Don't Do That
Podcast Description
Introducing the Don’t Do That podcast hosted by Kelly Waltrich: Sick of self-proclaimed experts on podcasts telling you what to do? Us too. Don’t Do That, hosted by Kelly Waltrich, is the antidote to canned cliches and generic business advice perpetuated on the popular platform. Every episode features a financial services leader, entrepreneur, or innovator sharing the mistakes he or she made on the road to success (whatever that might be for you), so you can take a shortcut to your goals.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers critical themes surrounding business missteps and personal growth, including client interaction pitfalls, the integration of AI in professional environments, and innovative marketing strategies. For example, episodes like 'How AI is Revolutionizing the Advisor-Client Journey' and 'Don’t Assume You Know What Your Clients Want' delve into the real-life mistakes made by industry leaders, offering listeners concrete lessons on avoiding failure.

Introducing the Don’t Do That podcast hosted by Kelly Waltrich: Sick of self-proclaimed experts on podcasts telling you what to do? Us too. Don’t Do That, hosted by Kelly Waltrich, is the antidote to canned cliches and generic business advice perpetuated on the popular platform. Every episode features a financial services leader, entrepreneur, or innovator sharing the mistakes he or she made on the road to success (whatever that might be for you), so you can take a shortcut to your goals.
Are you chasing achievement but still feeling disconnected?
On this episode of Don’t Do That, Kelly Waltrich welcomes Chris Schembra, founder of 7:47, a company rooted in one simple but transformative concept: human connection through gratitude. Chris shares how a bowl of pasta and one powerful question sparked a global movement bringing people together in meaningful ways.
This conversation explores how marketers, leaders, and founders can ditch performative storytelling and instead build real community, uncover deeper “whys,” and lead with vulnerability. From emotional intelligence to overcoming burnout, this is a masterclass in building purpose-driven connections.
Kelly and Chris cover:
00:00 – What is 7:47 and how pasta sparked a movement
01:15 – From Broadway dreams to disillusionment and disconnection
03:30 – Loneliness, gratitude, and the birth of the first 7:47 dinner
06:45 – The life-changing question: “Who have you not thanked?”
10:00 – Kelly opens up about the unspoken support of her husband, Steve
18:00 – How brands uncover their “why” through story, not pitch
22:00 – Why community > content in the age of AI
24:00 – The three-act framework for building connection
31:00 – How to AI-proof your career: EQ, conflict resolution, and relationships
38:00 – “Man in the Hole”: Why your toughest moments create your best stories
45:00 – The real difference between being known and being worth knowing
Connect with Chris Schembra
About Our Guest:
Chris Schembra is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, keynote speaker, and one of the leading voices on the power of gratitude and human connection in the workplace.
In a world where over half the workforce feels lonely and nearly 8 out of 10 people are disengaged at work, Chris offers a radical but refreshingly simple idea: the key to thriving isn’t pushing people harder, it’s helping them feel seen, appreciated, and connected.
He’s the creator of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™, a framework used by hundreds of companies like Google, Microsoft, IBM, Dell, Citi, and even the U.S. Navy to build trust, deepen relationships, and create cultures of belonging. Over the past decade, Chris has facilitated more than 750 transformative experiences, helping thousands of professionals slow down, reconnect, and rediscover what truly matters.
Known as “The Gratitude Guru” by USA Today, Chris is also the author of Gratitude and Pasta and Gratitude Through Hard Ti
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