BIG CEO PODCAST by BIG CEO Z

BIG CEO Z
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Big CEO Podcast is a safe space for real conversations about growth, faith, identity, and becoming who you’re called to be — even when life doesn’t look how you imagined yet. Hosted by Big CEO Z (Zalika Z. Stradford), the show explores the in-between seasons of life: healing, rebuilding, questioning, and choosing to show up anyway. Conversations center on purpose, self-worth, God, boundaries, discipline, and what it truly looks like to evolve without pretending to have it all figured out. For anyone in a season of becoming — learning, unlearning, and showing up anyway. Here we go!

Episodes

  1. Jun 1

    I Disappeared to Heal

    It’s been a while… but we’re back like we never left. 🤍 Life has a way of bringing you closer to your highest self — if you don’t resist letting go. And sometimes, when we avoid slowing down, life will slow us down for us… forcing us to sit with ourselves in ways we never expected. In this episode, I’m opening up about stepping away, going through an emotionally heavy season, healing from unhealthy connections, learning how to be alone without feeling abandoned, and finding my way back to myself and God. This isn’t an “I have all the answers” episode. This is a real conversation about grief, growth, loneliness, resilience, and what happens when life strips away distractions and forces you to rebuild from the inside out. If you’ve been feeling lost, emotionally exhausted, disconnected, or like life has been stretching you lately… this episode is for you. We’re not showing up perfectly over here — we’re showing up honestly. And honestly, that’s enough. Welcome back to the Big CEO Podcast. 🎙️ A safe safe space to exist, evolve, express+🤍

    16 min

  2. Mar 30

    Becoming… The CEO of Your Life

    In this episode, I will be talking about what it really means to be in a season of becoming… not when everything feels perfect, but while you’re still growing, healing, and figuring things out in real time. This isn’t about other people - relationships, situations, or what didn’t work out. This is about you. Who you’re becoming through it all. I open up about shifting out of overthinking, emotional reactions, and seeking external validation… into ownership, awareness, and self-leadership. This is where the Big CEO mindset comes in. CEO doesn’t just mean business—it means becoming the owner and operator of your own life: C — Clarity: Getting honest about what you feel, what you want, and what you’re no longer willing to ignore. E — Execution: Moving differently, even when it’s uncomfortable. Not just thinking about change—but actually embodying it. O — Ownership: Taking full responsibility for your life—your decisions, your boundaries, and your growth. Because the truth is… you don’t arrive at some final version of yourself. You are always becoming. And even when it feels like you’re taking 10 steps forward and 5 steps back—that’s still growth. That’s still evolution. That’s still alignment. And speaking of alignment… You’re not behind. You’re not lost. You’re becoming. Step into your CEO era. *My last episode Make Room for New is now deleted, and honestly, I’m choosing divine alignment. More is coming. This is just the beginning.

    18 min

  3. Mar 16

    Peace over Proving

    In this episode, I talk about the balance between choosing peace and feeling the need to constantly prove ourselves. Sometimes wisdom calls us to overlook an offense, while other times we may find ourselves over-explaining and not from a place of clarity, but from a place of trying to prove our intentions or perform for someone else’s understanding. I explore how over-explaining can become tied to people-pleasing, pressure, and the habit of feeling like we must justify who we are. When we’re not careful, we can start explaining ourselves over and over just to be accepted, understood, or believed. This conversation is about discernment, learning the difference between healthy communication and unnecessary explanation. Sometimes peace looks like letting something go and refusing to engage. Other times, peace looks like standing firm in your truth without feeling the need to constantly defend it. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to prove yourself, explain your intentions, or constantly clarify your heart just to be understood, this episode is a reminder that your peace doesn’t come from convincing everyone. Sometimes the real peace comes from knowing when you’ve said enough and being comfortable saving your explanation, even if that means some people may misunderstand you.

    36 min

  4. Mar 10

    Learning Where to Take Your Heart

    In this episode, I share a very honest reflection about vulnerability, discernment, and learning where to take your heart when life feels overwhelming. So often, when we’re hurting or confused, our first instinct is to run to people — hoping to be understood, comforted, or validated. But one of the hardest lessons to learn is that not everyone has the emotional capacity to hold our vulnerability the way we hope they will. And when that realization happens, it can feel painful… but it can also become a powerful moment of growth. In this conversation, I talk about the importance of discernment — learning to recognize who is safe to confide in, when to pause before sharing your heart, and why bringing your emotions to God first can bring the clarity and peace we often search for in other people. I also weave in the idea of the inner child within us. Many of us carry parts of ourselves that were once vulnerable as children — parts that may have been ignored, misunderstood, or never fully expressed. When those parts go unhealed, they can follow us into adulthood and shape how we relate to others. Sometimes people struggle to hold our vulnerability because they’ve never faced their own. When someone hasn’t learned how to sit with their own inner wounds, it can make it difficult for them to sit with yours. This is where we start to notice patterns in our relationships, including anxious attachments or emotional distance. Healing the inner child isn’t about blaming the past — it’s about becoming aware, taking inventory of your thought life, and allowing God to help you rewrite the narrative moving forward. There is real power in recognizing that you can turn the page, start a new chapter, and learn how to give your heart more wisely. This doesn’t mean becoming cold, guarded, or cutting people off. It means learning discernment — understanding that not everyone, even those close to us, will always be the safest place for our deepest vulnerability. Ultimately, the safest place for our hearts is in God’s presence. He is above this world, yet intimately involved in it — and when we bring our hearts to Him first, we gain the wisdom to navigate relationships with greater clarity, peace, and maturity. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, emotionally exposed, or unsure who to trust with what you’re going through, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone — and that healing, wisdom, and new beginnings are always possible.

    50 min

  5. Mar 2

    The Freedom of Not Taking Things Personally

    In this episode, I’m breaking down why taking things personally is draining your energy, stealing your peace, and slowing your growth. Here are the three truths you need to hear: 1. Most things aren’t about you. 2. Taking things personally feeds comparison and kills confidence. 3. Detachment is power. If you’re ready to stop shrinking, stop overthinking, and start moving through life with confidence and clarity — this episode is for you.

    23 min

  6. Feb 23

    The Power of Perspective

    In this episode, The Power of Perspective, I break down four major points that will change your entire view of life: ​ Pause before you react. Your first reaction is rarely your best. Take a breath, step back, and ask: How do I want to see this?​ Flip the narrative. Instead of asking, “Why me?” ask, “What is this setting me up for?”​ Check the alignment. Ask God for His lens. Pray, reflect, and see it the way He sees it. Perspective isn’t just mental—it’s spiritual.​Act from empowerment, not frustration. Gratitude and faith shift your lens faster than anything else. Big CEOs move from abundance, not scarcity. Here’s the difference it makes: a setback hits at work, a deal falls through, someone doubts you. Your old self panics, overthinks, shrinks. Your Big CEO self? You say, “Okay, God. What’s next? Show me the move!” Suddenly, fear becomes strategy, frustration becomes momentum, and the setback transforms into a setup.

    24 min

  7. Feb 16

    Small Steps, Big Growth

    On this episode of Small Steps, Big Bloom, I’m talking about how small, intentional steps can lead to real growth, even when it feels like nothing is happening. We dive into learning to love your life, protect your heart, and embrace the slow, meaningful process of becoming who you’re meant to be. I share personal reflections, practical encouragement, and reminders to celebrate the little victories along the way — because every step counts, and your bloom is happening even when you can’t see it yet. Key Takeaways: 1.Identify what matters most — Focus on the people, habits, and priorities that truly support your growth. 2.Let go of what doesn’t serve you — Release anything that drains your energy, peace, or progress. 3.Celebrate tiny victories — Every small step, journal entry, prayer, or intentional action matters. 4.Trust the process — Growth takes time; even when you can’t see it, your small steps are shaping your bloom.

    15 min

  8. Feb 9

    Hold Your Peace

    In this episode, I talk about the power of holding your peace. In a world that moves fast, full of noise and instant reactions, learning to pause, reflect, and trust God can completely change the way we respond to life’s challenges. I share practical ways to protect your peace, listen for God’s guidance, and speak with intention rather than reaction. Whether you’re facing tough conversations, feeling overwhelmed by social media, or just dealing with the chatter in your own mind, this episode is an invitation to slow down, trust the process, and discover the strength that comes from stillness. Key Takeaways: Why silence can speak louder than words How to pause and respond with wisdom instead of emotion Simple ways to protect your peace every day The spiritual power of holding your peace

    30 min

  9. Feb 2

    How to Silence the Noise in a Season of Transition

    Seasons of transition can be some of the loudest seasons of our lives. Expectations. Opinions. Pressure. Comparison. Even our own thoughts can begin to compete for our attention. In this episode, I talk about what it looks like to silence the noise when you’re in between who you were and who you’re becoming. When life feels uncertain, progress feels slow, and clarity feels just out of reach. This conversation is about learning how to regulate your mind, protect your peace, and choose intentional stillness in the middle of change. It’s about understanding which voices deserve access to you—and which ones don’t. If you’re navigating a transition, rebuilding, or learning how to move forward without rushing or shrinking, this episode offers perspective, grounding, and permission to slow down and listen inward again. Growth doesn’t require chaos. Sometimes, it starts with quiet.

    20 min

  10. Jan 26

    The Battlefield of the Mind

    In this episode, I reflect on the battlefield of the mind — the constant noise, overthinking, emotional loops, and internal conversations that can quietly take over. This isn’t a polished or scripted conversation. It’s me slowing down, processing in real time, and learning how to create space between my thoughts and my peace. Sometimes the work isn’t about fixing everything — it’s about noticing, breathing, and choosing awareness over overwhelm. This episode is for anyone learning how to quiet the noise and listen inward.

    21 min

  11. Jan 20

    Learning to Just Be

    In this episode, I reflect on a moment from a recent counseling session that stayed with me longer than I expected. A simple phrase — “just be” — kept repeating, and at the time, I didn’t fully understand why. This conversation explores how trauma and emotional safety can show up in subtle ways, especially when words feel hard to access. Sometimes silence, simplicity, or repetition isn’t avoidance — it’s protection. It’s the body choosing what feels safest in the moment. If you’ve ever felt pressure to explain yourself, to have the right words, or to perform healing before you’re ready, this episode is for you. This is a gentle reminder that where you are right now is not wrong — and that learning to just be can be a powerful part of the healing process.

    20 min

  12. Jan 12

    I Didn’t Feel Ready… But I Started Anyway

    In this first episode, I’m sharing a bit of where I am in my journey — starting before everything feels “ready.” This is a conversation about trusting the process, leaning into faith, and choosing growth even when doubt is loud.

    18 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Big CEO Podcast is a safe space for real conversations about growth, faith, identity, and becoming who you’re called to be — even when life doesn’t look how you imagined yet. Hosted by Big CEO Z (Zalika Z. Stradford), the show explores the in-between seasons of life: healing, rebuilding, questioning, and choosing to show up anyway. Conversations center on purpose, self-worth, God, boundaries, discipline, and what it truly looks like to evolve without pretending to have it all figured out. For anyone in a season of becoming — learning, unlearning, and showing up anyway. Here we go!

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