What if the secret to a thriving culture wasn’t about playing it safe, but about helping people be brave? In this episode of the Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast, host Nicole Greer sits down with Marine Corps veteran, keynote speaker, and bravery scientist Jill Schulman to explore her new book, The Bravery Effect. Jill reveals how fear shows up at work — from staying silent in meetings to avoiding tough conversations — and how leaders can help their teams cross the bridge from where they are to where they want to be.
Together, Nicole and Jill break down the three keys to building your “bravery muscle”: developing a courageous mindset, taking bold action, and curating a brave tribe that calls you to higher ground. Expect practical strategies, science-backed tools, and a healthy dose of inspiration. Whether you’re leading a team, growing your career, or simply trying to face your next big challenge with confidence, this episode is your invitation to run toward fear and transform it into growth.
Vibrant Highlights:
02:44 – Blowing Things Up (Literally): Jill’s combat engineering background and transition to business leadership
08:39 – Everyday Acts of Bravery: Speaking up, asking for promotions, having hard conversations
12:18 – The Habit of Being Brave: From Bandura’s self-efficacy research to Roy Baumeister’s “attack the day” strategy
23:10 – Building Your Bravery Muscle: How repeated action rewires your brain and strengthens courage
33:32 – Growth Mindset + Stress Mindset: How believing it’s possible fuels action and resilience
38:27 – Embrace the Suck: Turning stress into character-building fuel
Connect with Jill:
Jill's book, The Bravery Effect: https://a.co/d/6f8NymU
Website: https://www.jillschulman.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillaschulman/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillschulman/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jillschulman?si=OLp_zRLNANAiidSy
Also mentioned in this episode:
The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson: https://a.co/d/b4REjLc
Positive Psychology in a Nutshell by Ilona Boniwell: https://a.co/d/dBcNyHR
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck: https://a.co/d/8FyyErZ
The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal: https://a.co/d/3aTqDqy
Rethinking Positive Thinking by Gabriele Oettingen: https://a.co/d/5bXJXNS
Listen at vibrantculture.com/podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts!
Learn more about Nicole Greer, The Vibrant Coach, at vibrantculture.com.