Talk with Kristen (with an e)

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kristen welcomes her friend and sister-in-law, Kelly, for an honest conversation about the power of slowing down. After reaching a point of burnout at the end of 2024, Kelly shares how she began to mentally and emotionally reset by adjusting her routines, setting clear boundaries with work and family, and reconnecting with simple pleasures like coloring. Together,...

Send us Fan Mail In week two of the virtual book club, Kristen is joined again by Kelly and Alexis to dive into the first five lies from Perfect is Boring (And Tastes Like Kale) . Their conversation blends laughter, deep reflection, and candid truth-telling as they unpack relatable struggles with perfectionism, comparison, invisibility, and emotional exhaustion. The group reflects on how Jess John...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kristen reconnects with Amber and Paige—two best friends who’ve been through just about everything together. Their friendship kicked off in an airport on the way to bootcamp back in 2011, and what followed was a deep, sister-like bond built on shared experiences and showing up for each other through all of life’s curveballs. From surviving military training and sh...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the very first episode of our Virtual Book Club! Kristen, Kelly, and Alexis sit down to dive into Perfect Is Boring and Tastes Like Kale by Jess Johnston — a heartfelt and hilarious look at embracing our imperfections and finding connection through authenticity. We share what drew us to this book, our early reactions, some standout quotes, and a few personal stories abo...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes, the best friendships are the ones you never saw coming. In this episode, Kristen chats with her friend Emily about how a casual connection through a dance class turned into a meaningful friendship—despite a 16-year age gap. From running (and sometimes walking) 5Ks together to swapping life updates over coffee, their story is a reminder that friendship doesn’t have a rul...

Send us Fan Mail Maintaining friendships across time zones and life changes can be challenging, but some connections withstand the distance. In this episode, Kristen sits down with Kelly to explore the realities of long-distance friendships—how they begin, evolve, and sometimes fade. Kelly shares personal stories of childhood friends moving across the world, college friendships that didn’t last, a...

Send us Fan Mail Making friends as an adult isn’t always easy—it can feel a lot like dating, filled with awkward introductions, unspoken expectations, and the occasional heartbreak. In this episode, Kristen sits down with Dana to talk about the complexities of adult friendships, from navigating mom groups to figuring out where true connections lie. They reflect on how their own friendship began, t...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartwarming and relatable episode, Kristen is joined by her friend and sister-in-law,Kelly, to dig into the nuanced world of adult friendships. Together, they unpack everything from the unrealistic expectations we sometimes carry—like searching for a friend who’s basically a clone of ourselves—to the vulnerability it takes to actually make and maintain connections as grow...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, Kristen and Alexis explore the challenges and joys of adult friendships. Reflecting on their own experiences, they discuss the pressures of maintaining large social circles and what it truly means to find and nurture meaningful connections. They normalize the idea that having just one or two close friends is more than enough, emphasizing that quality mat...

Send us Fan Mail In this special bonus episode, Kristen introduces the podcast’s upcoming Friendship Series, exploring why making and maintaining friendships as an adult often feels more challenging than in childhood or college. She reflects on the evolving nature of friendships, the impact of social media, and common struggles in building meaningful connections. She also shares a sneak peek at th...

Send us Fan Mail This episode takes a nostalgic dive into the golden age of beauty blogging with special guest Arielle. Together, she and Kristen reflect on their experiences in the beauty blogging world of the early 2010s, a time when written blogs and YouTube tutorials dominated the scene. They discuss how they got started, the lessons they learned, and how the industry has evolved. From the ear...

Send us Fan Mail Kristen and Alexis dive into their experiences growing up in the height of purity culture—also known as the True Love Waits movement. From youth group pledges to fear-based messaging that framed sex as the ultimate sin, they explore how these teachings shaped their views on relationships, intimacy, and self-worth. They also reflect on the lingering effects of shame in marriage and...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to completely transform daily habits and mindset? In this episode, Tayler shares how a spontaneous decision to start the 75 Hard challenge in 2023 led to a profound lifestyle shift. She opens up about her past struggles with drinking and smoking, the routines she once believed were unbreakable, and the discipline it took to make lasting changes. From saving thous...

Send us Fan Mail Many women find themselves stuck in survival mode, longing to thrive but unsure how to get there. In this episode, Kristen welcomes Tiffany Patterson, a certified natural health professional, transformational life coach, and angelic reiki master teacher, to discuss the path to true alignment. Tiffany shares her expertise in helping women break free from exhaustion, societal expect...

Send us Fan Mail Who are you at your core? Beyond the labels and roles, what truly makes you you ? In this episode, Kristen takes a reflective journey into the experiences and relationships that have influenced her identity, using a playful and relatable lens: her eclectic taste in music. From oldies with her mom to emo and indie rock via past relationships, Kristen unpacks how much of her persona...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid and thought-provoking episode, Kristen and Alexis dive into the complexities of beauty, aging, and self-acceptance. They discuss everything from hair transformations (including some dramatic ones), societal expectations around women’s appearances, and the internal debate over whether to embrace gray hair or keep up with the upkeep. The conversation also explores the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kristen dives into the topic of body image, reflecting on how societal standards, media influences, and personal perceptions have shaped her relationship with her body over the years. From the skinny ideals of the late '90s and early 2000s to the complexities of adulthood and the body positivity movement, she shares candid journal entries, magazine clippings,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kristen chats with Alexis about the power of books as an escape from the chaos of life. From ditching doom scrolling to finding solace in historical fiction, romance, fantasy, and even post-apocalyptic zombie novels, they share their reading journeys and favorite reads. They dive into the art of DNF (Did Not Finish) and why it’s okay to walk away from a book that...

Send us Fan Mail In this first Dear Diary segment, Kristen shares journal entries from her 16-year-old self, revisiting a short-lived high school crush full of notes, Skittles, and a sweet cappuccino moment. Through the nostalgia and drama, she reflects on how teenage insecurities—like the fear of rejection and caring too much about others’ opinions—still resonate today. Join Kristen for laughs, i...

Send us Fan Mail Kristen and Laura tackle the challenge of setting and maintaining boundaries in both personal and professional spaces. They explore how boundaries can alleviate workplace burnout, improve relationships, and create a healthier balance in life. Laura shares her journey of discovering mindfulness tools like 10-Minute Mindfulness to aid her boundary-setting process, while Kristen emph...

Send us Fan Mail In this introductory episode, Kristen (with an E) shares the heart behind her podcast, blending personal quirks, a love for nostalgia, and her journey of self-discovery. Learn what inspired her to create a space for real conversations about friendships, people-pleasing, burnout, and more. Whether you’re here to laugh, think, or connect, this podcast is your new place for relatable...

Send us Fan Mail Burnout isn’t just workplace exhaustion—it’s a full-body and mind experience. In this episode, Kristen and Laura define burnout, explore its impact on personal and professional lives, and discuss how to recognize the signs before it's too late. Laura shares her personal journey with burnout, how therapy illuminated the stressors affecting her marriage and work-life balance, a...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Talk with Kristen (with an E): because it’s cheaper than therapy. This podcast is your new space for real conversations about life, friendships, burnout, people-pleasing, and everything in between. Join Kristen as she blends humor, self-discovery, and nostalgia to create a comforting, relatable, and thought-provoking listening experience. Whether you're here to lau...