Nothing is real, but you are!

In this special episode, the mic flips as host Kristin becomes the guest. She traces her path from bookstore counters to boardroom tables, unpacking what it means to lead yourself before you lead others. With humor and honesty, she explores perfectionism, patriarchal workplaces, and the lifelong lesson that leadership starts within and that every version of you counts.

How to get in touch:

• [email protected]
• IG: @everythingcountspod
• IG: @kristinonshuffle

Ease is a power move.

Executive coach and organizational psychologist Talia (she/her) joins to talk about what happens when “working hard” becomes who you are, and what it takes to rewrite that story. We trace her path from AmeriCorps to L&D and consulting to launching Stepping Stones Coaching, the moment she realized job satisfaction can’t sit in someone else’s hands, and the practice of designing for ease without abandoning ambition. We also unpack the overachiever script so many women inherit, why “boundaries” rarely stick without self-kindness, and how to try on new ways of being like swapping lenses, no identity crisis required.

How to get in touch:

• Talia on LinkedIn
• steppingstonescoach.com (complimentary intro session available)

Leadership doesn't have to be loud.

In this episode of Everything Counts (but nothing is real), host Kristin interviews Sam (she/her), an operations leader with a rich background in nonprofit work. From aspiring musician to business student to AmeriCorps alum, Sam’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, curiosity, and quiet leadership.

We talk about the impact of service, what it means to lead from behind the scenes, and why leadership doesn’t have to be loud. The conversation dives into the invisible power of operations in fundraising, the art of team culture, and navigating work relationships with empathy and humor.

If you’ve ever wondered whether being “the support” is just as valuable as being “the lead,” this episode proves that quiet work doesn’t just count, it holds everything together.

Job security is a myth.

In this inaugural episode of Everything Counts (but nothing is real), host Kristin interviews her partner Loren (they/them), an artist turned web developer turned business owner whose story embodies the everything counts spirit. Loren started in sculpture, taught themselves design and web, and said yes to the kinds of opportunities that don’t look like a plan, until they do. After nearly two decades in nonprofits, tech, and e-commerce, a layoff at 40 became the turning point.

We talk about the intersection of creativity and technology, the myth of job security, and the quiet rewards of building something on your own terms. Loren shares what self-employment has taught them about growth, money, and meaning and why believing companies will care about you as much as you care about them is… cute.

If you’ve ever wondered whether starting over is riskier than staying put, this conversation might rewrite your equation.

How to get in touch:

• [email protected]