The Compassionate Leader's Companion Pod Series #2: Faith, Connect to Inspiration

What if faith isn't a four-letter word — but a five-letter superpower?

In this episode, Laurel Donnellan and Darryl Brown sit down with interviewer Sarah Feely to explore Principle #2 of the Donnellan Method: Faith — and its corresponding practice: Connect to Inspiration. Whether you approach faith through a spiritual lens, a religious tradition, or simply a deep belief in something good and positive beyond yourself, this conversation meets you exactly where you are.

Laurel reflects on the lives of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan — two women who, through extraordinary hardship and an unshakeable sense of calling, transformed the landscape of education and human possibility. Darryl shares his ongoing relationship with Father Joe Tetlow, a 95-year-old Jesuit priest and rock star in his community, whose embodiment of faith, discernment, and love has shaped Darryl's own understanding of discipline, freedom, and what it means to be "right-sized."

Together, the three explore the role of solitude, discipline, and practice in building resilience — and why preventative healing matters long before a crisis arrives. You'll hear a beautiful conversation about the paradox of freedom and discipline, what it means to hold hope as both a noun and a verb, and why compassion is always an act, not just a feeling. This episode is part of a series that guides leaders through history, healing, and hope as they navigate change and growth. Come for the wisdom; stay for the warmth.

You'll walk away with: A framework for identifying your personal "positive point of view" — and the practice that strengthens it A fresh understanding of why faith comes second in the 12-principle Donnellan Method Practical insight into building your margin — the resilient space between your load and your limit Inspiration from two leaders who have combined decades of recovery, executive leadership, and spiritual curiosity into a life of purposeful impact