Real STRength with Sarah Draper

Sarah Draper
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What does it really take to lead well, build resilience, and create a life filled with purpose and joy? In Real STRength, host Sarah Draper explores the honest stories behind leadership, performance, and personal growth. Through candid conversations with leaders about their unique strength journeys, Sarah uncovers the challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons that shape who we become. At the heart of every conversation are three dimensions of Real STRength: STATE (how you show up in the moment), TRAIT (who you're becoming), and RELATE (why it all matters). Discover new perspectives, uncover your blind spots, and find the strength to lead and live with greater intention.

  1. 2d ago

    Leading with Trust, Accountability, and Purpose with Steve Speakes | #27

    In this episode of Real Strength, Sarah Draper talks with retired Army three-star general Steve Speakes about leadership, culture, responsibility, and what it means to keep learning across a lifetime of high-stakes leadership. Steve reflects on his military career, his work in business, and the lessons that shaped how he leads today. Steve explains that leading a small business has been one of the most humbling experiences of his life. Unlike the military, where he had major systems and resources behind him, business leadership comes with a much smaller margin for error. He feels a deep responsibility for the employees and families who depend on the company’s success. A major theme of the conversation is creating a culture built on empowerment, accountability, and trust. Steve describes how employees are given room to make decisions, solve problems, grow into leadership roles, and take ownership of their work. He believes strong cultures are built over time through consistency, responsibility, and learning from mistakes. Sarah and Steve also discuss innovation and recognizing hidden talent inside an organization. Steve shares how one employee’s programming ability was discovered beyond his original role, eventually allowing him to create tools that improved speed, efficiency, and problem-solving throughout the company. Later, Steve reflects on how he sustains himself as a leader. He talks about finding genuine joy in his work, maintaining physical discipline, preparing mentally for each day, and staying deeply connected to the people around him. In this episode: ● Leadership under pressure ● Building trust over time ● Empowerment with accountability ● Developing future leaders ● Creating a culture people want to stay in ● Finding and nurturing hidden talent ● Innovation from the ground level ● Sustaining passion and energy over a long career ● Learning from failure and adversity ● Leading with grace, dignity, and respect The conversation closes with a reminder that real strength is not about having every answer. It is about self-awareness, how you show up for others, and creating environments where people can grow, contribute, and become their best.

  2. Oct 15

    Introducing: Real STRength | #26

    In this first episode of Real STRength with Sarah Draper, Sarah introduces the Real STRength Framework, a three-dimensional approach to resilience, performance, and well-being built around State, Trait, and Relate. State is how you are in the moment—your physiology, energy, stress response, sleep, and ability to regulate your nervous system. Sarah explains that a leader’s state is contagious: when you are regulated, people around you feel safer, while stress and dysregulation can affect the entire room. Trait focuses on who you are becoming—your beliefs, values, flexibility, character strengths, and ability to grow through challenges. Relate focuses on why it all matters, including your relationships, purpose, trust, psychological safety, and connection to something larger than Yourself. Sarah explains that real strength comes from integrating all three dimensions instead of developing only the areas where we already feel comfortable. She uses the example of  preparing for a difficult conversation: regulate your body first, decide what kind of leader you want to be, and then enter the conversation present and ready to listen. She also introduces the Strength Check, a simple practice built around three questions: How does my body feel right now? Am I reacting or responding? How am I showing up for others? From there, choose one small shift that can improve how you enter the next moment. In this episode: ● The difference between state, trait, and relate ● Why a leader’s nervous system affects the people around them ● How mindset and character shape leadership ● Why relationships and purpose are part of real strength ● How to prepare for difficult conversations ● The three questions in the Strength Check ● Why one small shift can change how you show up ● How to build daily, weekly, and monthly reflection practices ● Why strength comes from integrating different areas of your life The goal of the framework is not to add more tasks to an already full life. It is to bring state, trait, and relate into what you are already doing so each dimension strengthens the others.

  3. Oct 8

    Bringing Joy Back to Work with Sarah Draper and Michael Glatts | #25

    In this episode of Future Walk, Sarah Draper talks with Michael Glatts, founder of 901 Innovation, about corporate life, creativity, improv, purpose, mindfulness, and bringing more joy and fulfillment into work. Michael shares his journey from a long career in big pharma to launching a second career focused on helping leaders and teams reconnect with purpose. After decades in corporate America, he realized he did not want to keep working only for money. He wanted to create something more fun, meaningful, and aligned with the life he wanted to live. A major theme of the conversation is the connection between joy, fulfillment, and achievement. Michael explains that fun is not just entertainment. It can come from accomplishing something meaningful with a team, overcoming obstacles, and recognizing the value of the work being done. Sarah and Michael also discuss mindfulness, active listening, and the importance of paying attention. Michael connects improv to leadership by explaining that improv is not really about trying to be funny. It is about listening, staying present, responding honestly, and allowing creativity to come from the moment. They also explore how leaders can help teams move out of stress and survival mode and into a more open, creative, positive mindset. Michael shares how his workshops use improv, design thinking, and simple in-house retreats to help teams reconnect, collaborate, and create stronger outcomes. In this episode: ● Why fulfillment matters at work ● How Michael moved from corporate life to creative leadership ● What 901 Innovation means ● Why fun can come from achievement ● How mindfulness helps people reconnect with purpose ● Why active listening matters in leadership ● How improv teaches presence and creativity ● Why teams need joy, trust, and connection ● How leaders can shift teams out of survival mode ● Why success and fun do not have to be separate This episode is a reminder that work does not have to be disconnected from joy. When people slow down, listen, stay present, and align with purpose, they can create more meaningful success in both work and life.

  4. Oct 1

    Designing a Dream Life with Mary Lyons | #24

    In this episode of Future Walk, Sarah Draper talks with Mary Lyons, also known as the Wealth Woman, about money, fulfillment, dream life planning, achievement, family, and using financial strategy to support a life people are actually excited to live. Mary shares how she grew up around conversations about money because her father was a financial advisor and entrepreneur. Even though she originally thought finance was boring and planned to pursue something more creative, her career eventually led her into mortgage planning and then financial services. After clients began asking her to become their financial advisor, she felt a moral obligation to help people with more than just investments. A major part of the conversation is Mary’s realization that success does not always equal happiness. After years of working with her family and preparing to take over her father’s firm, she realized the path she had been building no longer felt right. That moment pushed her to ask deeper questions about what she actually wanted her life to look and feel like. Sarah and Mary talk about the importance of defining a dream life beyond business goals. Mary explains that many high achievers keep moving the goalpost and forget to ask what would actually bring peace, joy, calm, connection, and recovery. She encourages people to calendar one dream every month so life includes meaningful experiences, not just work and achievement. They also discuss how money should not only be about saving, minimizing, or delaying joy until retirement. Mary believes money’s job is to help create a life people are excited to live, while also supporting legacy and generosity. The conversation reframes financial planning as a tool for freedom, alignment, and fuller living. In this episode: ● Why money should support your dream life ● How achievement can become a moving goalpost ● Why high achievers need peace, calm, and recovery ● How to separate your dreams from other people’s expectations ● Why money is not only about saving and minimizing ● How couples can align around different dreams ● Why recovery is part of long-term success ● How parents model dream life living for their children ● Why clarity helps reduce impulsive financial decisions ● How walking and reflection can create vision This episode is a reminder that financial freedom is not just about having more money. It is about knowing what kind of life you want, making intentional choices, and using money as a tool to build a life filled with purpose, joy, connection, and peace.

  5. Sep 24

    Showing Up with Presence and Clarity with Ann Keil Dux | #23

    In this episode of Future Walk, Sarah Draper talks with Ann Keil Dux, an Emmy Award winning journalist turned executive presence coach, about communication, leadership, emotional intelligence, and what it means to show up with presence. Ann shares how her career in broadcast journalism taught her to communicate under pressure. As a shy child who chose an on camera career, she learned what it meant to perform confidence, but also discovered that real connection happens when people stop performing and learn how to access who they truly are. A major focus of the conversation is the difference between preparation and presence. Ann explains that preparation matters, but it is not enough when the room is high stakes, chaotic, or emotionally charged. Leaders need to stay connected to themselves so their words, body language, tone, and values all line up. Sarah and Ann also talk about virtual communication, public speaking, and the way emotions shape how people receive a message. Ann explains that emotions do not need to be removed from professional life. Instead, they can become powerful messengers that help leaders connect, build trust, and communicate with more impact. The conversation also explores Ann’s Go To You method, including the importance of knowing your key message, starting with a strong first sentence, and using breath to stay grounded. Ann reminds listeners that confidence is not just polish. It comes from self awareness, practice, and knowing the value you bring. In this episode: ● Why leadership does not have to be loud ● How journalism shaped Ann’s approach to presence ● Why confidence can feel performed instead of embodied ● What it means to lose access to yourself ● How emotions affect communication ● Why virtual presence still requires human connection ● How to prepare a stronger first sentence ● Why breath matters in high stakes moments This episode is a reminder that communication is not just about saying the right words. Sarah and Ann explore how leaders can speak with more clarity, presence, and awareness by reconnecting with who they are and what they want others to feel.

  6. Sep 17

    Creating Daily Encouragement with Cindy Waddle and Willie Merrell | #22

    In this episode of Future Walk, Sarah Draper talks with Cindy Waddle and Willie Merrell of Desire to Inspire, an inspirational card company built around daily encouragement, connection, kindness, and the power of words. Cindy shares how the idea began through her work as a hospice volunteer. After meeting a mother near the end of her life, Cindy thought about the woman’s two young daughters and thegrief they would soon carry. Having lost her own mother in her 20s, Cindy understood that pain personally. She went home and wrote 365 cards of wisdom, memories, love, and encouragement for each daughter so they could continue to feel their mother’s presence after she was gone. That experience became the foundation for Desire to Inspire. Cindy explains that encouragement matters because words can change a moment, a day, or even a life. She and Willie discuss how people often speak harshly to themselves, and how daily messages can help people build a kinder inner voice. Willie shares how he joined the business after years of friendship with Cindy dating back to their time connected through the military. He explains that the card sets are not just gifts, but tools for self management, reflection, connection, and building healthier communities of care. Sarah, Cindy, and Willie also talk about the difference between digital encouragement and holding something tangible. A card can feel more personal than a text, email, or app because it carries physical connection, intention, and care from one person to another. The conversation also explores grief, friendship, marriage, veterans, first responders, mental wellness, daily habits, creativity, kindness, and the importance of helping people find words when they do not know what to say. In this episode: ● How Desire to Inspire began with hospice work ● Why 365 handwritten cards became the start of the company ● How daily encouragement can support grief and healing ● Why self talk shapes how people show up in the world ● How physical cards create connection in a digital world ● Why words can help people feel seen and supported ● How card sets can build communities of care ● Why kindness and encouragement should become daily practices This episode is a reminder that words matter. Sarah, Cindy, and Willie explore how encouragement, presence, and intentional messages can help people feel loved, remembered supported, and connected when they need it most.

  7. Sep 10

    Learning to Trust Your Gut with Katie Ruffino | #21

    In this episode of Future Walk, Sarah Draper talks with Katie Ruffino about functional medicine, nervous system regulation, food, self trust, and learning how to listen to the body instead of fighting against it. Katie shares how her path began in conventional medicine, but quickly expanded as she saw the limits of only treating symptoms. Through her own health struggles and her work with patients, she began to see food, gut health, mindset, emotions, and the nervous system as deeply connected parts of healing. A major focus of the conversation is Katie’s Trust Your Gut framework. She explains that trusting your gut means listening to the physical body, but also learning how to trust your inner knowing. Instead of constantly looking outside yourself for answers, Katie helps people ask what their body is trying to tell them. Sarah and Katie also talk about stress, leadership, and the way high achievers often lose connection with themselves while serving everyone else. Katie explains how tension, gut symptoms, fatigue, and emotional overwhelm can become signs that the body is asking for attention. The conversation also explores simple tools for regulation, including breath, humming, neck stretches, movement, hydration, emotional processing, and creating space to pause. Katie reminds listeners that self care is not about fixing yourself from shame, but caring for the whole person with love, grace, and awareness. In this episode: ● Why food is not always the real problem ● How gut health connects to emotions and stress ● Why high achievers often disconnect from their bodies ● What the Trust Your Gut framework means ● How nervous system regulation supports healing ● Why pausing can help rebuild self trust ● How leaders can care for themselves while serving others ● Why real change starts with listening inward This episode is a reminder that the body is not the enemy. Sarah and Katie explore how healing can begin when we stop ignoring the signals, slow down enough to listen, and make choices that support the person we are becoming.

  8. Sep 3

    Creating Space for Healthy Leadership with Joel Junker | #20

    In this episode of Future Walk, Sarah Draper talks with Joel Junker about healthy leadership, transformation, reflection, and creating space to notice what life is asking of you. Sarah opens with three words: metanoia, transformation, and space. Joel shares how walking, silence, and mindfulness help him slow down, clear the noise, and become more aware of how he shows up as a leader. Joel also shares how walks during a vacation in Aruba turned into reflections that eventually became a book manuscript about leadership, responsibility, control, and the people who shaped him. The heart of the episode is Joel’s realization that leadership is not about controlling every outcome. After his wife asked if life was always going to feel this heavy, he saw how his stress was affecting the people around him. In this episode: ● Why healthy leaders are strong leaders ● How walking helps create clarity ● Why silence gives leaders space to reflect ● How stress can spill onto others ● Why leaders confuse responsibility with control ● What it means to ask, “What is life asking of me?” This episode is a reminder that strong leadership requires space, presence, reflection, and the courage to let go of what you cannot control. Note: Sarah referenced this during the episode, but couldn't recall all the details in the moment. Tori Penso was the referee in the 2023 Women's World Cup Final during a critical, high-stakes call. Players from both sides were making their case (hard). The energy was high because the stakes were high. She was calming and certain, and her body language said I hear you without adding fuel. You could watch the players settle in real time. In sports we often see the opposite - tension escalates, and someone gets a card. This was just the reverse. She didn't minimize the stakes. She held them. It's remarkable what a calm presence can do in a charged moment. The highlight reel is here as I can't find the full match. The moment I described begins around 18:30: The amazing facts behind the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Final! | Spain v England - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl-Z79ylhlU Gonzaga University School of Leadership Studies: School of Leadership Studies | Gonzaga University https://www.gonzaga.edu/school-of-leadership-studies Cameron-Brooks: Military Officer Transition Firm | JMO Recruiting | Cameron-Brooks https://www.cameron-brooks.com/ Joel's website: www.JoelJunker.com

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What does it really take to lead well, build resilience, and create a life filled with purpose and joy? In Real STRength, host Sarah Draper explores the honest stories behind leadership, performance, and personal growth. Through candid conversations with leaders about their unique strength journeys, Sarah uncovers the challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons that shape who we become. At the heart of every conversation are three dimensions of Real STRength: STATE (how you show up in the moment), TRAIT (who you're becoming), and RELATE (why it all matters). Discover new perspectives, uncover your blind spots, and find the strength to lead and live with greater intention.

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