10,000 Tabs

Overachievers know how to do. To push. To make it happen. What they (👋🏼 hey, me too!) struggle with is slowing down. When you're forced to step away, you also lose the congratulations, the gold star, the "great job" comments. And that can be disorienting. So who do you become when you're forced to pause your work? That's what my friend and colleague, India Tizol, are discussing. For the first time since having a baby, she returns to the mic to talk about being visible in the void, struggling to find brain capacity when her body was asking so much of her, and navigating porous transition points. On this episode we discuss: The hidden cost of working at a constant, high pace How motherhood reshaped India's relationship to her work The blurred boundaries of working from home and why separation matters Staying visible when your work and identity is very much shifting in the moment   About The Show 10,000 Tabs is a podcast about how people navigate change when the path forward isn’t obvious. Each episode explores the moments when something shifts—when the version of life or work that once made sense no longer fits, and the next chapter hasn’t fully revealed itself yet. Through candid conversations with founders, creatives, leaders, and everyday people, the show explores how we navigate the in-between periods of pivots, reinvention, and becoming. Mentions & Links India Tizol on Instagram & LinkedIn Flaunt Your Fire Website Amago Therapy Kim Wensel Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

What happens when you learn—early or slowly—that being fully yourself isn’t always safe? In this episode of 10,000 Tabs, Kim talks with narrative advisor and story coach Jessica Graham about the quiet ways we learn to hide parts of who we are—and how those patterns follow us into adulthood, our relationships, and our work. Jessica shares her experience with codependency, 12-step programs, and what she calls “honest rooms.” Together, they explore how the stories we tell ourselves aren’t always chosen—they’re shaped by what once felt necessary for acceptance, safety, or belonging. But at some point, those same stories start to feel limiting. This conversation is about what it takes to recognize that shift and begin rewriting the narrative in a way that actually reflects who you are now.   About The Show 10,000 Tabs is a podcast about how people navigate change when the path forward isn’t obvious. Each episode explores the moments when something shifts—when the version of life or work that once made sense no longer fits, and the next chapter hasn’t fully revealed itself yet. Through candid conversations with founders, creatives, leaders, and everyday people, the show explores how we make meaning, find clarity, and move forward anyway.   Mentions & Links Jessica Graham Coaching Website | Instagram Al-Anon Kim Wensel Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Sometimes the hardest voice to hear is your own. In this episode of 10,000 Tabs, Kim talks with real estate entrepreneur, coach, and educator Tina Beliveau about the long journey of learning to trust your intuition. Tina’s life has been shaped by dramatic turning points. After struggling through painful teenage years and addiction, she got sober at 17 and began the lifelong work of understanding herself more deeply. That early commitment to personal growth shaped how she built her career, her business, and eventually her family. Years later, after building a highly successful real estate team and achieving many of the industry’s most visible success markers, Tina found herself facing a different kind of reckoning. A professional partnership unraveled publicly, forcing her to step away from a business she had spent years building and to rebuild her life and identity from scratch. What followed was a period of quiet, reflection, and recalibration. Away from the noise of industry expectations and constant input from others, Tina slowly began reconnecting with something she had ignored for years: the subtle signals of her own intuition. As she and Kim discuss, learning to listen to your gut is rarely a dramatic lightning-bolt moment. More often, it’s a slow process of turning down the noise long enough to recognize what your body and instincts have been trying to tell you all along.   In this conversation, Tina and Kim discuss: Why many high achievers learn to sideline their intuition and how that eventually catches up with them How recovery shaped Tina's approach to personal growth The hidden relationship between success, workaholism, and self-worth The influence of social media on our perception of success How Tina trackers glimmers and small signs of progress during periods of growth   About The Show 10,000 Tabs is a podcast about how people navigate change when the path forward isn’t obvious. Each episode explores the moments when something shifts—when the version of life or work that once made sense no longer fits, and the next chapter hasn’t fully revealed itself yet. Through candid conversations with founders, creatives, leaders, and everyday people, the show explores how we make meaning, find clarity, and move forward anyway.   Mentions & Links Tina Beliveau: Website | Instagram Kim Wensel: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn Robin Einzig, visible child parenting expert

In this episode of 10,000 Tabs, Kim talks with publishing strategist and designer Molly Seabrook about the turning points that force us to reckon with who we are, what we value, and what we’re no longer willing to tolerate. Molly’s story spans continents, careers, and identities. From living abroad and teaching internationally to navigating an unexpected circumstance that reshaped her future, she has repeatedly found herself at the edge of major life decisions. Each time, she faced the same question: What do you do when the path you planned suddenly disappears? Rather than retreat, Molly learned to trust a deeper internal signal.That instinct has guided her through leaving jobs that looked successful on paper, rebuilding her life after upheaval, and ultimately creating a business built around helping others share their ideas with the world. Today, Molly works with authors as a nonfiction publishing strategist, guiding them through the vulnerable and transformative process of turning their experiences into books.   In this conversation, Kim and Molly discuss: Why leaving something that "is working" can sometimes be harder than leaving something that's not The experience of losing access to a future you once believed was certain The tension between intellect and intuition What it really means to put your ideas into the world through publishing   About The Show 10,000 Tabs is a podcast about how people navigate change when the path forward isn’t obvious. Each episode explores the moments when something shifts—when the version of life or work that once made sense no longer fits, and the next chapter hasn’t fully revealed itself yet. Through candid conversations with founders, creatives, leaders, and everyday people, the show explores how we make meaning, find clarity, and move forward anyway.   Mentions & Links Molly Seabrook: Website | LinkedIn Kim Wensel: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

What happens when the thing you’re “supposed” to build stops fitting the life you actually want? In this episode of 10,000 Tabs, Kim talks with photographer and writer Rachel Larsen Weaver about the subtle shifts that change the direction of our work—and our lives. Rachel began her career as a high school English teacher before picking up a camera while raising young children and writing a blog. What started as a creative outlet slowly evolved into a photography business. But even after finding success, she realized she had built parts of her business around what she thought people wanted—rather than what felt most true to her. That realization led to a radical shift: abandoning the industry’s fast, photography model and instead creating “long-form sessions”—24-hour storytelling experiences where Rachel travels to families’ homes, stays overnight, and documents life as it unfolds. The result? A business that feels more aligned, more human, and ultimately more successful. Along the way, Kim and Rachel explore what it means to trust your instincts, build a life around your values, and redefine success in ways that prioritize time, relationships, and creativity.   In this conversation, Kim and Rachel discuss: Why many entrepreneurs build businesses around what people think they should offer The moment a failed product launch revealed a deeper misalignment Why building something slightly new, rather than complete reinvention, can be enough to stand out What a trip to...wait for it...Great Wolf Lodge taught Rachel about compassion and perspective How to hold your values when the world pushes you towards productivity and profit   About The Show 10,000 Tabs is a podcast about how people navigate change when the path forward isn’t obvious. Each episode explores the moments when something shifts—when the version of life or work that once made sense no longer fits, and the next chapter hasn’t fully revealed itself yet. Through candid conversations with founders, creatives, leaders, and everyday people, the show explores how we make meaning, find clarity, and move forward anyway.   Mentions & Links Find Rachel Larsen Weaver: Website | Instagram  Find Kim Wensel: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

This is 10,000 Tabs. A show about how people navigate change when the path forward isn’t obvious.   Every other week, I sit down with someone who has navigated one of those moments — a pivot, a realization, a reinvention, or simply a quiet internal shift that changed how they live or work.   These aren’t career retrospectives. They’re not business playbooks. And they’re definitely not promotional interviews.   They’re conversations about the human experience behind the work: how we make decisions when there’s no clear roadmap, how we outgrow old identities, how we learn to trust ourselves a little more over time.

On the first full-length episode of 10,000 Tabs, host Kim Wensel invites her long-time designer, creative collaborator, and friend, Shauna Haider to be the interviewer.  Together they unpack the many iterations of Kim’s career—from international development work and corporate consulting to entrepreneurship, community building, and storytelling—and the moments that forced her to rethink the version of success she had been chasing. This is an honest conversation about identity, reinvention, and the throughlines that quietly shape our work over time. They also talk about what happens when the stories we’ve told about ourselves stop fitting and why sometimes the best thing that can happen is the universe to step in and decide for us. If 10,000 Tabs is a show about navigating change when the path forward isn’t obvious. Welcome to episode one!   This episode covers: How Shauna and Kim first met and the seven-year creative partnership that followed The early career path that Kim thought would define her life (and why it didn't) What it feels like when the dream you once worked so hard for stops being the goal The pressure to over-explain yourself when you don't fit in one lane Why it takes a breaking point for many of us to make the change we actually crave Letting go of the need to be understood by everyone The big question Kim's living inside of right now   About The Show 10,000 Tabs is a podcast about how people navigate change when the path forward isn’t obvious. Each episode explores the moments when something shifts—when the version of life or work that once made sense no longer fits, and the next chapter hasn’t fully revealed itself yet. Through candid conversations with founders, creatives, leaders, and everyday people, the show explores how we make meaning, find clarity, and move forward anyway.   Mentions & Links Shauna Haider: Website | Instagram Kim Wensel: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

⏱️ This is the last episode of Why Is Nobody Talking About This? After a decade in business and seven years behind a microphone, Kim realized something important: the parts of podcasting she loves are centered around a conversation. Sitting across from someone else, questioning, relating, and reacting in real time is something she could do all day long. And once you realize something this big, you can't ignore it. In this episode, Kim shares the story behind a major shift in the podcast, why she’s moving away from traditional business conversations, and what inspired the creation of the new show format. This isn’t a goodbye. It’s a turning point. Highlights Why nearly every overnight success is really ten years of putting in the reps How long it takes 90% of podcasters to stop releasing new episodes Why traditional business podcasts stopped resonating and what feels like it's missing What you can expect from new episodes after this... Follow & Mentions John Mayer spitting 🔥 on creativity on Call Her Daddy Apply to be a guest on the show! Follow Kim on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn

We talk a lot about strategy, confidence, and visibility, but far less about the one skill that quietly determines how all of those things actually play out: clear, human communication. Get ready for story time. In this episode Kim shares a hilariously uncomfortable personal experience that turned into an unexpected lesson about self-advocacy, assumptions, and the cost of not saying what we mean.  If you’ve ever left a conversation wishing you’d just said the thing, this episode is a reminder that clear communication isn’t harsh or selfish; it’s one of the most generous skills we can build.   HIGHLIGHTS The awkward (and unforgettable) story that sparked a deeper realization about communication Why highly capable women often default to politeness over clarity How avoiding small moments of discomfort creates bigger, longer-term friction The hidden cost of assuming instead of asking How clear communication builds trust faster than being easygoing ever will Simple ways to start practicing directness without feeling harsh or out of place   MENTIONS & FOLLOW Episode 25: Being Open to What's Next with Sara Amin Parenting, Party of One Kim's Website and Instagram

In this episode, Kim speaks directly to small business owners and founders who are navigating uncertain times, questioning their role as leaders, and wondering how to use their voice publicly to share their values. She explores the tension many business owners feel between wanting to take a stand and shifting their entire approach to activism. If you’ve been feeling pressure to respond perfectly, lead loudly, or justify your choices publicly, this episode offers a more human and sustainable way forward. This episode is a reminder that leadership is less about proving and more about acting in integrity.   HIGHLIGHTS Why small business owners are leaders, even if they don’t identify that way The difference between quiet leadership and out-loud leadership (and why both matter) Why call-out culture keeps many business owners from speaking up in important moments How performative action differs from meaningful, real-world leadership Five ways to lead and make an impact that have nothing to do with social media Why staying grounded in your real life is essential during moments of crisis   MENTIONS & FOLLOW Tashondra Govan: Therapy Straight, No Chaser Luvvie Ajayi Jones on visibility 5 Calls  Kim Wensel Website & Instagram  

Call for podcast guests! If you’re someone who has experienced a meaningful shift, pivot, or reckoning—and you’re comfortable speaking honestly about the messy middle—you may be a future guest. Reach out at Instagram and LinkedIn Kim's Website

Before we get to the show notes, we've got an ask. If you've listened to the show, please consider giving it a rating and review in Apple Podcasts. This supports the work that goes into this show and helps attract more opportunities for visibility, growth, and content. Now onto the show...   In the final episode of 2025, Kim hit record with ten hours left on the clock. She's putting words to the feeling she keeps hearing from high achievers (and herself): that weird holiday restlessness—pressure to “use the time well,” even when you’re exhausted. Instead of forcing a resolution or a big plan, this episode walks you through the simple year-mapping practice that changed her entire perspective on what's possible in a slow year. This episode is part reflection, part reset, and part guidance for entering 2026 with a clearer aim, cleaner energy, and a truer definition of success.   HIGHLIGHTS The reason high achievers underestimate how much they did in a year What you need to do before setting any 2026 intentions A simple year in review practice that outweighs new year's resolutions and "new year, new me" goals How to name what you want without getting hijacked by the question of how it will happen Hear for the first time the what Kim is ready to call in after years of doubting whether she'd ever be able to land on just one thing FOLLOW Find Kim on LinkedIn or her website

Most of us don’t avoid humor because we don’t have it—we avoid it because we’re afraid of how we’ll come across. In this live conversation, Kim sits down with journalist, producer, and Gold Comedy founder Lynn Harris to talk about why comedy isn’t reserved for performers, and why “being funny” isn’t a personality trait—it’s a practice. Together they unpack humor as a tool for connection, trust, and saying the thing everyone’s thinking (without the scoldy energy). If you’ve ever worried you’re not witty enough, bold enough, or “interesting enough” to use your voice differently, Lynn’s message is the one you need: the stakes are low—and your life is already full of material. HIGHLIGHTS Why humor builds trust in business  The difference between humor and comedy (and why you don’t need to be a performer to benefit) What “being funny at work” can look like without being loud, jokey, or self-deprecating Lynn’s most universal creative advice A reframe for perfectionists and shy creatives who might count themselves out because they don't live in the spotlight How women’s lived experience becomes the most compelling “credential” in the room MENTIONS & FOLLOW: Lynn Harris on LinkedIn & Website GOLD Comedy Comedians to Follow: Rachel Dratch, Maria Bamford, Cameron Esposito, Naomi Ekperigin, Bob the Drag Queen, Aparna Nancherla

Ideas people are tweakers. We keep going back to things that are far from perfect and abandon things that are technically better. But is this necessary? In this episode, Kim unpacks a deceptively simple insight drawn from everyday life: people don’t stay loyal because something is exceptional once; they stay because it’s consistent. Using an everyday story that nearly anyone can relate to, she explores how founders, creatives, and big thinkers often hold themselves to impossible standards—constantly improving, refining, and reinventing—while underestimating the power of reliability.  HIGHLIGHTS Why consistency builds more trust than novelty or constant improvementWhat everyday loyalty reveals about how people actually choose who to work with How high-achieving, idea-driven people sabotage momentum by over-tweaking The hidden cost of holding yourself to standards you don’t apply to others A reframing question that simplifies growth FOLLOW Find Kim on LinkedIn or her website

Somewhere along the way, founders were taught to ask “is this scalable?” before they ask whether something is worth making at all. In this episode, Kim pushes back on the pressure to build like a venture-backed startup. She unpacks the beliefs that keep smart, capable entrepreneurs stuck in planning mode, the growth advice that’s flattening good ideas, and why starting small and not as polished as you're capable of is the most strategic move you can make.   HIGHLIGHTS The beliefs entrepreneurs absorb that make them feel behind if they don’t have a scale plan   Why “build it bigger” advice is flattening good, human-centered ideas   The fear hiding behind questions like: “Is this worth starting if it can’t grow?”   How venture-style thinking has quietly become the default, even when it doesn’t align with most founders' goals   What actually becomes possible when you stop designing for scale and start building for service   LINKS & MENTIONS "Great things start in little rooms" clip by André 3000 Simon Sinek interviews Jeni Britton Brian Chesky on Masters of Scale: Do things that don't scale Kim's Website

Black Friday gets all the attention, but what about the independent shops holding our towns together the rest of the year? In this episode, Kim sits down with vintage shop owner and designer Lisa Tumbarello for an honest conversation about the realities of running a small business during the busiest (and most emotionally loaded) shopping weekend of the year. They talk about the unseen labor, the tough calls, the creative joy, and the very real pressures that come with trying to build something meaningful in a world obsessed with speed, scale, and discounts. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to keep your favorite small shops alive, this episode is the truth-telling you won’t hear anywhere else this week. HIGHLIGHTS The assumptions people make about small shops and the reality behind running one Why transparency is tricky when a small business is struggling or in transition and how that leads to us being shocked when they make an announcement that they're closing their doors The tension between curating what you love vs. stocking what reliably sells What Lisa wishes customers understood about hours, inventory, and bandwidth The misunderstood pressure small businesses feel around Black Friday and holiday shopping culture and why shopping small is about more than community, taste, and identity than sales Simple, meaningful ways to support local shops year round    FOLLOW Potomac River Interiors website and Instagram Kim on Instagram, LinkedIn, and website

Leadership isn’t always loud, polished, or certain. Sometimes it looks like sitting in a room with women who are figuring it out in real time. In this episode, Kim shares the biggest lessons that emerged from The Bench Summit in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida: moments of honesty, humanity, and self-led leadership that had nothing to do with titles and everything to do with how we show up for ourselves and one another. Whether you were in the room or not, these reflections offer a new way to think about influence, ambition, and the kind of leader you’re becoming.   HIGHLIGHTS Why embodied leadership isn’t about having the right answers; it’s about creating space for others What happens when high-achieving women let their guard down and tell the truth The difference between “leading the room” and holding a room How vulnerability, not performance, became the Summit’s most powerful takeaway How the right community expands what feels possible The unexpected (and at times, hilarious) moments that revealed what it looks to build in real time and take up space   FOLLOW Kim on Instagram and LinkedIn Kim's Website

How do you stay open to change when what once drove and defined you no longer fits? In this conversation, Kim talks with communications strategist and solo mom by choice Sara Amin about what it means to rewrite the story you thought you were living and trusting yourself enough to move toward what’s calling you next. From career burnout to building a family on her own terms, Sara shares how to create your own version of fulfillment, redefine ambition, and to take action on projects when you aren't sure where they'll lead. For anyone who's worked in a giving profession, been in a helper role, or pursued work that is mission-driven, this will address the question you've grappled with: can work just be work?  This conversation highlights the three most important questions we must come back to every time we're experiencing a shift: What am I doing? Where am I putting my energy? What do I really want? HIGHLIGHTS How ambitious women can give themselves permission to show up and do the job, and allowing that to be enough The way burnout changes what we're reaching for and redefines our priorities Sara's decision to become a solo parent and how sharing her story sparked curiosity in others Why, as a parent, it's so difficult to remember and lean into who we are when our kids reach a certain stage of independence The power of starting before you have all the answers   FOLLOW Sara on Instagram and LinkedIn Kim on Instagram and LinkedIn Kim's Website

When we're in the depths of a career pivot, reinvention, or shift, it's easy to feel stuck waiting for the new version of ourselves to arrive. The old bio doesn't fit, but when we haven't yet done the thing we want to be known for, how do we embody it? Rather than waiting for a client to find us and become our magical test case, on this episode Kim is asking you to consider what it could look like to greenlight your own ideas.   HIGHLIGHTS Why the term "passion project" devalues the important role of self-directed work What it looks like to invest in something before the ROI is clear How we've all been fooled into thinking something needs to be profitable from the get-go The quickest way to get from where you are to the work you want to be known for What the most successful creatives are doing that most others aren't willing to A walkthrough of the most recent project that ignited Kim's professional direction: The Bench Magazine FOLLOW Kim's website Kim on Instagram Kim on LinkedIn

Most of us wait until something feels finished before we’re willing to share it — but what if that’s the reason our work stalls out? In this episode, Kim sits down with her book editor, Jacqueline Fisch, to talk about why the best creative work happens in collaboration, not isolation. They unpack the fear of being seen too early, the trauma so many of us carry from bad feedback experiences, and how to ask for feedback in a way that builds momentum instead of shutting you down.   HIGHLIGHTS: Why waiting until something is “polished” slows our growth How to give feedback without killing someone’s voice or confidence The exact moment in the process you should invite feedback (hint: it’s earlier than you think) What's wrong with the common advice to write a "shitty first draft" Why overthinking stunts the creative process and how we can leave those natural tendencies aside when we're writing    FOLLOW: The Intuitive Writing School Jacq's Author Website Connect with Jacq on LinkedIn Jacq's new Instagram    MENTIONS: How Women Write Episode with Kim Wensel: Trusting a Non-Linear Career Path and Writing a Book About It

We’ve spent the Visibility Series redefining a word that's often used as synonymous with content strategy and relating it closer to a practice of being seen in honest, human ways. To close it out, this episode lands on what may be the hardest part of all: using your voice and letting people think what they think. Visibility isn’t always public or polished; sometimes it’s simply asking for what you need without over-explaining, advocating for yourself, or holding a line without worrying how it might land.   HIGHLIGHTS Why visibility happens in private moments as much as public ones The difference between advocating for yourself vs. hoping someone “gets the hint” How people-pleasing sneaks back in even when we think we’ve outgrown it The ways visibility feels different when you're showing up without a title, logo, or identity to hide behind   MENTIONS Rethinking Your Bio When You're In The Messy Middle The Bench

Bios carry a lot of weight. They introduce us before we walk in the room, shape how others see us, and are also supposed to tell our whole story. No wonder writing one feels difficult—especially if you’re multi-passionate or in transition. In this episode, Kim uses her messaging expertise and stories from women in The Bench to explain how to reframe your bio so it feels more true to who you are.   HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE Why bios feels harder to write during times of transition (and why that's normal) The hidden weight titles carry and why this is limiting for women who are good at many things What members of The Bench learned while rewriting their bios for a magazine Two practical exercises for making your bio more true to you Five tips everyone should follow when sharing their bio publicly    FOLLOW The Bench community for women Kim on Instagram Kim on LinkedIn  

When we think about visibility, it’s easy to picture self-promotion, algorithms, or endless posting. But what if visibility is actually about connection—the kind that feels human, reciprocal, and even easier than “selling yourself”? In this episode, Kim unpacks why showing up consistently creates more opportunities than self-promotion ever could—and shares the one shift that makes visibility feel less like performance and more like possibility.   HIGHLIGHTS Why visibility feels loaded for so many women (and how to redefine it) The hidden cost of only showing up when you “need” something How to make visibility feel natural—without forcing promotion or perfection What consistency really does for you (that perfection can’t) A practical starting point you can use this week to stay visible and connected   FOLLOW & MENTIONS Playing Big by Tara Mohr Kim on Instagram Kim on LinkedIn Kim's Website

Welcome to the second episode in our Visibility Series. This week we're getting tactical as we talk about what it takes to be a great podcast guest. There are many guides to pitching shows and positioning yourself to get a "yes" from a podcast host, but that misses the mark on what happens after you're booked. This episode is what every podcast host wants you to know and do. Listen through and act accordingly and you'll outperform 95% of all podcast guests!   HIGHLIGHTS Why growing your following is not enough of a reason to pitch yourself for a show What to do with an opportunity once you get a yes The often missed—and critical—steps you must take AFTER you record What nearly every one of my podcast guests has failed to do, six years in The reason you need you be viewing podcasting less as a marketing hack and more as a channel for human connection FOLLOW The Bench is open for enrollment for one more week! Follow Kim on Instagram Connect with Kim on LinkedIn

Welcome to part one of our September visibility series! In this episode we'll explore what it actually means to let yourself be seen. From the myth of organic reach to the fears we avoid by staying small, this conversation invites you to rethink how you show up for your career, your ideas, and yourself. We're unpacking the messy, vulnerable, and often misunderstood work of visibility.   Plus, The Bench is open for enrollment through September 17 🥳. Catch all the details at kimwensel.com/thebench.   HIGHLIGHTS Why visibility isn’t just for entrepreneurs and why executives, leaders, and creatives need it too The fears that lie beneath visibility and keep us small How to separate visibility from social media (and what to do if you hate the algorithm) Practical shifts: asking for shares, leading with what you believe, and showing up in your own style The risk of staying hidden and the unexpected payoff of consistent, imperfect presence   LINKS & FOLLOW The Bench community application Kim's Website Kim on Instagram / LinkedIn

What if the real secret to moving forward wasn’t another strategy or success formula, but a circle of women who let you show up as your full self? In this episode, we're turning the tables as Kim is interviewed by a member of The Bench. We'll take you inside the community, one created for ambitious women who have opted out of the traditional path.   In this episode you'll hear why so many of us feel like “outsider–insiders,” how easy it is to get stuck pretending we have it all together, and what changes when you sit with women who cut through the polish and talk about what’s really happening behind the shiny gloss of social media. From surfacing money fears to ambition burnout to redefining leadership, The Bench is replacing performative networking with honest, messy, liberating connection.   HIGHLIGHTS The trap of polished success stories and what we lose when we skip over the messy middle How traditional masterminds miss the mark (and what makes The Bench a lighter, more liberating alternative) The kind of conversations women really want to be having about work, money, and ease A redefinition of leadership that blends intuition with intellect Why true connection might be the career strategy that you need If you’ve been looking for a space where intelligence meets intuition—and where the conversations are as real as they are rare—this episode will give you a taste of what happens on The Bench. Enrollment for the next cohort opens September 3 for two weeks only. Join the waitlist at kimwensel.com/thebench for early access and a bonus 1:1 session with Kim (available to waitlist only). FOLLOW The Bench Waitlist Kim on Instagram

We've gotten to the place where we're comfortable—even proud—talking openly about therapy. We share the inner work we're doing and post carousels full of our wellness routines. So why isn't it acceptable to celebrate our outer work—the individuality that shows up in our appearance? This episode dives deep into the societal pressures and internal fears that often prevent women, particularly high-achieving professionals, from fully expressing themselves. For the first time you'll hear a member of The Bench sharing her ideas in a Pitch Session, on this exact topic. Listen until the end for a big announcement about The Bench!   HIGHLIGHTS Why we assume women who focus on their appearance are less capable or "merely creatives" rather than business leaders The contradictory messages we receive of not showing off too much when we're younger but not letting ourselves go as we age Why past experiences cause us to play small and fall into the chameleon role How merging our interior and exterior worlds help us live in a more aligned manner The reason 99% of trends won't apply to you How having strong personal aesthetic preferences can help you overcome the fear of being "acceptable" or having to defend your choices   FOLLOW Get on The Bench waitlist Follow Kim on Instagram

Do you believe that you're creative? Today's guest, Amandolin Webb, would argue that you are. In this conversation we explore why creativity has nothing to do with credentials and everything to do with instinct, why sacrifice isn't the same as suffering, and how we can say yes to something before we're forced into a decision. In a world that tells us to do more, be more, sell more, Amandolin shares her tips from branding and beyond on how to avoid taking the expected path just because it's normalized. Listen to the end for the story behind her unique name.   HIGHLIGHTS How your location affects your work (hint: digital nomad status isn't always the goal) What you need when you're facing a big project The upside to failure Why sharing the messy parts is more magnetic that showcasing the flattering angles The dichotomy between creativity and conventionality Advice for "making it" as a creative   FOLLOW Smeuse Studio Find Amandolin on Instagram Find Kim on Instagram Kim's Website

Everyone fails. Yet few people are willing to admit it. Instead, we're inundated with the clean before/after stories told from the rearview, glossing over the messy middle. So when it's not easy to bounce back, we harbor shame and hold back from trying again.   What if we could talk about failure just like we talk about success—normalize things working out like we didn't imagine they would and realizing that's not always a bad thing? If we want to evolve, we have to accept failure as part of that journey.    Today I'm sharing my own, very personal story of failure. One that started with the simple thought, "I could do that better than them" and ended with an existential crisis coated in the question of, "What now?"    If every no gets us closer to a yes, how do we become better at failing?   HIGHLIGHTS The important distinction between failing and feeling like a failure How to build self trust after things turned out differently than you imagined Why admitting failure builds trust and connection Three important steps you should take after failing   FOLLOW Get on The Bench waitlist Follow Kim on Instagram   MENTIONS Article: Why I Am Closing Ami Colé Range Global Goods

As women, we're encouraged to bounce back. We do so after kids. We do so after heartbreak. We do so after a career disappointment. But how many times can we bounce back without admitting that we need to sit out? And how does that reflect on the narrative we've woven about ourselves. In this episode Kim is joined by Jami Crist, women's health advocate and author of The Losses We Keep. Jami shares her own story of hustle, pregnancy loss, and how much can change in just three years, offering a fresh perspective on "life is short." SOUND BITES "I always said I would never be a stay at home mom. I can do it all. I want to do it all." "Am I losing my sense of credibility? Am I in the know anymore?" "How did I get this job? I don't deserve it. And that made me want to work even harder." "Keeping good people close to you is literally everything through these hard moments."   LINKS Jami's book: The Losses We Keep Jami's website Find Kim on Instagram Kim's website   MENTIONS LERA Health Soul Speaks Press The Power Pause

Self-employment has been heralded as the ultimate power move. Be your own boss! Monetize who you are! These are the messages we here that glorify moving from employee to entrepreneur. In this episode, Kim talks about the shame associated with moving in the opposite direction. She shares why there are many positive and healthy reasons you may want to go back to working for someone else, including her own personal story of accepting an employment offer after promising to never go back. This episode is for anyone who feels pressure to make it work on their own even—and especially when—they're feeling called back to a more traditional role. Kim emphasizes the importance of flexibility in career paths and describes exactly why the future of work is impermanent.   HIGHLIGHTS Why you should never say never in your career. How regular shifts make you more adaptable and valuable to your employer or business. The reason Kim left her business and went back to work for a client. Why it's a trap to think work should fulfill your all of your passions and interests. How to identify what you need in this season of life and work. LINKS Career Contessa Kim's website  

Are your proud that, unlike your peers, you aren't using AI? Does it make you feel like a more honest, capable professional? Or could it actually be an excuse like "I'm just not good at tech" that's keeping you behind? This is what we're exploring on today's episode of Why Is Nobody Talking About This with my special guest, Karen Sergeant. Karen's career has taken her from tech to the CIA to founder operations. Through that journey, she's gotten really good at change—and helping others move through ambiguity as well. This conversation changed Kim's entire outlook on adopting AI into her business systems. If you're looking to make the biggest impact you can without burning out or getting in the way of your team, this is your next listen.  KAREN'S QUOTES AI can feel like a loss of relevance when you’re being asked to let go of things that made you once feel indispensable If you're impact driven, get out of delivery so you can impact the most amount of people with your brilliant ideas. Real-time culture rewards extroverts. It privileges insiders. It's basically gatekeeping. We're not competing with AI. We're competing with our competitor who uses AI, who can produce results more reliably, faster, and at a lower cost. FOLLOW  Karen Sergeant's website Connect with Karen on LinkedIn Kim on Instagram @kimwensel Kim's website MENTIONS Join The Bench waitlist! ChatGPT Perplexity Claude

Do you feel like you have to shape shift at work? Act a certain way because that's what clients expect a very serious businessperson to do? Whether we like it or not, corporate America takes a masculine approach to leadership. And that, my friend, has trickle down effects to even the smallest businesses. What if I told you things are changing? That by leaning into your soft power and creativity, you could be part of a massive shift—one that asks for presence over power, taking time off over hustling and grinding your way through.   HIGHLIGHTS Why we need more women as leaders and how to embrace both femininity and masculinity at work How we rank the importance of skill sets and how that's affecting our willingness to slow down What happens when we try to produce our best work in the margins The reason that making decisions based on ROI alone will not move you forward in meaningful ways   MENTIONS From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks Episode 9: The Traditional Path Rewards People Pleasing The Creative Act by Rick Rubin The Bench community for women   FOLLOW Kim's website Kim on Instagram Kim on LinkedIn    

We laugh about being recovering people pleasers, but where do those tendencies come from? Are we born this way or did we learn to people please as a safety mechanism? In today's episode, Kim speaks openly about events in her younger years that led her to become a people pleaser and how this was reinforced at work. If you've ever wondered why you're motivated to do or say things that appeal to others but aren't necessarily true to you, this is a must listen.   Trigger warning: domestic violence is discussed. This episode may not be appropriate for younger listeners.   HIGHLIGHTS How understanding trauma can lead to personal growth Why the career ladder validates people pleasing How to say, think, and act with more authenticity and personal alignment The role of writing in uncovering people pleasing habits How to trust yourself when you aren't sure if that will be accepted   FOLLOW  Kim on Instagram @kimwensel Kim's website MENTIONS Join The Bench waitlist! The Tell by Amy Griffin

It feels good to have a plan. When we know where we're headed it's easy to believe we're in control. But, of course, we're not. In this solo episode, Kim talks about how planning too far out can keep us from seeing the opportunities right in front of us. She also uncovers how relying too much on planning can prevent us from ever slowing down and what the fear of success actually looks like.   HIGHLIGHTS How often we should be changing our minds The number one reason we struggle to pivot How to make the best decision in the face of change What the message, "you can't have it all" leads us to believe about opportunities   FOLLOW  Kim on Instagram @kimwensel Kim's website MENTIONS Join The Bench waitlist!

In this episode we're joined by Jess Harrell of The Styled Domicile. You might know her for her bold pattern choices or signature cheetah statue. Or perhaps it's her tagline that called you in: let your freak flag fly in your home...because if you can't be yourself there, where can you? In case you didn't already notice, Jess is someone who enjoys coloring outside the lines...with bright colors. We talk about why trends like white on beige on taupe home decor have become so popular, being comfortable taking up space, and why being different might actually be the goal.   HIGHLIGHTS Why "good taste" is making you boring Confidence can be practiced and is not innate The role of nostalgia in personal style How to find what you like vs. defaulting to liking what you see constantly The problem with assuming maximalism is only for people who love excess Why it's so important that, as women, we continue to take up space FOLLOW  Jess on Instagram @thestyleddomicile The Styled Domicile website Kim on Instagram @kimwensel Kim's website MENTIONS Join The Bench waitlist! Supercommunicators book Good Taste is Making You Boring post 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think The Road to Tender Hearts Broken Country

Now that the word “pivot” is part of our daily lexicon, we assume we know what it takes to move from one thing to the next. And why wouldn’t we? There are plenty of talks, books, and masterclasses on the topic. But for some reason we’re still stuck.   In this episode, Kim talks through her experiences of pivoting, shedding identities that no longer serve you, and the unmarketable messy middle.   THIS EPISODE COVERS + How Kim unknowingly was clutching to the identify of “fixer” + The importance of recognizing what we gain from our identities + What happens when we delay setting boundaries + Why the fear of uncertainty will keep us safe and unhappy + The most important question you must be willing to ask yourself when  you’re yearning for change.   For more information about this show, Kim’s work, or The Bench, visit www.kimwensel.com.

Sure, there are courses on email marketing, growing your following, and launching something new. But the people who tend to teach these topics have built a business through a one-to-many model, focusing first and foremost on follower count. So following their advice will never translate directly if you don’t have the reach they have. I’m someone who’s run a referral-heavy business for seven years, without focusing on building an audience and honestly that’s held me back from visibility, marketing, and asking for business. If you’ve held back because you’re used to doing the work rather than than selling the work, get ready because I’m talking to you!   I’m sharing the real numbers, timeline, and results of my recent launch for The Bench community. You’ll hear about:   + My founding membership goal and where I ended up + The role of a waitlist and application and how these impacted enrollment + The role of personal connection and scrappiness in launching + Getting comfortable being visible and embodying what you’re selling + How much money I invested in the launch + Future plans for The Bench   As always, you can get on my email list to get first in line for updates and announcements like my book launch, in-person programming, and when The Bench opens back up for membership enrollment in fall 2025.

Personal branding is a complex topic. One that if you get it, you get it. But if you don’t, it can seem self-indulgent, unimportant, and trendy. Today I’m challenging the common misconceptions about personal branding and how this view has gained traction. If you’ve ever wanted to step more into the spotlight but were hesitant for fear of coming across as fake or having to spend all day posting content, this solo episode is for you. A few highlights include:   + The reason personal branding is your career insurance policy + Disentangling your reputation from your brand + Why monetizing who you are can be problematic + What it looks like to be authentic rather than dogmatic + The role of social media for people who are allergic to self promotion + Why the future demands transparency and connection + How to embrace the idea of a portfolio career   For more on this topic and to be the first to hear about launch dates for my upcoming book and The Bench, our community for women, visit KimWensel.com.

Diehard Cleveland Cavaliers fan and creative powerhouse, Abra Said is a self-professed eternal optimist. But that doesn’t mean her path has turned out as she expected. On this episode of Why is Nobody Talking About This?, Abra and Kim discuss loss, the challenges of making new friends as adults, and financial security as a creative person.   THIS CONVERSATION COVERS + Holding firm with boundaries when your work seems “fun” + The profound impact and imprint of loss + Celebrating platonic love as much as romantic love + What we get wrong about people without kids + How we can unknowingly lose ourselves in marriage and parenthood and why that’s such a risk + The awkwardness of making new friends as an adult + Starting something new and being okay with the uncertainty of it + Having enough and still wanting more—money, work, friends, and opportunities   FOLLOW You can find Abra on her newly launched, beautiful website and on Instagram.   For more about The Bench, a community for women who love their work but want it to come at less of a cost, visit kimwensel.com/thebench.

The first guest on Why Is Nobody Talking About This? is Lane Clark, a CEO’s best friend and right-hand woman to high-performing leaders. Kim and Lane dive right into the delicate and confusing balance between ambition and contentment. As someone intimately familiar with Kim’s work and deepest professional insecurities (fun!), Lane gets honest about what happens when you have to define success as something beyond money and why it will likely always feel like swimming upstream if you’re choose your own path over climbing the traditional ladder.   THIS CONVERSATION COVERS + Why anyone would live in the frozen tundra of Northern Michigan + The dichotomy of achievement and contentment + Why some of us (✋🏼) keep falling back into burnout + The real pressure of upholding to traditional indicators of success + What happens when we sit in boredom, rather than pushing through + The reason many successful individuals feel unworthy of support + The bell curve relationship between money and happiness + Finding connection in shared experiences   FOLLOW You can find Lane on LinkedIn, her website , and the Knot Work Studio.   For more about The Bench, a community for women who love their work but want it to come at less of a cost, visit kimwensel.com/thebench.

Welcome to Why Is Nobody Talking About This? episode one. I've spent the last seven months in a creative cocoon, working on my first book. This has been an intense and largely invisible endeavor that has challenged me in ALL the ways. On this first episode, I'm sharing: + Why I never considered traditional publishing + How the book writing process has surprised me (as someone who is never surprised) + The surprising impact of hiring an editor + What I did when I'd written 80% of my first draft only to realize I was writing the wrong book + Accepting that I wasn't going to meet my deadline and still trusting the process + My top tips for anyone who's thinking a book might be inside of them   To stay up to date on the book and The Bench, our community for women who love their work but want it to come at less of a cost, visit KimWensel.com.