199 Molly Woodhull: From Near‑Death to 100% Gratitude: Molly’s Healing Blueprint
This episode gives leaders a practical path to flow and mental fitness. Molly shows how micro-practices (“one breath to one minute”) and mindful hydration create on-demand resets, while RAIN transforms fear into clarity and self-compassion. Group practice builds “collective effervescence,” raising safety, cohesion, and performance. Presence isn’t soft—it reverses the 47% mind-wandering tax and upgrades leadership impact and culture retention. From recovering after Lyme to teaching grounded push-and-recover cycles, Molly models long-term mastery: expand your adversity threshold, go 10% beyond comfort, rest strategically, and keep showing up.
This episode gives leaders a practical path to flow and mental fitness. Molly shows how micro-practices (“one breath to one minute”) and mindful hydration create on-demand resets, while RAIN transforms fear into clarity and self-compassion. Group practice builds “collective effervescence,” raising safety, cohesion, and performance. Presence isn’t soft—it reverses the 47% mind-wandering tax and upgrades leadership impact and culture retention. From recovering after Lyme to teaching grounded push-and-recover cycles, Molly models long-term mastery: expand your adversity threshold, go 10% beyond comfort, rest strategically, and keep showing up.
Time Stamps:
[00:00:00] Body–Heart–Mind FoundationMolly shares how a childhood steeped in both Eastern and Western modalities shaped her “middle path” approach to wellbeing and leadership.
[00:04:30] Near-Death, New DirectionA terrifying car accident led her to energy work (Reiki) and a lifelong practice of gratitude—“miracles in the mundane.”
[00:08:30] Raise Your Adversity ThresholdMindfulness isn’t just “calming down”; it expands your capacity to face hard things—one breath, step away, return stronger.
[00:12:00] Push 10%, Not 200%Instead of chasing burnout, Molly recommends ~10% outside your comfort zone, anchored in self-compassion—slow down to speed up.
[00:16:00] Grounded Beats Burnt OutAdrenaline can carry you only so far; clearheaded leaders rest to sustain performance and presence.
[00:20:00] Lyme to Self-HealingFrom paralysis to empowerment: antibiotics, meditation, food as medicine, acupuncture, and herbs became a holistic recovery path.
[00:25:00] Collective Effervescence at WorkGroup meditation creates safety, shared rhythm, and “collective effervescence”—a measurable culture advantage beyond beer-on-Fridays perks.
[00:29:30] Micro-Practices That StickMeet skeptics where they are: “one breath to one minute” tools before/after tough moments build daily momentum.
[00:33:00] Mindful Hydration DemoShift from “monkey mind” to presence with a sip—aroma, temperature, swallow—an instant nervous-system reset anywhere.
[00:37:00] ROI: Presence & RetentionMind wandering eats ~47% of waking life; presence improves leadership, and wellness improves culture, pride, and retention.
[00:41:00] RAIN: Process Your FearRecognize-Allow-Investigate-Nurture turns sticky anxiety into clarity and self-compassion—without collapsing under it.
[00:45:00] Awe On-DemandCan’t get to nature? Use images, sounds, and breath rhythm to tap everyday awe and steady knowing.
[00:49:00] Community & PersistenceYPO community fuels growth; across founders, the winning trait isn’t genius—it’s persistence and resilience.
ACTION GUIDE: Resilience Isn’t the Absence of Pain—It’s the Practice of Presence
Key Principle:Molly Woodhull’s journey—from a near-fatal car crash to debilitating Lyme disease—reveals this truth: Healing isn’t about erasing adversity; it’s about using breath, compassion, and community to meet life’s chaos with grace and strength. Real resilience is built through micro-practices that reconnect you to yourself.
Practical Exercise (≤15 minutes):“RAIN + Reset” — A CEO’s Inner Debrief
Take 10 minutes with your journal and answer:
* What emotion or tension is my body holding today?
* What story might I be telling myself that no longer serves?
* What kindness can I offer myself right now?
Use the RAIN method:Recognize → Allow → Investigate → Nurture.
Add a physiological sigh (2 min): deep inhale, quick second sip, slow exhale.
This practice builds emotional hygiene—and makes space for clear leadership under pressure.
Daily Habit:Before your first meeting, take one mindful sip of water and one deep sigh. Anchor yourself. Then lead.
Reflection Question:What am I running past that might hold the exact wisdom I need?
Motivational Quote:
“We have to slow down to speed up.” — Molly Woodhull
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[00:00:00] Body–Heart–Mind FoundationMolly shares how a childhood steeped in both Eastern and Western modalities shaped her “middle path” approach to wellbeing and leadership.
[00:04:30] Near-Death, New DirectionA terrifying car accident led her to energy work (Reiki) and a lifelong practice of gratitude—“miracles in the mundane.”
[00:08:30] Raise Your Adversity ThresholdMindfulness isn’t just “calming down”; it expands your capacity to face hard things—one breath, step away, return stronger.
[00:12:00] Push 10%, Not 200%Instead of chasing burnout, Molly recommends ~10% outside your comfort zone, anchored in self-compassion—slow down to speed up.
[00:16:00] Grounded Beats Burnt OutAdrenaline can carry you only so far; clearheaded leaders rest to sustain performance and presence.
[00:20:00] Lyme to Self-HealingFrom paralysis to empowerment: antibiotics, meditation, food as medicine, acupuncture, and herbs became a holistic recovery path.
[00:25:00] Collective Effervescence at WorkGroup meditation creates safety, shared rhythm, and “collective effervescence”—a measurable culture advantage beyond beer-on-Fridays perks.
[00:29:30] Micro-Practices That StickMeet skeptics where they are: “one breath to one minute” tools before/after tough moments build daily momentum.
[00:33:00] Mindful Hydration DemoShift from “monkey mind” to presence with a sip—aroma, temperature, swallow—an instant nervous-system reset anywhere.
[00:37:00] ROI: Presence & RetentionMind wandering eats ~47% of waking life; presence improves leadership, and wellness improves culture, pride, and retention.
[00:41:00] RAIN: Process Your FearRecognize-Allow-Investigate-Nurture turns sticky anxiety into clarity and self-compassion—without collapsing under it.
[00:45:00] Awe On-DemandCan’t get to nature? Use images, sounds, and breath rhythm to tap everyday awe and steady knowing.
[00:49:00] Community & PersistenceYPO community fuels growth; across founders, the winning trait isn’t genius—it’s persistence and resilience.
Molly Woodhull
Founder and CEO
Molly Woodhull, is the Founder of Woodhull Wellness, a corporate wellness company. Woodhull Wellness offers tangible mindfulness and meditation tools to elevate people, communities, and organizations globally. Woodhull Wellness is all about realistic self care and data-driven teaching techniques. The goal is to support people in meaningful and realistic ways through mindfulness, meditation and movement. With these tools, people learn to navigate the modern business scape efficiently and respond more thoughtfully to stress and adversity in all areas of their life.
Molly received a Bachelor's of Science Degree from the University of Denver and still teaches meditation for alumni. Molly accepted a teacher certification from Duke University's The Center from Koru Mindfulness and proceeded to help build the mindfulness institute. Molly has completed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training, Compassion and Cultivation training from Stanford University, and graduated from the YNG + iLAB: Innovation and Disruption lab from Harvard University. Molly worked in wilderness therapy and in spinal cord injury recovery before starting Woodhull Wellness in 2017. Since 2017 Molly has supported the community by working with Denver Public School, University of Denver, Shyft Mile High, Boulder Community Health, City and County of Lakewood, PopSockets and many more.
