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.Episode Chapters:00:00 Introducing Jeanette Gallup01:46 What “Living BIG” Means02:39 Saying Yes to BIG10:18 Discovering a Creative Life14:13 Finding Theater & Identity16:33 Becoming a Director20:58 Visualization & Dreaming Bigger21:19 Dreaming of In the Heights23:05 The Joy of Directing27:29 Transformation Through Theater28:23 Building Brave Spaces at BIG34:47 Seeing Growth in Students35:13 Why Community Matters37:45 One True Thing & Reflection39:02 Self-Awareness & Growth39:26 Why Jeanette Keeps Creating41:23 Let’s Freaking Sing