Becoming Heart Strong isn’t about what you’ve built or what broke you—it’s about who you’ve become. Hosted by Jess Lindberg, this podcast invites leaders, founders, and everyday changemakers into honest conversations about the challenges that shape us—and the strength we forge through them. These aren’t surface-level interviews. They’re vulnerable, grounded, and real. We talk about the losses, pivots, breakthroughs, and decisions that transformed not just someone’s path, but their character and lives. Because it’s not what happened to you or what you’ve accomplished that defines you—it’s who you choose to become, and what you create from the hard things. Every episode goes beyond the story to offer tools, strategies, and insights—especially from experts—to help you grow stronger in your own life. You’ll leave with not just inspiration, but practical ways to take your next step. If you’re ready to grow through what you go through, lead with heart, and live with deeper courage, this show is for you.
Episodes
Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
Wednesday Sep 25, 2024
Dr. Ben Baran, an organizational psychologist and management professor, discusses adversity and leadership. He defines crucibles as unexpectedly hard experiences that have the potential to transform us. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing that suffering is universal and that we are not alone in our challenges. Dr. Baran also explores the synergy between social science and ancient wisdom, highlighting the value of integrating evidence-based research with philosophical and theological insights. In terms of leadership, he emphasizes the need for leaders to have a deep sense of purpose and strong values, as well as the willingness to make tough decisions even when they are unpopular. He also discusses the challenges of developing courageous leadership and the importance of character development in children.
The conversation covers various themes, including leadership, self-leadership, trust in leaders, the importance of institutions, the role of the U.S. Constitution, and the power of service and making an impact. The guests share personal experiences and insights, emphasizing the need for self-awareness, values, and character development in leadership. They discuss the challenges and blessings of raising children and the importance of instilling values and a sense of agency in them. The conversation also touches on the significance of September 11th and the impact of personal crucibles on shaping individuals and their ability to empathize and help others.
00:00 Introduction: Adversity and Leadership
03:31 Crucibles: Transforming Through Unexpected Challenges
16:19 The Synergy Between Social Science and Ancient Wisdom
31:22 Developing Courageous Leadership: Purpose, Values, and Tough Decisions
36:45 Character Development: Fostering Courageous Leadership in Children
41:03 The Foundation of Leadership: Self-Leadership and Values
43:19 The Importance of Trust in Leaders and Institutions
49:14 Raising Courageous Leaders: Instilling Values and Agency in Children
59:41 The Impact of Personal Crucibles on Empathy and Influence
01:10:47 Service and Making an Impact: Bringing Joy and Inspiring Others
Follow Dr. Baran and check out his Substack: https://www.benbaran.com/
You can follow Jess on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook
Access Jess’ FREE Future Self Mini Course
Learn more about The Heart Strong Collective
Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
Jess Lindberg encourages you to listen to this episode not just for details of this inspiring story but also as a model for what you, too, can do when faced with an insurmountable problem.
Dr. Tracy Dixon Salazar, a mother, neuroscientist, geneticist, and patient advocate, shares her journey of discovering a novel precision therapy for her daughter's Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). LGS is a collection of symptoms characterized by seizure onset before the age of 18, multiple types of seizures, developmental delay or intellectual disability, and specific brainwave patterns. Tracy's research focused on understanding the wiring defect in the brain that leads to LGS and the possibility of rewiring to improve the condition. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying causes of diseases and the need for more research in developmental epilepsies.
Tracy's story is a testament to the power of persistence and the impact a mother's love can have in driving change. Tracy Dixon-Salazar and Jess Lindberg discuss the e role of caregivers in finding treatments for rare diseases. Tracy shares her personal journey of discovering a treatment for her daughter's epilepsy through genetic sequencing and the off-label use of a calcium blocker drug. They emphasize the need for caregivers to be tenacious, curious, and advocate for their loved ones' health. They also discuss the challenges and underappreciation caregivers face and the importance of empowering women in caregiving roles. Tracy Dixon-Salazar discusses the importance of recognizing the expertise of caregivers and the need for collaboration between caregivers and medical professionals. She emphasizes the need for education, empowerment, and support for families living with rare diseases like Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS). Tracy also highlights the importance of advocacy and the work being done by the LGS Foundation to provide resources and support to families.
Chapters
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Tracy Dixon Salazar
04:11 The Wiring Defect in the Brain: LGS
08:35 The Importance of Understanding Underlying Causes
19:50 Unraveling the Impact of De Novo Mutations
22:12 The Journey of Genetic Sequencing and Treatment Discovery
26:05 Empowering and Valuing the Role of Caregivers
29:25 The Need for Knowledge and Expertise in Rare Diseases
42:02 The Care Expert
44:2 1Lived Experience Experts
50:56 About LGS Treatment Kits
54:11 Living in a Constant State of Crisis
57:22 Throwing Ourselves Against the Wall
Follow Tracy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tracy-dixon-salazar-5162921b/
LGS Foundation: https://www.lgsfoundation.org/
Read Tracy’s Story: https://www.today.com/health/disease/mom-gets-phd-daughters-epilepsy-rcna148783
You can follow Jess on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook
Access Jess’ FREE Future Self Mini Course
Learn more about The Heart Strong Collective
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Dr. Lee Warren is a neurosurgeon, Iraq War Veteran, and author. In 2013, his son Mitch died. In this episode, Dr. Warren discusses his experiences with grief, faith, and the interplay between science and spirituality. He shares his journey of healing from PTSD and the importance of facing and unpacking emotional baggage.
Dr. Warren emphasizes the need to find purpose in our pain and not let it define us. He also explores the difference between our brains and minds, challenging the idea that we are limited by our genetics or brain chemistry. Instead, he encourages listeners to embrace the power of neuroplasticity and the ability to change our thoughts and beliefs. Dr. Lee Warren shares his concept of “self-brain surgery,” which gives us the power to change our thoughts and shares the impact the thoughts we think have on our brain and body. He explains the difference between our mind and brain and says that when we think differently, our brain changes how it acts. He also discusses the science of epigenetics, which shows that we control how our genes are switched on and off. By changing our thinking, we can switch certain genes on and off, leading to better responses to stress and trauma. Dr. Warren intersperses the conversation with his own journey of faith and healing.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background of Dr. Lee Warren
08:07 Unpacking Emotional Baggage and Finding Purpose in Pain
13:23 The Power of Neuroplasticity and Changing Our Thoughts
19:46 Grief as a Refining and Informing Process
31:02 The Interplay Between Science and Spirituality
34:55 The Power of Changing Your Thoughts
39:20 The Science of Epigenetics and Gene Switching
47:02 Retraining Your Brain for Resilience
52:53 Preparing for Difficult Times
Dr. Warren’s Website: https://wleewarrenmd.com/
Follow Dr. Warren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drleewarren/
Dr. Warren’s Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-lee-warren-podcast/id863481502
Follow Dr. Warren on Substack (this is a great place to get his content):
https://wleewarrenmd.com/newsletter/
Dr. Warren’s Books: https://wleewarrenmd.com/books/
You can follow Jess on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook
Access Jess’ FREE Future Self Mini Course
Learn more about The Heart Strong Collective
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Jessica Janzen, author of Bring the Joy, shares her journey of turning adversity into impact and finding joy in the midst of challenging stories. She emphasizes the importance of owning your story rather than being stuck in a sad narrative. She founded the Love for Lewiston Foundation in honor of her son Lewiston and in support of the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Community. Jessica discusses the coexistence of grief and joy, and how she celebrates her son's birthday while still experiencing moments of sadness. She also talks about the vulnerability of joy and the power of gratitude in tolerating joy. Jessica shares her strategies for navigating dark moments, including reaching out for support, caring for her physical and mental health, and following nudges. In this conversation, Jessica Janzen and Jessica Lindberg discuss the power of following nudges and the impact it can have on both the giver and the receiver. They also explore the importance of caring for one's physical and mental health, the challenges of starting and running a nonprofit organization, and the need to prioritize self-care and authenticity.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Jessica Janzen and her story
02:26 The Complicated Nature of Joy in Challenging Stories
08:27 Radical Acceptance and Reducing Unnecessary Suffering
13:54 The Coexistence of Grief and Joy
28:35 Following Nudges and Embracing Uncertainty
34:13 The Power of Following Nudges
41:17 Prioritizing Physical and Mental Health
54:54 Challenges of Starting and Running a Nonprofit
01:04:19 The Importance of Self-Care and Authenticity
01:06:45 Finding Gaps and Joining Forces
Follow Jessica Janzen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejessicajanzen/
Visit her website: https://www.jessicajanzen.ca/
Learn about Love for Lewiston Foundation: https://www.loveforlewiston.com/
You can follow Jess on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook
Access Jess’ FREE Future Self Mini Course
Learn more about The Heart Strong Collective
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
Wednesday Aug 28, 2024
This is one special episode. Leslie Weirich is a warrior woman and mother on a mission to share her son Austin’s story and stand in the gap for young men struggling with their mental health. She’s on a mission to prevent suicide in young people, especially young men. Her son Austin died by suicide at the young age of 20. Austin was a high-achieving student-athlete and a college football player. Today, Leslie is traveling the country speaking to organizations about Men’s Mental Health, including Military and Student-Athlete Suicide Prevention.
Leslie’s powerful story of deep grief and powerful hope goes beyond her experience with Austin. A grieving mother two times over, Leslie shares her incredible story and her deep belief that we must stand on our stories. You can read her full story in her book The Gifts of Grief: How Four Decades of Loss Shaped My Life
This is an important episode for parents of teens to listen to. Leslie provides practical support and tools for how we can talk to our kids about suicide and help them through difficult times. Ultimately, this is an incredibly hopeful story. Leslie reminds us that a bigger story is always being written in our lives, and we should keep going and grieving with hope.
“Telling our story to save others is what gets me up and going every single day,. It’s my passion and has become my life’s work.” Leslie Weirich
Check out Leslie’s book - The Gifts of Grief: How Four Decades of Loss Shaped My Life
Follow Leslie here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-weirich-a55a73159/
https://www.facebook.com/leslieshope.org
https://www.instagram.com/leslies_hope/
You can follow Jess on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook
Access Jess’ FREE Future Self Mini Course
Learn more about The Heart Strong Collective
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Today's guest is Jess Goldberg, a leadership communication expert on a mission to help leaders make an impact and build powerhouse teams. Jess’s journey into mastering communication began in the demanding terrains of journalism. She covered stories on over 100 countries and pivotal events like the Syrian Civil War, the Ukraine Crisis, the rise of Donald Trump, and more. Here, she sharpened her skills in negotiation, intuition, deep listening, collaboration, and dynamic storytelling. Jess discovered a profound insight: at the heart of many world challenges lies a need for clear and compassionate communication. This is the cornerstone of her leadership style and teaching methodologies today.
On today’s episode, Jess and Jess discuss leadership skills and how we can be courageous leaders and more influential in our spheres of influence—whether at work, home or in our community. We also discuss self-doubt and its role in leadership and touch on how to be better listeners to one another in our divisive culture.
Follow Jessica on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagoldbergprofile/
Check out her FREE Guide on the 8 Archetypes of Influence: https://maven.com/p/fe07b2
Learn about coaching and book a free call here: https://jessicaidellgoldberg.com/
You can follow Jess on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook
Access Jess’ FREE Future Self Mini Course
Learn more about The Heart Strong Collective
Tuesday Aug 13, 2024
Tuesday Aug 13, 2024
Matt LeBris shares his story of overcoming setbacks and finding success. He talks about the importance of not listening to the voices that say you can't succeed. Matt discusses his own struggles in sports and how he learned from his failures and setbacks. He also reflects on the role of mentors and Divine guidance in his journey.
Matt's definition of success has evolved from a focus on money to finding peace in all areas of life. The conversation explores the concept of defining success and embracing the in-between moments of not knowing. It emphasizes the importance of personal growth and evolution, as well as the need to challenge societal norms and embrace different perspectives.
The conversation also touches on the significance of being a vessel for higher guidance and the power of spiritual experiences. The story of Matt's grandfather and the bird that appeared at his burial service highlights the connection between the physical and spiritual realms. In this final part of the conversation, Matt LeBris and Jess Lindberg discuss the power of belief and spirituality. Matt shares a personal experience that reaffirmed his belief in God, while Jess talks about connecting with loved ones who have passed away. They also discuss the importance of giving oneself grace and practicing patience in personal growth. Matt emphasizes the value of therapy and looking inward for answers. They conclude by discussing the importance of emotional maturity and balance in men. Overall, the conversation highlights the significance of personal growth and self-reflection.
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:19 Overcoming Setbacks in Sports
08:58 Advice to Younger Self and Others
12:10 Divine Guidance and Life's Direction
22:38 Embracing the In-Between Moments
28:18 Challenging Societal Norms
30:56 The Journey of Homecoming
34:03 Being a Vessel for Higher Guidance
40:53 The Connection Between the Physical and Spiritual Realms
46:05 The Power of Belief
47:22 Something Bigger Than We Can See
48:46 Grace and Patience in Personal Growth
51:11 Connecting with Loved Ones
53:32 The Importance of Therapy
54:34 Looking Inward for Answers
56:03 Emotional Maturity and Balance
Follow Matt LeBris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_lebris/
Decoding Success Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/decoding-success-with-matt-lebris/id1445498264
Matt LeBris website: https://mattlebris.com/
You can follow Jess on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook
Access Jess’ FREE Future Self Mini Course
Learn more about The Heart Strong Collective
Tuesday Aug 06, 2024
Tuesday Aug 06, 2024
Turn Your Reputation into Revenue >> Book Your FREE Brand Call today: https://freebrandcall.com/rpp/?affiliate_code=177226
In this conversation, Jess and Larissa Salazar, Brand Strategist with Brand Builders Group, discuss the importance of building a personal brand. Larissa is Jess’ coac and they have been working together for the past nine months on this podcast and other goals Jess has, and today Jess offers you the opportunity to learn from Larissa.
Larissa explains that a personal brand is a digitization of one's reputation and that everyone already has a personal brand, whether they realize it or not. Larissa emphasizes the need to be intentional with how one shows up and the importance of authenticity in building a personal brand. She also discusses the significance of identifying the problem you solve and the power of having a unique perspective.
Larissa addresses the idea of niching down and explains that focusing on one area of expertise can lead to breaking through the invisible wall and gaining trust, allowing for the expansion of topics and interests. She emphasizes that personal branding is a long-term game and that reputation is key. Larissa also encourages individuals to build relationships before they need them and to view their personal brand as an integral part of their business. She shares her personal passion for helping young women break free from traditional paths and embrace their unique journeys. Larissa's love for people and her ability to see the good in others shines through in her work as a strategist.
Turn Your Reputation into Revenue >> Book Your FREE Brand Call today: https://freebrandcall.com/rpp/?affiliate_code=177226
Follow Brand Builders Group: https://www.instagram.com/brandbuildersgroup/
Follow Larissa Salazar on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/larissasalazar/
Connect with Larissa on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissa-ann-salazar/
You can follow Jess on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook
Access Jess’ FREE Future Self Mini Course
Learn more about The Heart Strong Collective
Tuesday Jul 30, 2024
Tuesday Jul 30, 2024
In this episode, Jess and Victor discuss the challenges of caregiving, including loneliness, having a positive mindset, building a community of helpers, and living a full life rooted in the present while also being faithful to this calling. This episode is an encouragement and soft place to land for anyone serving their loved one as a caregiver today.
Victor Imbimbo is the owner and CEO of Caring Today, LLC, a company dedicated to supporting the needs of the family caregiver community. Caring Today published Caring Today Magazine, the #1 magazine focused on family caregiver issues and resources, reaching approximately 2M readers. Victor also writes a blog called Caring for the Caregiver, and his successful Bounce Back podcast hosts expert guests who address the most critical issues in the lives of family caregivers.
Victor has been working with the family caregiver community for 22 years and was involved in the earliest research to best understand the most pressing needs and issues of this noble community of 53 million people. Victor looks through the lens of the family caregiver community every day...he has been an active family caregiver for the past 23 years.
You can follow Jess on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook
Access Jess’ FREE Future Self Mini Course
Learn more about The Heart Strong Collective
Caring For The Caregiver: https://caring4caregivers.com/about
Follow Vic on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorimbimbo/
Connect with Vic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-imbimbo-2aa02633/
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
Jessica Patay, founder of We Are Brave Together, shares her journey as a mom with a child with a disability and the organization she created to support caregiving moms. The organization has 2,600 moms in its international community and has launched 25 support groups worldwide. Jessica discusses the challenges caregiving moms face, including the financial impact and the need for better support and resources. She emphasizes the importance of community, self-care, and affirming oneself as a woman outside of motherhood. She also addresses the stigma attached to disability and the misconception that caregiving moms are superhuman. In this conversation, Jessica Patay and Jess Lindberg discuss the importance of finding a new name for moms and caregivers of children with special needs. They explore the need for a more inclusive term that encompasses all types of caregivers, including those supporting children with mental health struggles. They also discuss the vision and goals of We Are Brave Together, an organization that supports moms and caregivers through connection circles, retreats, and resources. The conversation touches on the power of storytelling and the impact of caregiving on the healthcare system. The episode concludes with a discussion on Jessica’s NEW book: 'Becoming Brave Together.'
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:12 We Are Brave Together: Supporting Caregiving Moms
07:02 The Financial Impact on Caregiving Moms
11:02 The Importance of Community and Supportive Friendships
14:59 Affirming Identity: Celebrating All Aspects of Womanhood
28:34 Redefining the Role of Moms and Caregivers
35:19 Supporting Moms and Caregivers Through We Are Brave Together
39:41 The Power of Storytelling in Caregiving
44:59 Challenges in the Healthcare System for Caregivers
53:52 Empowering Caregivers Through 'Becoming Brave Together'
You can follow Jess on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook
Access Jess’ FREE Future Self Mini Course
Learn more about The Heart Strong Collective
Follow We Are Brave Together: https://www.instagram.com/wearebravetogether/
Follow Jessica Patay:https://www.instagram.com/jesspatay/
Check out the We Are Brave Together Website: https://www.wearebravetogether.org/
Order the book: Becoming Brave Together