early experiences shaped her resilience, empathy, and, eventually, her voice. There is a powerful moment when she talks about winning a speech competition in middle school, a full-circle reminder that growth does not always follow a straight line.
Our conversation also looks forward. Gabriela offers thoughtful insight into Gen Z, what helps her generation feel valued at work, and why compassion, flexibility, and genuine care matter more than stereotypes. We explore self-leadership, boundaries, rest, and the importance of unlearning people-pleasing. She also reflects on her current role as a missionary at UC Berkeley, supporting others as they find community, meaning, and confidence in unfamiliar seasons of life.
This episode is a reminder that unshakability is often built quietly, through perseverance, support, and learning how to care for yourself along the way. I hope Gabriela’s story encourages you, especially if you are navigating change, doubt, or a season that feels heavier than expected. As you listen, I would love to know, what part of her journey resonated most with you, and where are you finding your own strength right now?