November 3, 2025 • 27 mins
Your spark hides under noise, routine, and goals that don’t fit anymore. In this episode, Dr. Christiana Schroeder, TEDx speaker, professor, and best-selling author, explains how small rituals help you rebuild focus and energy. She calls it Petite Practice—tiny, repeatable actions that move you forward every day.
Christiana shares lessons from her move from Germany to the U.S., where structure met hustle. She breaks down how to find your superpower by tracing your story’s roots, why health messages often fail to change behavior, and how better pricing and language drive adoption. Her process helps you act with clarity, save energy, and grow with intention.
We also discuss a short networking exercise that helps you move past small talk and form real connections fast. The conversation covers brand clarity, aligning with trends that matter, and finding confidence through work that fits who you are today.
You will leave with tools you can apply now:
• Micro-rituals that make planning productive
• Short scripts that sharpen your pitch and message
• A daily system to align action with purpose
If you want progress without burnout, this episode gives you the reset you need. Follow the show, share it with someone who needs direction, and leave a review to share which Petite Practice you will start first.
About Dr. Christiane Schroeter
https://facebook.com/doctorchristiane
https://instagram.com/@doctor.christiane
https://www.amazon.com/shop/doctor.christiane
https://linkedin.com/in/christianeschroeter/
https://www.tiktok.com/@hello.happy.nest
https://www.pinterest.com/doctor.christiane/
https://www.youtube.com/@doctor.christiane
https://www.threads.net/@doctor.christiane
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The co-hosts of this podcast are not medical professionals. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided by the podcast hosts or guests is solely at your own risk.
Pamela Cass is a licensed broker with Kentwood Real Estate
Natalie Davis is a licensed broker with Keller Williams Realty Downtown, LLC
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:06):
All of us reach a point in time where we are
depleted and need to somehowfind a way to reignite the fire
within.
But how do we spark that flame?
Welcome to Reignite Resilience,where we will venture into the
heart of the human spirit.
We'll discuss the art ofreigniting our passion and
(00:28):
strategies to stoke ourenthusiasm.
And now here are your hosts,Natalie Davis and Pamela Cass.
SPEAKER_03 (00:41):
Welcome back to another episode of Reignite
Resilience.
I'm your co-host Natalie Davis,and I'm so excited to be back
with all of you.
And joining me is your co-host,Pam Cass.
Hello, Pam.
How are you?
SPEAKER_02 (00:52):
I am fantastic.
I started sharing a story withyou this morning that we had
somebody reach out to me aboutour book.
And this is somebody I went tohigh school with.
So I have not talked to her orseen her since I'm going to age
myself, 1989.
And she reached out about doingit as an audiobook for us.
And so I met with her today.
(01:13):
And so she's going to read achapter, do a recording, and
then send it to us because shedoes voiceovers.
She's done about 20 books.
And so it was just so fun tohave somebody come back into my
world that I have not seen in avery long time.
SPEAKER_03 (01:25):
That's exciting.
Okay, so I am curious to hearbecause initially you were
thinking that you were gonna dothe recording yourself, but I
was like, good on you.
SPEAKER_02 (01:36):
Yeah, and until she said, Well, I'd be happy.
Let me kind of coach you throughwhat you need to do.
And then she started talkingabout all the different things
and you need to give 0.5 secondsafter this, and then three
seconds after this.
And when you say this, you needto do, and I was just like, I'm
just gonna pause you rightthere.
That's a that's a I don't thinkso, but thank you very much.
Yeah, so we're gonna have arecord.
(01:58):
She does all the editing, shedoes all of the uploading into
the the platform for Audible,and she does all the marketing
of the book.
And so it's like she's got thisamazing recording of one of our
chapters, and it was just so funto reconnect with somebody and
and from the past.
SPEAKER_03 (02:13):
And I was just gonna say that.
I was gonna say, like comingfull circle, like you went to
high school with this person,and that's where their
professional path took them, andto come across your book as
well.
I mean, because apparentlyyou're still connected or at
least in each other's lives insome way, shape, or form.
But then to have thisopportunity to work together,
you know, after all these years,we're not gonna age you.
We won't say how many years it'sbeen.
(02:33):
It's fine.
Girls, 89, they can do the math.
SPEAKER_02 (02:37):
They can do the math.
And she lives in Denver.
So I'm hoping that I can that'sgreat at some point reconnect
with her.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (02:43):
That is so great.
I love it.
Well, then more things to comewith the book.
And you all, I'm gonna remindyou at the end of this recording
as well to make sure that youget a copy of the book.
You can find it on Amazon eitheras an ebook or paperback or
hardback now.
So we do have a hard copy andpaperback and ebook.
So download one of those,purchase one of those, and then
(03:04):
wait until the audible isavailable and do it again.
SPEAKER_02 (03:07):
And then and then let us know how you like it.
I think that's the biggest one.
SPEAKER_03 (03:11):
So definitely leave us feedback.
We need to hear the feedback.
And so far it's been great.
Yeah, absolutely.
I love it.
Well, today we're not talkingabout the book.
I know that we talked about thebook a couple of episodes ago.
We're not talking about the booktoday.
We are gifted with a guesttoday, and I'm so excited.
Pam, why don't you tell ourlisteners who's joining us
today?
SPEAKER_02 (03:31):
Yeah, I am excited about this one.
So today we have Dr.
Christiana Schroeder.
She is a TEDx speaker, businessand wellness coach, professor,
and best-selling author.
She created Petite Practice, aframework that helps
professionals achieve lastingsuccess through small strategic
actions.
As a host of the top 1% globallyranked podcast, Happy Healthy
(03:57):
Hustle, she shares practicaltools for clarity, resilience,
and sustainable business growth.
With a PhD in health economicsand over 15 years of experience
in marketing and innovation,Christiana empowers
entrepreneurs to work smarter,scale faster, and lead with
clarity and confidence.
Welcome.
We are so honored to havesomeone with your criteria.
(04:21):
I'm I'm just kidding, like itjust kept coming, all the things
that you have done.
And so welcome.
And yeah, share, share some ofyour path to what's gotten you
to where you are today.
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
First of all, thanks so much for having me here,
Pamela and Natalie.
This is truly an honor.
And audience, hello and welcome.
I'm really glad I'm here.
As you can hear from my accent,actually came here from Germany.
And that's also like really whatmy coaching combines.
I have that European structure,a little bit of the Parisian
pizzas.
You can hear there's the petitepractice.
(04:54):
I'm like very much attuned withlike little French things and
that little chic, and that's I'mlike a very bubbly person in
general.
But I also really appreciatethis American healthy hustle
culture, right?
So I want to preface this withsaying healthy because I'm a
firm believer that if we workhard and we plan smart, then we
(05:17):
can really accomplish greatthings.
And that's some of the thingsI'm going to share on this
fantastic episode here today.
So, audience, this is going tobe a good one.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (05:25):
That's quite the combo.
Like you talk about like theGerman structure, which we know
like that exists.
Outside of stereotypes, itexists.
I don't care what you thinkabout it.
There's structure there.
And then the healthy hustle,plus a little sprinkle of the
Parisian style.
I love that.
Yeah, it's like the oolala ofsome sort.
(05:46):
How did you discover this?
How did you discover this combo?
Because it's one that's uniqueand it's one that's impactful
because of the work that you'redoing.
How did you come together withthese three?
SPEAKER_01 (05:56):
Well, I think that for me, living in Germany, I
always felt like there'ssomething else out to discover.
And deep down we sometimes havethat.
I might label it superpower, youmight label it inner calling,
deeper voice, inner voice, whoknows what.
You just feel like there'ssomething else I immediately
would like to do.
And I would encourage theaudience to really tap into
(06:18):
that, discovering yoursuperpower, because then you
really start sharing with theworld what you're meant to do.
I mean, now I love that youwrite this bio, but all these
things really wouldn't havehappened if I wouldn't have
discovered my superpower.
Not to say that I wouldn't havebeen amazing if I would have
stayed in Germany, but Iprobably would have taken a
(06:40):
different path.
So I really felt like, okay, Igotta go and explore the world,
learn more languages, go tograduate school, and really
start tapping into what gives mejoy, what gives me passion.
And I think that, as I say, theaudience, I have a quiz on my
website that's called DiscoverYour Superpower, which tells you
(07:02):
how much aligned you are withknowing who you really are and
what your value really is in theworld.
And that's really what happened.
So I I figure it out.
Okay, I'm I'm passionate aboutteaching, I'm passionate about
learning.
And when I discover things thatI really feel are like
groundbreaking, earth-shaking, Ican convey them in a way that
(07:25):
are really fun.
So I always, when when you lookat my books in the background, I
always think about okay, what islike a really creative way of
conveying learning instead ofjust writing it out page by page
and filling a book with justwords?
What's like another way that Ican tap into a learning style?
And I think that's really mysuperpower that I think we are
(07:48):
all created differently.
But how can I maybe appeal toaudiences in still making
learning fun and still leadingthem to the way that they can
share their value with theworld?
That's my superpower.
I really want to tap into thatand I really want to feel like
you are making your corner ofthe best corner of the world the
(08:09):
best that it can be.
SPEAKER_02 (08:10):
Do you remember the moment when you realized what
your superpower was?
Was there a significant thingthat happened, or was it just
kind of, do you share that?
SPEAKER_01 (08:19):
Yeah, I remember that, you know, frequently when
we had friends over in Germany,I always felt I'm a really good
listener that I can tune in withmaking them feel special when I
talk to them.
Because I listen to what theysay and I ask follow-up
questions.
So it's always a curious person,not in a way of being nosy, but
(08:44):
curious in a way of getting toknow somebody.
So I'm a really good interviewerin a way that I want to get to
know somebody, and I thinkthat's why I'm mentioning the
discovering your superpower,because sometimes I discover the
superpower before the personthemselves actually realizes
what it is.
Wow.
Which is pretty amazing, right?
(09:06):
Yeah, it's like a that's a goodskill to have, but it's because
I'm asking the right questionsand I'm showing curiosity.
And we sometimes are not curiousabout our ourselves.
We just kind of become contentwith who we are.
And we get so busy and alwayslooking forward, but we don't
really look inward, right?
That's really the magic.
You need to stop and pause for amoment and think, like, hmm,
(09:28):
does it really give me joy?
And why does it give me joy?
And then you're getting closerto what you really meant to do.
What do people say about youwhen you're not in the room?
That's your superpower.
And if they don't say anything,you need to tap more into it.
SPEAKER_03 (09:42):
Or if you think they don't say anything, because they
are saying something, unlessthey're saying nothing at all.
Like it didn't leave animpression at all.
Yes.
Exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (09:50):
That's that's very smartly said.
SPEAKER_03 (09:51):
Yeah, I like that.
I love it.
So, where did you go once you'vediscovered this?
You discover the superpower thatyou have.
We heard in your bio, you are awoman that wears many hats.
You are after our own hearts.
Pam and I do the same.
We wear many hats.
But where did you begin?
What did this journey start likefor you?
SPEAKER_01 (10:09):
Yeah, so I'm I'm always a learner and an educator
at the same time.
And I think the two go hand inhand.
If you learn something thatyou're really passionate about,
you can become the person thatis becoming a great educator
because you can teach us to usin a way that you discovered it,
like you're you're showing thetransformation in your
(10:31):
description yourself.
It's like, oh, before I knewthis, I did that.
But now that I know this, theyactually do that.
And that's really like the bestbrands in the world.
They do that storytellingelement that is so important in
our life.
So when I came to the UnitedStates, I was already super
passionate about business.
And I had worked with some foodcompanies in Germany in
(10:53):
merchandising.
So I had that health passion,but I also knew I wanted to do
some kind of selling, sales,marketing element with it.
And that's really happened whenI wrote my dissertation about
health economics because I felta lot of the healthy products
are advertised as just that, ashealthy.
(11:15):
And that doesn't always soundlike it's very tasty.
So I thought, well, what elsewould make people buy a certain
food product?
Maybe we need to change theprice of some of these healthier
food products, and maybe they'rejust too expensive.
Or maybe we need to create someother signals in the market.
And that's really how one thingcame to the next thing that I
started learning more about howconsumers think and how they
(11:39):
make choices, and then thechoices becoming in a better
communication tool forcompanies.
So, really, there are two waysstraight.
What do consumers want and eat?
And how do companies read thisinformation and creating better
food products?
And that's really deep down mypassion.
I'm like totally in tune withtrends.
(12:01):
And in my innovationentrepreneurship classes, I help
students create companies thatalign with trends.
I work with clients that figureout really like how can I make
my business thrive and scalewithout getting burned out.
So they said wellness pieceright there.
So that's really how it thenbecame.
It became this merger ofbusiness coaching and wellness
(12:24):
coaching, this happy middleright there.
SPEAKER_02 (12:27):
It's all kind of connected things.
SPEAKER_01 (12:29):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_02 (12:30):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (12:30):
Yeah.
I think it's such powerful,which is why you're super power,
super power, and you'vediscovering this and then now
teaching future generations todo the same.
But when you're able to identifywhat people need and then what
they want, because they're notnecessarily one in the same, and
then making sure that thecompanies, these organizations
and companies can provide that,where it has to speak to what
(12:54):
they want, but actually providewhat they need.
That's it's a very, I want tosay that it's a very calculated
dance that you are enteringinto.
And then the fact that you'recreating these companies or
helping students createcompanies that speak to the
trends again for the needs andthe wants.
SPEAKER_01 (13:11):
Beautiful.
And what I like is how you'repointing out that it's it's a
dance.
I I actually have this saying towhere it's like saying, like
sometimes it's a salsa whereit's like really upbeat, and
sometimes it's a slow waltz.
But you always have to be kindof like in tune with the market.
You have to read the market, andagain, coming back to that
(13:34):
listening element that Imentioned, you have to listen to
consumers, and you also have tolisten to companies, really.
Always listen first and thenspeak, and that will really be
the best recipe for success.
And also, of course, in yourpersonal life, right?
SPEAKER_03 (13:52):
That's both business and personal advice that you
have, right there.
SPEAKER_01 (13:55):
Exactly.
Exactly.
And it's coming very back tolike the whole resilience piece,
but Pamela, go ahead, please.
SPEAKER_02 (14:03):
Well, can you tell us a little bit about the petite
practices?
Share with us.
When did that kind of come intothe picture and and how do you
teach that?
And just give us a little moreabout that.
SPEAKER_01 (14:14):
I'm actually writing a book about how I discovered
it.
And I had to, after I get myTEDx talk, where I very much
talk about petite practice, Ireally started thinking like,
when did I start thinking aboutpetty practice?
And in my TEDx talk, I mentionedone instance where I really use
a pity practice, which inessence is just a small step
(14:37):
toward your goal, right?
So it's small petite and thenpractice meaning it's a step
towards your goal.
So I started thinking, like,when did that really come about?
And I thought so many of theseroutines and rituals that I even
used in Germany were anchoredjust right around that, and and
small little things that made mewho I am today.
(15:00):
And that also ties in again withthat superpower, because the
superpower is not just whatpeople see on the outside, it's
also deep down inside your valuesystem, the culture you grew up
with, the values that yourfamily instilled on you.
So for me, it was like, youknow, spending time with my
grandma and the fact that I didthis like German clockwork,
(15:22):
right?
I went there every Monday at3:30, spending time with my
grandma, and she already had itall set up for me, like the
special cup that I like to drinkoff, and the special plate that
I like to eat from.
So think about this.
These are like small things,like setting up the table in a
certain way, but then it stillbrings joy because it's very
(15:46):
meaningful.
It shows I care and I love you,and I was looking forward to
this.
So if you're eating dinner andyou're just like, the you can
make it special with your ownpetite practice, and you can get
out like some nice dinner wear,or you can maybe put on a candle
or put some nice music on, andall these are petite practices.
And that's essentially reallyhow I started leading my life
(16:09):
from very early on, and howpeople always taught me to look
at things.
Like there's always an on andoff button in your mind that you
can just I call it flip theswitch.
And sometimes it's just lookingat a situation that seems very
mundane and ordinary, but thenyou look at all these small
little elements that arespecial, and that's what the
(16:32):
petite practice is all about.
It's it's just turning somethingsmall into something meaningful
that creates momentum.
SPEAKER_02 (16:39):
Oh, I like that idea of creating something special.
Because, like you said, andwe're we're getting into
business planning season for us,where we'll start doing that
with with agents and companies,and it's like it can get very
mundane, those same things, butif you can make it a petite
practice, make it somethingspecial, I just see how people
would want to do that more.
(16:59):
So I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (17:00):
I love that.
Yeah, and I also want to likeright behind me, if you're
watching the video, you see thethe cover of my Discovery
Superpower book.
I made the cover intentionallyso that the top of the tree is
just as big as the roots of thetree.
So your superpower is not justby thinking what you like to do
on a day-to-day basis, but it'salso what is it really that was
(17:26):
a moment in my life that I feltreally created something very
significant, like alife-changing moment to where I
really feel like when I thinkback, what's the earliest time I
can remember in my life?
What did I do then?
Who was with me?
Like these moments, those arethe roots of the tree because
they shaped who you are.
(17:46):
And if you can remember themoments, sometimes they are the
best ideas that you might getfor your company or for your
product, because sometimesthey're those moments of
transformation that reallyhappened at that time.
I love that.
And is it a singular superpoweror do we have many superpowers?
That's a beautiful question.
Yeah, I mean, of course, ingeneral, superpowers change.
(18:10):
I mean, that's just how we are,right?
Like what you might be amazingin whatever, in your 20s and
your 30s, maybe different fromin your 40s and your 50s.
And that's great.
The goal is just that you'realigning yourself with it.
And it could even be based onthe season.
Sometimes you're like hang outwith people, and your superpower
is networking.
And then sometimes you're morelike, I'm like totally people
(18:33):
out, and I just want to bereading and absorbing material
and more digesting all of it.
And that's great too.
So the the superpower itself isalready that you're becoming
more aligned with who you reallyare, and or realigning yourself,
what you really are.
And then for me, the mostimportant thing, Natalie, is the
(18:55):
confidence you gain with it.
So no matter what yoursuperpower is, once you know it,
you're becoming more confident,just in the way that you show
up, in the way that you speak,in the way that you use your
skills during the day in yourbusiness.
And that is really why we'regoing after all this, why
discovering your superpower ismagic.
(19:16):
Because a lot of people arelike, well, look, I'm running my
business to make money.
And then I say, so what?
Right?
I mean, what makes it special?
And the special is really whatdifferentiates you, what a
customer will seek out the valuethat they're really seeking.
And that's kind of like whatwe're getting at here.
That superpower element could beeven in your brand, that you're
(19:39):
anchoring your brand around thevalues, and that over time you
just become crystal clear whatmakes you special and
differentiated.
And maybe those values evenevolve as your brand evolves.
SPEAKER_03 (19:55):
That's huge.
And that alignment, I'd love tojust dive into just one small
piece because when we talk aboutthat alignment, it's not who
we're aspiring to be, it's whowe are.
SPEAKER_01 (20:07):
Beautiful.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And it's actually somebody justtold me about that the other
day.
They were like, oh yeah, soyou're you're German, like Heidi
Klum.
And I said, Yeah, I mean, Iguess she's from Germany, you
know.
That's great.
But always think, like, it'sgreat when we look at the
comparison game.
(20:28):
In reality, though, look at itas really something that you're
you and there's nobody else likeyou, right?
So make people aware of likewhat makes you uniquely you, and
then really educate them aboutit, and really feel that
sometimes people don't reallyknow what exactly to ask you, or
(20:50):
like the questions are the same.
So what do you do and things,and then just like ask them
questions.
Yes, make them comfortable withsharing who they are, and just
through a conversation buildthat bridge.
One of my favorite games andaudience, this is one of my
little secrets to networking, isfiguring out what you have in
(21:10):
common with a person, right?
I call it actually the KevinBacon game.
Oh, yeah, like the sixties.
Exactly.
It's the game.
I have it in my in both of mybooks, in the How to Master Your
Goals book and in the Discoverthe Superpower book, where I
actually have my clients do thatgame.
(21:31):
I give them like five minutes,and you know, there's a roster
in those books, and it basicallysays, All right, you don't know
any of these people here on theZoom call, or if I do an
in-person meeting, but I wouldlike that within five minutes
you find three commonalities,and then you're going to
introduce those other people onyour team with the
(21:51):
commonalities, and you will notbelieve what they mean, what
they uncover, because first ofall, they have a time, right?
And I'm like pretty ambitiousabout it, like five minutes.
You got this team.
But secondly, at first, if Iwould have said just introduce
yourself, and it would have beenjust like the shallow surface.
But now remember what I talkedabout with the tree really
(22:11):
digging down.
And we are like, then I also sayextra credit for creativity,
right?
And then they're like, oh mygosh, become creative now.
And then if I need funny ascommonalities, it's
unbelievable, right?
And it's just so good.
But that's really how you alignyourself with it.
And that's also one thing, howyou can quickly break the ice.
(22:35):
And you know, speaking of likeyour business, that's really
what your business most of thetime needs, just more networking
and getting the word out aboutit.
SPEAKER_02 (22:43):
Yeah, building that connection through that common
thread.
So I love that.
And to be able to do that onZoom.
I mean, I've had I've been inworkshops where we've done it in
person, but Zoom's a wholedifferent, but powerful.
SPEAKER_03 (22:57):
I love that.
It is, and I'm sure it deepensthe connections when those
individuals see each other faceto face, like in real life.
SPEAKER_01 (23:05):
Most of the time it's what you get remembered by,
right?
Because they're like, oh yeah,she was the one who told me that
she went to school with mybrother, bow blah, blah, blah.
She's the one that had the twinand things like that.
It's like, oh, you remember thatstuff.
Yes.
Yes, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (23:23):
Oftentimes we forget the name within seconds.
Yes, but as soon as you start toget to that little deeper level,
then it's something that sparksyour curiosity, and then you
remember it.
Beautiful.
SPEAKER_03 (23:34):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
I love, and then you can avoidmaking the random pop culture
references, right?
Oh, Heidi Clump, got it.
No, there's so much more.
There's so much more.
SPEAKER_01 (23:47):
Well, I mean, you you could say something like,
Oh, Heidi and I, we are both,you know, whatever, like
earrings that are sparkly orsomething like that.
And that, you know, then I'mexpanding it beyond that.
And I love Heidi, you know, it'sit's great.
What a cute name, and and what agreat personality, right?
Yeah.
She also lives in California, Ithink.
So we have another thing here.
(24:08):
You do have the commonalitiesthere.
Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_03 (24:10):
I love that.
I love that.
And you said that this exerciseis in both of your books.
Yep.
Tell us tell us the name, thetitles of the books that you're
referencing in case someone'snot watching the video.
SPEAKER_01 (24:22):
Yeah.
So my first book quickly becamea bestseller on Amazon, probably
because of the amazing title,How to Master Your Goals.
Because if you think about it,you're like, oh, how do I how do
I master my goals?
I can be a goal master, itsounds kind of intriguing.
And then, you know, people wereimmediately hooked, right?
(24:44):
Which is something I teachpitching yourself, sales,
innovation.
Elevator pitches are like one ofmy favorite things to do.
And so that hook was good.
And then from there, I thoughtafter I wrote this book, I
really want to help you.
Now that you master your goals,how can you be the best version
(25:04):
of yourself?
So it's called Discover YourSuperpower.
And then people were like, Well,you're always so organized and
everything is like so lined upand everything.
So then I wrote my petitepractice planner, which also
ties in with my signaturetrademark concept of petite
practice.
And currently I'm writing a bookthat's called Step Into Your
(25:26):
Voice, coming out on December4th on National Cookie Day.
Okay.
Which I'm really excited aboutbecause I feel it would be a
good time when you step intoyour voice before you step into
2026.
SPEAKER_00 (25:39):
Thank you for joining us today on the Reignite
Resilience podcast.
We hope you had some aha momentsand learned a few new real life
ideas to fuel the flames ofpassion.
Please subscribe on yourfavorite streaming platform,
like or download your favoriteepisodes, and of course, share
with your friends and family.
We look forward to seeing youagain next time on Reignite
(26:02):
Resilience.
All of us reach a point in time where we are
depleted and need to somehowfind a way to reignite the fire
within.
But how do we spark that flame?
Welcome to Reignite Resilience,where we will venture into the
heart of the human spirit.
We'll discuss the art ofreigniting our passion and
(00:28):
strategies to stoke ourenthusiasm.
And now here are your hosts,Natalie Davis and Pamela Cass.
SPEAKER_03 (00:41):
Welcome back to another episode of Reignite
Resilience.
I'm your co-host Natalie Davis,and I'm so excited to be back
with all of you.
And joining me is your co-host,Pam Cass.
Hello, Pam.
How are you?
SPEAKER_02 (00:52):
I am fantastic.
I started sharing a story withyou this morning that we had
somebody reach out to me aboutour book.
And this is somebody I went tohigh school with.
So I have not talked to her orseen her since I'm going to age
myself, 1989.
And she reached out about doingit as an audiobook for us.
And so I met with her today.
(01:13):
And so she's going to read achapter, do a recording, and
then send it to us because shedoes voiceovers.
She's done about 20 books.
And so it was just so fun tohave somebody come back into my
world that I have not seen in avery long time.
SPEAKER_03 (01:25):
That's exciting.
Okay, so I am curious to hearbecause initially you were
thinking that you were gonna dothe recording yourself, but I
was like, good on you.
SPEAKER_02 (01:36):
Yeah, and until she said, Well, I'd be happy.
Let me kind of coach you throughwhat you need to do.
And then she started talkingabout all the different things
and you need to give 0.5 secondsafter this, and then three
seconds after this.
And when you say this, you needto do, and I was just like, I'm
just gonna pause you rightthere.
That's a that's a I don't thinkso, but thank you very much.
Yeah, so we're gonna have arecord.
(01:58):
She does all the editing, shedoes all of the uploading into
the the platform for Audible,and she does all the marketing
of the book.
And so it's like she's got thisamazing recording of one of our
chapters, and it was just so funto reconnect with somebody and
and from the past.
SPEAKER_03 (02:13):
And I was just gonna say that.
I was gonna say, like comingfull circle, like you went to
high school with this person,and that's where their
professional path took them, andto come across your book as
well.
I mean, because apparentlyyou're still connected or at
least in each other's lives insome way, shape, or form.
But then to have thisopportunity to work together,
you know, after all these years,we're not gonna age you.
We won't say how many years it'sbeen.
(02:33):
It's fine.
Girls, 89, they can do the math.
SPEAKER_02 (02:37):
They can do the math.
And she lives in Denver.
So I'm hoping that I can that'sgreat at some point reconnect
with her.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (02:43):
That is so great.
I love it.
Well, then more things to comewith the book.
And you all, I'm gonna remindyou at the end of this recording
as well to make sure that youget a copy of the book.
You can find it on Amazon eitheras an ebook or paperback or
hardback now.
So we do have a hard copy andpaperback and ebook.
So download one of those,purchase one of those, and then
(03:04):
wait until the audible isavailable and do it again.
SPEAKER_02 (03:07):
And then and then let us know how you like it.
I think that's the biggest one.
SPEAKER_03 (03:11):
So definitely leave us feedback.
We need to hear the feedback.
And so far it's been great.
Yeah, absolutely.
I love it.
Well, today we're not talkingabout the book.
I know that we talked about thebook a couple of episodes ago.
We're not talking about the booktoday.
We are gifted with a guesttoday, and I'm so excited.
Pam, why don't you tell ourlisteners who's joining us
today?
SPEAKER_02 (03:31):
Yeah, I am excited about this one.
So today we have Dr.
Christiana Schroeder.
She is a TEDx speaker, businessand wellness coach, professor,
and best-selling author.
She created Petite Practice, aframework that helps
professionals achieve lastingsuccess through small strategic
actions.
As a host of the top 1% globallyranked podcast, Happy Healthy
(03:57):
Hustle, she shares practicaltools for clarity, resilience,
and sustainable business growth.
With a PhD in health economicsand over 15 years of experience
in marketing and innovation,Christiana empowers
entrepreneurs to work smarter,scale faster, and lead with
clarity and confidence.
Welcome.
We are so honored to havesomeone with your criteria.
(04:21):
I'm I'm just kidding, like itjust kept coming, all the things
that you have done.
And so welcome.
And yeah, share, share some ofyour path to what's gotten you
to where you are today.
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
First of all, thanks so much for having me here,
Pamela and Natalie.
This is truly an honor.
And audience, hello and welcome.
I'm really glad I'm here.
As you can hear from my accent,actually came here from Germany.
And that's also like really whatmy coaching combines.
I have that European structure,a little bit of the Parisian
pizzas.
You can hear there's the petitepractice.
(04:54):
I'm like very much attuned withlike little French things and
that little chic, and that's I'mlike a very bubbly person in
general.
But I also really appreciatethis American healthy hustle
culture, right?
So I want to preface this withsaying healthy because I'm a
firm believer that if we workhard and we plan smart, then we
(05:17):
can really accomplish greatthings.
And that's some of the thingsI'm going to share on this
fantastic episode here today.
So, audience, this is going tobe a good one.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (05:25):
That's quite the combo.
Like you talk about like theGerman structure, which we know
like that exists.
Outside of stereotypes, itexists.
I don't care what you thinkabout it.
There's structure there.
And then the healthy hustle,plus a little sprinkle of the
Parisian style.
I love that.
Yeah, it's like the oolala ofsome sort.
(05:46):
How did you discover this?
How did you discover this combo?
Because it's one that's uniqueand it's one that's impactful
because of the work that you'redoing.
How did you come together withthese three?
SPEAKER_01 (05:56):
Well, I think that for me, living in Germany, I
always felt like there'ssomething else out to discover.
And deep down we sometimes havethat.
I might label it superpower, youmight label it inner calling,
deeper voice, inner voice, whoknows what.
You just feel like there'ssomething else I immediately
would like to do.
And I would encourage theaudience to really tap into
(06:18):
that, discovering yoursuperpower, because then you
really start sharing with theworld what you're meant to do.
I mean, now I love that youwrite this bio, but all these
things really wouldn't havehappened if I wouldn't have
discovered my superpower.
Not to say that I wouldn't havebeen amazing if I would have
stayed in Germany, but Iprobably would have taken a
(06:40):
different path.
So I really felt like, okay, Igotta go and explore the world,
learn more languages, go tograduate school, and really
start tapping into what gives mejoy, what gives me passion.
And I think that, as I say, theaudience, I have a quiz on my
website that's called DiscoverYour Superpower, which tells you
(07:02):
how much aligned you are withknowing who you really are and
what your value really is in theworld.
And that's really what happened.
So I I figure it out.
Okay, I'm I'm passionate aboutteaching, I'm passionate about
learning.
And when I discover things thatI really feel are like
groundbreaking, earth-shaking, Ican convey them in a way that
(07:25):
are really fun.
So I always, when when you lookat my books in the background, I
always think about okay, what islike a really creative way of
conveying learning instead ofjust writing it out page by page
and filling a book with justwords?
What's like another way that Ican tap into a learning style?
And I think that's really mysuperpower that I think we are
(07:48):
all created differently.
But how can I maybe appeal toaudiences in still making
learning fun and still leadingthem to the way that they can
share their value with theworld?
That's my superpower.
I really want to tap into thatand I really want to feel like
you are making your corner ofthe best corner of the world the
(08:09):
best that it can be.
SPEAKER_02 (08:10):
Do you remember the moment when you realized what
your superpower was?
Was there a significant thingthat happened, or was it just
kind of, do you share that?
SPEAKER_01 (08:19):
Yeah, I remember that, you know, frequently when
we had friends over in Germany,I always felt I'm a really good
listener that I can tune in withmaking them feel special when I
talk to them.
Because I listen to what theysay and I ask follow-up
questions.
So it's always a curious person,not in a way of being nosy, but
(08:44):
curious in a way of getting toknow somebody.
So I'm a really good interviewerin a way that I want to get to
know somebody, and I thinkthat's why I'm mentioning the
discovering your superpower,because sometimes I discover the
superpower before the personthemselves actually realizes
what it is.
Wow.
Which is pretty amazing, right?
(09:06):
Yeah, it's like a that's a goodskill to have, but it's because
I'm asking the right questionsand I'm showing curiosity.
And we sometimes are not curiousabout our ourselves.
We just kind of become contentwith who we are.
And we get so busy and alwayslooking forward, but we don't
really look inward, right?
That's really the magic.
You need to stop and pause for amoment and think, like, hmm,
(09:28):
does it really give me joy?
And why does it give me joy?
And then you're getting closerto what you really meant to do.
What do people say about youwhen you're not in the room?
That's your superpower.
And if they don't say anything,you need to tap more into it.
SPEAKER_03 (09:42):
Or if you think they don't say anything, because they
are saying something, unlessthey're saying nothing at all.
Like it didn't leave animpression at all.
Yes.
Exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (09:50):
That's that's very smartly said.
SPEAKER_03 (09:51):
Yeah, I like that.
I love it.
So, where did you go once you'vediscovered this?
You discover the superpower thatyou have.
We heard in your bio, you are awoman that wears many hats.
You are after our own hearts.
Pam and I do the same.
We wear many hats.
But where did you begin?
What did this journey start likefor you?
SPEAKER_01 (10:09):
Yeah, so I'm I'm always a learner and an educator
at the same time.
And I think the two go hand inhand.
If you learn something thatyou're really passionate about,
you can become the person thatis becoming a great educator
because you can teach us to usin a way that you discovered it,
like you're you're showing thetransformation in your
(10:31):
description yourself.
It's like, oh, before I knewthis, I did that.
But now that I know this, theyactually do that.
And that's really like the bestbrands in the world.
They do that storytellingelement that is so important in
our life.
So when I came to the UnitedStates, I was already super
passionate about business.
And I had worked with some foodcompanies in Germany in
(10:53):
merchandising.
So I had that health passion,but I also knew I wanted to do
some kind of selling, sales,marketing element with it.
And that's really happened whenI wrote my dissertation about
health economics because I felta lot of the healthy products
are advertised as just that, ashealthy.
(11:15):
And that doesn't always soundlike it's very tasty.
So I thought, well, what elsewould make people buy a certain
food product?
Maybe we need to change theprice of some of these healthier
food products, and maybe they'rejust too expensive.
Or maybe we need to create someother signals in the market.
And that's really how one thingcame to the next thing that I
started learning more about howconsumers think and how they
(11:39):
make choices, and then thechoices becoming in a better
communication tool forcompanies.
So, really, there are two waysstraight.
What do consumers want and eat?
And how do companies read thisinformation and creating better
food products?
And that's really deep down mypassion.
I'm like totally in tune withtrends.
(12:01):
And in my innovationentrepreneurship classes, I help
students create companies thatalign with trends.
I work with clients that figureout really like how can I make
my business thrive and scalewithout getting burned out.
So they said wellness pieceright there.
So that's really how it thenbecame.
It became this merger ofbusiness coaching and wellness
(12:24):
coaching, this happy middleright there.
SPEAKER_02 (12:27):
It's all kind of connected things.
SPEAKER_01 (12:29):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_02 (12:30):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (12:30):
Yeah.
I think it's such powerful,which is why you're super power,
super power, and you'vediscovering this and then now
teaching future generations todo the same.
But when you're able to identifywhat people need and then what
they want, because they're notnecessarily one in the same, and
then making sure that thecompanies, these organizations
and companies can provide that,where it has to speak to what
(12:54):
they want, but actually providewhat they need.
That's it's a very, I want tosay that it's a very calculated
dance that you are enteringinto.
And then the fact that you'recreating these companies or
helping students createcompanies that speak to the
trends again for the needs andthe wants.
SPEAKER_01 (13:11):
Beautiful.
And what I like is how you'repointing out that it's it's a
dance.
I I actually have this saying towhere it's like saying, like
sometimes it's a salsa whereit's like really upbeat, and
sometimes it's a slow waltz.
But you always have to be kindof like in tune with the market.
You have to read the market, andagain, coming back to that
(13:34):
listening element that Imentioned, you have to listen to
consumers, and you also have tolisten to companies, really.
Always listen first and thenspeak, and that will really be
the best recipe for success.
And also, of course, in yourpersonal life, right?
SPEAKER_03 (13:52):
That's both business and personal advice that you
have, right there.
SPEAKER_01 (13:55):
Exactly.
Exactly.
And it's coming very back tolike the whole resilience piece,
but Pamela, go ahead, please.
SPEAKER_02 (14:03):
Well, can you tell us a little bit about the petite
practices?
Share with us.
When did that kind of come intothe picture and and how do you
teach that?
And just give us a little moreabout that.
SPEAKER_01 (14:14):
I'm actually writing a book about how I discovered
it.
And I had to, after I get myTEDx talk, where I very much
talk about petite practice, Ireally started thinking like,
when did I start thinking aboutpetty practice?
And in my TEDx talk, I mentionedone instance where I really use
a pity practice, which inessence is just a small step
(14:37):
toward your goal, right?
So it's small petite and thenpractice meaning it's a step
towards your goal.
So I started thinking, like,when did that really come about?
And I thought so many of theseroutines and rituals that I even
used in Germany were anchoredjust right around that, and and
small little things that made mewho I am today.
(15:00):
And that also ties in again withthat superpower, because the
superpower is not just whatpeople see on the outside, it's
also deep down inside your valuesystem, the culture you grew up
with, the values that yourfamily instilled on you.
So for me, it was like, youknow, spending time with my
grandma and the fact that I didthis like German clockwork,
(15:22):
right?
I went there every Monday at3:30, spending time with my
grandma, and she already had itall set up for me, like the
special cup that I like to drinkoff, and the special plate that
I like to eat from.
So think about this.
These are like small things,like setting up the table in a
certain way, but then it stillbrings joy because it's very
(15:46):
meaningful.
It shows I care and I love you,and I was looking forward to
this.
So if you're eating dinner andyou're just like, the you can
make it special with your ownpetite practice, and you can get
out like some nice dinner wear,or you can maybe put on a candle
or put some nice music on, andall these are petite practices.
And that's essentially reallyhow I started leading my life
(16:09):
from very early on, and howpeople always taught me to look
at things.
Like there's always an on andoff button in your mind that you
can just I call it flip theswitch.
And sometimes it's just lookingat a situation that seems very
mundane and ordinary, but thenyou look at all these small
little elements that arespecial, and that's what the
(16:32):
petite practice is all about.
It's it's just turning somethingsmall into something meaningful
that creates momentum.
SPEAKER_02 (16:39):
Oh, I like that idea of creating something special.
Because, like you said, andwe're we're getting into
business planning season for us,where we'll start doing that
with with agents and companies,and it's like it can get very
mundane, those same things, butif you can make it a petite
practice, make it somethingspecial, I just see how people
would want to do that more.
(16:59):
So I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (17:00):
I love that.
Yeah, and I also want to likeright behind me, if you're
watching the video, you see thethe cover of my Discovery
Superpower book.
I made the cover intentionallyso that the top of the tree is
just as big as the roots of thetree.
So your superpower is not justby thinking what you like to do
on a day-to-day basis, but it'salso what is it really that was
(17:26):
a moment in my life that I feltreally created something very
significant, like alife-changing moment to where I
really feel like when I thinkback, what's the earliest time I
can remember in my life?
What did I do then?
Who was with me?
Like these moments, those arethe roots of the tree because
they shaped who you are.
(17:46):
And if you can remember themoments, sometimes they are the
best ideas that you might getfor your company or for your
product, because sometimesthey're those moments of
transformation that reallyhappened at that time.
I love that.
And is it a singular superpoweror do we have many superpowers?
That's a beautiful question.
Yeah, I mean, of course, ingeneral, superpowers change.
(18:10):
I mean, that's just how we are,right?
Like what you might be amazingin whatever, in your 20s and
your 30s, maybe different fromin your 40s and your 50s.
And that's great.
The goal is just that you'realigning yourself with it.
And it could even be based onthe season.
Sometimes you're like hang outwith people, and your superpower
is networking.
And then sometimes you're morelike, I'm like totally people
(18:33):
out, and I just want to bereading and absorbing material
and more digesting all of it.
And that's great too.
So the the superpower itself isalready that you're becoming
more aligned with who you reallyare, and or realigning yourself,
what you really are.
And then for me, the mostimportant thing, Natalie, is the
(18:55):
confidence you gain with it.
So no matter what yoursuperpower is, once you know it,
you're becoming more confident,just in the way that you show
up, in the way that you speak,in the way that you use your
skills during the day in yourbusiness.
And that is really why we'regoing after all this, why
discovering your superpower ismagic.
(19:16):
Because a lot of people arelike, well, look, I'm running my
business to make money.
And then I say, so what?
Right?
I mean, what makes it special?
And the special is really whatdifferentiates you, what a
customer will seek out the valuethat they're really seeking.
And that's kind of like whatwe're getting at here.
That superpower element could beeven in your brand, that you're
(19:39):
anchoring your brand around thevalues, and that over time you
just become crystal clear whatmakes you special and
differentiated.
And maybe those values evenevolve as your brand evolves.
SPEAKER_03 (19:55):
That's huge.
And that alignment, I'd love tojust dive into just one small
piece because when we talk aboutthat alignment, it's not who
we're aspiring to be, it's whowe are.
SPEAKER_01 (20:07):
Beautiful.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And it's actually somebody justtold me about that the other
day.
They were like, oh yeah, soyou're you're German, like Heidi
Klum.
And I said, Yeah, I mean, Iguess she's from Germany, you
know.
That's great.
But always think, like, it'sgreat when we look at the
comparison game.
(20:28):
In reality, though, look at itas really something that you're
you and there's nobody else likeyou, right?
So make people aware of likewhat makes you uniquely you, and
then really educate them aboutit, and really feel that
sometimes people don't reallyknow what exactly to ask you, or
(20:50):
like the questions are the same.
So what do you do and things,and then just like ask them
questions.
Yes, make them comfortable withsharing who they are, and just
through a conversation buildthat bridge.
One of my favorite games andaudience, this is one of my
little secrets to networking, isfiguring out what you have in
(21:10):
common with a person, right?
I call it actually the KevinBacon game.
Oh, yeah, like the sixties.
Exactly.
It's the game.
I have it in my in both of mybooks, in the How to Master Your
Goals book and in the Discoverthe Superpower book, where I
actually have my clients do thatgame.
(21:31):
I give them like five minutes,and you know, there's a roster
in those books, and it basicallysays, All right, you don't know
any of these people here on theZoom call, or if I do an
in-person meeting, but I wouldlike that within five minutes
you find three commonalities,and then you're going to
introduce those other people onyour team with the
(21:51):
commonalities, and you will notbelieve what they mean, what
they uncover, because first ofall, they have a time, right?
And I'm like pretty ambitiousabout it, like five minutes.
You got this team.
But secondly, at first, if Iwould have said just introduce
yourself, and it would have beenjust like the shallow surface.
But now remember what I talkedabout with the tree really
(22:11):
digging down.
And we are like, then I also sayextra credit for creativity,
right?
And then they're like, oh mygosh, become creative now.
And then if I need funny ascommonalities, it's
unbelievable, right?
And it's just so good.
But that's really how you alignyourself with it.
And that's also one thing, howyou can quickly break the ice.
(22:35):
And you know, speaking of likeyour business, that's really
what your business most of thetime needs, just more networking
and getting the word out aboutit.
SPEAKER_02 (22:43):
Yeah, building that connection through that common
thread.
So I love that.
And to be able to do that onZoom.
I mean, I've had I've been inworkshops where we've done it in
person, but Zoom's a wholedifferent, but powerful.
SPEAKER_03 (22:57):
I love that.
It is, and I'm sure it deepensthe connections when those
individuals see each other faceto face, like in real life.
SPEAKER_01 (23:05):
Most of the time it's what you get remembered by,
right?
Because they're like, oh yeah,she was the one who told me that
she went to school with mybrother, bow blah, blah, blah.
She's the one that had the twinand things like that.
It's like, oh, you remember thatstuff.
Yes.
Yes, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (23:23):
Oftentimes we forget the name within seconds.
Yes, but as soon as you start toget to that little deeper level,
then it's something that sparksyour curiosity, and then you
remember it.
Beautiful.
SPEAKER_03 (23:34):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
I love, and then you can avoidmaking the random pop culture
references, right?
Oh, Heidi Clump, got it.
No, there's so much more.
There's so much more.
SPEAKER_01 (23:47):
Well, I mean, you you could say something like,
Oh, Heidi and I, we are both,you know, whatever, like
earrings that are sparkly orsomething like that.
And that, you know, then I'mexpanding it beyond that.
And I love Heidi, you know, it'sit's great.
What a cute name, and and what agreat personality, right?
Yeah.
She also lives in California, Ithink.
So we have another thing here.
(24:08):
You do have the commonalitiesthere.
Yes, exactly.
SPEAKER_03 (24:10):
I love that.
I love that.
And you said that this exerciseis in both of your books.
Yep.
Tell us tell us the name, thetitles of the books that you're
referencing in case someone'snot watching the video.
SPEAKER_01 (24:22):
Yeah.
So my first book quickly becamea bestseller on Amazon, probably
because of the amazing title,How to Master Your Goals.
Because if you think about it,you're like, oh, how do I how do
I master my goals?
I can be a goal master, itsounds kind of intriguing.
And then, you know, people wereimmediately hooked, right?
(24:44):
Which is something I teachpitching yourself, sales,
innovation.
Elevator pitches are like one ofmy favorite things to do.
And so that hook was good.
And then from there, I thoughtafter I wrote this book, I
really want to help you.
Now that you master your goals,how can you be the best version
(25:04):
of yourself?
So it's called Discover YourSuperpower.
And then people were like, Well,you're always so organized and
everything is like so lined upand everything.
So then I wrote my petitepractice planner, which also
ties in with my signaturetrademark concept of petite
practice.
And currently I'm writing a bookthat's called Step Into Your
(25:26):
Voice, coming out on December4th on National Cookie Day.
Okay.
Which I'm really excited aboutbecause I feel it would be a
good time when you step intoyour voice before you step into
2026.
SPEAKER_00 (25:39):
Thank you for joining us today on the Reignite
Resilience podcast.
We hope you had some aha momentsand learned a few new real life
ideas to fuel the flames ofpassion.
Please subscribe on yourfavorite streaming platform,
like or download your favoriteepisodes, and of course, share
with your friends and family.
We look forward to seeing youagain next time on Reignite
(26:02):
Resilience.
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