Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb
Mentally Tough Women aren’t born—they’re built. Together, let's Rise Stronger, Shine Bright, and Lead with Heart— in the moments that matter most!
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Welcome to Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, where mental toughness meets heart. Each week we’ll explore powerful tools, fresh perspectives, and quick resets to help you rise stronger, shine brighter, and lead with heart—especially in the moments that matter most.
These episodes are adapted from my live Facebook series, Let’s Talk About…, where I share real tools for bouncing back stronger. You can also find the video versions on my Stress Intelligence YouTube channel (YouTube.com/@StressIntelligence).
As a West Point graduate, combat commander, and founder of Mentally Tough Women, I’ve spent decades leading through the toughest situations life can throw at us. But what makes this podcast different isn’t just my experience—it’s the depth, care, and realness that others have felt from me for years. Soldiers I once led still tell me they remember my tears of relief after welcoming them back from a mission where their safety was at risk, and the way I never asked them to do what I wouldn’t do myself.
That’s why people tune in. Because here, you won’t just get strategies—you’ll get them from someone who’s lived them, led with heart under fire, and knows how to help you turn stress into your strongest ally.
Episodes
30 episodes
The Aloha Adventures With Colonel Deb – How Pono and Kuleana Help You Live With Aloha
Aloha Friends!In Episode 1 of The Aloha Adventures with Colonel Deb, I begin exploring the deeper meaning behind my book:Why Is Pono Not Pono Today?From my home in Hilo, Hawai‘i, I introduce three powerful Hawaiian concepts...
Season 2 Trailer – The Aloha Adventures with Colonel Deb | Stress Smarts Podcast
Come along on a journey from my home in Hilo, Hawai‘i as we explore the story behind my book, Why Is Pono Not Pono Today?What looks like a simple children’s book reveals powerful lessons about stress, leadership, and living with...
Episode 28 – Let’s Talk About ENERGY How to Shift Your V.I.B.E. and Lead With Power
What’s the most powerful thing you bring into every room?It’s not your resume. It’s not your title. It’s your energy.Your energy shows up before you speak. It lingers after you leave. And it either lifts people u...
Let’s Talk About ACCUSATIONS - How to Stay Calm and Lead When You're Under Fire
What if the worst thing someone said about you… wasn’t true? And even worse — people believed it?Accusations can hit like a punch to the gut. Whether they’re true, false, or weaponized projections, they have the power to undermi...
Let’s Talk About SHORTCUTS – Why the Fastest Way Isn’t Always the Smartest
Shortcuts may save you time. But when it comes to life, leadership, and legacy—the fastest way isn’t always the smartest. Especially when people are involved.In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, we unpack the myth ...
Let’s Talk About STANDARDS — Why the Minimum Is Never Enough
Some people think standards are about rules. I think they’re about life and death.In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, I share why minimum standards aren’t enough—drawing from real-world experiences...
Let’s Talk About SYNCHRONICITY — Waking Up to Life’s Perfect Timing
Have you ever been in the right place at exactly the right time—without planning it? Or followed a nudge that made no sense… only to realize later it changed everything?That’s not luck. It’s synchronicity—and it may be li...
Let’s Talk About FAIRNESS — When Life Doesn’t Feel Fair
You followed the rules. You worked hard. You stayed kind, showed up early, and gave your best.And still… something felt unfair.In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, Doug and I talk honestly ...
Let’s Talk About CATALYSTS — How to Spark Change Without Burning Out
What if you could spark meaningful change—without a title, a stage, or permission?In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, we talk about what it truly means to be a Catalyst. Not the loudest voice in the room. N...
Let’s Talk About EXPECTATIONS — When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned
Have you ever felt crushed when something didn’t turn out the way you expected?In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, we talk about how unmet expectations — in love, work, money, health, or relationships — can quietl...
Let’s Talk About LEVERAGE — Small Shifts That Create Big Results
Ever feel like you’re working harder and harder… but not getting the results you hoped for?In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, we talk about leverage — not financial leverage, but the kind that helps you mo...
Let’s Talk About CHOICES — How Split-Second Decisions Shape Our Lives
Have you ever made a split-second decision that changed everything?In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, we take an honest look at the choices we make under stress — the fast, automatic decisions influenced by fatig...
Let’s Talk About CHANGE – How to Flip Disruptions into Breakthroughs
Change is unavoidable. But what if every change—even the hardest, most disruptive one—carried a hidden opportunity to grow stronger?In this powerful episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, we take a fresh, honest look at C...
Let’s Talk About POTENTIAL – Believe in Yourself and the Greatness in Others
What if the person standing in front of you—whether a child, a teammate, or even yourself—had far more potential than you could imagine? And what if you had the power to help unlock it?In this deeply personal episode of...
Let’s Talk About SELF-CARE – Reclaim Your Energy Without Losing Yourself
Always giving… but never recharging? Feeling stretched thin, depleted, or last on your own list?You’re not alone. In this powerful episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, we explore why Self-Care isn’t selfish—it’s e...
Let’s Talk About BACKBITERS – How to Stay C.A.L.M. When People Talk Behind Your Back
Have you ever been caught off guard by someone talking behind your back? It’s one of those moments that can steal your energy—if you let it.In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, we talk about backbiters: the ...
Let’s Talk About LIMITS – How to Break Through, Not Break Down
Ever feel like you’ve been holding it all together—and then one more thing happens, and it all falls apart?In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, we’re talking about what to do when you’ve hit your limit. From caregi...
Let’s Talk About KINDNESS – The Ripple Effect of One Small Act
What if the smallest act—a quiet gesture, an extra dessert, a kind word—could stay with someone for a lifetime?In this moving episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, I share a personal story from my cadet days at West Point, ...
Let’s Talk About JOY – Finding Light When Life Feels Heavy
When was the last time you stopped long enough to feel pure joy?In this heartfelt episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, I open up about a surprising moment when I couldn’t name five things that brought me joy—and how that r...
Let’s Talk About LEADERSHIP – It’s Not About Power, It’s About Possibility
What if leadership wasn’t a title—but a test of who you are when everything’s stacked against you?In this deeply personal episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, I share my own journey of leadership—from the early days at Wes...
Let’s Talk About QUESTIONS – Your Ultimate Power Tool for Change
What if the fastest way to create real change—in your life, your relationships, and your work—wasn’t telling, pushing, or fighting… but asking the right question?In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, I shar...
Let’s Talk About RELATIONSHIPS – Building Personal Connections That Last
Relationships come in all forms—family, friends, teammates, coworkers, and partners—and every one of them is an experiment. Each interaction teaches us how to connect better, communicate clearly, and care more deeply.In this ins...
Let’s Talk About STRATEGY – How to Create Plays That Work for You (Not Against You)
What if your current strategy in life is perfectly designed to get you exactly what you don’t want?In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, we’ll explore how to think more strategically about your life—so your...
Let’s Talk About CONFIDENCE – Stop Overthinking and Start Building It!
Confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build. Yet too many talented, capable people hold back, waiting to be “perfect” before they begin.In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb, I’ll share how c...
Let’s Talk About VALUES – Building Trust on a Strong Foundation
Why is it that with some people we connect instantly and deeply, and with others we sense something’s off, especially under stress? The answer often comes down to values.In this episode of Stress Smarts with Colonel Deb