Join Julie Riga as she welcomes back Travis Hahler, Senior Director of Global Strategy and Transformation at Salesforce and founder of Neurological Nomad, for Part 2 of one of the most important leadership conversations on the podcast. Travis goes deeper into the science behind why people resist change, introduces the six neurological barriers that exist in every human brain, and shares the practical questions that help individuals and leaders move through resistance with clarity and grace. His book Rethink Resistance is available now, and this episode is the companion conversation every leader needs.

In This Episode:
✨ The six neurological barriers to change rooted in brain science
✨ Why all change, positive or negative, registers as loss in the brain
✨ How exclusion, ambiguity, and anxiety each trigger the threat response
✨ Why corporate employees and entrepreneurs experience resistance in fundamentally different ways
✨ How to identify whether your resistance is about routine, learning, exclusion, anxiety, or loss
✨ Why the shift from "I am trying" to "I am becoming" is neurologically significant
✨ Why resistance is not personal; it is protective

Key Takeaways:
📌 The most powerful question during any change: what am I afraid to lose right now?
📌 The three core losses driving resistance are loss of competence, control, and relationships
📌 Corporate employees face imposed change with little autonomy, which amplifies resistance
📌 Entrepreneurs often have a false sense of control; external forces can upend their path without warning
📌 Leaders who understand how hard change is neurologically will lead with empathy, and empathy produces better outcomes
📌 Identity language reshapes the brain's response to change; who you are becoming matters more than what you are stopping
📌 Community and accountability are not optional; they are the infrastructure of lasting transformation
📌 Leadership starts inside; you cannot guide others through change you have not faced in yourself
📌 Growth mindset is the defining competency of this era; fixed mindset is the fastest path to being left behind
📌 Resistance is protective, not a breakdown of character or capability; meet it with grace

Memorable Quotes:

"All change is really loss. Positive change, negative change, all lost." - Travis Hahler
"When leaders understand how hard it is for people to move, that empathy builds better change." - Travis Hahler
"Resistance is not personal. It is protective." - Travis Hahler
"Leadership is spiritual. It is an inside game." - Julie Riga
"Stay on course. You are going to get knocked down. Do the thing anyway." - Julie Riga

Perfect for leaders, entrepreneurs, and solopreneurs who are navigating transformation and the relentless pressure to keep moving when everything feels hard. If you have ever wanted to quit on a Friday and found yourself back in the fight on Monday, this episode is your permission to keep going.

Connect with Travis Hahler:

Website: travishahler.com
Book: Rethink Resistance, available now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and major booksellers
Founder of Neurological Nomad
Connect with Travis on LinkedIn

Connect with Julie:

Website: julieriga.com
Tools and Resources: stacklist.app/julieriga
Podcast: Stay On Course, available wherever you listen to podcasts
Social: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

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