HAYVN Hubcast From Burnout to Breakthrough: Redefining Healing with Chandler Stroud EP 121
In a powerful episode of the HAYVN Hubcast, host Nancy Sheed sits down with Chandler Stroud, founder of The Healing Heroes to explore a journey that many women will find deeply relatable: the path from corporate success to personal healing and authentic purpose.
The Corporate Climb and Its Hidden Costs
Chandler's story begins in the corporate world, where she built an impressive career at major companies like Kraft Heinz and American Express. She also led the B2B marketing team at Resy, American Express's dining platform, attending chef dinners and immersing herself in the food and hospitality industry.
But beneath the surface of professional achievement, something was stirring. Despite having everything she’d dreamed of she was asking herself: why aren't you happier in this moment?
When the Body Says "Enough"
The breakthrough moment came during a business trip when she spotted a book at JFK Airport: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. That book became the catalyst for understanding the connection between emotional trauma and physical symptoms.
Chandler learned that trauma isn't just about what happens to you, it's about how you experience what happens to you.
She distinguishes between two types of traumas:
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Big T trauma: Major events like abuse, abandonment, or significant loss
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Small t trauma: Seemingly minor experiences that create deep-seated beliefs about us like being left out, not being invited, feeling overlooked
The Corporate Exit Strategy
Recognizing that she couldn't fully commit to both healing and her demanding corporate role, Chandler made a courageous decision and approached her boss with complete honesty about her situation, leading to an FMLA leave that eventually became a permanent departure from American Express.
Birth of the Healing Heroes Podcast
The vision for The Healing Heroes podcast came in a moment of divine inspiration. Chandler woke up in the middle of the night in early January with a complete concept that flowed onto 12 pages of content.
The podcast features a unique format: instead of rotating guests, Chandler works with the same 12 healers and experts she interviews one-on-one each week. This approach creates character development and gives listeners familiar, credible voices they can turn to consistently.
Chandler's journey offers several profound insights:
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Success without fulfillment is a warning sign: Having everything you thought you wanted but still feeling empty is your soul's way of redirecting you.
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Your body is your ally: Physical symptoms often carry emotional messages that deserve attention and investigation.
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Healing is ongoing: "I don't think I'll ever say I'm healed... I think it's just something you continue to do every day."
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Small traumas matter: Don't dismiss seemingly minor experiences that may have shaped limiting beliefs about yourself.
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Corporate support exists: Companies like American Express can be surprisingly supportive of employees prioritizing mental health and healing.
The Ripple Effect
What started as personal healing has become a mission to help other women. The Healing Heroes podcast serves as both inspiration and practical resource, proving that career pivots in midlife aren't just possible, they can be transformational.
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