Kind of a Big Deal

Kristin Belden
  • 5.0 (5)
  • CAREERS

Ever brushed off a compliment? Downplayed a win? Made yourself smaller so you wouldn’t sound like “too much”? Yeah, me too. Kind of a Big Deal is my love letter to women building careers and lives they’re proud of. This isn’t your typical Fortune 500 CEO interview. Instead, it’s real, relatable conversations with everyday women - corporate baddies, scrappy entrepreneurs, and everyone in between - who are leading lives we can all aspire to. Through honest stories and hard-earned wisdom, we shine a light on the victories, the lessons, and the messy middle that rarely make the highlight reel. It’s about celebrating the impact women make (even when we’re tempted to shrug it off). Because the truth is: you are kind of a big deal.

  1. 5D AGO

    Burnout, Starting Over, and Learning to Trust Yourself Again

    What happens when the life you built… stops feeling like your own? In this episode, I sit down with Shayne Corriea, who spent over a decade building a successful financial advisory business—only to reach a breaking point where her health, energy, and sense of self were completely depleted. What followed wasn’t a simple pivot. It involved burnout, a full identity reset, and the difficult decision to walk away from something that was “working,” but no longer aligned. We talk about what it actually means to “do the work” (not the buzzword version), how unresolved patterns shape our decisions, and why so many women ignore the signs of burnout until they’re forced to stop. This conversation also explores mindfulness, meditation, and sound healing as tools for managing stress and rewiring old patterns—and what it looks like to rebuild self-trust when you’re no longer sure what comes next. You’ll Learn  ⭐ The real signs of burnout—and what happens when you ignore them  ⭐ What it takes to walk away from a successful career  ⭐ What “doing the work” actually looks like in practice  ⭐ How mindfulness and meditation support nervous system regulation  ⭐ Why self-trust breaks down—and how to rebuild it  ⭐ Letting go of external validation and redefining success  ⭐ How to navigate identity shifts and major life transitions Key Insights Burnout Doesn’t Happen Overnight It builds slowly—until your body or life forces you to pay attention. Success Doesn’t Always Equal Alignment You can build something impressive and still feel disconnected from it. Self-Trust Is Built (and Rebuilt) Especially after major transitions, learning to trust yourself again is a process. Doing the Work Means Going Back Patterns often start earlier than we think—and require real reflection to shift. Slowing Down Is a Skill For many women, it’s not natural—it’s something that has to be practiced. Timestamps  [00:00:00] – Recording in person and how this conversation started  [00:02:00] – Building a business and sensing something was off  [00:05:30] – Burnout, health challenges, and the breaking point  [00:08:30] – The fear of walking away from something successful  [00:11:00] – What “doing the work” actually means  [00:14:30] – Patterns, past experiences, and self-reflection  [00:17:00] – Rediscovering identity and joy  [00:20:00] – Meditation, sound healing, and stress  [00:24:00] – The science behind nervous system regulation  [00:27:00] – Why slowing down feels so difficult  [00:30:00] – People-pleasing and external validation  [00:33:30] – Loss, rebuilding, and perspective shifts  [00:36:00] – Practicing mindfulness in everyday life  [00:40:00] – Rebuilding self-trust  [00:43:00] – Community, storytelling, and connection  [00:46:00] – Redefining success  [00:49:00] – Legacy and breaking generational patterns Resources and Links Connect with Shayne Find out more about her work at Mindful Abundance Strategies Find host Kristin Belden on LinkedIn or at BeldenStrategies.com Sign up for Kristin’s newsletter Big Deal Energy: BeldenStrategies.com/newsletter If this conversation resonated, share it with someone who might need it—and consider leaving a review. It helps more women find these conversations.

    55 min

  2. APR 2

    Storytelling Isn’t Extra - It’s How Impact Happens

    What if storytelling isn’t just how you communicate your work - but how you create impact and shape the legacy you leave behind? Join me as I sit down with Tamiko Heim, a leader working at the intersection of community, government, systems, and real human impact. Tamiko’s perspective on storytelling goes far beyond messaging. For her, it’s how people make sense of the work, how communities connect to it, and how ideas actually take root and last. It’s not a layer on top - it’s embedded in how impact is built and sustained over time. In this conversation, we explore storytelling as a leadership practice, the role it plays in shaping systems and communities, and what it means to build something that actually lasts. You’ll Learn ⭐ How to navigate complex systems where there are no clear answers ⭐ The importance of relationships in driving meaningful change ⭐ How to communicate work in a way that actually connects ⭐ What it takes to lead in community-centered environments ⭐ Why clarity often comes through action, not before it ⭐ How to stay grounded while making high-stakes decisions Key Insights Leadership Requires Holding Complexity There aren’t always clean answers. Strong leaders are able to navigate nuance and move forward anyway. Relationships Are the Work Impact is rarely individual - it’s built through trust, collaboration, and connection. Storytelling Drives Understanding If people can’t understand or connect to the work, it’s difficult for it to gain traction or scale. Systems Shape How We Lead The environments we operate in influence decisions, behavior, and outcomes more than we often realize. Clarity Comes Through Movement Waiting for perfect certainty can stall progress - clarity is often built in motion. Timestamps  [00:00:00] – Introduction and how Kristin and Tamiko connected  [00:03:00] – Tamiko’s path into leadership and community work  [00:07:00] – Where storytelling shows up in real-world impact  [00:12:00] – Communicating complex work in a way that lands  [00:18:00] – The relationship between storytelling and trust  [00:24:00] – Narrative, systems, and shaping perception  [00:31:00] – Why connection matters more than just information  [00:38:00] – Leadership, responsibility, and holding nuance  [00:45:00] – Building work that lasts beyond you  [00:52:00] – What legacy means in this work Resources and Links Connect with Tamiko Heim on LinkedIn Find host Kristin Belden on LinkedIn or at BeldenStrategies.com Sign up for Kristin’s newsletter for more stories, insights, and tools for women leaders: BeldenStrategies.com/newsletter Find Airel Vanece's (Tamiko's daughter) book Searching for Mr. Johnson's Song here If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. It helps more women find these conversations - and means a lot as the show grows.

    48 min

  3. MAR 26

    What It Really Means to Lead People Well

    What if the most important part of leadership isn’t what you say or do - but how you see people? Join me as I sit down with Jackie Kendricks, Director of Education at Roberts Family Development Center, who has spent years working alongside children, families, and young adults in community. Jackie’s path into this work began in education, but it deepened as she stepped into nonprofit and community-based work - where she saw firsthand how complex people’s lives really are, and how often we reduce others to a single moment or behavior. In this conversation, we explore what it actually means to lead people well: holding space without judgment, understanding the difference between expectation and entitlement, and recognizing that most people are simply trying to survive with dignity. You’ll Learn ⭐ Why leadership starts with how you see and understand people ⭐ The difference between expectation and entitlement in younger generations ⭐ How technology is shaping attention, identity, and behavior ⭐ Why community and connection are essential to resilience ⭐ How to navigate emotionally demanding work without losing yourself ⭐ Why “your 3am phone call” matters more than anything Key Insights Most People Are Trying to Survive with Dignity When you understand that people are navigating more than you can see, it changes how you lead, respond, and show up. Leadership Is About How You Leave People Impact isn’t just about outcomes - it’s about whether people walk away believing more in themselves. Expectation vs Entitlement Is Often Misunderstood What looks like entitlement may actually be a generation shaped by immediacy and constant access. You Can’t Lead Without Seeing the Whole Person Reducing people to a single behavior or moment limits both their growth and your ability to lead effectively. Timestamps  [00:00:00] – Introduction: Meeting Jackie and her work in community  [00:01:05] – Jackie’s role at Roberts Family Development Center  [00:04:45] – Supporting children, families, and underserved communities  [00:08:00] – Working with young adults and generational differences  [00:10:45] – Technology, attention, and immediate gratification  [00:13:00] – Expectation vs entitlement  [00:15:30] – Teaching real-world skills in a digital generation  [00:18:00] – Parenting and navigating technology with kids  [00:20:30] – AI, learning, and critical thinking  [00:23:00] – Jackie’s path into nonprofit and community work  [00:26:30] – Understanding people beyond the surface  [00:30:00] – Surviving with dignity and isolation  [00:32:45] – The importance of community and “your 3am phone call”  [00:36:30] – Burnout and emotional load in this work  [00:40:30] – Self-care and learning to be alone  [00:43:30] – Balancing ambition, family, and boundaries  [00:46:00] – Leadership, confidence, and how you show up  [00:49:30] – Legacy and leaving people well Resources and Links Connect with Kristin Belden on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinbelden/ Learn more about Belden Strategies: https://beldenstrategies.com Sign up for the Big Deal Energy newsletter: https://beldenstrategies.com/newsletter Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelyn-kendricks-89b35a47/ Check out more about Roberts Family Development Center: https://robertsfdc.org/ 👉 If this conversation resonated, make sure to subscribe, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and let me know what stood out to you.

    55 min

  4. MAR 19

    Leadership, Media, and Why Engagement Matters More Than Ever

    “Engagement is the metric of whether people actually care.” Join me as I sit down with Simone Aponte, VP News Director at KTVU, who has spent her career inside newsrooms - from writing scripts at 3:00 AM to leading teams shaping how communities receive and understand information. Simone has seen the media landscape shift in real time - not just in how news is produced, but in how trust is built, how teams are led, and how impact is measured. In this conversation, we explore what it actually looks like to lead inside a newsroom - the shift from doing the work to building systems, developing people, and thinking long-term in an environment that runs on constant deadlines. We talk about the tension between speed and thoughtfulness in news, why engagement matters more than reach, and how the way people consume information is fundamentally changing. We also talk about AI in journalism, the realities of leading through constant change, and what it means to leave something better than you found it. This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation about leadership, journalism, and the responsibility that comes with shaping how people understand the world around them. You’ll Learn ⭐ Why engagement matters more than views or reach ⭐ What it actually looks like to lead inside a newsroom ⭐ The shift from doing the work to leading people and systems ⭐ Why local news still matters for strong, informed communities ⭐ How Simone’s definition of success has evolved over time ⭐ What it means to build trust with audiences today Key Insights Engagement Reflects Real Impact It’s not about how many people see something - it’s about whether it resonates enough for people to respond, share, and care. Leadership Requires Letting Go of the Work Moving into leadership means stepping out of execution and focusing on people, systems, and long-term outcomes. Speed and Thoughtfulness Are in Constant Tension Newsrooms operate in real time, but meaningful storytelling requires context, nuance, and editorial judgment. Trust Is Built Over Time In a fragmented media landscape, trust isn’t assumed - it’s earned through consistency, clarity, and credibility. AI Is Changing the Work — Not Replacing It Technology can support efficiency, but human judgment and storytelling remain essential. Timestamps [00:00:00] – Introduction: Simone’s path into journalism  [00:03:00] – Early career and first newsroom experiences  [00:07:00] – The reality of working in broadcast news  [00:12:00] – Transitioning from producer to leader  [00:16:00] – Thinking long-term in a deadline-driven environment  [00:20:00] – Building a live streaming model during COVID  [00:24:00] – Engagement vs reach in modern media  [00:28:00] – Rebuilding trust with audiences  [00:33:00] – AI in journalism: tool vs risk  [00:40:00] – Redefining success over time  [00:45:00] – Early work experiences and leadership lessons  [00:50:00] – Legacy and leaving things better than you found them Resources and Links Connect with Simone on LinkedIn Find host Kristin Belden on LinkedIn or at BeldenStrategies.com Sign up for Kristin’s newsletter for more stories, insights, and tools for women leaders: BeldenStrategies.com/newsletter

    53 min

  5. MAR 12

    Why Difficult Conversations Go Wrong - And How to Handle Them Better

    What if the biggest factor shaping your leadership isn’t strategy, experience, or authority - but the emotional energy you bring into the room? Join me as I sit down with communication and leadership expert Beth Wonson, who has spent more than 15 years helping organizations and leaders navigate difficult conversations, workplace conflict, and the emotional dynamics that show up whenever humans work together. Beth’s path into this work didn’t begin in consulting. It began in leadership roles where she discovered firsthand how challenging it can be to manage teams, hold people accountable, and navigate high-pressure environments without the tools to manage your own emotional reactions. In this conversation, we explore the real skill behind difficult conversations: learning to manage your own emotional energy, approaching conflict with curiosity instead of defensiveness, and creating dialogue that builds trust instead of damaging relationships. This is a practical, honest conversation about communication, self-awareness, and what it actually takes to lead people well. You’ll Learn ⭐ Why difficult conversations are really about managing your own emotional reactions ⭐ How emotional energy shapes the outcome of workplace communication ⭐ Why curiosity is more powerful than trying to be “right” ⭐ The difference between healthy conflict and damaging conflict ⭐ How leaders can share vulnerability without oversharing ⭐ Why emotional intelligence is essential for effective leadership ⭐ How to approach challenging dialogue in a way that builds trust Key Insights Leadership Starts With Self-Management The most important skill in difficult conversations isn’t persuasion - it’s the ability to manage your own emotional triggers before responding. Curiosity Creates Connection Approaching conversations with curiosity rather than defensiveness helps build empathy, trust, and better outcomes. Healthy Conflict Drives Innovation Friction between different perspectives can create better solutions when leaders know how to hold space for disagreement. Emotional Energy Shapes the Room The energy leaders bring into conversations affects how teams respond, communicate, and collaborate. Communication Skills Aren’t Taught Most professionals are promoted for technical skills, not leadership or communication abilities - leaving many leaders to learn these skills the hard way. Timestamps [00:00:00] – Introduction: Why difficult conversations shape leadership [00:03:00] – Beth’s early career and lessons from leadership roles [00:06:00] – Learning to manage emotional reactions as a leader [00:08:00] – Why workplace conflict usually comes down to communication [00:11:00] – Healthy conflict vs unhealthy conflict in organizations [00:14:00] – Vulnerability, leadership, and oversharing [00:18:00] – Emotional intelligence and navigating workplace stress [00:22:00] – Understanding emotional triggers and reactions [00:30:00] – How curiosity transforms difficult conversations [00:37:00] – Self-awareness, leadership growth, and personal development [00:46:00] – Career advice for younger professionals [00:53:00] – What legacy means in leadership Resources and Links Connect with Beth Wanson on LinkedIn Learn more about Beth’s work on communication, leadership, and challenging dialogue on her website Find host Kristin Belden on LinkedIn or at BeldenStrategies.com Sign up for Kristin’s newsletter for more stories, insights, and tools for women leaders: BeldenStrategies.com/newsletter

    57 min

  6. MAR 5

    Stop Waiting Until You Feel Ready

    Join me as I sit down with strategic consultant Kyla Bryant, whose work centers on leadership, workforce development, and helping organizations build people-first systems. Kyla’s leadership philosophy started on prom day at a cosmetology school when she raised her hand to organize a chaotic situation she hadn’t been trained for. That moment became the foundation for a mindset she still carries today: it’s easier to steer a moving ship.  Over the course of her career, Kyla has worked across multiple sectors, from education and workforce development to consulting and entrepreneurship. Along the way, she’s learned that leadership rarely comes from feeling fully prepared - it comes from stepping forward when something needs to be done. We talk about entrepreneurship, perfectionism, the pressure many women carry to have everything figured out, and how success can evolve from external markers to something much deeper: feeling grounded in who you are and the work you’re building. You’ll Learn: ⭐ Why leadership often begins before you feel ready ⭐ How momentum can create clarity when the path feels uncertain ⭐ Why reflection is critical for entrepreneurs and leaders ⭐ The difference between hustle and sustainable flow ⭐ How defining success evolves over the course of a career Key Insights Momentum Creates Clarity Waiting until you feel fully prepared often keeps you stuck. Taking action - even imperfect action - allows you to adjust course as you move forward. Reflection Builds Perspective Regular reflection helps leaders recognize progress, learn from patterns, and avoid constantly chasing the next milestone. Entrepreneurship Requires Internal Leadership When you work for yourself, you must become both the strategist and the accountability partner. Flow vs Hustle Sustainable success comes from working in alignment with your natural rhythms and priorities - not constant pressure or overwork. Success Evolves Over Time Early in our careers, success often looks like titles or income. Over time, many leaders redefine success as feeling grounded, aligned, and purposeful in their work. Timestamps [00:00:00] – Introduction to Kyla Bryant [00:03:00] – Early leadership instincts and growing up the oldest sibling [00:04:30] – Starting out in cosmetology and discovering leadership [00:06:00] – Seeing opportunity before feeling ready [00:08:00] – Early career uncertainty and the pressure to have answers [00:10:00] – Perfectionism, parenthood, and learning to let go of control [00:15:00] – The path to entrepreneurship [00:18:00] – Strategic guidance rooted in empathy [00:22:00] – Workforce systems and people-first leadership [00:24:00] – Building structure and reflection as a solopreneur [00:29:00] – The reality of working for yourself [00:32:00] – Hustle culture vs sustainable flow [00:37:00] – Redefining success over time [00:43:00] – What legacy means for Kyla Resources and Links Connect with Kyla Bryant and check out her work at https://kylabryantllc.com/ Find host Kristin Belden on LinkedIn or at BeldenStrategies.com Sign up for more conversations and insights at  BeldenStrategies.com/newsletter If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow the show, and leave a review. And if you're interested in more conversations about leadership, identity, and building meaningful work, join my newsletter at BeldenStrategies.com/newsletter

    46 min

  7. MAR 4

    Curiosity Is a Leadership Strategy

    Join me as I sit down with Shonna Shearson, President and CEO of First U.S. Community Credit Union, whose leadership journey is anything but a straight line. Shonna began her career thinking she might become a teacher, eventually moving into training and development before discovering the cooperative world of credit unions - an industry rooted in community, financial empowerment, and collective impact.  Over the course of decades, she built her leadership career not by chasing titles, but by staying curious, being of service, and saying yes to opportunities to grow.  We talk about nonlinear careers, the power of mentorship and peer communities, the role curiosity plays in long-term leadership growth, and what it means to build a legacy by developing the people around you. You’ll Learn: ⭐ How curiosity can become one of the most powerful leadership skills ⭐ The cooperative model behind credit unions and why it matters for communities ⭐ How mentorship and peer networks shape leadership growth ⭐ Why service - not ambition alone - often leads to meaningful success Key Insights: Curiosity Drives Growth: Leaders who stay curious about systems, decisions, and processes often uncover opportunities for innovation and impact. Service Creates Opportunity: Focusing on how you can contribute - rather than how you advance - often opens doors to leadership naturally. Careers Are Nonlinear: Few people can predict where their careers will lead. Remaining open to unexpected opportunities allows growth to unfold over time. Community Shapes Leadership: Mentors, peers, and professional communities often play a critical role in leadership development. Legacy Is About Developing Others: True leadership impact isn’t just about personal success - it’s about helping others grow into leaders themselves. Timestamps: [00:00:00] – Introduction to Shauna and Leadership Sacramento [00:03:00] – Early career uncertainty and choosing teaching [00:06:00] – Discovering training and development [00:08:00] – Finding purpose in the credit union movement [00:12:00] – Why credit unions exist and how they serve communities [00:18:00] – Staying curious inside long careers [00:21:00] – Service as a leadership mindset [00:24:00] – Ambition vs meaningful success [00:26:00] – Career seasons and raising young children [00:27:30] – Becoming a yoga teacher during the Great Recession [00:30:30] – Mentorship and peer communities [00:35:00] – Defining leadership legacy Resources and Links: Learn more about First U.S. Community Credit Union Find host Kristin Belden on LinkedIn or at BeldenStrategies.com Sign up for more conversations and insights at BeldenStrategies.com/newsletter If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow the show, and leave a review. And if you're interested in more conversations about leadership, evolution, and building meaningful work, join my newsletter at BeldenStrategies.com/ newsletter.

    39 min

  8. FEB 26

    Burnout Is a Signal - Not a Weakness: A More Sustainable Way to Lead

    Join me as I sit down with psychologist and leadership development consultant Dr. Christina Pate, whose work explores the intersection of human behavior, organizational culture, and sustainable performance. Christina’s path into this work began with her own experience of burnout - not as something to push through, but as information that something deeper was misaligned. Since then, she has focused on helping leaders and organizations understand how nervous system patterns, identity pressures, and workplace expectations shape how we perform, lead, and sustain ourselves over time. We talk about over-functioning, identity beyond roles, the pressure many women leaders carry to hold more than their share, and what it means to build lives and organizations that support wellbeing rather than quietly erode it. This is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, sustainability, complexity, and learning to build success that can actually last. You’ll Learn: ⭐ Why burnout is often a signal of misalignment - not a personal failure ⭐ How leadership mirrors the way we lead ourselves ⭐ The role of nervous system awareness in sustainable performance ⭐ The difference between scalable success and sustainable success ⭐ Why holding complexity is a modern leadership skill Key Insights: Burnout as Information: Burnout often reveals misalignment between values, identity, expectations, and systems - not a lack of resilience. Leadership Starts Internally: The way we regulate stress, set boundaries, and relate to uncertainty shapes how we lead others. Sustainable vs Scalable Success: Organizations frequently optimize for growth and output without building the internal conditions required for people to thrive. Nervous System Awareness Changes Leadership: Stress responses influence decision-making, communication, and capacity long before conscious strategy. Identity Beyond Roles: Career disruption, burnout, and transition often surface deeper questions about identity and purpose. Complexity Over Certainty: Modern leadership requires the ability to hold nuance, reject binary thinking, and operate in ambiguity. Timestamps: [00:00:00] – Introduction and meeting through LEAP Academy [00:03:00] – Early burnout and redefining success [00:07:00] – Burnout as signal, not failure [00:12:00] – Leadership as a mirror of self-leadership [00:18:00] – Over-functioning and invisible responsibility [00:25:00] – Disruption, grief, and rebuilding frameworks [00:28:00] – Nervous system awareness and leadership [00:33:00] – Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses [00:38:00] – Rejecting binary thinking and holding complexity [00:41:00] – Identity shifts and the future of work [00:44:00] – Micro practices for regulation and sustainability [00:47:00] – Legacy as sustainability, not scale Resources and Links: Connect with Dr. Christina Pate Learn more about her leadership development work Take Christina’s stress response quiz  Find host Kristin Belden on LinkedIn or at BeldenStrategies.com Sign up for more conversations and insights at BeldenStrategies.com/newsletter If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow the show, and leave a review. And if you’re interested in more conversations about leadership, identity, and building sustainable success, join my newsletter at BeldenStrategies.com

    51 min
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About

Ever brushed off a compliment? Downplayed a win? Made yourself smaller so you wouldn’t sound like “too much”? Yeah, me too. Kind of a Big Deal is my love letter to women building careers and lives they’re proud of. This isn’t your typical Fortune 500 CEO interview. Instead, it’s real, relatable conversations with everyday women - corporate baddies, scrappy entrepreneurs, and everyone in between - who are leading lives we can all aspire to. Through honest stories and hard-earned wisdom, we shine a light on the victories, the lessons, and the messy middle that rarely make the highlight reel. It’s about celebrating the impact women make (even when we’re tempted to shrug it off). Because the truth is: you are kind of a big deal.

Information

  • Creator
    Kristin Belden
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Kind of a Big Deal
  • Show Website
    Kind of a Big Deal

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