Resilience Is Learned: A Personal Journey from Adversity to Brain Health Leadership
Resilience is often described as something people either have or don’t. But in reality, it’s built over time—through experience, pressure, and the choices we make in difficult moments.
In this episode of the Human Resilience Podcast, hosts Bob Gold and Shelley Schoenfeld sit down with Laura Gordon from the Center for BrainHealth to explore how resilience is shaped through lived experience. Laura shares her personal journey growing up with a brother diagnosed with schizophrenia, and how those early challenges influenced her ability to stay calm in crisis, reframe difficult situations, and see people beyond their diagnosis.
The conversation connects these experiences to the science of brain health and whole-person wellbeing—highlighting how everyday behaviors like sleep, connection, and purpose play a critical role in how people function, adapt, and recover over time. It also brings these insights into the workplace, where resilience, mental health, and adaptability are increasingly tied to performance and engagement.
Listen and Learn:
* Why resilience is not fixed, and how it can be built over time
* How early life experiences shape coping, perspective, and adaptability
* The role of brain health in managing stress and supporting performance
* Why small habits like sleep, connection, and purpose matter more than we think
* How stigma impacts mental health and willingness to seek support
* Why “meeting people where they are” is critical for engagement and outcomes
Resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship. It’s about how we respond to it. And the systems we build—at home, work and play—have a critical role in that process.
Text STRESS to 888-844-8991 to join Center for BrainHealth's [https://centerforbrainhealth.org/events/brainhealth-week/fun-activities] Resilience Challenge and begin actively building lasting resilience. This 7‑day text challenge delivers daily tips, tools, and videos for leveraging stress to enhance clarity and build resilience.
Hosts
* Bob Gold, [https://gomohealth.com/our-company-behavioral-science-engagement-platform/bob-gold/] Chief Behavioral Technologist, GoMo Health
* Shelley Schoenfeld, [https://gomohealth.com/our-company-behavioral-science-engagement-platform/shelley-schoenfeld/] Chief Strategist, GoMo Health
Featured Guest
* Laura Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer, Center for BrainHealth
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