Sandra Combe is a retired corporate executive turned author, speaker, and healing arts entrepreneur. As a woman climbing the corporate ladder, she knew she had to stay sharp, and at 48, in the midst of a career at ExxonMobil that would span decades, she went back to school and earned her MBA. Her fast-paced lifestyle quickly came to a standstill when she had two near-death experiences: a heart attack at 49 and a triple bypass at 50. Those two occurrences shifted her mindset. She realized that what she needed more than work was to look within herself. In the years that followed, Sandra co-founded a wellness business with her daughter and began immersing herself in energy medicine and spiritual study. She also penned a memoir, Stop the Bypass, which details her extraordinary story and journey to becoming a healing arts entrepreneur.
In this episode, host Robert Radnoti sits down with his longtime friend and ExxonMobil co-worker to discuss her book and the key moments that led to her new career. Their conversation covers her strict upbringing, young marriage to professional baseball player Jeff Combe, corporate experience in a male-dominated industry, and the health crisis that forced her to slow down. She also talks about the inspiration behind her book, sharing intimate details about the traumatic swimming pool incident that led to a three-day coma and the vivid experiences she had during that time. She even opens up about her experience as a new author dealing with honest family opinions. To close, she explains her daily ritual in what she calls her \"Be Still\" chair and what she learned from years of studying with spiritual teacher Derek O'Neill.
Tune in to episode 68 of RADitude to hear how Sandra Combe turned a health scare and a life-altering near-death experience into a mission to help others stop bypassing their own truth. You’ll also get the practical, grounding advice she offers anyone feeling burnt out on autopilot.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
(03:05) How family and marriage shaped Sandra Combe’s early mindset
(06:22) Joining ExxonMobil later in life and thriving in a male-dominated industry
(07:47) Going back to school for her MBA at 48 — and the heart attack and triple bypass that followed
(08:39) Opening a mother-daughter healing arts business and discovering energy medicine
(11:33) A spiritual awakening in Ireland and years of study with teacher Derek O'Neill
(14:03) The backyard swimming pool incident that became a spiritual turning point
(15:24) Inside the seven-minute rescue, CPR from her family, and three days in a coma
(19:16) How ten journals of self-therapy became the book Stop the Bypass
(21:25) Where to find Stop the Bypass, and the upcoming audiobook narrated by her daughter
(24:59) The \"Be Still\" chair and the discipline of choosing stillness
(29:14) Sandra's closing advice: stand in your truth
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