Available with Kristin Johnson

Kristin and Tim open this episode with a little knock‑knock humor that quickly turns into a conversation about something most of us deal with every day without even noticing it. They dive into the idea of interruption culture, the constant stream of buzzing, ringing, pinging, and tapping that pulls our attention in a hundred directions before we even realize it. The two of them talk honestly about how easy it is to get swept up in distractions and how hard it can be to stay fully present in a world that never stops trying to get our attention.

Kristin, Denise, and Tim close out the month with a Kenny Rogers classic that becomes the perfect metaphor for March: you’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, and know when to run. What starts as a nostalgic exchange about childhood music rooms, shag carpet, and dads who loved Kenny Rogers quickly shifts into a deeper conversation about projects, perseverance, and the moment you realize something has to change.

The trio revisits the story of the Chicago Spire; once imagined as the tallest building in the Wester...

Kristin, Tim, and Denise returned to the story of the Chicago Spire, the grand dream that became nothing more than a massive hole in the ground. It becomes the perfect backdrop for a deeper look at the danger zone of any project, the moment when you are 90 percent finished and suddenly everything feels harder instead of easier. Kristin explains how that last stretch can be the most treacherous, the place where fatigue sets in, decisions pile up, and the finish line feels both close and impossibly far. The group laughs about grades and odds, but underneath the humor is...

The hosts delve further into the ambitious yet troubled story of the Chicago Spire, a skyscraper that aimed to redefine Chicago’s skyline at a staggering 2,000 feet. Amid playful banter and musical references, the discussion shifts between nostalgia for the band Chicago’s music and the bubbling excitement surrounding this architectural dream. However, the hosts are quick to point out that this grand vision ultimately faced a harsh reality: the project fell victim to the 2008 financial crisis, leaving behind little more than a deep hole in the ground.

The conversation intertwines the concept of dreams with the ofte...

The March conversation opens with pizza, Chicago, and a surprising detour into one of the city’s most ambitious architectural dreams. Kristin, Tim, and Denise use the story of the Chicago Spire to explore what it feels like to begin something with excitement and momentum, only to hit the slow, heavy middle where enthusiasm fades. The Spire was announced in 2005 with enormous hype, billed as the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere. By 2007, the foundation was poured, and 370 units had already been sold. It becomes the perfect metaphor for March, the month when most resolutions lose steam, and th...

Kristin opens this final chapter of the February theme with a surprising confession about being a rollercoaster girl. What changed? Her personality? Her willingness to step into moments she once avoided? Is she suddenly a thrill seeker? Is she still someone who lets fear or old narratives block joy or connection? These questions become the heart of the conversation as Denise introduces the idea of negative daydreaming, the way our minds create worst-case scenarios long before anything actually happens.

The group reflects on how often anticipation is more distressing than the event itself. Tim shares his own...

The conversation opens with Dolly Parton, not just as an icon but as a living example of how to shape your identity with intention. Kristin, Denise, and Tim explore the stories behind Dolly’s beginnings, her bold sense of self, and her lifelong commitment to giving back. Her Imagination Library becomes a touchpoint for what generosity looks like in action, a program that sends free books to children regardless of circumstance, a gesture rooted in her own childhood in poverty. The group reflects on how one woman’s vision transformed an entire region, creating jobs, opportunities, and a sense of p...

February’s conversation continues as Kristin picks up her Dollywood story right where she left off, standing in the rain with two excited kids, a husband stretched out on a bench with a thrown‑out back, and a full day ahead. What begins as a simple family outing becomes a deeper look at the quiet narratives we repeat to ourselves, the ones that shape our choices long before we ever test whether they’re true. Kristin admits she had spent her entire life saying she wasn’t a rollercoaster girl, even though, as she confesses, “the last time I had gotten...

February opens with a new voice at the table as Kristin welcomes her friend Denise Heidel into the conversation. The two settle in with the kind of easy rapport that comes from years of real-life connection, ready to explore this month’s theme of “getting out of your own way.” What begins as a lighthearted chat about joy quickly turns toward the quiet, familiar ways we block ourselves from experiences that could bring delight, growth, or surprise.

Kristin shares a story she may have carried for years. She was convinced she was not a rollercoaster girl, and that s...

Momentum, clarity, and life on the other side of yes.

Hello, is it me you’re looking for? What if the answer is yes and it’s been yes all along?

We’ve talked about recognizing the signals. We’ve explored why we ignore them. We’ve examined why comfort keeps us stuck. But what happens when you actually start listening? When you stop resisting the prompts and start leaning into them?

Something remarkable begins to unfold: alignment.

When you show up authentically, or when you stop performing who you think you should...

The quiet resistance that holds us in place.

What if the biggest obstacle to your next chapter isn’t fear of failure, it’s the comfort of what you already know?

We talk a lot about recognizing when it’s time to change. But recognition is only half the battle. The harder part? Actually moving. Actually stepping into the discomfort. Actually becoming a sugar cookie.

Here’s what Navy SEALs know that most of us don’t: sometimes you do everything right. Your belt buckle is the shiniest, your bed is made perfectly, and you st...

Why awareness comes long before action.

Bueller? Bueller? You’re physically present, but mentally somewhere else entirely. Sound familiar?

We’ve all been there, sitting in meetings we used to look forward to, doing work that once energized us, showing up but not really showing up. It’s not dramatic. There’s no rebellion. Just a quiet absence that nobody else notices, but you can’t shake.

Here’s what most people miss: the signs that something needs to change rarely show up as catastrophes. They’re subtler than that. Sometimes they’re negative; dread...

The signals we notice before we’re ready to act

Have you ever felt something shift—just slightly off-rhythm—but kept pushing forward anyway? That subtle discomfort when what once felt rewarding now feels routine? When the song that used to energize you starts playing a little flat?

Change rarely announces itself with fanfare. Instead, it whispers. It taps you on the shoulder through small signals: work that no longer fulfills, environments that feel misaligned, or the persistent sense that something needs to shift even when you can’t quite name what.

But here’s t...