#22 How to Build Resilience With Dr. Andrew Shatté: Science, Stories, and Practical Tools

Curveball with Scott Reich

Life is full of the unexpected—and building resilience is key to navigating it all. On this episode of Curveball, host Scott Reich sits down with Dr. Andrew Shatté, renowned psychologist, resilience expert, and co-author of "The Resilience Factor." Dr. Shatté shares his fascinating journey from philosophy major in Australia to one of the leading voices in resilience training for everyone from Fortune 500 executives to students and military personnel. Together, they break down what really makes some people thrive under pressure, revealing the science behind mental strength, how our thinking styles shape our ability to bounce back, and—most importantly—practical strategies for anyone looking to foster unshakeable resilience. Whether you've faced a recent setback or simply want to build your mental muscles for whatever curveballs life throws your way, this conversation offers powerful, actionable insights, and hope for listeners at any stage of the journey.

Listeners Will Learn:

• Dr. Shatté describes two kinds of people he encountered when working at the Department of Social Security—those who bounced back after setbacks and those who languished.
• The episode discusses the idea of “thinking styles,” particularly the “always everything” style versus focusing on temporary and controllable problems.
• Dr. Shatté traces many resilience patterns back to childhood and parental modeling.
• Neuroplasticity was a big theme in the conversation.
• The podcast highlights seven “ingredients” of resilience—emotion regulation, impulse control, problem-solving, self-efficacy, optimism, empathy, and reaching out.
• One actionable takeaway was the idea of recognizing your emotional “radar”—your most common reaction to adversity (anger, anxiety, frustration, etc.).
• Dr. Shatté talks about “iceberg beliefs”—deep-seated, often unconscious standards that drive how we view achievement, relationships, and control.
• The episode differentiates between post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth, suggesting these can happen simultaneously.
• When supporting others (especially children), Dr. Shatté emphasizes modeling resilience over simply teaching it.
• Throughout the episode, the host and guest discuss the difficulty of balancing multiple internal standards (achievement, helping others, control).

Key Moments:

(00:00) Roundabout Journey to Career Stability

(03:16) Serendipitous Path to Psychology

(08:11) Navigating Adversity: Retrospective and Prospective Choices

(11:12) Rewiring the Mind's Reactions

(15:58) Resilience Training Beyond Innate Ability

(18:39) Embrace Choice: Cultivate Growth Mindset

(22:25) Understanding Anxiety and Emotional Responses

(25:55) Balancing Action and Grieving

(26:48) Managing Emotions for Health Balance

(30:33) Shame as Motivation for Excellence

(35:38) Conflicting Personal Growth Insights

(37:03) Embrace Imperfection and Pay It Forward

(42:38) Bouncing Forward: Embracing Change

(46:24) Teaching Kids Resilience Skills

(47:43) Teaching Positive Self-Efficacy