Creating Space with Mia Space

Mia Space
  • 5.0 (1)
  • CAREERS

In a world obsessed with the "Highlight Reel," we’re here to talk about the messy middle. Creating Space is the intersection of business and wellness, designed for the woman navigating a winding road. Join host Mia Space—tech professional, non-profit founder, and survivor—as she sits down with incredible women to peel back the curtain on: Non-Linear Careers: Embracing the detours, flat tires, and "safe" choices that lead us to where we are.Community Impact: Turning personal mission into tangible change.Mental Health: How to actually survive the hustle without pouring from an empty cup.If you’re tired of the "perfect" act and looking for a toolkit for the real journey, you’ve found your space. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Let's create some space together!

Episodes

  1. FEB 3

    Episode 6: Show Up: The Power of Supporting Your People

    Have you ever realized you've been cheering from the sidelines when your people needed you in the front row? In this deeply personal episode, Mia shares a wake-up call moment about supporting the creative people in her life. After years of not attending a friend's events, she confronts an uncomfortable truth: guilt without action is just useless noise. This isn't just about showing up to events—it's about recognizing that your friends and family look to YOU first for validation and support. Mia explores why we stay passive observers in our loved ones' lives and makes a powerful commitment to change. You'll walk away understanding that supporting someone else doesn't diminish your own shine—it only adds to it. When you show up for people, you unlock entire worlds you didn't know existed and create deeper, more meaningful connections. If you've ever felt the weight of not being there for someone who matters, this episode will resonate. It's time to move from bystander to active supporter. Keywords: support, community, personal growth, relationships, creativity, self-reflection, engagement, empowerment, showing up, connection

    15 min
  2. Episode 5: Written in Gold: Kristin Andrews on Calligraphy, Chaos, and Courage

    JAN 27

    Episode 5: Written in Gold: Kristin Andrews on Calligraphy, Chaos, and Courage

    In this episode of Creating Space, host Mia Space sits down with Kristin Andrews, founder of Kreative Blends Calligraphy Studio, to explore what it means to honor multiple passions at once. Kristin opens up about maintaining her corporate tech career while building a luxury calligraphy and engraving business that's caught the attention of brands like Dior and Dolce & Gabbana. From discovering calligraphy on Instagram to navigating the vulnerable moment of believing her work was worth charging for, Kristin shares the real, messy journey of turning a creative hobby into a thriving enterprise. She gets honest about the chaos of balancing dual careers and motherhood, the non-negotiable importance of boundaries and self-care, and why community support has been essential to her growth. Kristin also opens up about faith, the power of asking for help, and her commitment to creating safe spaces where others can learn and flourish. Whether you're juggling multiple roles, considering a creative pivot, or simply navigating your own transformation, Kristin's story offers permission to embrace the messy middle and find joy in the balance. Key Topics: Balancing corporate and creative careersOvercoming imposter syndrome and charging your worthSetting boundaries as a mother and entrepreneurBuilding community and asking for helpEmbracing chaos and the messy middle of growthkeywords calligraphy, entrepreneurship, self-care, creative journey, work-life balance, Kristin Andrews, luxury branding, faith, community support, personal growth takeaways You can hold multiple versions of yourself and thrive.Embrace chaos; it can lead to creativity.Setting boundaries is essential for mental health.It's okay to ask for help; it shows strength.Prioritize self-care to maintain balance.Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Creating Space00:52 Meet Kristin Andrews: A Dual Career Journey02:54 Navigating Two Worlds: Tech and Calligraphy04:33 The Early Days: Finding Her Creative Path08:30 Claiming Worth: The Struggle to Charge for Art09:53 Protecting Peace: Balancing Life and Business13:12 Prioritizing Self-Care: Solo Dates and Health16:40 The Strength in Asking for Help18:42 Community Support: Who Poured Into Kristin25:34 Giving Back: Supporting New Calligraphers28:10 Advice for the Messy Middle: Taking It Day by Day

    33 min
  3. Episode 4: The Messy Middle: Iraya Corley on Career Transitions, Self-Care & Finding Your Voice in Tech

    JAN 20

    Episode 4: The Messy Middle: Iraya Corley on Career Transitions, Self-Care & Finding Your Voice in Tech

    In this episode of Creating Space, Mia sits down with Iraya Corley—a people strategy leader, executive partner, and founder—for an intimate conversation about navigating career pivots, protecting your peace, and thriving in the messy middle. Iraya opens up about her unexpected transition from law to tech, sharing what it really felt like to step into unfamiliar territory at companies like Microsoft, Meta, and WeWork. She gets honest about the "fog" of career uncertainty, the moments when the path forward wasn't clear, and how she learned to find her voice and rhythm in high-pressure environments. This conversation goes beyond career strategy. Iraya reveals her personal wellness rituals and mental health maintenance practices—from surrounding herself with positive people to creating a joyful, intentional home environment. As a current Head of People at BlackDoctor.org and founder of both The WELL consultancy and A Ray of Sunshine Fitness, she's living proof that you can build multiple dreams at once without losing yourself in the process. Throughout the episode, Iraya emphasizes the power of community, sharing moving stories about the colleagues and mentors who held her down during her hardest seasons—including a particularly vulnerable moment during layoffs. She also offers deeply practical advice for women currently standing in their own messy middle, whether navigating a career transition or launching a passion project. If you've ever felt stuck between who you were and who you're becoming, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways: True impact happens in the messy middle—where clarity is forged and leadership is humanizedEverything is figureoutable when you're willing to ask for help and stay openSelf-care isn't optional; it's a survival tool for sustainable successCommunity support can be the difference between surviving and thriving during difficult transitionsYou don't have to have it all figured out to move forwardConnect with Iraya Corley: BlackDoctor.orgThe WELL | Work. Equity. Leadership. Life.A Ray of Sunshine Fitness on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNDaoDFxkPX/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arayofsunshinefitnessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irayacorleyMentioned in this episode: Navigating career transitions from law to techWorking at Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and WeWorkMental health and wellness practices for high-achieversBuilding community in the workplaceFinding your voice in new environmentsAdvice for women in their messy middleEpisode Chapters:  00:00 - Introduction to Iraya Corley02:33 - The Messy Middle of Career Transitions07:50 - Finding Your Rhythm in Tech10:10 - Wellness and Self-Care Strategies13:46 - Finding Community in the Workplace15:13 - The Importance of Taking Breaks15:47 - Navigating the Messy Middle18:49 - The Power of Support During Layoffs21:14 - Advice for Women in Their Messy Middle23:11 - Embracing the Next Version of YourselfCreating Space is a podcast for women navigating transitions, protecting their peace, and creating room for the next version of themselves. Hosted by Mia, each episode features honest conversations about career, mental health, community, and personal growth.

    34 min

  4. JAN 14

    Episode 3: Claiming your space before you've arrived

    In this solo episode of Creating Space, Mia shares her transformative journey from being an executive assistant to founding the Mia Space Project, a nonprofit aimed at providing quality clothing to women in need. Through her personal experiences and lessons learned, she emphasizes the importance of claiming one's space, networking authentically, and taking action towards one's goals. Mia encourages listeners to embrace their identities and pursue their passions without waiting for permission.

    14 min
  5. Episode 2: Solving for X: How to Tweak the Variables of Your Life with Fatima Bardout

    JAN 3

    Episode 2: Solving for X: How to Tweak the Variables of Your Life with Fatima Bardout

    Success is the destination, but the "messy middle" is where the growth actually happens. In this episode, I’m sitting down with my first-ever guest, Fatima Bardout, to talk about the non-linear paths that lead us to where we are today. Fatima is a powerhouse in the world of operations and executive leadership. We dive deep into her "Life Equation" framework and explore how to stop judging our current reality and start being curious about the variables we can change. In this episode, we discuss: Navigating the Fog: Transitioning from the creative world of fashion to mission-driven operations.The Life Equation: How to view your career, health, and community as variables (X, Y, & Z) and when to "tweak" the math.Self-Care as a Survival Tool: Why "mental health maintenance" is the engine that keeps the mission running.Embodiment & Peace: Fatima’s ritual for protecting her peace when life gets loud.Meet Our Guest Fatima Orozco Bardout is an executive partner and operations professional born and raised in Los Angeles, California, with a global perspective shaped by undergraduate study abroad in Paris, France. Her career spans creative, technical, and mission-driven spaces, beginning as a supermodel assistant, transitioning into tech administration, and evolving into senior executive support and operational leadership. Based in Washington, D.C., she currently supports the Office of the Chief Legal Officer at Pivotal Ventures, an organization founded by Melinda French Gates that advances social progress by expanding opportunity for women and families. Her work focuses on enabling leaders, building strong systems, and helping mission-driven ideas move forward effectively. Alongside her primary role, Fatima serves as Chief of Staff for Demati, a nonprofit yoga organization dedicated to helping women reconnect with themselves through self-care, embodiment, and community. Known for her grounded presence and people-first approach, Fatima is driven by a belief in thoughtful support, meaningful work, and creating environments where both people and organizations can thrive. Connect with Fatima: LinkedIn: Fatima BardoutInstagram (Personal): @fatimabardoutInstagram (Demati): @dematiwellnessConnect with Mia: LinkedIn (Personal): Mia SpaceInstagram (The Mia Space Project): @themiaspaceprojectInstagram: @_miaspaceIf this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman who needs to hear that it's okay to be in the "messy middle." Let’s create some space together.

    27 min
  6. Episode 1: Creating Space: Vulnerability is the First Step

    JAN 1

    Episode 1: Creating Space: Vulnerability is the First Step

    Episode 1: Going First — Why I’m Putting Myself in the Hot Seat To kick off the very first episode of Creating Space, host Mia Space is doing something she’s never done before: she’s being the guest. Before asking other women to be vulnerable, Mia is going first by sharing the "bottled up" story of how she got here. In this episode, we discuss: The 9-Year Safe Lane: Why Mia turned down a "dream" corporate job to clean hotel rooms, and what that decade taught her about comfort vs. growth.The Devil Wears Prada Era: Navigating the high-pressure world of hedge funds and PR as an Executive Assistant before landing in Tech.The MIA Space Project: The personal "why" behind her non-profit—from being a survivor to providing dignity through high-quality clothing drives.The Reality of the Balance: How to manage a full-time tech career while running a mission-driven organization without burning out.Connect with Mia: Instagram: @_miaspaceLearn more about the mission: The MIA Space Project

    15 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

In a world obsessed with the "Highlight Reel," we’re here to talk about the messy middle. Creating Space is the intersection of business and wellness, designed for the woman navigating a winding road. Join host Mia Space—tech professional, non-profit founder, and survivor—as she sits down with incredible women to peel back the curtain on: Non-Linear Careers: Embracing the detours, flat tires, and "safe" choices that lead us to where we are.Community Impact: Turning personal mission into tangible change.Mental Health: How to actually survive the hustle without pouring from an empty cup.If you’re tired of the "perfect" act and looking for a toolkit for the real journey, you’ve found your space. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Let's create some space together!

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