The Table I Built

Andrea Walton

The Table I Built is a bite-sized podcast on real-life resilience, purpose, and leadership — with episodes under 10 minutes for builders who are short on time but big on vision. Hosted by Andrea C. Walton, MBA, each episode offers raw, reflective insight on grit, healing, and building something meaningful after life turns sideways. From teen mom to executive, Andrea shares hard-earned lessons, true stories, and bold encouragement for anyone who’s ever had to start again.

  1. Oct 19

    Overcoming: The Courage to Lead Yourself Forward | Andrea Walton

    What if overcoming isn't about getting to the other side, but who we become along the way? In this special solo episode of The Table I Built, host Andrea Walton reflects on the powerful lessons emerging from Season 4's theme of OVERCOMING and what they teach us about leadership, resilience, and moving forward with intention. Drawing from conversations with Dr. Vic Herbin, Greg Kruger, and Professor Kelly Chibale, PhD, Andrea explores the connection between self-awareness, stillness, curiosity, and the courage to lead ourselves through life's unexpected transitions. From recognizing when confidence becomes arrogance, to understanding why presence doesn't always require strategy, to embracing curiosity and accountability as leadership disciplines, this episode brings together insights that challenge how we think about growth. Andrea also explores an important distinction: Moving forward isn't necessarily the same as moving on. We don't have to forget what we've experienced to grow beyond it. Sometimes overcoming means carrying the lessons while releasing what no longer serves us. Through personal reflections and practical questions, this conversation invites listeners to consider: What do I need to acknowledge about myself? Where do I need to create space for reflection? What am I willing to do differently moving forward? Because overcoming isn't always about having all the answers or reaching a particular destination. Sometimes the evidence of overcoming isn't found in the outcome. It's found in who we're becoming along the way. Pull up a chair. Your seat at the table is waiting.

  2. Oct 12

    The Courage to Keep Going: Leadership, Curiosity & Overcoming | Prof. Kelly Chibale

    What sustains us when the path ahead isn’t clear? In this episode of The Table I Built, Andrea Walton sits down with Professor Kelly Chibale, internationally recognized scientist, researcher, educator, and leader at the University of Cape Town, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, curiosity, and what it really means to overcome. Drawing from a remarkable career spanning countries, cultures, and scientific disciplines, Kelly reflects on the experiences that have shaped him—not only as a scientist, but as a leader. Together, Andrea and Kelly explore leadership across cultures, the importance of accountability, and how a scientist’s commitment to evidence, curiosity, and being willing to rethink what we believe can offer lessons far beyond the laboratory. Their conversation also turns to overcoming—the unexpected turns that shape our journeys, what sustains us when the outcome isn’t clear, and the importance of continuing to invest in the people and generations coming behind us. Toward the end of their conversation, Andrea returns to something Kelly once shared with her that has stayed with her ever since: “A lie has speed, but the truth has endurance.” It’s a fitting reflection for a conversation grounded in curiosity, integrity, leadership, and the courage to keep moving forward. As Season 4 continues its exploration of OVERCOMING, this episode reminds us that the path forward isn’t always linear—and that some of our greatest lessons emerge from how we respond when the path changes. Pull up a chair. Your seat at the table is waiting.

  3. Oct 5

    The Power of Stillness: Overcoming Through Breath, Sound & Healing | Greg Kruger

    What if overcoming isn't about pushing harder, but learning when to become still? In Episode 2 of Season 4 of The Table I Built, host Andrea Walton welcomes Greg Kruger founder of Forgotten Truth Coaching, for a conversation about the power of stillness, self-awareness, and reconnecting with ourselves during life's most challenging seasons. Through his work with breathwork, meditation, and sound baths, Greg explores how intentional practices can create space for reflection, grounding, and healing. Together, Andrea and Greg discuss why slowing down can feel uncomfortable, particularly for those accustomed to constantly achieving and moving forward, and how even a few minutes of intentional stillness can become a meaningful part of our everyday lives. As we continue exploring this season's theme, OVERCOMING, this conversation offers a different perspective on resilience: sometimes moving forward begins with giving ourselves permission to pause. Pull up a chair. Your seat at the table is waiting.

  4. Sep 28

    When Arrogance Becomes Culture: The Cost of Leadership | Dr. Vic Herbin

    What happens when confidence becomes arrogance, and arrogance becomes culture? Welcome to Season 4 of The Table I Built. This season, we're exploring Overcoming: what it means to recognize what isn't working, navigate change, rebuild, and move forward with purpose. In our season premiere, Andrea sits down with Dr. Vic Herbin, organizational leadership expert, executive coach, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, and author of the newly released Organizational Arrogance. Together, they explore how arrogance moves beyond the behavior of an individual leader and becomes embedded in organizational culture; the often-thin line between executive confidence and arrogance; what happens when employees stop telling leaders the truth; and the responsibility leaders have for the cultures they create, reinforce, and tolerate. And perhaps the most important question: Can an organization overcome arrogance once it has taken root? Pull up a chair. Your seat at the table is waiting. The Table I Built Hosted by Andrea Walton

  5. Mar 24

    Betting on yourself: The Year That Changed Everything

    In this Season 3 finale of The Table I Built, Andrea reflects on what it truly means to bet on yourself — especially when the path isn’t clear. As she approaches one year of building something she didn’t plan, Andrea shares the lessons that don’t always get talked about: the quiet seasons, the lack of immediate validation, and the discipline required to keep going when outcomes aren’t guaranteed. This episode isn’t just about one year — it’s about the decision to move without a blueprint, to trust alignment over certainty, and to keep building even when progress feels invisible. If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind, stuck, or waiting for the “right time” — this conversation is for you. Because you’re not behind. You’re building.

  6. Mar 16

    When the Job Search Becomes a Mental War: What Professionals Need to Know Right Now

    The job market has changed. Hiring cycles are longer, competition is higher, and many professionals are quietly questioning their value in the process. In this episode of The Table I Built, Andrea Walton brings her perspective as a former Chief People Officer to unpack what is actually happening in today’s job market and why so many talented professionals are experiencing longer job searches. This conversation is for two groups of people: those who have been searching for months and wondering what they’re doing wrong, and those who are currently employed but considering a move and need to understand the reality of today’s hiring environment. Andrea explores: • Why the job search can feel like a mental war • What has changed since the post-pandemic hiring boom • The hidden dynamics behind today’s hiring process • How professionals can protect their confidence and mental health during a long search • Practical guidance for navigating a slower job market If you’ve been questioning your value or wondering why the process feels harder than it used to, this episode offers both clarity and encouragement. Pull up a chair. Your seat at the table is waiting.

  7. Mar 2

    The Women Who Built Me

    In this special Women’s History Month episode of The Table I Built, Andrea reflects on the three women who shaped her life and leadership journey. From her mother, Urith Walker, who modeled resilience and stood beside her when she became a teen mother at 14… to Johnnie Payne, a church youth leader who covered her with dignity during one of her most vulnerable seasons… to Paulette Powell, the executive who opened the door to global HR leadership at Nestlé — this episode traces the formation, protection, and expansion that built Andrea into the leader she is today. This is a conversation about authenticity in corporate spaces, integration over fragmentation, and the courage to carry every chapter of your story into the rooms you occupy. Because before we build tables, someone built us. Pull up a chair. Your seat at the table is waiting.

  8. Feb 16

    Building While Becoming: A Gen Z Perspective

    In this episode of The Table I Built, Andrea is joined by her daughter, Nachala, a senior at Towson University studying Mass Communications and PR, for an unfiltered conversation about what it means to build your life when the traditional blueprint no longer feels automatic. From redefining success beyond marriage and milestones, to questioning leadership norms, to naming how individualism shapes American culture, Nachala shares a Gen Z lens that is thoughtful, candid, and at times, sharp. This isn’t a debate. It’s a dialogue across generations. Because progress doesn’t happen when we silence younger voices. It happens when we make room for them — even when they challenge us. Pull up a chair.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Table I Built is a bite-sized podcast on real-life resilience, purpose, and leadership — with episodes under 10 minutes for builders who are short on time but big on vision. Hosted by Andrea C. Walton, MBA, each episode offers raw, reflective insight on grit, healing, and building something meaningful after life turns sideways. From teen mom to executive, Andrea shares hard-earned lessons, true stories, and bold encouragement for anyone who’s ever had to start again.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrea Walton
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Andrea Walton
  • Show Website
    The Table I Built