Growing resilient humans who grow resilient humans.
Her story
Where this work begins
Lorca Smetana was born into a mountaineering community, and started early thinking about mortality — and the choices we make if life were to be short.
At sixteen, she survived the Mt. Hood climbing tragedy that took the lives of nine students and teachers.
That awareness of mortality, and what it asks of how we live, remains a powerful thread through her work. She knows about coming back stronger and richer inside after living through crisis — and she has spent her life learning, and teaching, how it is done.
The approach
How resilience training works
When we voyage, the person who arrives is not the person who began. With each resilient step, we have rejected disconnection, shallowness, and separation. Whatever your current projects are, inside and out, they will blossom beautifully during your resilience journey — and sooner rather than later.
In a nutshell: I help people feel clear, then stronger, then safe, then creative.
- Clear
- Stronger
- Safe
- Creative
Meet Lorca
The user’s manual they forgot to give you — the Book of You
Whether you are seeking a more resilient company or looking for personal support, you are going to write with me, over time, the user’s manual they forgot to give you — one you can use for yourself, and to tell others the best way to work with you.
Most of us don’t want to be somebody else — we like being ourselves, but want to be the version with energy and focus and direction and humor. That’s what resilience training is all about.
Ways to work together
Three paths in
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Speaking
Keynotes and talks on resilience thinking and post-traumatic growth — helping audiences in high-stress lives short-circuit burnout and grow as survivors into leaders.
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Coaching & programs
Resilience coaching, executive coaching, corporate retreats and programming for educational institutions — for individuals and for groups.
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Celebrant
Weddings and life ceremonies with grounding, structure, inspiration and serenity — and, when you wish, her white doves flying.
Now enrolling
Radiant Leaders Fellowship
Fall 2026
For people who are already radiant — and ready to live even more fully into what they already are.
You are already doing and envisioning extraordinary things, and you know there is more. Not because anything is wrong, but because you are the kind of person who can feel the shape of what is possible, and you are not yet living all the way into it.
What I do is find what’s already in you and switch it on. That is the whole thing.
A year with twelve chosen people. Two retreats, monthly cohort sessions, regular 1:1 work. Space is held for twelve, and Lorca is in conversation with candidates for the coming cohort.
Call 406-581-1522 or write to lorca@lorcasmetana.com to express interest.
Lorca traces the contours of our lives and helps us recognize the beauty of the deep canyons, the power of how to run fleet-footed with the fears for a moment, and then the way to take the strength from running and offer it to our communities as a gift.
Kate Rutherford · Patagonia climbing ambassador · co-founder, Farm to Crag
Trusted by leaders & organizations
Her TEDx talk
A Hunger for Joy
Out of tragedy, grief, and trauma, Lorca has managed to find and spread joy throughout her life. Watch her TEDxBozeman talk.
Resilience Loves
A letter worth opening
Reflections, resources, and resilience in practice — Lorca’s letter, now on Substack. Join, and it lands gently in your inbox.