Living BIG: Stories of Creativity, Courage, and Community

For the first time, the person usually working behind the scenes steps in front of the microphone. This week, podcast producer and BIG marketing director Chris Smith joins Becca and Meredith for a conversation about creativity, leadership, fatherhood, vulnerability, and why the performing arts are about so much more than performing. Chris shares how theater shaped his own life, why he and his wife...

In this episode of Living BIG , things are getting a little more... friendly Becca officially welcomes returning guest Meredith Garwood as the new co-host of the podcast, and together they dive into a conversation about adult friendship, authenticity, vulnerability, and what it actually takes to build meaningful community as grown-ups. From motherhood and marriage to loneliness, show choir, ADHD,...

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’...

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 th...

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 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 c...

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 Oma...

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca sits down with Meredith Garwood — leader, artist, and creative partner — to explore what it means to live big with both strength and heart. Meredith shares her journey back to creativity, the power of compassionate leadership, and why brave spaces don’t require being the loudest in the room.  This conversation is about integrity, excellence, community over comp...

What does it really mean to live BIG without regrets?  In this episode of Living Big, Becca sits down with theater director and educator Julie Murren for an honest conversation about community, creativity, and why the process matters just as much as the final product. Julie reflects on what “living BIG” looks like in real life, how community theater creates belonging, and why saying yes to meaning...

Episode 1: Welcome to Living BIG What does it really mean to live big? In the very first episode of Living BIG, host Becca Jackson Cusick invites you into the heart of a movement built on courage, creativity, and community. This podcast was born from one simple belief: people thrive when they’re brave enough to create and supported enough to try. Becca is joined by her first guest, Sandy, a studio...