Listen in as women working in and in support of the insurance industry share their stories - in their voice, using their words. Off we go!
Would you like to join Meg on the podcast? Because of the volume of inquiries received, only inquiries from future guests submitted here will be considered.
Join host Meg McKeen for a crossover podcast experience, featuring Kristin Heideman, the host of the Outspoken & Overbooked podcast. Recorded in front of a live, virtual audience, together we chat through our insurance career origin stories - and answer listener questions about moving from one role in the industry to another, and how to prep for the C-Suite, if that's what you decide is right for you. We already know it's who you know - but isn't it also how well you know yourself?
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Danielle Morales as guest host for this special 100th episode of Bound & Determined℠ - commemorating 65 hours of conversation recorded since launching in 2020. Danielle brings questions crowdsourced from our community and a few of her own, and together they wander through all of it - the nuts and bolts of Meg's nomadic life, the marriage and job and city - and expectations - she left behind, the earliest years in business spent wondering when it would be her turn, and the slow, imperfect trust in herself to keep going.
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Katie Gouldner for a conversation about the particular restlessness of being content but not fulfilled - and what happens when you stop waiting for your work to heal it. We talk about perfectionism and the unknown, the courage it takes to build something that's all yours, and what it means to express yourself without a title or a permission slip - or a guarantee that it'll even be good. Spoiler alert: it's great!
Host Meg McKeen welcomes graduating seniors Raji More and Chloe Shapkauski for a conversation recorded on the campus of her alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan University. Together we explore the impressions many have of our industry - and what individuals joining the industry are really looking for in their relationship to work. We talk about success - and how that definition has already changed for Raji and Chloe. We wrap by turning the mic back around on Meg - such rich and thoughtful questions.
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Brett McKenzie for a conversation about care - the caring we do for others and the caring we often need ourselves. We talk about boundaries and burnout - and how it feels to take off the mask we often wear and let others in – and sometimes down – when advocating for ourselves. Brett is a heartfelt storyteller and shares so much of her own beautiful story with us here.
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Emma Corcoran for a conversation about career paths - and how they change as our priorities and our plans change, too. Emma is wrapping up her first year as an independent consultant in the insurance industry and shares more about her new definition of busy, how she's measuring success today, and together we unpack the notion of "doing your time" - in a role or organization - and how we can support the next generation of women in insurance who are joining us.
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Amora Wood to the podcast for a candid conversation about the range of emotions that come up when we choose to share our lives - and selves - with the world through social media. We'll talk about the boundaries we set, the very common reluctance to get started, and how we navigate the joy of the relationships we've built through the socials - and the haters that are out there, too.
Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Debbie Brcka for a candid conversation about her upcoming retirement - after more than 45 years in the insurance industry. In this conversation, we talk about Debbie’s decision to retire – the why now, the how, and the permission she didn’t know she needed. We talk about what’s ahead for Debbie in this new chapter and Debbie shares so much wisdom - spend the time – take the trip – say yes, say no - with us.
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Julie Webb for a timely conversation about our values: Where do they come from? How do they change as we change? And what happens when the way we’re showing up at work no longer aligns with the way we’re showing up in our heart? Or in the world? Julie shares more about her experience ending her corporate chapter and building her own consulting firm - including the upside of the risk we don't talk about loudly enough.
Listen as Meg narrates a recent social media post, sharing her thoughts on a new year and the pressure that it can bring.
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Chelsy Bell Carpenter for a frank - and timely - conversation about burnout. Chelsy shares her own burnout story, including the moment everything shifted for her, and the range of emotions and the reality she experienced in the aftermath. Listen as we talk about how illogical it feels to be both grateful the work you’re doing and also itchy - for something that looks different. That feels different. We talk about seasons of high stress – we are IN it right now – and Chelsy shares three small, simple tweaks that can lead to big shifts. No bubble bath required.
In this special live experience, host Meg McKeen welcomes consultant and industry icon Deb Smallwood to the podcast, where Deb shares more about her own leadership journey, and how she's supporting women navigating their own leadership today through her SELFPOWERMENT framework. If, out of frustration or hope or despair you've ever asked yourself the question "Why Not Me?" this conversation is for you.
In this special crossover experience, Bound & Determined℠ host Meg McKeen and Megan Bell of InsHER, come together for an open, honest conversation about purpose, community, and the power of sharing women's stories. With deep respect for one another’s work, we reflect on what it means to create space for women in the insurance industry, why collaboration matters more than ever, and how podcasting has transformed the way they show up as leaders, listeners, and women.
Skylar Romines joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Irvine, California, on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Skylar reflects on the uncertainty, growth, and knowing that started with the choice she made to redefine her most essential relationships - with work and career, with those closest to her, and with herself. Thanks for being with me in Irvine, Skylar!
Jenn Walsh joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Palo Alto, California, on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Jenn reflects on her relationship with ambiguity and the earliest days in her career in employee benefits - and the ways she's showing up now, as a business owner and advocate, as well as a mentor - and a mom. Thanks for being with me in San Francisco, Jenn!
Tracey Heeter Allen joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Portland, Oregon, on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Tracey reflects on her decision to pivot - in her life and career - when, after processing the way she experienced the pandemic, as well as a health challenge, and a reprioritization of her core values overall, she started the consultancy that she works in today. Thanks for being with me in Portland, Tracey!
Elisha Cavanaugh joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Seattle on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Elisha reflects on her journey into insurance agency ownership - and as an empathetic leader - a quality that is very much in demand today. We chat about the inverse relationship between our desire to take risks and our age, the reasons we hesitate to ask for help, and the glorification of overwork that is rampant in our industry. Thanks for being with me in Seattle, Elisha!
Kay Martin joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Missoula, Montana on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Kay reflects on burnout - and the private struggle many claims professionals are experiencing today - as well as her experience leading an intergenerational team today. We chat about feeling pigeon-holed in our area of expertise and share more about learning to trust your gut. Thanks for being with me in Montana, Kay!
Michelle Raue joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance in Nashville on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Michelle reflects on aging - and ageism - and the wisdom she's gleaned throughout her career - and life. Michelle is witty and she is honest - and together we share about our mutual distaste for networking - at least in the traditional sense - and unite in our support for more mental health support in the workplace. Thanks for sharing this experience with us in Nashville, Michelle!
Tinsley English joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance during the Atlanta stop on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Tinsley reflects on the notions of resilience - and reinvention - as we align our career with our purpose – and how to identify your purpose if you’re not sure, and we chat more about journey many women are on today as they navigate menopause. As only she can do, Tinsley provides actionable wisdom with honesty and heart throughout. Thanks for joining me in Atlanta, Tinsley!
Diane Wagner joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded during an intimate gathering of women in insurance during the Charlotte stop on the Bound & Determined℠ Live in 2025 tour. Diane reflects on her earliest days in insurance, the urgency she felt to find success - and the lengths she'd go to find it - and what that success looks like for her today. We talk about money - it's not easy, but it's necessary as women plan for their own financial futures. Thank you for joining me in Charlotte, Diane!
Heather Stoffer joins host Meg McKeen for a conversation recorded in front of a live audience during Ohio Insurance Agent's 2025 LeadHERship Collective. Heather describes her career like a hurricane: Hurricane Heather took a few sharp turns – from her service in the Air Force into municipal government and manufacturing, before she fell – or was she pulled? - into insurance four years ago. As she’s grown in her career and her life, Heather’s core values, rooted in the same values she learned during her experience in the Air Force, have shaped her beliefs and her decision-making.
Listen in as host Meg McKeen is joined in conversation with Adrienne Lieberthal. Together we chat through the decision Adrienne and her husband recently made – for him to leave his job and become the primary caregiving parent, and how they got there. We share more about what it looks like to thrive in values aligned relationships – both personal and professional – and the first step you can take to get there - if that’s what you need to hear today.
Did you choose insurance or did insurance choose you? Listen in as host Meg McKeen is joined in conversation with Whitnee Dillard as we go to the way, way back, sharing more about our insurance career origin stories - and the responsibility we have as professionals here to support the next generation as they find their own place in the industry.
What if we aren't climbing career ladders but playing career hopscotch instead? Listen in as host Meg McKeen is joined in conversation with Laura Rauba - a conversation sparked by this very question. Laura shares more about the sense of curiosity that led to her latest career move and how timing - and knowing yourself - really is everything when we're deciding which part of our life will be our priority - and how that priority can change.
Listen to a recording of Bound & Determined℠ Live in Phoenix, where podcast host Meg McKeen was joined in conversation by Elissa Kelly. Recorded in front of a live audience, Elissa shares more about her definition of success - and how it's changed over time - and the choice she made to shift her perspective from employee to business owner.
Listen to a recording of Bound & Determined℠ Live in Columbus, where podcast host Meg McKeen was joined in conversation by Ash Fitzsimmons. Recorded in front of a live audience, Ash shares more about her journey to motherhood and the challenge it can be to ask for help. We talk about fear and change - and the importance of honoring where we are in each moment.
Listen to a recording of Bound & Determined℠ Live in Cincinnati, where podcast host Meg McKeen was joined in conversation by Colleen Heister-Miles. Recorded in front of a live audience, we share about imposter syndrome, loneliness - even when in community - a scarcity mindset and the chance we have to honor the past while we create a different future.
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Adrienne Fazi to the podcast to share more about her experience as an advocate for breastfeeding - and for women as they advocate for what's right for them. A subject Meg admittedly knows little about, listen as we talk through the option that is deeply personal for women, and can come with challenges in the workplace. Free from shame or judgment, Adrienne shares her recommendations for employers supporting breastfeeding women. This isn't a conversation for those who are breastfeeding - it's for the rest of us.
Host Meg McKeen welcomes Amanda Dorsett to the podcast. Amanda shares all sorts of lessons learned following her search for her latest role in the insurance industry during this past year. Together we chat about ghosting, ageism, and the risk (and reward) of sharing vulnerably on social media. We highlight the importance of culture in our decision to join, and stay, with an organization. Amanda weaves practical advice for women on the move throughout our conversation, too.
Season Eight is here!
Season Seven is here!
Season Six is here!
Season Five is here!
Season Four is here!
Season Three is here!
Season Two is here!
Season One is here!
