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I had left my decade long political career 39 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: in DC after having my first two kids during the 40 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: Trump presidency, and felt burnt out after having my third child, 41 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: spending a year in lockdown with my family, and another 42 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: tough and exhausting election. I began to find solace in 43 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: the stories of women who had made these big career 44 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: decisions and then found success and happiness in their change. 45 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: I began to realize that so many women had pivoted 46 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: due to personal reason, and they still found success through 47 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 1: non traditional paths. This new show celebrates these stories, and 48 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 1: I'm so excited to bring them to you with She Pivots. 49 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: Kristin Cavalari has been in the public eye for almost 50 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: twenty years, and her time on reality TV shows like 51 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: Laguna Beach and The Hills have led her to become 52 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: a household name. Despite her fiery personality from her younger 53 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: years on TV, she has used her big break in 54 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: the entertainment industry to her advantage. A savvy businesswoman, Kristin 55 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: has pivoted both her career and her personal life. She 56 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: is the CEO of Uncommon James and Mom of three 57 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: and has been opened about how her divorce has impacted 58 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: her life for the better. Finding growth in the hardest 59 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: of moments is central to this show, and I'm so 60 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: excited to have Kristin on as our season finale for 61 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: our premiere season of She Pivots. Her story is unexpected, raw, 62 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: and I think many of us will find inspiration in 63 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: her pivot. I'm Kristin Cavaleri and I am the founder 64 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:30,919 Speaker 1: and CEO of the lifestyle brand Uncommon James, amongst other things. 65 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: I'm a New York Times bestselling author. I'm a mom 66 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: to three not so little kids anymore now they're getting older, 67 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: and I have a hand in the entertainment industry, kind 68 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: of wear a lot of hats. So I think a 69 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: lot of people when they see you that think, oh, 70 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: I've known her my entire life. Because you started so 71 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: young on Laguna Beach, when you went into doing that, 72 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: what did you think you were going to I guess 73 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: up to that point, what did you think you were 74 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: going to be when you grew up? Yeah, I mean 75 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: I you know, I wanted to go to school to 76 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: study broadcast journalism and sort of work my way into 77 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 1: the entertainment industry through that route, so I knew I 78 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: wanted to be an entertainment I thought that was just 79 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: sort of an easier route, I guess, And so I 80 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: wanted to go to Emerson and study broadcast journalism. And 81 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: then MTV came to our high school my junior year, 82 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: and you know, Laguna Beach literally fell into my lap. 83 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: And I at the time, I love I love a competition, 84 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: and so at the time for me, it was like, well, 85 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to get this TV show. I'm going to 86 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: make damn sure I get this TV show. And I 87 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: just kind of beefed up all of my answers and 88 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 1: tried to make myself as interesting and dynamic as possible. 89 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: We filled out these twenty page packets and some of 90 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: the questions were like, you know, list your five best 91 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 1: friends and what you don't like about them, and I was, 92 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: you know, beefing up all my stuff. I remember my 93 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: stepmom at the time was twenty years younger than my dad. 94 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:57,799 Speaker 1: She was closer to my age than she was my dad's. 95 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: And in my packet I had written a lot about 96 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: her and I didn't hold back and she saw it 97 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: and she was really upset about that. She didn't want 98 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:07,919 Speaker 1: me to do the show because of it, and so 99 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: that created a lot of tension between the family, and 100 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: so I just knew that I wanted to be on 101 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 1: that show, and then with the success of the show, 102 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: I just decided to run with it. Essentially, so Kristin 103 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 1: joined the cast of Laguna Beach at age seventeen, a 104 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: junior in high school and one of the youngest on 105 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: the cast at the time. Because we were under eighteen, 106 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: our parents had to sign off, although I think because 107 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: I was living with my dad at the time, I 108 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: think only he needed to but my mom had a 109 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: lot of reservations about it, and we had no idea 110 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: what the show was going to turn into. I mean, 111 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 1: no one could have prepared us for what happened, because essentially, overnight, 112 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, this show really took off. And 113 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: I remember it aired the beginning of my senior year, 114 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: so while everybody else graduated high school and went on 115 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: to college, I had to go back and finish my 116 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: senior year. And I remember the freshman coming in and 117 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: looking at me different, and that was an interesting dynamic. 118 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: But I you know, there were definitely things I was 119 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: not proud of on the show. There were moments where 120 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: I didn't want my parents scene. I didn't want, of course, 121 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: you know, the world scene. And I think high school 122 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: is hard enough as it is. You know, when you're 123 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: seventeen eighteen years old, you don't know who you are. 124 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: You're trying to figure that out, and dealing with that 125 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: publicly was difficult. I just remember when the first episode 126 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: came out, I was so upset about how I was portrayed. 127 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: And you know, at the time, I was really upset. 128 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: But what I ultimately take away from it is that 129 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: what it made me do was realize, Okay, I don't 130 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: really know who I am, but I know for sure 131 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to be the girl on the show. 132 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: And so I think in a lot of ways that 133 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: helped me look inward and grow up. And I don't know, 134 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: I mean, who knows. If I was never on the show, 135 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: I would probably be very I mean, obviously I would 136 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: be very different. But I really look at it as 137 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: though it was a very good thing in my life, 138 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: as difficult as it was at the time. I think 139 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: it's such an interesting aspect that people don't think about, 140 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: like when they see people on reality TV, Like it 141 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: seems like Oh, you've got it all together. You're so gorgeous. 142 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,559 Speaker 1: Your friends are gorgeous, like whatever your problems are seem 143 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: whatever they are. Like. I don't think people think about 144 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: the impact on the relationships in your life and changing 145 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: the trajectory of what you want to do and how 146 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: you see yourself. Yeah, you know, you did go back 147 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: on to the Hills afterwards, sort of in a similar role. 148 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: Do you think that you as kind of like the 149 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: you know, like the not really villain, but like the 150 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: antagonet the protagon. Am I screwing up my mind? You 151 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,439 Speaker 1: can call me the villain. I was one hundred percent 152 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: of the villain back in the day, and I'm okay 153 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: with that now. So how did you find yourself kind 154 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: of playing in like did you want to go back 155 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: into that role? I look at Laguna Beach in the Hills. 156 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: My attitude towards them was very different. So Laguna Beach 157 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: was more we didn't know what we were getting into. 158 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: I felt as though the situations were manipulated, We were 159 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 1: put in situations we never would have been in. Stuff 160 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: like that where I had a break then from Laguna 161 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: Beach until the Hills, I had a few years and 162 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: when I went back to the Hills, I decided if 163 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: I was going to do it, I had to be 164 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 1: all in and I had to embrace this character that 165 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: they wanted me to play. And I looked at it 166 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 1: as a job. I mean, we filmed three days a week, 167 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 1: three scenes a day, and so it was it was. 168 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: It was a job, and I had a completely separate 169 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: life off camera, and that was actually what kept me sane. 170 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: I remember coming into the Hills and being like, oh wow, Okay, 171 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: people really don't know what's real and what's fake anymore, 172 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:37,559 Speaker 1: and so I just had to compartmentalize them. And then 173 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: it was actually very enjoyable and I had a lot 174 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: of fun playing the villain, and because it was a job, 175 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: I got to live it up and I really enjoyed 176 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: that experience. It goes to show that what we see 177 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: on reality TV isn't quite reality. The combination of newness 178 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: of reality TV with the fame and being so young 179 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 1: created the perfect storm for producers to manipulate situations, cornering 180 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,679 Speaker 1: Kristin into the villain archetype. And I actually just started 181 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: a Laguna Beach rewatch podcast with my high school boyfriend Steven. 182 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: It's called back to the beach with Kristen and Stephen. 183 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: And you know, we're doing this because the number one 184 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: question we've always gotten has been was it real? And 185 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: it is such a complicated answer that we really felt 186 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: it would be fun to go back and watch each 187 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 1: episode and then break it down. I mean, we go 188 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 1: scene by scene, we go wildline by wildline. I'm just 189 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: leaving the beach. He like he's so immature, Like he 190 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: can't even like hang out with me, for like, god, 191 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: he's just an idiot. Oh, he like can't handle the 192 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 1: fact that I've like moved on, and so he has 193 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 1: like the Jason wake up, cooke up. Oh, it's the 194 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: same pattern. She's supposed So they'll have you get in 195 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: the production van and record lines and they can put 196 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 1: it wherever the heck they want. So if you were 197 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: watching a reality show and you don't actually see somebody's 198 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: mouth move, more than likely they did not actually say 199 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:11,439 Speaker 1: that there. But you know, editing plays such a huge role. 200 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 1: They also have you say specific things. I mean, I remember, 201 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: even on Laguna Beach, we would film prom getting ready 202 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: for prom as though it was coming up, and then 203 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: you know, okay, right after that, we're gonna film prom 204 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: as though it had already happened, when it hadn't happened yet. 205 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: But we're sitting there going, okay, we'll remember it prom 206 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 1: when you know, Steven did X, Y and Z and 207 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: we have I mean, we're just making things up. So 208 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 1: it was very manipulated in that sense, or you know, 209 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: just putting us in situations we never in a million 210 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: years would have ever been in. I mean even for me. 211 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: The Laguna Beach cast was all mostly seniors and then 212 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: Talan and I were juniors, but I never I never 213 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 1: would have hung out with them, you know, and then 214 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, now I'm camping with them, you know, 215 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: stuff like that, and so it just is what it is. 216 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: In the Hills. The Hills was very fake in the 217 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 1: sense that I had fake fights, fake boyfriends. I remember 218 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: in Costa Rica, we were trying to get picked up 219 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: for another season, and so they had me kiss the bartender, 220 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: who was gay by the way, But I did it 221 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:19,599 Speaker 1: because I was like, okay, yeah, I mean I was 222 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: also twenty one years old. I was like, sure, if 223 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: that'll help us get another season, I'll do it. I 224 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:26,839 Speaker 1: was game for anything, and that's what made it fun. 225 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:28,839 Speaker 1: I really did look at it as an acting job, 226 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: and because in between Laguna Beach and the Hills, that's 227 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: what I did is I was acting for a few years. 228 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: I never did anything groundbreaking, but I consistently worked, and 229 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: so I just looked at it as another acting job. 230 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,559 Speaker 1: Is that how you saw it? Like, were you thinking 231 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: at that time still about what a different career would 232 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: look like and you thought this was playing to it 233 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: or you saw this now as your career. So I 234 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: knew going back to the Hills it was definitely a 235 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 1: different trajectory. At the time I had been acting. I 236 00:12:57,520 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 1: wanted to kind of like get out of the tabloid 237 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: world and be taken seriously as an actress, and the 238 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: Hills offered me an opportunity that honestly was just too 239 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 1: good to pass up, and so I decided, if I 240 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: take this path, I need to capitalize on that. But 241 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: I decided, Okay, if I'm going to do this, then 242 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: I want to have a shoe line and I want 243 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: to get my foot in the door with the branding world, 244 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: and so I did. I got a shoeline with Chinese Laundry, 245 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: which I was so excited about because I love shoes. 246 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: I think that they really can make or break your outfit, 247 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: and so that was a dream come true. But for 248 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 1: me at the time did I worked with them for 249 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: about five years and I loved it, but because it 250 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: wasn't my company, I found that Yes, while I had 251 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: final say, I kind of didn't have final say, and 252 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: I was still answering to a team of people, which 253 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:47,199 Speaker 1: I didn't love. So was did you start the shoe 254 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: line at the same time or when The Hills ended, 255 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 1: did you feel like you had to figure out what 256 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 1: the next move was like? Was it immediately to start 257 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: branding or were you also trying to figure out if 258 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: there was an their TV platform in which to keep 259 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 1: this this character up. No, for me, it was when 260 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: I joined The Hills, I think pretty much immediately my 261 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: team and I started having meetings with you know, companies 262 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 1: like Chinese Laundry to get my foot in the door 263 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: in the branding world. And then I did The Hills 264 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: only for two seasons, and I really felt as though, 265 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: you know, Chinese Laundry, that shoe line was kind of 266 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 1: all I really wanted at the time. And then when 267 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: The Hills wrapped, I actually I felt like my life 268 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: was really caaustrophobic living in LA at the time, I 269 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: couldn't leave my house without a bunch of paparazzi, and 270 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: so I wanted to get out of LA. And even 271 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: though I was only twenty three, I felt as though 272 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: I had lived so many lives and I was kind 273 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: of ready for that next chapter of my life. And 274 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 1: that was when I met my ex husband two months 275 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: after we wrapped the Hills, and I was really happy 276 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: at the time just having my shoeline. I still did 277 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: some little hosting things here and there and kept my 278 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: foot in the door a little bit, but I was 279 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: in a new relationship and I was really happy, and 280 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 1: he was living in sh at the time, and so 281 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: I was essentially in Chicago a lot. And then I 282 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: had my first son at twenty five, so about a 283 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: year and a half after I met my ex husband, 284 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: and then I just kept having babies and while also 285 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: having my shoe line. But for me at the time, 286 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: that was all I really needed. Kristen was the first 287 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: of her peers to have a baby, but to her 288 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: it felt like the right timing. I mean, I think 289 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: being in the entertainment industry, it forces you to grow 290 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: up a little bit, and especially being on reality TV. 291 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: And I don't know, I just kind of because I 292 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: was on TV in high school, you know, I just 293 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: I did everything at a very young age. And I 294 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: think actually even before I was on TV, my whole life, 295 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: I wanted to be older. It was like I always 296 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: wanted to be in the next phase. So when I 297 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: was twelve, I wanted to be sixteen, and then I 298 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: wanted to be eighteen. And it's like, of course, now 299 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 1: that I'm older, I just I'm trying to learn how 300 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: to be present and I actually want time to slow 301 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: down now. For where I was at in my life, 302 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: it just made sense. I was ready to get married 303 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: and have kids. And you know, now that I'm thirty five, 304 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm so happy that I had my kids 305 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: at such a young age. I mean, I feel like 306 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: I have the energy to keep up with them. I 307 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: was ready. I really was ready for that next stage 308 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: of my life, and becoming a mom was actually the 309 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: most natural thing I've ever done. And so I know, 310 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: it all just seemed very right. And I can still 311 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: say that ten years later, you know, everything, I'm very 312 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: happy with how everything worked out. I mean, I'm so 313 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: jealous that at this point, you have what feels like 314 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: a little bit of brain space and like physical time 315 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: during the day when they are in school, Like I'm 316 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: not there yet, so I'm very jealous that you have 317 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: found that time. Last year, my daughter, who's my baby, 318 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: she went to kindergarten, and I remember the first day 319 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: dropping everybody off, and I was like, oh my god, 320 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: I made it. I did it. All of my kids 321 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: are in school. I have full days. I mean right now, 322 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: it's summertime. So like I this morning, I was like, 323 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, I this week really took it out 324 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: of me. The kids were a lot, but no, I mean, 325 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: my kids are in school and it's it's really nice. 326 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: I dropped them off at school at eight fifteen in 327 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: the morning and they don't get home until like four 328 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: on the bus. So it's kind of amazing you will 329 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: get there. So from what I understand that, like after 330 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 1: that time, I mean, I guess it must have been 331 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: around the time that you were connecting with your ex 332 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 1: husband that there had been some soul searching there about 333 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 1: the fact that the world had seen you as this 334 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: villain and trying to figure out like where to position yourself. 335 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: What did that look like? For you. Yeah, for me, 336 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: I was really just about getting in the branding world, 337 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 1: because for me it was about longevity. I mean, I 338 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,360 Speaker 1: obviously knew I wasn't going to be on reality TV 339 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 1: my whole life, and especially with the Hills ending, I 340 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,239 Speaker 1: actually really thought I was done with reality TV. I 341 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 1: never thought I was going to go back, and so 342 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: I just knew, you know, with my shoe line, I 343 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: really I loved that. I actually launched a jewelry line 344 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: with Pascal Mwad, who did a bunch of different jewelry 345 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: lines with celebrities. I did one season of it. It 346 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 1: didn't do well, honestly, and you know, I think for 347 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:03,479 Speaker 1: me in the branding world, it was really about I 348 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 1: had to learn to trust my gut, and that was 349 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: probably the biggest lesson that I learned with Chinese Laundry, 350 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: because the shoes that I felt strongest about, that I 351 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 1: loved the most ended up always being my best sellers. 352 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 1: And when I would listen to the team and bend 353 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: a little, those shoes never sold, and so that was 354 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: a really great That was a great takeaway for me 355 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: to then go and launch my own brand. But I 356 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: also before I launched on Common James. I had two 357 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: other jewelry brands, so I had the one with Pascal 358 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: Mahwad didn't do well, and quite honestly, because I wasn't 359 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: very involved, I had someone else doing all the designing, 360 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: and I just said, Okay, sure that looks good, you know, 361 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: And I didn't feel as though I could speak up, 362 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 1: really don't, And I don't really know why. I guess 363 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: because it was my first jewelry line. I didn't speak up, 364 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: didn't do well. And then I launched a jewelry line 365 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 1: called Emerald Dove with my best friend Chelsea at the time, 366 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: and essentially she was the day to day operations. She 367 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: was designing and I was marketing, and we butt heads 368 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: and we didn't see eye to eye on it, and 369 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: that kind of blew up in my face. And from 370 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: there I really had this fire and this determination to 371 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: prove everybody wrong that I knew what I was doing. 372 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 1: I really felt as though at this point, because I 373 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: had tried so many things and I learned over the 374 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 1: years to trust my gut, I really wanted to launch 375 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: my own and so I decided to launch Uncommon James. 376 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: And she moved quick. She made up her mind in 377 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: December of twenty sixteen, decided to name the company after 378 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: her daughter, and launched her website just months later in 379 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: April of twenty seventeen. And then I found a manufacturer 380 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 1: and from there I was unstoppable. And in hindsight, I 381 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 1: don't know. Maybe maybe I should have put together a 382 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 1: business plan, maybe I should have thought about it a 383 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: little bit more. But I've always been someone who just 384 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 1: runs on instinct and I don't overthink things, and I 385 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: actually think sometimes that is the best place to be 386 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: in I just kind of do things, and that's what 387 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 1: I did with Uncommon James. And the day we launched, 388 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: we did better than we had ever done with any 389 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: of my previous jewelry lines. You lived in Barrington when 390 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: you were younger, you met your husband, Jay Cutler here. 391 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: It's got to mean so much to open your second 392 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 1: store Uncommon James here in the city. Yeah, no, absolutely, 393 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: I mean that's a complete grown like size wise in 394 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: terms of employees, well, I essentially launched or you know, 395 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 1: right before the show aired, I had about four employees. 396 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: Now I'm up to eighty five. You said that you 397 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: started like a true business woman. Kristen saw the opportunity 398 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: for exposure and growth through her own experience and reality TV, 399 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: and made the business move to do a reality show 400 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: that featured Uncommon James. The only reason I went back 401 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 1: to reality TV was because I knew how great it 402 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: would be for exposure for Uncommon James. So I actually 403 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:55,159 Speaker 1: pitched this show idea to E and at the time, 404 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 1: I didn't really want to be on it. I kind 405 00:20:57,680 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: of looked at it as like a vander Pump Rules, 406 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: where maybe I would pop in here and there, but 407 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: it would really be about my staff. Long story short, 408 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 1: ID said to me that the only way they would 409 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: do it was if I was on it more than 410 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:12,639 Speaker 1: I had wanted to be, and so they said I 411 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: would need to get a friend involved, and I would 412 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: need to get my ex husband involved, and so once 413 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: I had them involved or they agreed to be on it, 414 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,200 Speaker 1: then we decided to do it. And honestly, it was 415 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: the best thing I could have ever done for Uncommon 416 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 1: James because it brought so much exposure to the brand 417 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: that you really you can't buy that kind of exposure, 418 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: especially because Uncommon James was like a character on the show, 419 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,919 Speaker 1: and so people really felt like they were invested in 420 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,880 Speaker 1: the company. They saw the growth, they saw the hurdles 421 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:43,439 Speaker 1: that we went through as a startup company, and you know, 422 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 1: I really felt as though people were supporting the brand 423 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 1: and I and that was an incredible feeling. 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Answer a few questions about 433 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: your business and goals, and the wondersweet tools will automatically 434 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 1: create your website or store. From there, you can customize 435 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 1: your design, colors and content, and we automatically help you 436 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 1: get found in search engines like Google and Bing. From 437 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:36,160 Speaker 1: step by step guidance to suggested plugins, Blue host makes 438 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 1: WordPress wonderful for everyone. Go to blue host dot com 439 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:47,360 Speaker 1: slash Wondersuite within the first two years, uncommon James went 440 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 1: on to bring in twenty million dollars in revenue with 441 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 1: nearly one million followers on Instagram. The brand has a 442 00:22:55,400 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: cult following that is invested in both Kristen and It's timeless. 443 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: I finally learned to, you know, to do what I 444 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: wanted to do, and I was the one now designing 445 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 1: and I was the one doing the day to day operations. 446 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 1: And because of everything that I learned over the years 447 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: with these other companies I had worked with, I think 448 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: sometimes it's more valuable to learn what not to do 449 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,199 Speaker 1: than it is what to do. And so I was 450 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: just able to take everything that I learned and applied it. 451 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 1: And I think the biggest thing with me, honestly is 452 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 1: over the years, I've never tried to be somebody that 453 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:34,400 Speaker 1: I'm not. I've always just been me, and I think 454 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:38,919 Speaker 1: people can can see that there's an authenticity with me. 455 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: And I think now with and It's been like that 456 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:43,439 Speaker 1: on TV, but now in the branding world, it's the 457 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: same thing. I mean, they translate. So if I'm putting 458 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:50,160 Speaker 1: out what I love and I feel passionately about, that's 459 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 1: what does well. And so I think now that I 460 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 1: was involved from every facet of the company. I think 461 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: that that really that translated. People really could tell that 462 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: this was my personal style and this is what I 463 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: actually loved. What do you think were some of the 464 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 1: things when you say, you know it's more important to 465 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: learn what not to do? What are some of those 466 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:12,399 Speaker 1: things that you had done in your previous business that 467 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,640 Speaker 1: you were really clear not to do going into this one. 468 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: You know, Emerald dove with my friend at the time, 469 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 1: our friendship actually blew up on our faces. But I'm 470 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: really happy to say we are friends again, which has 471 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: made me so happy we were able to you know, 472 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:28,120 Speaker 1: it took us a couple of years, but now we're 473 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 1: actually really good friends again, and I'm so happy about that. 474 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,879 Speaker 1: But I think the biggest lesson for me though, was 475 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: trusting my gut. I mean it really was. And I 476 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:42,199 Speaker 1: think I'm one hundred percent owner of Uncommon James. And 477 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 1: I remember actually watching an interview of Jennifer Fisher, who's 478 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: another jewelry designer, and she said her advice was, if 479 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 1: you can do it, don't take any outside funding and 480 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,160 Speaker 1: remain one hundred percent owner. And I just got stuck 481 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,119 Speaker 1: with me and I always wanted to do that. And 482 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,959 Speaker 1: I think for me because having a common James and 483 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 1: being the founder, the CEO, the sole owner, you know, 484 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: I have complete creative freedom to do whatever I want 485 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: and that has been a dream come true. Not having 486 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 1: to answer to anybody is a dream for me. That 487 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 1: is a dream. And if I were to bring on, 488 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: if I were to bring on investors, that would change, 489 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 1: you know, And so I think just all of those 490 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:26,199 Speaker 1: little things, it's it's just been. It's been great, and 491 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 1: I realized how fortunate I am to be in that position, 492 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:30,919 Speaker 1: and so I'm very thankful for that. You know, you 493 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: do keep referencing, you know, a pivot point really for 494 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: you about three years ago of where you there was 495 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: a difference mentally to where you are now. Can you 496 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: tell us about what that pivot point looked like for you? Yeah, 497 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I'm so sick honestly of talking 498 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 1: about my divorce. But it was a huge turning point 499 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: for me. And it was not a decision that I 500 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: made overnight. Obviously, I really sat on it for a 501 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 1: long time and it was a scary decision I've ever made, 502 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:06,400 Speaker 1: but it's been the best decision I've ever made for myself. 503 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: And that's not to say that it hasn't been really 504 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 1: hard the last few years. And it's been a roller coaster, 505 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: and I've even had moments of, you know, not wondering 506 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 1: if I've done the right thing, but you miss you know, 507 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 1: when you create a family with someone, it's sad. You know, 508 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 1: it's sad to not have that anymore. I actually had 509 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:26,639 Speaker 1: this conversation with my kids two days ago. I was like, 510 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: you know, it's okay to be sad. I get sad 511 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 1: about it sometimes still, but I had to do it 512 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:35,679 Speaker 1: was best for me and for my kids, honestly, because 513 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 1: I want my kids to see me happy. And I 514 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 1: think I'm a better mom now because because I'm happier, 515 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: you know, And so yeah, but I feel like, I 516 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 1: don't know, I just feel like my whole world has 517 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 1: kind of opened up in the last few years in 518 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: the sense that I'm just at such a more peaceful 519 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,400 Speaker 1: place in my life. And I've done a lot of 520 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,919 Speaker 1: soul searching, and I feel as though I've done a 521 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 1: lot of I've done a lot of work, and I'm 522 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: cautious now about who I let in my life. Well, 523 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: you know, when you say you did a lot of work. 524 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: What did that look like for you. Well, it's funny 525 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 1: because my whole life, pretty much I've been in therapy, 526 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 1: but this was the one time I actually didn't go 527 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:15,160 Speaker 1: to therapy. For me, it was more about writing, reading books, 528 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 1: and I really loved to have my best friends as 529 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 1: my therapist. I actually sometimes think that friends can be 530 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 1: more beneficial than a therapist, if you have the right 531 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:26,880 Speaker 1: friends who will call you out on your bs and 532 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 1: not just tell you what you want to hear this podcast. 533 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 1: That's okay, okay, I was. I never know, call you 534 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:37,879 Speaker 1: out on your bullshit. I think that's really important, you know. 535 00:27:38,119 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 1: And and so that's that's what I've done. And I 536 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: think too taking time to be alone is important. Right 537 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 1: after my divorce, I dated someone right away, and then 538 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 1: I dated another person right away, and then I didn't 539 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,159 Speaker 1: date at all for about a year. And I just 540 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: recently started dating more in the last couple of months. 541 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: But I took a lot of time and I really 542 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 1: worked through everything. And I think for me, it's always 543 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:08,919 Speaker 1: been important to reflect because I think that's where the 544 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 1: growth is. I you know, I really want to be 545 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: able to sit in it. And I decided when I 546 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: went through everything that I no longer just wanted to 547 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: get from point A to point B. I wanted to 548 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 1: experience the journey, which for me means the good, bad, 549 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:24,919 Speaker 1: the ugly, sit in the sadness. My whole life, I've 550 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 1: always wanted to like push sadness away, like I hated it. 551 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:30,359 Speaker 1: I hated being vulnerable. Where now I've realized that that's 552 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 1: where that's where the growth comes from, and so I've 553 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 1: I've tried to stay in it a lot more than 554 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: I ever have in my past. Well, you know, one 555 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 1: of the reasons that I was so excited to have 556 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 1: you on the show is because every guest that we 557 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 1: have has a different, a unique and distinct from one 558 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: another what I call like the intervening life event, like 559 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:52,920 Speaker 1: the personal thing that changed it. And we didn't have 560 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,400 Speaker 1: someone who had a divorce, and I felt like that 561 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: was a really important story to tell because it can 562 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 1: be part of what leads you to greatness. Have women 563 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 1: been reaching out to you? Yeah, you know it's interesting. 564 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 1: I actually have a lot of women asking me for 565 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: advice and just being like, how did you how did 566 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,959 Speaker 1: you know that. I'm always really hesitant to give it 567 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: advice because you know, I don't. I don't know any 568 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 1: I only know my my situation. But I said, you know, 569 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 1: if if you're questioning it and you're asking me, I 570 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: feel like you probably already know the answer. But I 571 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: remember my mom saying because I had talked to her 572 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: about it for so many years, honestly, and I just 573 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 1: remember her being like, you'll know, you'll know when it's 574 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 1: the right time, and it's like you just you just 575 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:43,920 Speaker 1: kind of do you just do and yeah, I mean 576 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:48,320 Speaker 1: it's listen. It is truly the scariest, the hardest decision 577 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 1: I've ever made, but I'm really happy I did. Honestly. 578 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 1: If my story can help one other woman, then I'm 579 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 1: happy to share it, you know. I mean, if if 580 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:03,040 Speaker 1: I can inspire someone to get out of an unhealthy 581 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 1: relationship or whatever it is, then that makes me happy. 582 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 1: With the rise of social media, there's no doubt that 583 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:13,240 Speaker 1: Kristen's relationship to the public has changed over time. Now 584 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 1: with over four million Instagram followers, she still struggles to 585 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 1: find the balance of having a healthy relationship to the 586 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 1: public through social media. Like so many, finding that balance 587 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 1: has not been an easy journey for her, but she 588 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 1: admits to doing the work to find a way to 589 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 1: stay above the fray. So I'm really proud of where 590 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 1: I am mentally right now. This is the first time 591 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: in my life I can truly say I'm really happy. 592 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 1: I'm really comfortable in my own skin. But all of 593 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: that is noise, and what you have to keep in 594 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 1: mind also is that anyone who's going to try to 595 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 1: tear you down, especially physically, which to me blows my 596 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: mind that people do this. It's not about you, it's 597 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 1: more about them. Because for me, I'm comfortable in my 598 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: own skin. So I don't even look at photos of 599 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 1: other people on Instagram and pick them apart because I don't. 600 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:04,560 Speaker 1: I am confident. So if someone is doing that to you, 601 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,720 Speaker 1: it's because they're insecure about their body or whatever is 602 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,400 Speaker 1: going on with them. And so I think that that helps, 603 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: just keeping everything in perspective and remembering that. I also 604 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:17,680 Speaker 1: don't read my comments for the most part. Sometimes I do, 605 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:19,960 Speaker 1: but I try really not to because I think good 606 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: or bad, it's not normal, that's not it's just not 607 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 1: good for you mentally. Recently, Kristen shared a personal post 608 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,959 Speaker 1: on Instagram, noting that she was hesitant to share it 609 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: even at all. Ultimately, deciding to share. She talked about 610 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 1: the progress she has made over the past few years 611 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 1: to get back into a healthy lifestyle after losing so 612 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 1: much weight from stress. Truly, I was too thin because 613 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 1: I was really unhappy and I was stressed out. I mean, 614 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: that's it. I feel really good and I know I'm 615 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:55,719 Speaker 1: really healthy right now. And also I did look at 616 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 1: all these photos of myself from a few years ago, 617 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 1: and I didn't realize at the time how thin I was. 618 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,360 Speaker 1: I knew I was then, but I was scary skinny, 619 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:05,080 Speaker 1: and I didn't realize it. I think I've come a 620 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 1: long way from where I was, you know, three years ago, 621 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:11,680 Speaker 1: and so that I'm really proud of. And I also 622 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 1: I don't think being super thin is healthy or a 623 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 1: good look. And I have a daughter, you know, and 624 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: I don't these I just feel like now it's so 625 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:27,720 Speaker 1: difficult with girls, boys too, but especially young women, you know, 626 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 1: and looking to Hollywood and these celebrities and Instagram and 627 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 1: all these apps. Now you can change your face, you 628 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 1: can change your body. I mean, nothing is real that 629 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: we see on the internet. And I just think that 630 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:42,479 Speaker 1: it's important to remind these young kids of that, you know, 631 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:49,000 Speaker 1: you can't you're chasing something that's unrealistic. And so I 632 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 1: have gained weight, and I'm proud of that, and I 633 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 1: think that that needs to be a bigger conversation than 634 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 1: just everyone always trying to be so skinny all the time. 635 00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 1: You know, I've spent the last year pivoting out of 636 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 1: being a political cancer, thinking about owning my time more, 637 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:06,200 Speaker 1: wanting to find inspirational stories. The last couple of weeks, 638 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 1: I have found myself more nervous for my daughter's futures 639 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:14,160 Speaker 1: than I had thought about. I am not going to 640 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 1: have more kids, and I understand that is not your 641 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: desire as well, But I think about, I don't know, 642 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:22,920 Speaker 1: you know, for women who are in the thick of 643 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: it right now, I feel nervous for them. I feel 644 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 1: nervous for my own daughters. And it actually compelled me 645 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: to go to a rally last week, and I ended 646 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 1: up speaking at the rally, which I didn't intend to do, 647 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 1: and I ended up tearing up when I said, you know, 648 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 1: I don't know what the future holds for my two 649 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:40,160 Speaker 1: year old and my four year old daughters. And as 650 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 1: of this week, Tennessee, where you are, has banned abortion 651 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:47,280 Speaker 1: until six weeks and is planning and will it will 652 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 1: be banned entirely. Do you feel nervous about you know, 653 00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:53,120 Speaker 1: what kind of conversation you will have with your daughter 654 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 1: if you do stay in Tennessee? Yeah, I mean I 655 00:33:56,320 --> 00:33:59,560 Speaker 1: think and even beyond that, I think just this world 656 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 1: that we're in right now is scary. It just is. 657 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 1: I will say, though, you know, I'm happy that we're 658 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 1: in Tennessee right now. I mean I'm out in the 659 00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 1: country and everything that we've gone through in the last 660 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:15,560 Speaker 1: few years, it seems pretty normal here. So for that, 661 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:18,920 Speaker 1: I'm thankful. But yeah, I think the biggest thing for 662 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:23,239 Speaker 1: me is I have to keep faith, faith that things 663 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 1: are going to work out and everything is going to 664 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 1: be okay, because otherwise we'll drive ourselves crazy. I mean, 665 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:31,360 Speaker 1: having three kids, it's like, how do we raise kids 666 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 1: to live in this world and go off on their own? 667 00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 1: Like that's like what stresses me out, is like sending 668 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:37,839 Speaker 1: your kids off to go live on their own. It's 669 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 1: like good luck. I mean, this world is so scary, 670 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:43,160 Speaker 1: but my kids are still young, they're almost ten, eight 671 00:34:43,200 --> 00:34:47,040 Speaker 1: and six, and I just I'm trying to remain positive 672 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 1: and keep the faith. I think that I really in 673 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 1: my heart believe that things are going to get so 674 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:54,920 Speaker 1: bad to get better. I think that this is just 675 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:58,160 Speaker 1: something we have to go through collectively to hopefully come 676 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 1: out on the other side. Yeah, I feel like in general, 677 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:03,160 Speaker 1: a conversation that I tried someone had said this to 678 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:05,080 Speaker 1: me that I've really taken with me is that is 679 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:06,879 Speaker 1: that if they're really upset about something, I say, well, 680 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:08,640 Speaker 1: my job is my job as your mom is not 681 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:10,160 Speaker 1: to make things easy. My job is to make you 682 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 1: prepared to be like to be in the world, and 683 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 1: you have to do hard things and so you even 684 00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:17,480 Speaker 1: I mean, my kids are so young, it's like sharing 685 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 1: is like the thing that they are doing the hard 686 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 1: things for, right, But like my job is to make 687 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:25,680 Speaker 1: you able to do hard things. Yeah, exactly. I don't 688 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 1: know if it's going to work, like right. I mean, 689 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:33,480 Speaker 1: I don't think any of us know hope. We just 690 00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: hope for the best, you know, try our best. But yeah, 691 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:41,000 Speaker 1: I mean I think I don't know. It's it's it's scary, 692 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:43,279 Speaker 1: but all we can do is try to instill what 693 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:47,600 Speaker 1: wisdom we have in our children and send them off. 694 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:51,560 Speaker 1: And I don't really hope for the best. I don't know. Yeah, 695 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:54,000 Speaker 1: how do you think about preparing your kids, Like, what 696 00:35:54,040 --> 00:35:57,360 Speaker 1: do you feel like you do the abortion conversations specifically, 697 00:35:57,400 --> 00:35:59,359 Speaker 1: I haven't even thought how I have that conversation with 698 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:01,560 Speaker 1: my daughter. I mean, she's six, thank god, you know, 699 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 1: but I'm really hoping that things change by the time 700 00:36:04,719 --> 00:36:06,919 Speaker 1: she's a little bit older. You know. The whole point 701 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:10,240 Speaker 1: of this show is that women go through these big 702 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 1: personal events that alter our perspective, and then we often 703 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:18,759 Speaker 1: alter our careers as a result and find success. So 704 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:21,279 Speaker 1: the whole idea is that we couldn't have found this 705 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:24,800 Speaker 1: success if we hadn't gone through this personal this moment 706 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:28,279 Speaker 1: of personal growth ourselves. Do you think that really resonates 707 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:31,040 Speaker 1: with the growth of uncommon James, Yeah, I do. And 708 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:33,239 Speaker 1: I think that the older we get, everything really just 709 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 1: starts to make sense. You know. When we go through 710 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:39,359 Speaker 1: these hard times, sometimes we're sitting her going why am 711 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:42,279 Speaker 1: I going through this? But one day all it all 712 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:44,000 Speaker 1: makes sense and we realize why we went through it. 713 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 1: And you know, I mean, I'm I'm not ashamed of 714 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:51,840 Speaker 1: my divorce. I'm not weird about it. I don't regret it. 715 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 1: It's gotten me where I am today. It got me 716 00:36:53,719 --> 00:36:57,160 Speaker 1: out to Franklin, Tennessee. It led me to launch Uncommon James. 717 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: It obviously got me my three children. You know, I've 718 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:01,839 Speaker 1: learned a lot from it. I've gotten more in touch 719 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:06,000 Speaker 1: with myself. I've it's it's all good, and it's it's 720 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:09,240 Speaker 1: been really difficult, but it's been it's been great. And 721 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:12,000 Speaker 1: and that's what I'm saying is I I don't regret 722 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:15,320 Speaker 1: anything in my life, and it all it's all a journey, 723 00:37:15,360 --> 00:37:17,239 Speaker 1: and it all gets us to where we need to 724 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:20,160 Speaker 1: end up. Where do you want to take your company? 725 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:24,320 Speaker 1: I you know, I don't know. I mean, I think 726 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:27,759 Speaker 1: Sailor she's six, but she says that maybe one day 727 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:29,480 Speaker 1: she wants to take it over, which I think would 728 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:31,640 Speaker 1: be incredible if we could keep it in the fam 729 00:37:31,719 --> 00:37:34,680 Speaker 1: and the kids wanted to run it one day. You know, 730 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:37,920 Speaker 1: we have our jewelry, and we launched our skincare Uncommon Beauty, 731 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 1: which is a clean skincare line, about a year ago. 732 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:44,960 Speaker 1: And then those are those are our two biggest drivers. 733 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:48,160 Speaker 1: And so I instead of launching you know, clothing and 734 00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:50,319 Speaker 1: all all of these things, I would rather just take 735 00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:51,920 Speaker 1: what we do and do them to the best of 736 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:54,640 Speaker 1: our ability. We're going to open a couple more stores, 737 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:58,080 Speaker 1: like we'll open Charleston next year, but beyond that, I'm 738 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:00,520 Speaker 1: I'm really happy with the growth that we've seen, and 739 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:02,879 Speaker 1: I want to just continue to grow it and keep 740 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:04,800 Speaker 1: doing what we're doing. I mean, I love it because 741 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,560 Speaker 1: I get to plan these really fun photoshoots and I 742 00:38:07,600 --> 00:38:09,600 Speaker 1: get to design all of the collections, and that keeps 743 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:12,799 Speaker 1: my creative juice is flowing. It's my creative outlet. And 744 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:15,640 Speaker 1: now that I'm just kind of doing the creative stuff 745 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:17,239 Speaker 1: and I don't have to do the day to day, 746 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:20,200 Speaker 1: it's it's just been great. It's been really enjoyable. It's 747 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:21,759 Speaker 1: freed up my time a little bit more so that 748 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:24,200 Speaker 1: I can do a podcast or I can do another 749 00:38:24,239 --> 00:38:26,520 Speaker 1: cookbook or whatever it is. And so I just feel 750 00:38:26,560 --> 00:38:29,640 Speaker 1: really grateful right now with my work life balance and 751 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:33,400 Speaker 1: where everything is. I'm just very happy and content. So 752 00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:36,120 Speaker 1: if I can just continue this, I will be a 753 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:39,680 Speaker 1: very happy girl. I feel like redefining success has been 754 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:42,040 Speaker 1: for me the name of the game over the last 755 00:38:42,160 --> 00:38:44,960 Speaker 1: you know, year or two. And a friend of mine 756 00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:47,880 Speaker 1: said this last week. She said, my definition of success 757 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:51,359 Speaker 1: has changed, and now my definition of success is being 758 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:55,600 Speaker 1: able to own my own time. Yeah, that's really great. 759 00:38:55,719 --> 00:38:58,040 Speaker 1: I love that. Yeah, I mean I think that's just it. 760 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:03,120 Speaker 1: It's just really being present and you know with that too. 761 00:39:03,239 --> 00:39:05,600 Speaker 1: My whole life, I've always been like, Okay, I want 762 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:06,880 Speaker 1: to do this and I want to do that, and 763 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:10,080 Speaker 1: constantly planning things out, and then my life just was 764 00:39:10,120 --> 00:39:13,080 Speaker 1: passing before my eyes were Now. I mean, I have goals, 765 00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:15,160 Speaker 1: but I'm not sitting here like okay, and then in 766 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:16,920 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three, I want to do this and do that. 767 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 1: Like I'm really just kind of allowing life to unfold 768 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:22,160 Speaker 1: before me. And that's the first time I've ever done it, 769 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:25,239 Speaker 1: and it's been really nice just to kind of be 770 00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:31,799 Speaker 1: I'm just trying to be still and let life happen. Well, 771 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:33,840 Speaker 1: thank you so much, Kristin. It is such a pleasure 772 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:36,239 Speaker 1: to have you on. I love following and I really 773 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:38,560 Speaker 1: appreciate this interview. This has been a lot of fun. 774 00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:44,359 Speaker 1: It flew by. Kristen still lives in Tennessee with her 775 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:48,160 Speaker 1: family and runs Uncommon James, which is continuing to grow 776 00:39:48,320 --> 00:39:52,840 Speaker 1: year over year. She recently launched their beauty collection. She 777 00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:56,960 Speaker 1: is continuing to own her own time, focusing on herself 778 00:39:57,080 --> 00:39:59,800 Speaker 1: to be the best mom she can to her three kids, 779 00:40:00,480 --> 00:40:03,600 Speaker 1: and of course she is vowed to never do reality 780 00:40:03,640 --> 00:40:08,120 Speaker 1: TV again. Thank you so much for listening to this 781 00:40:08,239 --> 00:40:11,920 Speaker 1: episode of She Pivots. This is our final episode of 782 00:40:11,960 --> 00:40:16,800 Speaker 1: season one. We'll be back, so watch this space. Follow 783 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:20,160 Speaker 1: us on She Pivots the podcast on Instagram to get 784 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:23,960 Speaker 1: our latest update and see more amazing content about the women, 785 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:29,879 Speaker 1: their stories and how their pivot became their success. Thank 786 00:40:29,920 --> 00:40:32,560 Speaker 1: you to our partner Marie Claire and all those who 787 00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:36,359 Speaker 1: supported us along the way. She Pivot is hosted by 788 00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:40,680 Speaker 1: me Emily Tish Sussman, produced by Emily edo Velosik, with 789 00:40:40,760 --> 00:40:43,880 Speaker 1: sound editing and mixing from Phineas Ellis and Will Smith, 790 00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:47,919 Speaker 1: and with help from Christine Dickinson and Hannah Cousins. Talk 791 00:40:47,960 --> 00:41:06,080 Speaker 1: to you soon. Tired of ads interrupting You're gripping investigations? 792 00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:10,280 Speaker 1: Good news. AD free listening on Amazon Music is included 793 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:13,200 Speaker 1: with your Prime membership. Ads shouldn't be the scariest thing 794 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:16,480 Speaker 1: about true crime. Just head to Amazon dot com slash 795 00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:18,840 Speaker 1: ad free true Crime to catch up on the latest 796 00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:21,840 Speaker 1: episodes without the ads and Joe thousands of shows a 797 00:41:21,880 --> 00:41:24,279 Speaker 1: free for pronubscriptions. Some shows me have that if you're 798 00:41:24,280 --> 00:41:26,440 Speaker 1: a Shark Tank fan or business junkie, check out the 799 00:41:26,440 --> 00:41:29,600 Speaker 1: podcast another Bytes. Each week Another Byte breaks down the 800 00:41:29,640 --> 00:41:32,200 Speaker 1: biggest success stories and most disastrous failures to come out 801 00:41:32,239 --> 00:41:35,360 Speaker 1: of Shark Tank. 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