The New York Knicks weren’t supposed to win. Jalen Brunson was “too small.” San Antonio had the most gifted young star. The Knicks fell behind by double digits again and again. And still… they won the NBA Championship for the first time in 53 years. How?

Emotional intelligence. I break down how trust, confidence, faith, and the willingness to sacrifice personal glory created a team culture strong enough to defy every prediction. If you want to understand the feelings behind one of the most thrilling playoff runs in NBA history, this episode is for you. And if you want to learn how powerful the Emotion Roadmap can be in generating feelings that lead to teamwork and winning, listen to the whole episode. We end with team members from a trucking and warehousing company talk about the power of emotions in their lives.

Helen Riess is a world class expert on empathy, especially in the field of medicine and healthcare. Cary Cherniss is an outstanding researcher on emotionally intelligent leadership. Richard Boyatzis is known for his leadership, research, and world class expertise in emotional intelligence. This discussion panel was put together by Chuck Wolfe for a Harvard Business Alumni meeting. The callers sought and received help from Chuck using his Emotion Roadmap.

This episode takes place right after Memorial Day 2026 and includes a tribute to all those who serve to protect us and keep us free who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Interestingly, the episode goes on to explore dining out, those who serve us when we are out for a meal, a celebration, a meeting, or any other reason we might choose to dine out. How are we hoping to feel, and if by chance, things don't go correctly, how do the servers, chefs, managers, and customers behave in emotionally intelligent ways, so the experience still feels worthwhile, possibly even enchanting.