Living BIG: Stories of Creativity, Courage, and Community

In this episode of Living BIG, Becca sits down with theater educator, director, and BIG Education Director Jeanette Gallup for a conversation about creativity, risk, and the power of building spaces where people feel seen.Jeanette shares her journey from discovering theater as a teenager in Miami to becoming a director, educator, and creative leader who believes art is more than performance —it’s transformation. Together, they explore intuition, storytelling, emotional safety in creative spaces, and why theater can become a catalyst for confidence, identity, and belonging.The conversation dives into the realities of educational theater, the importance of creating brave and supportive communities, and the moments that remind us why creativity matters in the first place.If you’ve ever needed a reminder to trust your instincts, take a risk, or reconnect with the creative parts of yourself, 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 Introducing Jeanette Gallup01:46 What “Living BIG” Means02:39 Saying Yes to BIG10:18 Discovering a Creative Life14:13 Finding Theater & Identity16:33 Becoming a Director20:58 Visualization & Dreaming Bigger21:19 Dreaming of In the Heights23:05 The Joy of Directing27:29 Transformation Through Theater28:23 Building Brave Spaces at BIG34:47 Seeing Growth in Students35:13 Why Community Matters37:45 One True Thing & Reflection39:02 Self-Awareness & Growth39:26 Why Jeanette Keeps Creating41:23 Let’s Freaking Sing

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 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.

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.