Living BIG: Stories of Creativity, Courage, and Community

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca sits down with educator-turned-corporate leader, creative, and community-builder Becky Cook for an honest conversation about growth, change, and stepping outside the boxes we build for ourselves.Becky shares her journey from art teacher to change management consultant, including the terrifying moment she left a stable career without a job lined up, and how that leap reshaped her confidence, identity, and purpose.Together, they explore what it means to live bravely, lead with empathy, and create space for people to show up fully as themselves. This conversation dives into creativity, community, leadership, and the kind of courage it takes to keep showing up, even when life feels uncertain.If you’re navigating change, craving growth, or learning to trust yourself in a new season, 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 Living BIG & Personal Growth03:55 Creativity & Art Education10:30 Community in Creative Spaces14:01 The Power of Performance14:19 Career Transitions18:40 Empathy & Change19:44 Leadership Dynamics21:12 Leadership Lessons24:27 Transformation Through Community27:05 Excellence vs. Belonging33:24 Passion & Community

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca sits down with educator, creative, and community-builder Kelly Whisinnand for a conversation about the power of creativity to shape confidence, identity, and belonging.Kelly shares her journey working with young people and why her goal has never been to create perfect performers, but to help people discover their voice, express themselves, and feel ownership in who they are becoming. Together, they explore how creativity can be a lifeline in a noisy, overwhelming world, and why having an outlet isn’t optional, it’s essential.This conversation dives into the impact of arts education, the importance of giving people space to show up as they are, and how creativity builds more than skills—it builds people.If you care about confidence, community, and the kind of creativity that actually changes lives, this episode is for you.Living BIG is about creativity, courage, and the communities that help us grow.Learn more at biginc.org.

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca sits down with Omaha performer, producer, and community builder Cathy Hirsch for a conversation about creativity, courage, and building spaces where people can belong. Cathy shares how a shy, anxious kid grew into someone who launches projects when nobody else will—co-founding the Candy Project, helping bring contemporary musical theater to Omaha stages, and creating opportunities for artists who simply wanted to perform the shows they loved.This conversation explores the power of creative community, the courage it takes to show up before you feel ready, and why sometimes the best response to “someone should do something about this” is simply: okay, let’s do it.Cathy reflects on a life that is spent saying "yes" to creativity, even when the timing, money, or confidence weren’t perfect.Living BIG is about creativity, courage, and the communities that help us grow.Learn more at biginc.org.

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca welcomes Nebraska-based performer, improviser, musician, and animator Matt Geiler for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity as a practice — not something you wait for permission to do. Matt shares how drawing and music became early creative lifelines, how comedy helped him navigate tension at home, and how community shaped his path from small-town to Omaha improv, touring with The Weisenheimers, and studying at Second City in Chicago.Together, Matt & Becca explore the importance of creative consistency, showing up on uninspired days, and why community matters even when the work itself can feel solitary. The conversation closes with a reflection on why art and beauty feel especially urgent right now—and why creativity may be “what we stay alive for.”Living BIG is more than a podcast. Learn more about our community at biginc.org.

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca sits down with Meredith Garwood — leader, artist, and creative partner — to explore what it means to live big with both strength and heart. Meredith shares her journey back to creativity, the power of compassionate leadership, and why brave spaces don’t require being the loudest in the room. This conversation is about integrity, excellence, community over competition, and showing up fully—especially when you lead behind the scenes. If you’re finding your way back to creativity or learning to lead with courage and care, this episode is for you.Want to learn more about the Living BIG community and creative spaces we’re building? Visit biginc.org.

What does it really mean to live BIG without regrets? In this episode of Living Big, Becca sits down with theater director and educator Julie Murren for an honest conversation about community, creativity, and why the process matters just as much as the final product.Julie reflects on what “living BIG” looks like in real life, how community theater creates belonging, and why saying yes to meaningful work continues to shape who we become. Together, they explore the difference between passion and enjoyment, the power of truth and trust in leadership, and why community matters now more than ever.Whether you’re a creative, an educator, or someone craving a deeper connection, this episode is an invitation to live bravely, boldly, and with purpose.

Episode 1: Welcome to Living BIGWhat does it really mean to live big? In the very first episode of Living BIG, host Becca Jackson Cusick invites you into the heart of a movement built on courage, creativity, and community. This podcast was born from one simple belief: people thrive when they’re brave enough to create and supported enough to try.Becca is joined by her first guest, Sandy, a studio mom, board member, Big Deal Diva, and self-described “not a singer” who decided to borrow someone else’s confidence and say yes anyway. Together, they unpack what it looks like to step outside your comfort zone, show up imperfectly, and discover that growth doesn’t require talent—it requires bravery.This conversation explores:What “Living Big” really means in real lifeHow supportive, inclusive (and brave) communities change peopleWhy adults desperately need creative spaces tooThe power of borrowing confidence until you find your ownLetting it suck… and letting it surprise youYou don’t have to be a performer to belong here. You just have to be human. If you care about creativity, courage, or community—and if you’re ready to do hard things with supportive people, this podcast is for you.Welcome to Living BIG.