Choosing Joy with Kristen Hartnagel

Episode DescriptionIn this powerful and deeply moving episode of the She Laughs podcast, Nancy sits down with keynote speaker, personal branding strategist, and founding Brand Builders Group member Kristen Hartnagel for an honest conversation about courage, grief, joy, and calling. Kristen shares her journey of taking bold leaps of faith in her career, navigating the devastating loss of her sister and parents, and learning how to let grief move through her without allowing it to define her life. Together, Nancy and Kristen explore what it means to honor emotions, pursue joy intentionally, and live fully even after profound loss. This episode is a reminder that fear does not get the final word and that joy is something we can choose, even in the hardest seasons.Episode SummaryKristen Hartnagel joins the She Laughs podcast to share her story of faith-led courage, resilience, and purpose. With over 30 years in sales and thousands of hours of coaching experience, Kristen reflects on the pivotal moment when she walked away from a secure job that no longer aligned with her values and stepped into what would become Brand Builders Group. The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Kristen opens up about losing her sister to ovarian cancer and both parents in a short span of time, and how her family’s spiritual foundation helped her process grief without becoming consumed by it.Throughout the episode, Kristen offers practical wisdom on how to allow emotions to move through us, how to support loved ones who are grieving, and how to communicate honestly about our needs. She also shares how creativity, music, and community have been essential to maintaining joy, including her role in an all-female rock band and her upcoming work with Evolve Now, a collaborative imagineering community. This conversation encourages listeners to face fear with clarity, invest wisely in their thoughts, and take meaningful steps toward the life God is calling them to live.What You’ll Hear in This EpisodeKristen explains why joy should guide career decisions and how listening to your body can signal when something is no longer aligned. She shares an intimate and faith-filled perspective on grief, loss, and walking loved ones home at the end of life. Nancy and Kristen discuss practical ways to grieve without suppressing emotions or letting them take over. The episode also explores how to support friends who are grieving or facing a difficult diagnosis with honesty and compassion. Kristen closes by offering a simple three-step mindset framework for overcoming fear and taking your next brave step forward.Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Kristen Hartnagel and her work 02:05 Taking a leap of faith and leaving a secure career 04:43 Choosing joy over fear in major life decisions 06:01 Kristen shares her family story and experience with loss 08:55 Timeline of her sister’s and parents’ illnesses and passing 11:38 Processing grief without letting it define your life 14:07 Allowing emotions to move through you 16:44 Practical ways to grieve and honor emotions 18:20 Supporting loved ones through grief and diagnosis 22:49 Communicating needs during seasons of loss 28:58 Finding joy through creativity and music 30:45 Personal branding, purpose, and serving from lived experience 32:15 Evolve Now and collaborative imagineering 33:08 Kristen’s band, The Six Pack, and creative fulfillment 35:33 Three steps to move past fear and take action 38:25 Final encouragement and closing reflectionsLinks MentionedBook a free strategy call with Kristen Hartnagel to discuss personal branding or Evolve Now Kristen Hartnagel YouTube channel The Six Pack band video “Spirit in the Sky”