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 inside cult literature, and the breakthrough that changed her life
- [39:28] Final takeaway: your inner critic isn’t a bully—it’s your most loyal bodyguard
- [40:16] Chris’ signoff + why Align Your Mind is essential reading for anyone leading a team in 2025
Memorable Quotes
“Flow is not the absence of thought. It’s movement in the presence of noise.” – Britt Frank
“Every part of you has value. You don’t need to silence them—you need to negotiate.” – Britt Frank
“The solution to loneliness is solitude—but only if your inner world isn’t at war with itself.” – Chris Schembra
“Your brain isn’t wired for success. It’s wired for survival. Say thanks, and lead anyway.” – Britt Frank
“Leadership is not about being positive all the time. It’s about being real—with curiosity and compassion.” – Britt Frank
About the Book
Align Your Mind is Britt Frank’s empowering new guide to taming anxiety, healing trauma, and overcoming self-doubt using Parts Work. Combining practical exercises, storytelling, and cutting-edge neuroscience, Britt introduces readers to their internal cast of characters—from the anxious controller to the tired inner child—and shows how to bring them into harmony.
With Britt’s warm and witty voice, readers learn how to:
- Reframe the inner critic as a coach
- Move from chaos to clarity with the ALIGN method
- Use curiosity as an antidote to burnout and self-sabotage
- Stop waiting to feel motivated and start getting things done
Whether you’re a leader or simply a human navigating complexity, this book gives you the tools to realign and rise.
Order now: Penguin Random House
About Britt Frank
Britt Frank, LSCSW, is a licensed clinician, author, and speaker specializing in trauma, Parts Work, and mental health. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Forbes, Esquire, and New York Magazine. She is the author of The Science of Stuck, The Getting Unstuck Workbook, and now Align Your Mind.
Based in Kansas City
brittfrank.com
Instagram: @BrittFrank
About Your Host
Chris Schembra is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of
Gratitude Through Hard Times
and founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™, which has impacted hundreds of thousands through the power of meaningful connection. He’s been featured in Rolling Stone, USA Today, Forbes, and beyond—and hosts this podcast as a space for leaders to explore the intersection of hardship, hope, and human potential.
