In today's episode, Heather Hansen explores one of the most powerful tools we have for connection, credibility, and healing: compassion. Drawing from research, courtroom experience, and two decades defending healthcare providers, Heather Hansen breaks down the real meaning of compassion and the specific actions that genuinely make people feel seen, heard, and supported.

She also shares new insights from recent medical research on how compassion improves patient outcomes, reduces burnout for healthcare providers, and strengthens every relationship in your life. Whether you are a leader, parent, partner, clinician, or friend, these eight proven behaviors can transform the way you communicate and connect.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The Real Definition of Compassion – Why it is not about suffering with others, but about recognizing their struggle and taking action to relieve it.
  
  

• Eight Proven Compassion Behaviors – The research-backed actions that make people feel understood, respected, and supported.
  
  

• Why Tone Matters – How the way you speak communicates your energy and becomes a key sign of compassion.
  
  

• The Power of Nonjudgment – How dropping judgment makes people more open, honest, and trusting.
  
  

• Gender and Race Differences in Compassion Needs – What research shows women and people of color uniquely identify as compassionate behavior.
  
  

• Everyday Compassion – How to apply these actions at home, at work, and in your community to create meaningful change.
  
  

In this episode:
[00:00] Heather Hansen on being an Elegant Warrior and embracing life's challenges
[02:00] Why compassion is one of the three pillars of credibility, compassion, and charisma
[04:47] How compassion affects patient outcomes and healthcare burnout
[07:10] The eight behaviors that signal compassion in medical research
[09:34] Listening carefully and taking concerns seriously
[11:59] Eye contact, presence, tone, and nonjudgment
[14:09] Why the least judgmental people are the most trusted
[16:36] Responding to opportunities to show compassion
[18:30] What women uniquely perceive as compassionate
[19:03] What people of color identify as signs of respect and compassion
[21:26] How to create a ripple effect of compassion in your daily life

Resources and Links:
📘 Book: Compassionomics by Dr. Stephen Trzeciak and Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli
📘 Book: Wonder Drug by Dr. Stephen Trzeciak and Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli

Connect with Heather:

• Schedule a call with Heather

• Follow Heather on Instagram

• Follow Heather on Facebook

• Website

• Watch Episodes on Youtube

• Heather's TikTok ‍

• heather@elegantwarrior.com

In today's episode, Heather Hansen sits down with her good friend and returning guest, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, Michigan judge, author, and trailblazer best known for presiding over the Larry Nassar USA Gymnastics case. Together, they dive into Judge Aquilina's newest book, Speak Up: Lessons in Trusting Your Instincts, and unpack what it truly means to embrace your voice, conquer fear, and stand in your self-worth.

Drawing from her decades on the bench, her time in the military, and her role as a mentor for women, Rosemarie shares how we can turn fear into fuel, failure into wisdom, and change into growth.

• The Power of Fear – Why fear isn't something to eliminate but something to learn from.
  
  

• Owning Failure – How accepting your mistakes can transform them into moments of strength.
  
  

• The "Blue Ink" Lesson – How one lawyer turned public embarrassment into a courtroom victory.
  
  

• The Language of Leadership – Why small word choices (like using the instead of a) can change how people perceive your authority.
  
  

• Embracing Change – How preparation, adaptability, and voice help you thrive through uncertainty.
  
  

• Building Self-Worth – Why being your own hero is the foundation of authentic confidence.

[00:00] Meet Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, her story from Munich to Michigan's first female JAG Corps member

[02:00] Fear, failure, and the courage to show up anyway

[06:30] The "blue ink" courtroom story and lessons in embarrassment

[09:30] How metaphors and language shape persuasion

[11:00] Embracing change, preparation, and control

[15:40] Why Judge Aquilina never asks "why"

[18:00] The difference between a solution and the solution

[22:00] How to be an insider in your own life

[26:00] Writing as a tool for self-discovery and healing

📘 Speak Up: Lessons in Trusting Your Instincts – Buy the book here

🌐 Follow Judge Rosemarie Aquilina – Website

Connect with Heather:

• Schedule a call with Heather

• Follow Heather on Instagram

• Follow Heather on Facebook

• Website

• Watch Episodes on Youtube

• Heather's TikTok ‍

• heather@elegantwarrior.com

The Elegant Warrior Podcast and content posted by Heather Hansen is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In today's episode, Heather sits down with John Lowry, lawyer, negotiation coach, and author of Negotiation Made Simple, to uncover what it really takes to become a confident, effective negotiator.

John's experience as a professor at Pepperdine University's renowned Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, CEO of The Lowry Group, and consultant to major organizations gives him a unique lens into the psychology and strategy behind every great deal.

Together, Heather and John explore how mastering negotiation isn't just about tactics; it's about managing yourself, understanding others, and learning to balance ambition with empathy.

• The Inner Negotiation – Why the first and most important negotiation happens inside your own mind and how managing your emotions, fears, and self-talk determines your success.
  
  

• Cooperation vs. Competition – How to know when to lean into collaboration and when to assert your position with strength and clarity.
  
  

• The Power of Patience – Why "you often pay for the time you save" and how slowing down the process helps you make better, more strategic decisions.
  
  

• Axelrod's Four Steps to Effective Negotiation – Start cooperatively, respond in kind, forgive, and be clear. John and Heather unpack how these steps build trust and drive results.
  
  

• The Ambition + Empathy Equation – What Harvard research reveals about top dealmakers and how combining drive with understanding gives you a competitive edge.
  
  

• Real-World Lessons – Insights from John's work with executives, mediators, and organizations on how to use negotiation to build healthier relationships and stronger outcomes.

[00:00] Meet John Lowry – Lawyer, author, and negotiation expert
[02:46] The first negotiation: managing yourself
[06:17] When to cooperate and when to compete
[10:47] Getting comfortable with uncertainty
[14:49] Why patience pays in negotiation
[18:00] Recognizing signals vs. words
[22:14] Forgiveness and cooperation in business
[26:29] Collaboration vs. cooperation explained
[31:12] Building trust through clarity
[35:20] Ambition and empathy, the twin pillars of great dealmakers

📘 Book: Negotiation Made Simple by John Lowry
🎙️ Podcast: Negotiation Made Simple Podcast
🌐 The Lowry Group: lowrygroup.net

Connect with Heather:

• Schedule a call with Heather

• Follow Heather on Instagram

• Website

• Watch Episodes on Youtube

• Heather's TikTok ‍

• heather@elegantwarrior.com

The Elegant Warrior Podcast and content posted by Heather Hansen is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.