About this episode
What if your inner critic isn’t the enemy—but a misdirected inner coach waiting for the right conversation?On today’s soul-shifting episode, Chris Schembra sits down with licensed clinician and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Britt Frank to explore the untapped potential of your internal world. Britt’s new book, Align Your Mind, blends Internal Family Systems (IFS), neuroscience, trauma therapy, and radical compassion into a user manual for becoming a better leader—by leading yourself first.In this raw, riveting, and often funny dialogue, Britt shares the ALIGN framework: a five-step method to transform the swirl of internal chaos into clarity, confidence, and calm leadership. You’ll walk away with tools to stop spinning, drop shame, and start collaborating—with all the voices in your head.Chris and Britt explore:How circus training helped Britt tame her mind and discover flow Why shadow parts aren’t saboteurs—they’re secret allies The real difference between solitude and loneliness How to negotiate with your inner critic like it’s your toughest client Why authentic leadership doesn’t mean “bring all your parts to work” A powerful reframe: Your brain isn’t broken—it’s brilliant Whether you’re a CEO, a team leader, or just trying to keep your head above water, this episode offers both practical tools and deep encouragement for navigating inner and outer leadership challenges. Key Moments[00:08] Chris’ poetic New York City intro + welcoming new and loyal listeners [02:27] Britt’s dynamic background: therapist, speaker, author… and circus performer [05:47] The Gratitude Question: Britt thanks her first circus coach for raising her standards [07:36] Defining flow as alignment—not perfection [10:38] Intro to Parts Work and why leaders must embrace their inner multiplicity [12:38] What “shadow work” really means: turning inner tension into innovation [15:15] The ALIGN Framework:Acknowledge Listen Investigate Give Gratitude (to your brain!) Negotiate [22:42] From loneliness to solitude: why inner gratitude is the first step to connection [25:32] Why some stress is good stress: shifting mental gears instead of stalling [28:57] Britt’s take on DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and how it saved her life [31:35] Busting three myths of the workplace:Don’t bring every part of yourself to work Workplaces aren’t families—they’re teams Positivity isn’t the same as leadership [36:53] Britt’s backstory: addiction, cults, hiding IFS books
