245. Emotional Health Is the Strategy: A Conversation with Dr. Chris Lee

In this raw and powerful episode, Kristen sits down with Dr. Chris Lee—executive consultant, leadership expert, and nervous system educator—for a deeply human conversation that challenges how we think about emotional regulation, productivity, and performance.

Together, they unpack why mindset alone isn’t enough, why burnout is more than just a busy calendar, and how unresolved emotional patterns are silently influencing everything from our parenting to our leadership. Chris shares vulnerably from his own story of grief, trauma, and growth—and offers practical insights for learning how to regulate before you rewire.

Whether you're a high performer stuck in overdrive or a parent trying to model emotional intelligence at home, this episode will shift your perspective in the best possible way.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why nervous system health is the real key to sustainable success
2. The difference between strategic burnout and emotional burnout
3. The two most common dysregulated response types—and how to spot them
4. How to identify and work with your “parts” (IFS therapy breakdown)
5. Why overstimulation (infobesity) is killing creativity and clarity
6. Chris’s personal story of loss, self-leadership, and healing
7. How to model nervous system regulation for your kids
8. Why self-care is leadership, not luxury

Key Takeaways:

1. “If the flower doesn’t bloom, you don’t blame the flower—you change the environment.”
2. High performance without regulation is a fast track to burnout.
3. Information is no longer behind the paywall—implementation is.
4. Kids learn emotional regulation not by what we say, but by how we live.
5. “Regulate first. Rewire second.”

About the Guest:

Dr. Chris Lee is a behavioral neuroscientist, executive coach, and founder of Elemental Shift Consulting, a leadership and wellness company helping individuals and organizations build emotionally intelligent, purpose-driven systems. Every month, Dr. Chris reaches over 30 million people through his content—teaching executives, creators, and everyday humans how to better understand and befriend their nervous systems.

His work focuses on the intersection of behavioral neuroscience, emotional regulation, and modern leadership—guiding people to live more purposeful, productive lives by aligning biology with intention.

He’s also the host of Wired for Wonder, a podcast that explores the habits, rituals, and perspectives of high-performing individuals living with meaning, creativity, and heart.

Outside of consulting and content creation, Dr. Chris is a devoted homeschooling father to his extraordinary daughter and—like the rest of us—is still learning to take care of himself.

To learn more, follow him on social media