The Anti-Hustle Blueprint: How This Veteran-Turned-CEO Uses Automation, Energy Management & Mental Health Boundaries to Lead on Her Own Terms

Why Your Company Culture Is Costing You Talent — And What to Do About It with Organizational Development Expert Kristin Chase

In this episode of The Bigger Braver Life Show, I'm sitting down with Kristin Chase, organizational development consultant, culture strategist, and executive coach with over 24 years of experience helping organizations and leaders thrive through growth and change. After leading the OD team at Universal Orlando Resort for 22 years, growing it from 3 to 15 people and building culture systems that scaled across one of the most diverse workforces in the world. Kristen is now channeling all of that expertise into her own consulting firm, Chase Talent Development. This is one of those conversations that will completely reframe the way you think about your team, your leadership pipeline, and the invisible architecture holding your organization together. Whether you lead a team of 5 or 5,000 — this episode will show you the gaps you didn't know you had. In This Episode, You'll Discover: 🎢 22 Years at Universal — What Building Culture at Scale Actually Looks Like From entertainers in the park to C-suite executives, Kristin shares what it took to design people systems that worked across one of the most diverse, high-volume workforces in the world — and what smaller organizations can steal from that playbook right now. 🏗️ The Architecture of Great Leadership Why the most powerful thing a senior leader can do is stop doing the work — and how to make the shift from hands-on operator to strategic visionary without losing the passion that got you there. 🌱 Succession Planning Isn't Just for Corporations The honest truth about why most businesses — from startups to mid-size companies — have no plan for what happens when a key leader walks out the door, and the simple, low-tech framework you can start using today. 📊 The 9-Box Tool That Changes the Conversation A practical, no-jargon breakdown of the performance-vs-potential matrix that Fortune 500 companies use to identify their next generation of leaders — and how to adapt it for your own team, no expensive software required. 🗣️ Why Most Culture Work Fails Before It Starts The hidden communication mistake that even experienced leaders make — and how Kristin learned to read the room, adapt her message, and actually get organizational buy-in across wildly different audiences. 🚀 From Corporate to Consulting: What Entrepreneurship Really Feels Like at 90 Days In Kristin's refreshingly honest take on what it's like to leave a 22-year career and build something of your own — including the inner drive, structure, and mindset it takes to thrive without a roadmap. ⚖️ The Bias for Action Trap Why high-performing leaders are often the worst at rest — and how Kristin learned that "doing nothing" is sometimes the highest-leverage move you can make as a leader. This episode is for you if you're: ✔ A founder, executive, or people leader who wants to build a culture that doesn't depend entirely on you ✔ A growing business owner who knows succession planning matters but has no idea where to start ✔ A leader navigating the shift from doing the work to leading the work — and feeling the tension of letting go ✔ Someone who's been running on fumes and is ready to hear that rest is actually part of the strategy Free Resource from Kristin: 📋 Culture Checklist — a self-guided diagnostic to help you identify where your organization is thriving and where there's real opportunity to grow. 👉 Download it at chasetd.com [https://www.chasetd.com] Work with Angela: 🔗 1:1 Leadership & Mindset Coaching [https://yourcallwithangela.as.me/schedule/d7e376c7/appointment/37618203/calendar/4073952?appointmentTypeIds%5B%5D=37618203] 🌐 angelamarie.co [https://angelamarie.co] 📩 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter for leadership + nervous-system insights delivered straight to your inbox Connect with Kristin Chase: 🌐 chasetd.com [https://www.chasetd.com] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinchase/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinchase/] Loved this episode? Subscribe to The Bigger Braver Life Show and leave a review — it helps more leaders find these conversations when they need them most. And if you're sitting there thinking: "I've been building this thing and hoping culture just… happens" — It's time to be the architect. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Podcast and leave a review so it reaches more leaders like you! You can reach Angela here: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theangelamariewilliams/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/theangelamariewilliams/] @theangelamariewilliams Learn more, add more resources to your toolkit, and apply to work with Angela here: https://www.angelamarie.co/ [https://www.angelamarie.co/] Music Credit: Produced by G-Rod *While Angela is a licensed psychotherapist, this show is purely for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not a substitute for mental health treatment. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal health advice.

The Anti-Hustle Blueprint: How This Veteran-Turned-CEO Uses Automation, Energy Management & Mental Health Boundaries to Lead on Her Own Terms

In this episode of The Bigger Braver Life Show, I'm sitting down in person with Heather Hargrove — Board Advisor, Fractional CSO/COO, systems and automation expert, and one of the most refreshingly honest voices on entrepreneurship, mental health, and what sustainable leadership actually looks like from the inside out. Heather's path is a masterclass in radical self-trust: ROTC in high school, two tours in Iraq, corporate operations, a degree she never used, two kids she raised while working and earning her master's — and eventually, a business she built by following the one thing that never lied to her: her own energy. She didn't set out to become an entrepreneur. She set out to stop surviving and start thriving — and the systems she built along the way changed everything. If you've ever felt like the traditional business model was slowly draining the life out of you — this conversation is your permission slip to do it differently. In This Episode, You'll Discover: 🪖 The Military-to-Entrepreneur Mindset Shift What two tours in Iraq, a gut feeling, and one entrepreneur event in Nashville taught Heather about trusting herself — and how she turned her hyper-vigilance into a superpower for building airtight business systems. 🧠 Building a Business Around Your Nervous System How Heather's anxiety, PTSD, and chronic fatigue became the blueprint for designing a business model that actually works with her body — not against it. ⚡ Flow States, Energy Cycles & the Art of Deep Work Why tracking your daily energy rhythms is one of the most underrated productivity strategies available — and how Heather structures her entire day around when she's actually on fire. 🔄 Why Automation Is a Mental Health Strategy The real reason smart systems aren't just about efficiency — they're about protecting your capacity, reducing decision fatigue, and creating the freedom to step away without everything falling apart. 🚫 The Hidden Cost of Saying Yes to Everything From hustle culture to high-performing teams — why learning to say no was the most profitable decision Heather ever made, and how it transformed the way she leads and sells. 💬 Rejection, Sales & the Harvard Effect The mindset reframe that took Heather from dreading sales calls to owning every conversation — and why the most confident leaders treat every pitch like they're the one doing the interviewing. 🌿 Mental Health, Leadership & the Bigger Picture An honest conversation about panic attacks, parenting through burnout, and why taking care of your nervous system isn't a luxury for high performers — it's the strategy that makes everything else possible. This episode is for you if you're: ✔ A leader, entrepreneur, or high performer who's exhausted by systems that weren't built for your kind of brain ✔ A woman in business navigating the intersection of mental health, motherhood, and ambition ✔ Someone ready to trade the hustle for sustainable, high-impact work that actually feels good Resources & Next Steps Work with Angela: 🔗 1:1 Leadership & Mindset Coaching [https://yourcallwithangela.as.me/schedule/d7e376c7/appointment/37618203/calendar/4073952?appointmentTypeIds%5B%5D=37618203] 🌐 angelamarie.co [https://angelamarie.co] 📩 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter for leadership + nervous-system insights delivered straight to your inbox Connect with Heather Hargrove: 🌐 heatherhargrove.com [https://heatherhargrove.com] 💼 LinkedIn: @theheatherhargrove [https://www.linkedin.com/in/theheatherhargrove] 🎤 Speaking Inquiries: speaking@heatherhargrove.com [speaking@heatherhargrove.com] Loved this episode? Subscribe to The Bigger Braver Life Show and leave a review — it helps more leaders, founders, and high performers find these conversations when they need them most. And if you're listening thinking: "I've been grinding in a system that was never built for me" — It's time to build one that was. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Podcast and leave a review so it reaches more leaders like you! You can reach Angela here: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theangelamariewilliams/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/theangelamariewilliams/] @theangelamariewilliams Learn more, add more resources to your toolkit, and apply to work with Angela here: https://www.angelamarie.co/ [https://www.angelamarie.co/] Music Credit: Produced by G-Rod *While Angela is a licensed psychotherapist, this show is purely for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not a substitute for mental health treatment. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal health advice.

Default Disrupted x Bigger Braver Life: Nervous-System Leadership, Identity Shifts & Becoming Visible Without Self-Sabotage

Welcome back to Season 3 of The Bigger Braver Life Show. I’m Angela Williams, a licensed clinical social worker and leadership mindset coach, and this season, I’m exploring something I care deeply about: the intersection of leadership, mental health, creativity, and nervous-system capacity. In today’s episode, I’m sharing a special collaborative conversation originally recorded on Jacqueline Paumier’s podcast, Default Disrupted [https://open.spotify.com/show/6fZSEnDjJFv6KK7T2VYI8Q?si=10098735c2084871] — a show for the chain breakers and change makers who are challenging the default settings in their industries. Jacqueline (brand whisperer + creative visionary) invited me into a powerful discussion about what it really looks like to lead through identity shifts, navigate the “messy middle” of becoming more visible, and stop letting nervous-system fear disguise itself as perfectionism, procrastination, or “waiting for the right time.” We also talk about why internal work and external brand work shouldn’t live in separate silos — and how our collaboration supports leaders who are building bold brands without abandoning their authenticity, humanity, or capacity. This conversation is honest, high-impact, and deeply validating — especially if you’re in a season where you’re evolving, expanding, and feeling the internal resistance that comes with stepping into the next version of you. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: 🔥 Disrupting the Default Version of You What changes when you introduce yourself as who you truly are — not the watered-down, “status quo” version. 🧠 Identity Shifts & Nervous-System Resistance Why even desired growth can trigger fear, avoidance, and shutdown — and how to recognize the signs. ⏳ Perfectionism as Self-Protection “Do it ugly, not perfect” — and how waiting for the perfect moment can actually be your nervous system trying to keep you safe. 🚫 Self-Sabotage Patterns That Look Like “Rest” How procrastination, avoidance, overthinking, and emotional numbing can quietly block your next level. 💬 Unfiltered Branding & Being Fully Seen Why leaders often show 80–90% of themselves publicly — and how the last 10% can be the key to breaking through the ceiling. 🤝 The Power of Holistic Support Why brand work + mindset work together creates faster clarity, deeper confidence, and more sustainable expansion. 🌿 Marketing Without Losing Your Integrity Reframing visibility, selling, and storytelling as connection and problem-solving — not performance or pressure. RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS Start your self-development journey with Angela: 1:1 Leadership & Mindset Coaching [https://yourcallwithangela.as.me/schedule/d7e376c7/appointment/37618203/calendar/4073952?appointmentTypeIds[]=37618203] 🌐 Website: https://angelamarie.co [https://angelamarie.co] 📩 Join the newsletter for weekly leadership + nervous-system insights Connect with Jacqueline Paumier & Default Disrupted: 🎙️ Podcast: Default Disrupted [https://open.spotify.com/show/6fZSEnDjJFv6KK7T2VYI8Q?si=10098735c2084871] 🌐 Collaborative offers + brand direction: https://emboldenproductions.com [https://emboldenproductions.com] If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to subscribe to The Bigger Braver Life Show and leave a review — it helps more leaders find these conversations and gives the show room to grow. And if you’re listening thinking, “This is me — I’m in the messy middle of becoming.” You’re not behind. You’re in the becoming. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Podcast and leave a review so it reaches more leaders like you! You can reach Angela here: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theangelamariewilliams/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/theangelamariewilliams/] @theangelamariewilliams Learn more, add more resources to your toolkit, and apply to work with Angela here: https://www.angelamarie.co/ [https://www.angelamarie.co/] Music Credit: Produced by G-Rod *While Angela is a licensed psychotherapist, this show is purely for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not a substitute for mental health treatment. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal health advice.

Do It Ugly, Not Perfect: Leadership, Mindset & Programmatic Marketing with Helene Parker

Welcome back to Season 3 of The Bigger Braver Life Show. I’m Angela Williams, a licensed clinical social worker and leadership mindset coach, and this season, I’m exploring something I care deeply about: the intersection of leadership, mental health, creativity, and nervous-system capacity. In this episode, I’m joined by Hélène Parker, founder and CEO of Hélène Parker Consulting, a programmatic media solutions company that offers training and workshops for teams who want to become more knowledgeable, confident, and efficient in the world of digital advertising and programmatic media. Hélène is also personally special to this show because she was one of the inspiring forces behind this podcast launch. She encouraged me to start before I felt “ready,” reminding me that someone needed to hear these conversations now, not later — and that perfectionism is often just fear dressed up as strategy. Her message was simple and powerful: do it ugly, not perfect — then adjust and optimize. Hélène's journey as an entrepreneur is rooted in both skill and resilience. After years working in ad agencies and navigating the reality of being a woman of color whose voice was often minimized, she chose to build something of her own. What started as freelance programmatic support quickly evolved into a thriving consulting company, a training accelerator program for junior talent, and a bigger mission: helping people grow their skills, expand their opportunities, and step into work that fits their strengths and lifestyle. This conversation is equal parts practical and empowering — especially for founders, CEOs, and emerging leaders who are building offers, learning marketing, and working through the mindset shifts required to grow something sustainable. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: 📣 Do It Ugly, Not Perfect Why waiting for the “right time” keeps you stuck — and how momentum is built through action, not perfection. 🎯 What Programmatic Advertising Actually Is A clear breakdown of programmatic media (and where you’re seeing it every day — streaming platforms, apps, digital screens, and more). 📈 Marketing Strategy for Business Owners Why paid ads shouldn’t replace organic marketing — and how to use ads to complement strong content and outreach. 🧠 Mindset, Coaching & Leadership Growth Why talent isn’t enough without mindset support — and how coaching accelerates clarity, confidence, and execution. 💼 From Corporate Burnout to Purpose-Led Business Ellen’s shift from agency life and code-switching to building a business rooted in her voice, expertise, and values. 🌱 Building & Scaling a Training Program How Ellen’s “start small, improve as you go” approach helped her create a successful accelerator — and why iteration is the real path to growth. ✨ Purpose Over Pressure Why no market is truly saturated — and how finding your purpose (or “zone of genius”) makes it easier to stay consistent through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS Start your self-development journey with Angela: 1:1 Leadership & Mindset Coaching [https://yourcallwithangela.as.me/schedule/d7e376c7/appointment/37618203/calendar/4073952?appointmentTypeIds[]=37618203] Connect with Hélène Parker & Hélène Parker Consulting: 🌐 Website: https://heleneparker.com [https://heleneparker.com] 📩 Email: info@heleneparker.com [https://info@heleneparker.com] 🎙️ Podcast: Programmatic Digest 📸 Instagram: @programmaticdigestpodcast If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe to The Bigger Braver Life Show and leave a review — it helps more leaders find these conversations and keeps this work growing. For questions, collaborations, or coaching inquiries, contact Angela at angela@angelamarie.co [https://angela@angelamarie.co] and join the newsletter for weekly leadership and nervous-system insights. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Podcast and leave a review so it reaches more leaders like you! You can reach Angela here: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theangelamariewilliams/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/theangelamariewilliams/] @theangelamariewilliams Learn more, add more resources to your toolkit, and apply to work with Angela here: https://www.angelamarie.co/ [https://www.angelamarie.co/] Music Credit: Produced by G-Rod *While Angela is a licensed psychotherapist, this show is purely for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not a substitute for mental health treatment. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal health advice.

Embodied Leadership, Confidence & Creative Power: Reclaiming Feminine Energy with Bunny Divine

Welcome back to Season 3 of The Bigger Braver Life Show. I’m Angela Williams, a licensed clinical social worker and leadership mindset coach, and this season, I’m exploring something I care deeply about: the intersection of leadership, mental health, creativity, embodiment, and nervous-system capacity. In this episode, I’m joined by Bunny Divine, a burlesque performer, showgirl, choreographer, show producer, teacher, and visionary — and the headmistress of a one-of-a-kind Showgirls School in Switzerland. Through the art of burlesque and striptease, Bunny empowers women to bring fun, confidence, and embodied self-trust back into their lives. Bunny’s journey into burlesque began just a few years ago, challenging the belief that creativity, dance, or self-expression must start early in life. What began as curiosity quickly became expansion — leading to the creation of her own school, performance troupe, online programs, and a growing international community of students. Her work is rooted in the belief that embodiment, play, and pleasure are not indulgences — they are pathways to confidence, intuition, and personal power. Through safe, consent-centered spaces, Bunny helps women reconnect with their bodies, trust their instincts, and explore all facets of who they are. This conversation is playful, expansive, and deeply affirming — especially for leaders, creatives, and women who want to reclaim joy, confidence, and intuitive leadership in a world that often demands constant productivity. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: 💃 Embodied Leadership & Burlesque as Self-Expression How burlesque shifts women from object to subject — reclaiming agency, choice, and power. 🔥 Starting Later & Expanding Anyway Why it’s never too late to begin something new — and how desire and curiosity fuel growth. 🧠 Embodiment, Intuition & Nervous-System Trust How listening to your body strengthens boundaries, decision-making, and leadership confidence. 🎨 Creativity, Play & Confidence Why fun is not frivolous — and how play builds resilience, magnetism, and self-trust. 👠 Feminine Power Without Shame Reframing femininity as strong, wise, and powerful — not weak or performative. 🌍 Community, Safety & Self-Expression How Bunny created inclusive spaces for exploration, consent, and creative freedom — both in person and online. ✨ The Three Rules of Burlesque (and Life) Have fun. Have fun. And remember: everything is a can, nothing is a must. RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS Start your self-development journey with Angela: 1:1 Leadership & Mindset Coaching [https://yourcallwithangela.as.me/schedule/d7e376c7/appointment/37618203/calendar/4073952?appointmentTypeIds[]=37618203] Connect with Bunny Divine: 📸 Instagram: @bunnydivine 🎭 Patreon: Burlesque with Bunny (online classes & embodiment practices) If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe to The Bigger Braver Life Show and leave a review — it helps more leaders find these conversations. For questions, collaborations, or coaching inquiries, contact Angela at angela@angelamarie.co [https://angela@angelamarie.co] and join the newsletter for weekly leadership and nervous-system insights. This episode is a reminder: leadership doesn’t have to be rigid — it can be playful, embodied, and deeply human. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Podcast and leave a review so it reaches more leaders like you! You can reach Angela here: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theangelamariewilliams/] & LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/theangelamariewilliams/] @theangelamariewilliams Learn more, add more resources to your toolkit, and apply to work with Angela here: https://www.angelamarie.co/ [https://www.angelamarie.co/] Music Credit: Produced by G-Rod *While Angela is a licensed psychotherapist, this show is purely for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not a substitute for mental health treatment. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal health advice.