Living BIG: Stories of Creativity, Courage, and Community

Living BIG w/ Jeanette Gallup: Risk, Creativity, and Building Brave Spaces

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca sits down with theater educator, director, and BIG Education Director Jeanette Gallup for a conversation about creativity, risk, and the power of building spaces where people feel seen. Jeanette shares her journey from discovering theater as a teenager in Miami to becoming a director, educator, and creative leader who believes art is more than performance —it’s transformation. Together, they explore intuition, storytelling, emotional safety in creative spaces, and why theater can become a catalyst for confidence, identity, and belonging. The conversation dives into the realities of educational theater, the importance of creating brave and supportive communities, and the moments that remind us why creativity matters in the first place. If you’ve ever needed a reminder to trust your instincts, take a risk, or reconnect with the creative parts of yourself, this episode is for you. Living BIG is about creativity, courage, and the communities that help us grow. Learn more at biginc.org [http://biginc.org]. ---------------------------------------- Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Jeanette Gallup 01:46 What “Living BIG” Means 02:39 Saying Yes to BIG 10:18 Discovering a Creative Life 14:13 Finding Theater & Identity 16:33 Becoming a Director 20:58 Visualization & Dreaming Bigger 21:19 Dreaming of In the Heights 23:05 The Joy of Directing 27:29 Transformation Through Theater 28:23 Building Brave Spaces at BIG 34:47 Seeing Growth in Students 35:13 Why Community Matters 37:45 One True Thing & Reflection 39:02 Self-Awareness & Growth 39:26 Why Jeanette Keeps Creating 41:23 Let’s Freaking Sing

Living BIG w/ Becky Cook: Change, Courage, and Living Outside the Boxes Boxes

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca sits down with educator-turned-corporate leader, creative, and community-builder Becky Cook for an honest conversation about growth, change, and stepping outside the boxes we build for ourselves. Becky shares her journey from art teacher to change management consultant, including the terrifying moment she left a stable career without a job lined up, and how that leap reshaped her confidence, identity, and purpose. Together, they explore what it means to live bravely, lead with empathy, and create space for people to show up fully as themselves. This conversation dives into creativity, community, leadership, and the kind of courage it takes to keep showing up, even when life feels uncertain. If you’re navigating change, craving growth, or learning to trust yourself in a new season, this episode is for you. Living BIG is about creativity, courage, and the communities that help us grow. Learn more at biginc.org [http://biginc.org]. ---------------------------------------- Episode Chapters: 00:00 Living BIG & Personal Growth 03:55 Creativity & Art Education 10:30 Community in Creative Spaces 14:01 The Power of Performance 14:19 Career Transitions 18:40 Empathy & Change 19:44 Leadership Dynamics 21:12 Leadership Lessons 24:27 Transformation Through Community 27:05 Excellence vs. Belonging 33:24 Passion & Community

Living BIG w/ Kelly Whisinnand: Creativity, Confidence, and Giving Kids a Voice

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca sits down with educator, creative, and community-builder Kelly Whisinnand for a conversation about the power of creativity to shape confidence, identity, and belonging. Kelly shares her journey working with young people and why her goal has never been to create perfect performers, but to help people discover their voice, express themselves, and feel ownership in who they are becoming. Together, they explore how creativity can be a lifeline in a noisy, overwhelming world, and why having an outlet isn’t optional, it’s essential. This conversation dives into the impact of arts education, the importance of giving people space to show up as they are, and how creativity builds more than skills—it builds people. If you care about confidence, community, and the kind of creativity that actually changes lives, this episode is for you. Living BIG is about creativity, courage, and the communities that help us grow. Learn more at biginc.org [http://biginc.org].

Living BIG w/ Cathy Hirsch: Creating Community and Just Doing the Thing

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca sits down with Omaha performer, producer, and community builder Cathy Hirsch for a conversation about creativity, courage, and building spaces where people can belong.  Cathy shares how a shy, anxious kid grew into someone who launches projects when nobody else will—co-founding the Candy Project, helping bring contemporary musical theater to Omaha stages, and creating opportunities for artists who simply wanted to perform the shows they loved. This conversation explores the power of creative community, the courage it takes to show up before you feel ready, and why sometimes the best response to “someone should do something about this” is simply: okay, let’s do it. Cathy reflects on a life that is spent saying "yes" to creativity, even when the timing, money, or confidence weren’t perfect. Living BIG is about creativity, courage, and the communities that help us grow. Learn more at biginc.org.

Living BIG w/ Matt Geiler: Creativity as a Practice

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca welcomes Nebraska-based performer, improviser, musician, and animator Matt Geiler for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity as a practice — not something you wait for permission to do. Matt shares how drawing and music became early creative lifelines, how comedy helped him navigate tension at home, and how community shaped his path from small-town to Omaha improv, touring with The Weisenheimers, and studying at Second City in Chicago. Together, Matt & Becca explore the importance of creative consistency, showing up on uninspired days, and why community matters even when the work itself can feel solitary. The conversation closes with a reflection on why art and beauty feel especially urgent right now—and why creativity may be “what we stay alive for.” Living BIG is more than a podcast. Learn more about our community at biginc.org.