Becoming Unshakable

Heather R. Younger, J.D.
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Becoming Unshakeable is the podcast for leaders, creators, and changemakers who know that true leadership starts from within. Hosted by bestselling author and keynote speaker Heather R. Younger, JD, each episode explores what it takes to lead with resilience, compassion, and purpose—without pretending to be perfect. Through candid conversations with executives, frontline leaders, coaches, and everyday heroes, Heather uncovers the real stories behind growth, setbacks, and transformation. From navigating change to creating emotionally safe cultures, Becoming Unshakeable reveals how self-leadership and caring leadership can shape people—and workplaces—that cannot be shaken. Whether you're leading a team, a company, or simply leading yourself, this podcast will help you stay grounded, lead boldly, and thrive in every chapter of your journey.

  1. 1D AGO

    Faith Bigger Than Fear: Finding Ground in an Unsteady World

    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 a refugee camp, to navigate shame, loss, faith, and survival, and to carry those experiences into adulthood. What struck me most was how she reframes being unshakable, not as being unbreakable, but as being flexible, grounded in truth, and willing to live authentically even when life does not go as planned. We talk deeply about faith, worthiness, and the unseen forces that carry us through moments when the future feels impossible to imagine. Neri opens up about the scars that never fully heal, the role of self-awareness in leadership, and how community and compassion can serve as the foundation for both personal healing and business longevity. Her story behind writing Pioneers: Eight Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs reveals how sometimes the work we resist is the work we are meant to do. This conversation is about resilience, but it goes beyond pushing through. It is about receiving as much as giving, about understanding your own worth, and about how early hardship can shape a deep capacity for connection, storytelling, and leadership. It is also a reminder that even in chaos, we can hold a vision for something greater. As you listen to Neri's story, I invite you to reflect on this. What part of your own story, especially the parts shaped by struggle, might actually be pointing you toward the life and leadership you are meant to live?

    37 min

  2. DEC 16

    Signal Up: The Secret Language of Unshakable Teams

    What are the signals your team is receiving from you every single day, even when you think you are not sending any at all? In this episode of Becoming Unshakable, I reflect on my recent work facilitating deep listening sessions inside organizations and what those moments quietly communicate to employees. Again and again, I hear the same response. Something feels different. Something feels like it is shifting. The signal is not a speech or a strategy deck. It is presence. It is being seen. It is knowing someone is actually listening. I talk about why listening is one of the clearest expressions of caring leadership and how intentional signals can change culture faster than most formal initiatives. When people feel heard, they invest more. They stay engaged. They support one another. And they find strength even when work feels heavy or uncertain. This episode also turns inward. I explore the signals our own bodies send us every day and what happens when we ignore them. Unshakable does not mean unhurt or unaffected. It means grounded. It means having tools such as reframing, breathing, and self-awareness that help us steady ourselves before we crumble. As you listen, I invite you to consider this. What signals are you intentionally placing for your team, your family, and yourself? And what might change if you slowed down long enough to truly receive them?

    13 min

  3. DEC 9

    Resilience is More Than Grit

    Have you ever noticed how easy it is to talk about resilience as if it is a single gear we should keep turning forever? That question has been sitting with me for a while. I have spent years teaching leaders how to build resilience and how to stay steady when life shakes the ground under their feet. I believe in that work with my whole heart. But lately something has shifted in me. I have been rethinking the way we treat resilience as endless forward motion, almost like we are supposed to sprint through every storm without ever stopping to breathe. In this solo episode, I share an honest look at my own evolution. I talk about the moment I realized that resilience without nourishment becomes a slow drain on our spirit. I describe the trap of powering through, the belief that toughness alone will carry us, and why I am moving toward something I call resilience plus. It is the space where grit meets care, where perseverance is paired with grounding, and where the ability to rise again is strengthened by the willingness to rest, pray, listen, and refill ourselves. I walk through the lessons that hit me during a retreat in Toronto, the ones that helped me see how nourishment is not a luxury but a condition for real resilience. I share what it feels like to stand in front of a room of people who are fully present, fully open, and fully human. I talk about the people who hold me, the friends and family who steady me, and why leadership requires us to build circles where we can be honest, soft, tired, hopeful, and strong in the same breath. This conversation is an invitation to explore your own understanding of resilience. It is a reminder that you can be powerful and weary, strong and tender, grounded and growing. You can fall and rise, and you can take a breath before you do it. And I would love to hear from you. What does resilience plus look like in your own life, and where are you finding the nourishment that helps you stay unshakable?

    11 min

  4. DEC 2

    The Two Traits Every High-Impact Leader Must Master

    Have you ever met someone in a fleeting moment and instantly sensed there was a deeper conversation waiting to happen? That is precisely what happened when I met Grantley Morgan at Thinkers50 in London. It was my very first time in the city, and there he was, tucked away in the corner, trying to enjoy a quiet bite before the next wave of conversations. Of course, I walked right up to him, probably catching him mid-chew, and within minutes, we were deep into a discussion about the kind of leadership people return to when the world around them feels uncertain. In this episode of Becoming Unshakable, Grantley and I explore a theme that leaders often overlook. Reliability. We talk about it as something steady, almost quiet, yet absolutely foundational. Grantley calls it positive predictability. That grounded presence where people know how you show up, they see the bar you hold for yourself, and they trust that your intentions match your actions. He describes how this connects with a second trait that leaders often talk about but rarely live consistently. A personal quality bar that never drops, even when pressure mounts. Our conversation moves through the realities of consulting culture, the pressure to prove yourself, the temptation to rush, and the personal work involved in shifting from competition to curiosity. Grantley shares moments where he pushed too hard, went too fast, and learned the hard way about the limits of carrying everything alone. His honesty around pressure, emotional regulation, and the need for shared accountability invites all of us to rethink how we use our influence. What I loved most was the way he frames leadership through clear intention. The idea of stepping away for fuel, stepping back for perspective, and stepping forward once curiosity returns. The way he holds failure as a sign of courage rather than incompetence. And the reminder that reliability has nothing to do with being safe or dull. It is the quality that lets people take bigger risks because they trust the leader beside them. Grantley left me thinking about the future of leadership and how each of us can create the conditions where our teams thrive. What would happen if reliability and excellence coexisted more often in our workplaces? What would it change about how we show up, how we collaborate, and how we carry our own emotional load? I would love to know what this conversation brings up for you. Which part resonates with your own experience of leading or being led? Share your thoughts with me.

    35 min

  5. NOV 25

    How to Keep It Together When Everything Is Out of Control

    What happens when innovation is shaping your life in ways you never see? That is the question at the heart of this conversation with Portia Lane Child, Director of Innovation and Strategy Services at BAE Systems.  While most of us recognise the consumer brands that dominate our daily world, far fewer realise how deeply companies like BAE Systems influence the systems that keep us connected, protected, and moving. Portia's work lives in that fascinating space, where advanced engineering meets national mission, and where the innovations you never hear about are often the ones shaping your future. During our discussion, Portia shares how she helps steer innovation inside one of the world's most complex aerospace and defence organisations. She talks about the human side of innovating within a massive enterprise, the challenge of moving ideas across technical and organisational silos, and the lessons she learned growing up as a lobster fisherman's daughter that still guide how she builds teams and champions new ideas.  Her story about creating an internal accelerator that changed how the business nurtures ideas is a powerful reminder that innovation only takes root when people feel supported to experiment, communicate, and stretch beyond familiar boundaries. We also explore the shifting incentives shaping today's innovators, from the pressure of short-term financial cycles to the growing importance of longer horizons in the age of AI. Portia opens up about what it really takes to move from idea to impact inside a mission-driven organisation, why customer conversations matter more than ever, and how modern innovators can develop the resilience and curiosity needed to operate in fast-moving technical environments. My guest also shares inspiring reflections on the inventions that shaped her, the role models who sparked her imagination, and the breakthroughs she believes the world needs most.

    11 min

  6. NOV 18

    Deciding How to Pivot When Life Hits

    Have you ever wondered how some people keep standing even when life seems determined to knock them flat? That question lingered with me as I spoke with Dave Munson, the founder and CEO of Saddleback Leather Co., whose journey is marked by sharp turns, risk-taking, loss, grit, faith, and a remarkable ability to get back up again. This conversation reminded me that the path to becoming unshakable is rarely smooth. It is formed through moments that challenge our identity, stretch our resolve, and reveal what we truly rely on when everything around us feels uncertain. Dave brought stories that moved from the deserts of Mexico to the busy floors of his factory, from being a young volunteer teacher dreaming up a rugged bag to building a global brand rooted in people-first values. He talks openly about the setbacks that shaped him, including financial loss, near closures, a cartel theft of an entire truckload of products, and the intense pressure of keeping a business alive during COVID when travel bags suddenly fell to the very bottom of consumer demand. What struck me was his response each time. He chose gratitude, service, and faith as his grounding tools. He decided to stand up quicker with each hit instead of staying down. The heart of this episode unfolds as Dave shares how compassion has shaped his leadership. From standing beside employees during personal crises to hiring people who are often overlooked in society, he paints a picture of leadership that meets people where they are and walks with them. He also speaks candidly about his own process of unlearning, particularly the need to relinquish self-reliance and trust others to grow alongside him. His story is full of uncomfortable growth, unexpected blessings, and a willingness to pivot when the world shifts beneath his feet. It made me reflect on what anchors each of us and how we choose to rise. As you listen, consider your own sense of grounding. What helps you get back up when life hits you in ways you never saw coming? And if something Dave shared resonates with you, I would love to know your thoughts. What part of this conversation helps you reflect on your own journey toward becoming unshakable?

    31 min

  7. NOV 11

    How Our Pasts Can Propel Us Into Our Futures

    In this solo episode of Becoming Unshakable, I invite you to join me for a quiet reflection on how our past experiences can shape and strengthen who we are becoming. I talk about my love for fall, the sound of leaves crunching underfoot, and how those simple moments remind me of the beauty of change. Each fallen leaf tells a story of what was, and each season reminds us that growth often begins with letting go. I share why I no longer believe in leaving the past behind. Our pasts are full of lessons, proof of our resilience, and reminders of how much we have already overcome. When I look back on my own life, I see the obstacles that once felt impossible but now serve as evidence of what I'm capable of. Those memories keep me grounded and confident when new challenges arise. This episode is all about using what came before to propel us toward what's next. It's about finding power in reflection, gratitude in growth, and peace in knowing that everything we've lived through has prepared us for what lies ahead. I hope this short conversation helps you see your own past in a new light and gives you the courage to keep moving forward with strength and purpose.

    9 min

  8. NOV 4

    Asking for Help Is Strength, Not Failure

    In this episode of Becoming Unshakable, I had the privilege of welcoming two inspiring guests, Mary Beth Sandin and Kristina Fusella. It was my first time hosting two people at once, and the conversation felt like sitting down with old friends who have walked similar roads of challenge, growth, and self-discovery. Together, we explored what it means to stay grounded when life feels uncertain and why asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather an act of genuine strength. Kristina shared how her Taekwondo practice has shaped her understanding of balance, both physically and emotionally. Her reflections reminded me that being unshakeable is not about staying perfectly still, but about finding stability while in motion. Mary Beth brought a different kind of insight, showing how self-awareness, preparation, and allyship can create calm even in moments of chaos. Hearing both of them speak so openly about fear, confidence, and connection felt deeply human. What stayed with me most was our discussion about grace, vulnerability, and the quiet courage it takes to ask for support. We discussed the unrealistic expectations women often place on themselves, the importance of having allies, and how small moments of encouragement can have a profound impact. If you are someone trying to hold it all together, this conversation will remind you that strength often begins the moment you decide to reach out.

    38 min
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About

Becoming Unshakeable is the podcast for leaders, creators, and changemakers who know that true leadership starts from within. Hosted by bestselling author and keynote speaker Heather R. Younger, JD, each episode explores what it takes to lead with resilience, compassion, and purpose—without pretending to be perfect. Through candid conversations with executives, frontline leaders, coaches, and everyday heroes, Heather uncovers the real stories behind growth, setbacks, and transformation. From navigating change to creating emotionally safe cultures, Becoming Unshakeable reveals how self-leadership and caring leadership can shape people—and workplaces—that cannot be shaken. Whether you're leading a team, a company, or simply leading yourself, this podcast will help you stay grounded, lead boldly, and thrive in every chapter of your journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Heather R. Younger, J.D.
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    407
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Heather R. Younger, J.D
  • Show Website
    Becoming Unshakable

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