S1. Ep #36 The Tougher the Day, The Kinder You Have to Be To Yourself- w/ Author, Speaker, Comedian, and Mental Health Advocate Kristina Kuzmic

Today's guest is author, speaker, comedian, and mental health advocate Kristina Kuzmic. Kristina is a cheerleader for her fellow humans. After immigrating to America from Croatia during the war in her homeland and later facing more challenges (divorce, single parenting, poverty, mental health challenges), Kristina’s goal became clear: to be for others what she needed when she was at her lowest. Now, with well over one billion video views, Kristina is providing her audience with encouragement, hope, and humor in a role she never expected to fill. In 2011, Oprah crowned Kristina the winner of Mark Burnett’s reality TV competition “Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star”. Since working with Oprah, Kristina has branched out on her own, creating videos about juggling life’s challenges, and encouraging her audience to prioritize their mental health. She quickly became a viral sensation with 2.9 million Facebook followers and over 800,000 Instagram followers.   Kristina is a sought-after international keynote speaker, delivering impactful talks at conferences on mental health, women's issues, parenting, business, and even for the FBI. Kristina has also completed two comedy tours, performing in over 60 cities across US and Canada. Her first book, Hold On But Don’t Hold Still, was released through Penguin Random House in February 2020, and has since been translated to eight languages. Kristina’s second book, I Can Fix This! (And Other Lies I’ve Told Myself while Parenting My Struggling Child), was released in May 2024, and was featured on Good Morning America, The New York Times and People magazine, among other media outlets.  Time Stamps:00:00 A Night to Remember00:37 Welcome to the Hollywood Second Act Club01:22 Meet Christina: A Story of Resilience01:37 The Birth of Wednesday Night Dinners10:16 From Dinners to Dreams12:28 Oprah's Competition: A Life-Changing Moment15:33 Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity17:32 Embracing Authenticity Over Perfection18:49 The Illusion of Perfectionism21:02 Creating Impactful Content23:38 Supporting Mental Health24:40 Mission Statement and Personal Growth30:31 Final Thoughts and FarewellConnect with Kristina:Instagram - @kristinakuzmicWebsite -www.kristinakuzmic.comJoin the Club :Follow on instagram - @hollywoodsecondactclubSign up for our Newsletter. Subscribe here. Website- www.hollywoodsecondactclub.comCoaching Services:If you are interested in coaching and working together, schedule a time for a virtual coffee and let’s talk! I'd love to hear about your goals and see if I can be helpful [email protected] Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I heart Alexis and The Hollywood Second Act Club Podcast" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more entertainment industry professionals–just like you–in crafting their own Fabulous Second Acts. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then, be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!Also, if you haven’t already, follow the podcast wherever you get your fix . I’ll be addinLove This Episode ? Send Me A Text Message and Let Me Know What Hit Home!