Chicks with Specs Podcast

In this second part of Chicks with Specs, Crystal and Kristin continue their conversation with Tee, diving deeper into the idea of a personal “North Star” and what it means to live with purpose beyond any single job or role. Tee frames life through the lens of infinite vs. finite games—where careers, projects, and roles are temporary, but a guiding mission, like advancing spatial thinking, remains constant.The conversation weaves through personal identity, ADHD, creativity, and the challenge of finishing what you start, with practical strategies like timeboxing and managing flow state. Tee emphasizes that purpose isn’t about perfection or output, but consistency and alignment—small daily actions that connect back to a larger mission. Crystal and Kristin reflect on their own evolving North Stars, touching on storytelling, connection, and creating spaces where people feel seen and heard.As the discussion turns more personal, the group explores communication, emotional awareness, and the importance of curiosity over judgment. Tee’s philosophy centers on helping people articulate their ideas without defensiveness and creating environments where others can expand, not shrink. The episode closes with reflections on gratitude, global connection, and a simple but powerful principle: when the alarm goes off—literally or metaphorically—act on the decision your rational self already made.

In this episode of Chicks with Specs, Kristin and Crystal sit down with someone who has quietly shaped both of their lives—and the podcast itself—producer, geographer, and professional chaos agent Tee.What starts as a casual conversation quickly turns into a wide-ranging exploration of identity, resilience, and what it means to live authentically in both personal and professional spaces.Tee shares their unconventional path from Kansas to Washington, D.C., a career spanning geospatial intelligence, disaster response, and startups, and the decision to publicly come out as queer and nonbinary in the workplace. Along the way, the conversation digs into the real meaning behind pronouns, the constant calculus of safety that queer people navigate in everyday life, and the power of visibility for people who are still figuring out where they belong.The discussion also turns deeply personal. Tee opens up about surviving a life-threatening medical crisis, navigating divorce and single parenthood, and the mindset that helped them rebuild again and again. Their concept of “regeneration”—the ability to get knocked down and still come back stronger—becomes the emotional center of the episode.

In this reflective and deeply honest third episode, Kristin and Crystal turn the lens from finding your people to the harder truth: recognizing when someone you hoped would be your person… isn’t. Through candid stories from friendship, work, and personal growth, they explore the quiet grief of misplaced trust, the subtle warning signs we often ignore, and the emotional toll of relationships built on charisma rather than consistency. With vulnerability and compassion—not blame—they unpack boundaries, self-protection, and the courage it takes to let go of connections that no longer serve you.Grounded in real-life experience and sprinkled with humor, pop-culture comfort (yes, Taylor Swift gets her flowers), and practical wisdom, this conversation is ultimately about growth: learning to trust your instincts, honoring your worth, and making space for the people who truly feel like home.

Finding Your People: The Unicorn Humans EditionCrystal and KP dive deep into what it really means to find YOUR people—not just friends, not just acquaintances, but those rare unicorn humans who celebrate your wins, don't weaponize your secrets, and show up on the bad days AND the random Tuesdays.In this episode, they get real about:Why familiarity ≠ friendship (just because you talk every day doesn't mean they're your tribe)The Drew Holcomb song that started it all: "You can't go in alone, everybody needs help"How to spot when someone's using your words as currency to spend later at your expenseThe mom friends who saved their sanity (and why you need to carve out time even with tiny humans hanging off you)That gut check: Do you light up when they call, or leave them on read?Plus, they challenge you to pay attention this week—when something happens, who do you want to share it with? And why?Wrapping with gratitude: Crystal's sons conquering 25 centimeters of snow without being asked, and KP's magical place in Provincetown where the weight just lifts.Teaser for Episode 3: Finding your people... wait, not THOSE people. What does that mean? Stay tuned!No credentials, just lived experiences and real talk.

Our very first episode, introducing each other and why we believe this is an important conversation. We promise we'll get better at this! Please send comments and feedback to [email protected]