Living BIG w/ Chris Smith: Showing Up, Finding Community, and Redefining Strength

For the first time, the person usually working behind the scenes steps in front of the microphone. This week, podcast producer and BIG marketing director **Chris Smith** joins Becca and Meredith for a conversation about creativity, leadership, fatherhood, vulnerability, and why the performing arts are about so much more than performing. Chris shares how theater shaped his own life, why he and his wife have encouraged all five of their children to pursue the arts, and how BIG has become a place where confidence isn't expected,it's developed. The conversation quickly grows into something even bigger as they explore adult friendship, men's mental health, raising emotionally healthy boys, breaking generational patterns, and what it really means to "show up" for the people we love. Whether you're a parent, educator, artist, leader, or someone still trying to find your place, this episode is an honest reminder that courage isn't about having everything figured out—it's about taking the next brave step. In this episode, you'll hear about: - Why performing arts teach us how to show up for life - Confidence as a skill—not a personality trait - The surprising role theater plays in leadership and teamwork - The challenges of adult friendship, especially for men - Breaking unhealthy generational expectations - Raising kids who are emotionally healthy, resilient, and brave - Why authentic community changes everything Because Living BIG isn't about becoming someone else. It's about becoming more fully yourself. * * * # Episode Chapters **00:00** Art Teaches Us How to Show Up **00:25** Meet Chris Smith **02:52** A Friendship That Started Before BIG **04:16** Why Our Family Chose Performing Arts **09:06** Leadership Lessons from Theater **11:18** Learning Through Disappointment **12:27** Confidence Is a Skill You Build **14:35** Rediscovering Confidence as an Adult **16:27** Authenticity Over Perfection **18:18** Why the BIG Dudes Mattered **20:12** Community Beyond the Stage **22:18** Why Shared Activities Build Friendship **24:19** The Challenge of Adult Male Friendships **25:56** Why Men Struggle to Build Deep Friendships **27:08** Vulnerability, Masculinity & Breaking Old Patterns **31:24** Partnership Instead of Performance **32:39** Raising Better Men and Better Communities **37:17** Modeling Vulnerability for the Next Generation **39:05** Mental Health, Emotional Regulation & Showing Up **42:16** Community That Calls You Higher **43:15** Why Growth Requires Accountability