Rebrand Pending

What actually happens after you quit your job, bet on yourself, and go all in?

Summer Cromwell is back on the podcast for a raw, honest update on life after choosing full-time entrepreneurship. In her first episodes, she opened up about leaving her 9 to 5, building her coaching business, healing her relationship with her body, and learning to “embody her” before becoming her.

Now we’re asking the real questions:

• Did it work?
• What changed?
• What got harder?
• What surprised her most?
• And would she do it again?

In this episode, we talk about:

• The emotional reality of entrepreneurship
• Money pressure and mindset shifts
• Growth vs. alignment
• Social media authenticity in a clickbait world
• Embodiment, identity evolution, and stepping into your next level
• Relationships, ambition, and building a life you actually want

If you’ve ever dreamed of quitting your job, growing your business, becoming more confident, or stepping into the next version of yourself, this conversation is for you.

This is not highlight reel entrepreneurship.
This is the real story.

Follow Summer:
Instagram + TikTok + YouTube: @summacromie

Listen, share, and tag us with your biggest takeaway.

Kristen and Hazel talk about the best mistakes they’ve ever made.

From questionable financial decisions and chaotic dating experiences to spontaneous life changes and hilarious stories from the past, they unpack the moments that might have looked like mistakes at the time but ended up shaping their lives in unexpected ways.

Some mistakes lead to personal growth.
Some turn into great stories.
And some are just… objectively ridiculous.

In this episode they discuss:

• The difference between mistakes and life lessons
• Risky decisions that actually paid off
• Dating choices that taught important boundaries
• Leaving jobs and moving cities without a plan
• The importance of trusting your gut
• And one very unexpected snowmobile story

It’s a mix of reflection, humor, and the reminder that sometimes the “wrong” decision leads you exactly where you needed to go.

Because not every mistake is actually a mistake.

Chapters

• 00:00 Morning Adventures and Sourdough Bread
• 08:00 The Best Mistakes
• 20:32 Snowmobile Cop Chase
• 26:55 The Importance of Self-Care and Wellness
• 35:00 Home Improvement and Future Plans
• 40:21 Permits, Renovations, and Property Management
• 50:08 Planning for the Future and Final Remarks

Kristen and Hazel play a round of Would You Rather, but the questions quickly turn into deeper conversations about life, career, money, and personal growth.

What starts as simple choices turns into honest debates about things like:

• Outgrowing people vs staying comfortable in your current life
• Working for yourself vs having a stable job
• Choosing alignment vs choosing higher pay
• The trade-offs people make in relationships, careers, and lifestyle

Some questions are light and funny, others get surprisingly deep, and a few reveal how differently people approach life decisions.

It’s a mix of hot takes, personal perspectives, and the kind of conversations that make you stop and think about what you’d actually choose.

So… what would you pick?

Chapters

• 00:00 Life Choices and Preferences
• 13:04 Dream Life and Home Preferences
• 21:34 Dreams and Aspirations
• 26:56 Life Choices
• 34:31 Relationships and Lifestyle
• 41:35 Financial Future and Wealth
• 47:27 Legacy and Recognition
• 52:46 Plants and Home Decor
• 59:08 Household Environment

Kristen and Hazel dive into the everyday things that feel like total scams.

From credit scores and tipping culture to extended warranties, corporate promotions, and the wedding industry, they break down the systems that make people question whether modern life is just one big upsell.

Some of these “scams” are funny. Some are frustrating. And some reveal bigger problems with the way certain industries are designed.

Along the way they talk about:

• Why award shows sometimes feel more like marketing than recognition
• The strange logic behind credit scores and debt
• Why internal promotions can sometimes hold people back financially
• The reality of tipping culture today
• Upselling tactics from internet providers
• Membership models that rely on people forgetting to cancel
• Wedding industry markups and why big weddings aren’t always worth it
• Influencer marketing and the lack of protections in the industry

It’s a mix of hot takes, personal experiences, and the kind of conversations that make you say, “Wait… that actually is kind of a scam.”

If you’ve ever questioned the systems we all just accept as normal, this episode is for you.

Chapters

• 00:00 Technology and Parking Tickets
• 10:41 Internal Promotions and Corporate Practices
• 23:52 Insurance Timelines and Extended Warranties
• 37:37 Influencer Industry
• 44:35 Membership Models

Hazel opens up about the deeply personal decision to write a book about surviving an abusive marriage, and why sharing difficult stories might be one of the most powerful ways to create change.

What started as a quiet idea over the holidays quickly turned into something much bigger. From requesting her own case files from a women’s shelter to navigating the emotional toll of revisiting the past, Hazel shares the real process of turning trauma into storytelling. Along the way, she and Kristen talk about the systems meant to support survivors, the stigma around failed marriages, and the generational shifts that have given women more freedom to leave unhealthy relationships.

They also dive into the messy realities of healing, building a platform to talk about hard topics online, and why Hazel is considering self-publishing as a way to keep control over her own story.

This conversation is honest, emotional, and surprisingly funny in moments, exactly what you’d expect from Rebrand Pending.

In this episode:

• Why Hazel decided to write a book about domestic violence
• The emotional impact of revisiting old case files
• How trauma can show up physically in the body
• The challenges of sharing vulnerable stories online
• Self-publishing vs traditional publishing
• Why women’s stories deserve to be told

If you or someone you know is navigating difficult relationships, this conversation may remind you that you're not alone and that there is a way forward.

Follow the podcast:
New episodes of Rebrand Pending every week.

Today's Topics:
domestic violence awareness, healing after abuse, writing a memoir, women’s stories, trauma recovery, relationships, self-publishing, storytelling.

Chapters

• 00:00 Navigating Trauma and its Physical Impact
• 13:05 Empowerment through Storytelling
• 24:23 Navigating Confusion and Strategic Planning
• 30:27 The Choice to Report and Impact on Others
• 35:30 Navigating Feedback and Audience

Unsolicited Advice: Money in Marriage, Stop Chasing People & Protect Your Mornings

We talk about:

• Competing in a hoop competition and performing when you can barely see the stage
• Why building a house should include soundproofing, not just aesthetic panels
• Fast fashion, overconsumption, and why we need to stop ordering low-quality clothes we don’t need
• The influencer economy and selling people problems they didn’t know they had
• Why you cannot afford to date or marry a loser
• Financial compatibility in relationships and how spending habits make or break a partnership
• Stop chasing people, if they like you it will be obvious
• The way someone talks about others is how they talk about you
• Why the world is bigger than your small circle, in business and in life
• Protecting your mornings before the world starts demanding from you

It’s part relationship advice, part money talk, part personal standards, and part “why are we like this.”

If you’re building a life, a business, or a partnership, this one will hit.

Chapters

• 00:00 Morning Conversations at 1 p.m.
• 15:33 Valentine's Day Advice
• 31:00 Being True to Yourself and Relationships

Next week we’re giving advice no one asked for.

We’re talking:

• Why you can’t afford to date a loser
• Money dynamics in relationships
• Stop chasing people
• Fast fashion and overconsumption
• Protecting your mornings like your sanity depends on it

It starts with hoop competitions and house upgrades… and ends with standards, identity, and what you will and will not tolerate.

If you’ve ever questioned your relationship, your spending habits, or your routine, this one is for you.

Episode drops next Wednesday.

Is small town living a limitation or an opportunity? In this episode, we unpack the mindset shift required to create success anywhere, from small town entrepreneurship and homeownership sacrifices to social media strategy and unpopular opinions.

We dive into the difference between weddings and marriages, the real meaning behind “fake it till you make it,” the impact of dating apps, therapy culture, and the myth of resiliency. Plus, cold plunges, spa stories, vacation preferences, and honest conversations about building a life you actually want.

If you’re navigating business, relationships, homeownership, and big dreams in a small town, this episode is for you.

Takeaways

• The impact of mindset on small town opportunities. Creating opportunities in small towns
• The sacrifice and commitment of homeownership Cold plunges and spa adventures can be exhilarating and memorable experiences.
• The distinction between weddings and marriages highlights the importance of building and growing together as a couple.

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding Social Sciences
• 06:11 Vacation Preferences and Unpopular Opinions
• 13:46 Small Town Opportunities and Mindset
• 21:52 Opportunities in Small Town Living
• 32:33 The Sacrifice of Homeownership
• 43:05 Home Improvement and Lifestyle Choices
• 48:23 The Impact of Dating Apps
• 55:29 The Role of Social Media in Business
• 01:03:46 Weddings vs. Marriages
• 01:09:44 The Myth of Resiliency

In this episode, we spiral from stoicism and “resting bitch face” into dentist trauma, delusional dreams, and building a wildly ambitious long term life plan.

We talk about the art of staying calm on the outside while chaos lives within, unpack questionable dentist experiences, and then fully commit to dreaming bigger than feels responsible. Think dream property, outdoor living spaces, multiple houses, guest retreats, investing for early retirement, unlimited travel budgets, and yes… helicopter aspirations.

If you love conversations about mindset, big vision planning, lifestyle design, investing, retirement strategy, travel goals, and building your ideal property from the ground up, this one is for you.

Takeaways

• Delusional dreams
• Long-term planning Dream property and outdoor living space
• Future plans and aspirations

Chapters

• 00:00 The Art of Stoicism and Resting Bitch Face
• 04:57 Delusional Dreams and Long-Term Planning
• 27:24 Travel Plans and Redoing Experiences
• 38:38 Outdoor Living Space and Work Environment
• 45:52 Investing and Retirement Planning
• 53:23 Unlimited Travel Budget and Helicopter Aspirations

How do you know when something is no longer aligned in your career, relationship, or life?

In this episode, we talk about recognizing misalignment, planning a strategic exit, and what happens when uncomfortable work environments force you to think fast. We share personal experiences navigating workplace harassment, difficult dynamics, and the emotional weight of leaving something that no longer fits.

We also dive into:

• How to recognize when it’s time to unsubscribe from a job, relationship, or identity
• Exit planning strategies that protect your confidence and future
• The reality of workplace harassment and its impact on decision making
• Building trust in relationships and professional environments
• The shift to remote work and how it changes opportunity
• Developing confidence through discomfort
• Embracing change with a growth mindset

If you’re navigating career transitions, toxic workplaces, personal growth, or considering a big life pivot, this episode will help you think clearly and move intentionally.

Subscribe for honest conversations about career growth, entrepreneurship, relationships, confidence, and building a life that actually feels aligned.

Chapters

• 00:00 Car Troubles and Quick Thinking
• 21:02 Recognizing Alignment and Unsubscribing
• 26:57 Handling Workplace Harassment
• 37:57 Building Trust in Relationships and Workplaces
• 46:16 Confidence and Self-Discovery
• 53:06 Embracing Change and Growth Mindset