Arthur C. Brooks. If you looked at his accomplishments you would assume he knows the secret to success: best-selling author (12 books), Harvard Business School Professor, acclaimed public speaker and creator of How to Build a Life column for The Atlantic. In his latest book, From Strength to Strength, he challenges us to rethink the definition of success. Through his research and personal exploration, he encourages us focus on what really matters in the end. Listen in on this deeply personal conversation.

Arthur C. Brooks. If you looked at his accomplishments you would assume he knows the secret to success: best-selling author (12 books), Harvard Business School Professor, acclaimed public speaker and creator of How to Build a Life column for The Atlantic. In his latest book, From Strength to Strength, he challenges us to rethink the definition of success. Through his research and personal exploration, he encourages us focus on what really matters in the end. Listen in on this deeply personal conversation.

Eric and I share a love of pushing our physical and mental limits. It’s how we met – our common love of athletic endeavors. And, now we share the challenge to face life-threatening diagnoses. In the past three years, Eric was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, a congenital heart condition and most recently Parkinson’s Disease. We give credit to and gratitude for our athletic experiences setting us up to face the biggest challenges of our lives. And, although, it’s bittersweet, “we aren’t done yet”.

Eric and I share a love of pushing our physical and mental limits. It’s how we met – our common love of athletic endeavors. And, now we share the challenge to face life-threatening diagnoses. In the past three years, Eric was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, a congenital heart condition and most recently Parkinson’s Disease. We give credit to and gratitude for our athletic experiences setting us up to face the biggest challenges of our lives. And, although, it’s bittersweet, “we aren’t done yet”.

Eric and I share a love of pushing our physical and mental limits. It’s how we met – our common love of athletic endeavors. And, now we share the challenge to face life-threatening diagnoses. In the past three years, Eric was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, a congenital heart condition and most recently Parkinson’s Disease. We give credit to and gratitude for our athletic experiences setting us up to face the biggest challenges of our lives. And, although, it’s bittersweet, “we aren’t done yet”.

Like many college students, Chad joined a fraternity. He experienced the time-honored ritual of hazing. As a college junior, he challenged his fraternity chapter’s culture of hazing and found himself fearing for his safety. This set his future path in motion. Chad left the experience consumed by the idea that organizations can ignite, rather than inhibit, the growth and individual potential of every one of their members. He has used this precarious experience to become a leader in the field of hazing prevention.

In graduate school, Chad conducted and published an original research study on perceptions of hazing, which led him to serve as President of the Board of Directors for the non-profit organization HazingPrevention.Org. In 2007, Chad was named an Anti-Hazing Hero by HazingPrevention.Org, and in 2010, he received one of two awards that year for Outstanding Greek Life Professionals by the Fraternity Information & Programming Group (FIPG).

Like many college students, Chad joined a fraternity. He experienced the time-honored ritual of hazing. As a college junior, he challenged his fraternity chapter’s culture of hazing and found himself fearing for his safety. This set his future path in motion. Chad left the experience consumed by the idea that organizations can ignite, rather than inhibit, the growth and individual potential of every one of their members. He has used this precarious experience to become a leader in the field of hazing prevention.

In graduate school, Chad conducted and published an original research study on perceptions of hazing, which led him to serve as President of the Board of Directors for the non-profit organization HazingPrevention.Org. In 2007, Chad was named an Anti-Hazing Hero by HazingPrevention.Org, and in 2010, he received one of two awards that year for Outstanding Greek Life Professionals by the Fraternity Information & Programming Group (FIPG).

I love talking with Joe Fusaro. We sit down and reflect on this past year and how our unique struggles (Joe living with Bipolar I and Schizoaffective Disorder and me living with cancer) have similar challenges. Living with chronic and life-threatening illness is both exhausting and exhilarating, lonely and connecting, and awe-inspiring and awful. We talk about what we have learned about ourselves and how to take this wisdom into the new year.

I love talking with Joe Fusaro. We sit down and reflect on this past year and how our unique struggles (Joe living with Bipolar I and Schizoaffective Disorder and me living with cancer) have similar challenges. Living with chronic and life-threatening illness is both exhausting and exhilarating, lonely and connecting, and awe-inspiring and awful. We talk about what we have learned about ourselves and how to take this wisdom into the new year.

Eight years ago today I was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer. I didn’t think I would live to see this day. Nor did I have any idea that I would also be diagnosed with stage 3C triple-negative breast cancer and recurrent ovarian cancer. In many ways, I am grateful to not have a crystal ball. If I had known what I was about to face and endure, I would have crumbled under the weight of grief and worry. I am a different person than I was when I was first diagnosed and yet very much the same. I am proud of who I have become.