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This one took me a while to process.

A few months ago, I ran my first-ever half marathon: the Disney Princess Half Marathon. And while I expected the experience to be about running, I realized pretty quickly it was actually about something much bigger.

Trust.

Trusting yourself before certainty exists.
Trusting the ordinary reps.
Trusting that consistency matters even when progress feels invisible.
Trusting that you can keep showing up before you fully know how things will turn out.

In this episode, I’m sharing the real behind-the-scenes of training for and completing the race — from injuries and superstition, to awkward Main Street moments, to realizing the finish line felt a lot less cinematic than I expected.

This isn’t really an episode about running.

It’s a reflection on business ownership, consistency, identity, motherhood, courage, and learning to trust yourself a little more every time you try something hard.

I think that lesson is going to stay with me a lot longer than the medal.

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What does it take to build something parents trust—and kids actually love?

In this episode, I’m joined by Andrea Barbalich, Editorial Director of The Week Junior, a weekly news magazine designed to help kids ages 8–14 understand what’s happening in the world in a way that’s thoughtful, engaging, and age-appropriate.

Andrea shares the behind-the-scenes story of launching The Week Junior in the U.S. in March 2020—right as the world shut down—and what it took to build a brand from the ground up in the middle of uncertainty (and plenty of skepticism about print). From hand-selecting her team to establishing the editorial voice and rhythm of a weekly 32-page publication, she walks through the real decisions that shaped the magazine from day one.

We also talk about the responsibility of covering complex, often difficult news topics for children, and how her team approaches that work with care—focusing on clarity, balance, and trust. That trust, built with both kids and parents, has been a key part of the magazine’s growth and impact.

This conversation goes beyond publishing. It’s about intentionality, leadership, and what it looks like to build something that truly makes a difference—something that sparks curiosity, builds confidence, and stays with people long after they experience it.

Connect + Learn More:

• Subscribe to The Week Junior: theweekjunior.com/subscribe
• Follow along @TheWeekJuniorUS on Instagram and LinkedIn

Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show

👯‍♀️ Special Guests: Sammy & Gracie (my twin daughters)

🗓️ Recorded after Take Your Kids to Work Day 2026

This has quietly become one of my favorite episodes to record every year.

My daughters—11-year-old identical twins—have been on the podcast a few times now, and each year the conversation shifts a little as they get older, more independent, and more aware of what’s going on around them.

They’ve grown up watching me leave my corporate job and build this business from home. In past years, they’ve “come to work” with me—but this year, they went to work with their dad instead.

So we recorded these conversations separately, and I asked them almost all the same questions.

What came out of it was equal parts funny, honest, and surprisingly insightful.

There’s a lot we talk about on this podcast—systems, strategy, making your business easier to carry—but this episode is a good reminder that sometimes the simplest perspectives are the ones that stick.