From Addiction to Impact: How One Story Can Change Lives

Leading with Integrity, Curiosity & Compassion with Dr. Sherry Deckman

In this episode of Better Understanding, Sarah and Marcy sit down with Dr. Sherry Deckman, Professor of Education at Lehman College, Executive Officer of the PhD Program in Urban Education at the CUNY Graduate Center, author, researcher, and lifelong educator. Sherry shares her deeply personal and mission-driven journey, reflecting on how her multiracial upbringing, early conversations about racism and social justice, and teaching experiences around the globe have shaped her worldview and career path. Together, they explore: • What students and adults alike truly need in order to grow and thrive • Why integrity, humility, and listening are essential qualities in leadership • How leadership becomes more meaningful when it is relational and reciprocal • How mindfulness, compassion, and curiosity help her navigate difficult conversations and systemic challenges This episode is an honest, grounding, and hopeful conversation about education, leadership, identity, kindness, and the power of making people feel seen, valued, and heard. Whether you’re an educator, leader, parent, student, or simply someone trying to navigate the world with more intention and humanity, this conversation offers wisdom that will stay with you long after listening.

From Addiction to Impact: How One Story Can Change Lives

What if the thing you’re most afraid to share… is the very thing someone else needs to hear? In this raw and powerful episode, Drew Sullivan opens up about his 17-year battle with addiction—and the unexpected mindset shift that finally helped him choose a different path. But this isn’t just a story about recovery. It’s about identity. Honesty. And what happens when you stop hiding and start showing up fully as yourself. Drew shares the moment that changed everything, how going public with his journey became a turning point, and why he now sees his story as a responsibility not just a reflection of his past. We also dive into: * Why “small steps” are more powerful than big overhauls * The surprising role attention and accountability played in his sobriety * How community can form in the most unexpected ways * Why addiction isn’t always what we think it is * And how to know when it’s time to make a change Today, Drew helps bring some of the world’s most impactful voices to stages around the world, but in this conversation, he reminds us that our own voice might be the one that matters most. If you’ve ever struggled, felt stuck, or wondered whether change is really possible, then this episode is for you.

What Comes After “Enough”? Rethinking Success with Carolyn Regan

Are you feeling stuck in your career—even though you’ve achieved success on paper? Wondering what’s next, but unsure where to start? In this episode, co-hosts Sarah and Marcy sit down with Carolyn Regan, former Chief People Officer turned leadership coach and creator of The Vital Shift, to explore how high achievers can reinvent their work and life for more meaning, alignment, and fulfillment. After a successful corporate career, Carolyn took a “power pause” and discovered that many accomplished professionals feel burned out, disconnected, and unclear about their next chapter. This conversation offers a practical path forward. In this episode, you’ll learn: *  How to recognize the difference between burnout and lack of fulfillment  *  Why traditional success (money, titles) stops feeling meaningful—and what comes next  *  The concept of “enough” and how it reshapes your career decisions  *  The 4 key freedoms: time, relationships, purpose, and wealth  *  Simple micro-actions to help you get unstuck and start your next chapter  If you’re navigating a career transition or craving more meaningful work, this episode will help you reset and move forward with clarity. Connect with Carolyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynregan/  Subscribe to The Vital Shift: https://thecarolynregan.substack.com/

Becoming a Truthteller in a Noisy World

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mischa Geracoulis, Senior-level media professional, human rights advocate, and Outreach & Engagement Officer at Project Censored, for a conversation about truth, press freedom, and the personal convictions that shape a life’s work. Mischa shares how her career — which may have looked nonlinear from the outside — was deeply connected by a consistent thread: a commitment to justice, ethical journalism, and elevating underreported stories. From her early work in coalition building and policy to reporting on Capitol Hill and eventually teaching and pursuing graduate studies in media, each chapter built toward her current role at the intersection of education, academia, and watchdog journalism. A defining influence in her life was her Armenian heritage and her grandfather’s lived experience of genocide — stories that shaped her understanding of truth, historical erasure, and the power of naming what has happened. She reflects on pivotal global moments, including 9/11, that solidified her commitment to becoming what she calls a “truthteller,” even when the landscape feels dark or overwhelming. We also explore the current state of journalism: media monopolization, partisan divides, the growing influence of PR over investigative reporting, and the risks of journalism drifting toward influencer culture. Mischa offers thoughtful insight into the urgent need for historical context, ethical grounding, and collaborative efforts to rebuild public trust in the press. Beyond the headlines, Mischa speaks candidly about what sustains her: a growth mindset, the joy of continual learning, meaningful collaboration, and staying grounded in difficult times. She shares the inspiration behind her book, Media Framing and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage, and leaves listeners with a powerful reminder: when facing uncertainty or disinformation, return to the basics, stay steady, and act from a place of clarity and stability. This episode is a compelling reflection on courage, media literacy, and the enduring belief that truth, even when challenged, ultimately finds its way forward. Project Censored: https://www.projectcensored.org/ Connect with Mischa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-geracoulis/

Resetting Into the New Year: Small Shifts, Big Meaning

Season Four of the Better Understanding Podcast opens with a candid, grounding conversation between Sarah and Marcy—one that meets leaders exactly where many find themselves right now: coming out of the holidays, stepping into a new year, and feeling both anticipation and overwhelm. Together, they explore the emotional complexity of transitions—why January can feel disorienting, how expectations (especially around the holidays) shape our energy, and what it really means to reset when life feels off-center. Through personal stories—from pauses forced by injury, to moments of stillness, to noticing what the body is asking for—they reflect on the power of small, daily resets and giving ourselves permission to manage differently. The conversation also turns toward intention-setting for 2026, not through rigid goals, but through guiding words. Sarah shares her word Action—a commitment to move out of rumination and into lived experience. Marcy’s word, Explore, reflects a desire to follow curiosity, creativity, and the things that spark joy, even (and especially) after decades in familiar routines. This episode is a reminder that leadership—and life—doesn’t require having everything mapped out. Sometimes growth comes from pausing, listening inward, and allowing space for what’s next to reveal itself. Season Four kicks off with honesty, humanity, and an invitation: to reset, reimagine, and reconnect with what matters most.