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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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