10,000 Tabs

What happens when the thing you’re “supposed” to build stops fitting the life you actually want? In this episode of 10,000 Tabs, Kim talks with photographer and writer Rachel Larsen Weaver about the subtle shifts that change the direction of our work—and our lives. Rachel began her career as a high school English teacher before picking up a camera while raising young children and writing a blog. What started as a creative outlet slowly evolved into a photography business. But even after finding success, she realized she had built parts of her business around what she thought people wanted—rather than what felt most true to her. That realization led to a radical shift: abandoning the industry’s fast, photography model and instead creating “long-form sessions”—24-hour storytelling experiences where Rachel travels to families’ homes, stays overnight, and documents life as it unfolds. The result? A business that feels more aligned, more human, and ultimately more successful. Along the way, Kim and Rachel explore what it means to trust your instincts, build a life around your values, and redefine success in ways that prioritize time, relationships, and creativity.   In this conversation, Kim and Rachel discuss: Why many entrepreneurs build businesses around what people think they should offer The moment a failed product launch revealed a deeper misalignment Why building something slightly new, rather than complete reinvention, can be enough to stand out What a trip to...wait for it...Great Wolf Lodge taught Rachel about compassion and perspective How to hold your values when the world pushes you towards productivity and profit   About The Show 10,000 Tabs is a podcast about how people navigate change when the path forward isn’t obvious. Each episode explores the moments when something shifts—when the version of life or work that once made sense no longer fits, and the next chapter hasn’t fully revealed itself yet. Through candid conversations with founders, creatives, leaders, and everyday people, the show explores how we make meaning, find clarity, and move forward anyway.   Mentions & Links Find Rachel Larsen Weaver: Website | Instagram  Find Kim Wensel: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

This is 10,000 Tabs. A show about how people navigate change when the path forward isn’t obvious.   Every other week, I sit down with someone who has navigated one of those moments — a pivot, a realization, a reinvention, or simply a quiet internal shift that changed how they live or work.   These aren’t career retrospectives. They’re not business playbooks. And they’re definitely not promotional interviews.   They’re conversations about the human experience behind the work: how we make decisions when there’s no clear roadmap, how we outgrow old identities, how we learn to trust ourselves a little more over time.

On the first full-length episode of 10,000 Tabs, host Kim Wensel invites her long-time designer, creative collaborator, and friend, Shauna Haider to be the interviewer.  Together they unpack the many iterations of Kim’s career—from international development work and corporate consulting to entrepreneurship, community building, and storytelling—and the moments that forced her to rethink the version of success she had been chasing. This is an honest conversation about identity, reinvention, and the throughlines that quietly shape our work over time. They also talk about what happens when the stories we’ve told about ourselves stop fitting and why sometimes the best thing that can happen is the universe to step in and decide for us. If 10,000 Tabs is a show about navigating change when the path forward isn’t obvious. Welcome to episode one!   This episode covers: How Shauna and Kim first met and the seven-year creative partnership that followed The early career path that Kim thought would define her life (and why it didn't) What it feels like when the dream you once worked so hard for stops being the goal The pressure to over-explain yourself when you don't fit in one lane Why it takes a breaking point for many of us to make the change we actually crave Letting go of the need to be understood by everyone The big question Kim's living inside of right now   About The Show 10,000 Tabs is a podcast about how people navigate change when the path forward isn’t obvious. Each episode explores the moments when something shifts—when the version of life or work that once made sense no longer fits, and the next chapter hasn’t fully revealed itself yet. Through candid conversations with founders, creatives, leaders, and everyday people, the show explores how we make meaning, find clarity, and move forward anyway.   Mentions & Links Shauna Haider: Website | Instagram Kim Wensel: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

⏱️ This is the last episode of Why Is Nobody Talking About This? After a decade in business and seven years behind a microphone, Kim realized something important: the parts of podcasting she loves are centered around a conversation. Sitting across from someone else, questioning, relating, and reacting in real time is something she could do all day long. And once you realize something this big, you can't ignore it. In this episode, Kim shares the story behind a major shift in the podcast, why she’s moving away from traditional business conversations, and what inspired the creation of the new show format. This isn’t a goodbye. It’s a turning point. Highlights Why nearly every overnight success is really ten years of putting in the reps How long it takes 90% of podcasters to stop releasing new episodes Why traditional business podcasts stopped resonating and what feels like it's missing What you can expect from new episodes after this... Follow & Mentions John Mayer spitting 🔥 on creativity on Call Her Daddy Apply to be a guest on the show! Follow Kim on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn

We talk a lot about strategy, confidence, and visibility, but far less about the one skill that quietly determines how all of those things actually play out: clear, human communication. Get ready for story time. In this episode Kim shares a hilariously uncomfortable personal experience that turned into an unexpected lesson about self-advocacy, assumptions, and the cost of not saying what we mean.  If you’ve ever left a conversation wishing you’d just said the thing, this episode is a reminder that clear communication isn’t harsh or selfish; it’s one of the most generous skills we can build.   HIGHLIGHTS The awkward (and unforgettable) story that sparked a deeper realization about communication Why highly capable women often default to politeness over clarity How avoiding small moments of discomfort creates bigger, longer-term friction The hidden cost of assuming instead of asking How clear communication builds trust faster than being easygoing ever will Simple ways to start practicing directness without feeling harsh or out of place   MENTIONS & FOLLOW Episode 25: Being Open to What's Next with Sara Amin Parenting, Party of One Kim's Website and Instagram

In this episode, Kim speaks directly to small business owners and founders who are navigating uncertain times, questioning their role as leaders, and wondering how to use their voice publicly to share their values. She explores the tension many business owners feel between wanting to take a stand and shifting their entire approach to activism. If you’ve been feeling pressure to respond perfectly, lead loudly, or justify your choices publicly, this episode offers a more human and sustainable way forward. This episode is a reminder that leadership is less about proving and more about acting in integrity.   HIGHLIGHTS Why small business owners are leaders, even if they don’t identify that way The difference between quiet leadership and out-loud leadership (and why both matter) Why call-out culture keeps many business owners from speaking up in important moments How performative action differs from meaningful, real-world leadership Five ways to lead and make an impact that have nothing to do with social media Why staying grounded in your real life is essential during moments of crisis   MENTIONS & FOLLOW Tashondra Govan: Therapy Straight, No Chaser Luvvie Ajayi Jones on visibility 5 Calls  Kim Wensel Website & Instagram  

Call for podcast guests! If you’re someone who has experienced a meaningful shift, pivot, or reckoning—and you’re comfortable speaking honestly about the messy middle—you may be a future guest. Reach out at Instagram and LinkedIn Kim's Website

Before we get to the show notes, we've got an ask. If you've listened to the show, please consider giving it a rating and review in Apple Podcasts. This supports the work that goes into this show and helps attract more opportunities for visibility, growth, and content. Now onto the show...   In the final episode of 2025, Kim hit record with ten hours left on the clock. She's putting words to the feeling she keeps hearing from high achievers (and herself): that weird holiday restlessness—pressure to “use the time well,” even when you’re exhausted. Instead of forcing a resolution or a big plan, this episode walks you through the simple year-mapping practice that changed her entire perspective on what's possible in a slow year. This episode is part reflection, part reset, and part guidance for entering 2026 with a clearer aim, cleaner energy, and a truer definition of success.   HIGHLIGHTS The reason high achievers underestimate how much they did in a year What you need to do before setting any 2026 intentions A simple year in review practice that outweighs new year's resolutions and "new year, new me" goals How to name what you want without getting hijacked by the question of how it will happen Hear for the first time the what Kim is ready to call in after years of doubting whether she'd ever be able to land on just one thing FOLLOW Find Kim on LinkedIn or her website

Most of us don’t avoid humor because we don’t have it—we avoid it because we’re afraid of how we’ll come across. In this live conversation, Kim sits down with journalist, producer, and Gold Comedy founder Lynn Harris to talk about why comedy isn’t reserved for performers, and why “being funny” isn’t a personality trait—it’s a practice. Together they unpack humor as a tool for connection, trust, and saying the thing everyone’s thinking (without the scoldy energy). If you’ve ever worried you’re not witty enough, bold enough, or “interesting enough” to use your voice differently, Lynn’s message is the one you need: the stakes are low—and your life is already full of material. HIGHLIGHTS Why humor builds trust in business  The difference between humor and comedy (and why you don’t need to be a performer to benefit) What “being funny at work” can look like without being loud, jokey, or self-deprecating Lynn’s most universal creative advice A reframe for perfectionists and shy creatives who might count themselves out because they don't live in the spotlight How women’s lived experience becomes the most compelling “credential” in the room MENTIONS & FOLLOW: Lynn Harris on LinkedIn & Website GOLD Comedy Comedians to Follow: Rachel Dratch, Maria Bamford, Cameron Esposito, Naomi Ekperigin, Bob the Drag Queen, Aparna Nancherla

Ideas people are tweakers. We keep going back to things that are far from perfect and abandon things that are technically better. But is this necessary? In this episode, Kim unpacks a deceptively simple insight drawn from everyday life: people don’t stay loyal because something is exceptional once; they stay because it’s consistent. Using an everyday story that nearly anyone can relate to, she explores how founders, creatives, and big thinkers often hold themselves to impossible standards—constantly improving, refining, and reinventing—while underestimating the power of reliability.  HIGHLIGHTS Why consistency builds more trust than novelty or constant improvementWhat everyday loyalty reveals about how people actually choose who to work with How high-achieving, idea-driven people sabotage momentum by over-tweaking The hidden cost of holding yourself to standards you don’t apply to others A reframing question that simplifies growth FOLLOW Find Kim on LinkedIn or her website

Somewhere along the way, founders were taught to ask “is this scalable?” before they ask whether something is worth making at all. In this episode, Kim pushes back on the pressure to build like a venture-backed startup. She unpacks the beliefs that keep smart, capable entrepreneurs stuck in planning mode, the growth advice that’s flattening good ideas, and why starting small and not as polished as you're capable of is the most strategic move you can make.   HIGHLIGHTS The beliefs entrepreneurs absorb that make them feel behind if they don’t have a scale plan   Why “build it bigger” advice is flattening good, human-centered ideas   The fear hiding behind questions like: “Is this worth starting if it can’t grow?”   How venture-style thinking has quietly become the default, even when it doesn’t align with most founders' goals   What actually becomes possible when you stop designing for scale and start building for service   LINKS & MENTIONS "Great things start in little rooms" clip by André 3000 Simon Sinek interviews Jeni Britton Brian Chesky on Masters of Scale: Do things that don't scale Kim's Website

Black Friday gets all the attention, but what about the independent shops holding our towns together the rest of the year? In this episode, Kim sits down with vintage shop owner and designer Lisa Tumbarello for an honest conversation about the realities of running a small business during the busiest (and most emotionally loaded) shopping weekend of the year. They talk about the unseen labor, the tough calls, the creative joy, and the very real pressures that come with trying to build something meaningful in a world obsessed with speed, scale, and discounts. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to keep your favorite small shops alive, this episode is the truth-telling you won’t hear anywhere else this week. HIGHLIGHTS The assumptions people make about small shops and the reality behind running one Why transparency is tricky when a small business is struggling or in transition and how that leads to us being shocked when they make an announcement that they're closing their doors The tension between curating what you love vs. stocking what reliably sells What Lisa wishes customers understood about hours, inventory, and bandwidth The misunderstood pressure small businesses feel around Black Friday and holiday shopping culture and why shopping small is about more than community, taste, and identity than sales Simple, meaningful ways to support local shops year round    FOLLOW Potomac River Interiors website and Instagram Kim on Instagram, LinkedIn, and website

Leadership isn’t always loud, polished, or certain. Sometimes it looks like sitting in a room with women who are figuring it out in real time. In this episode, Kim shares the biggest lessons that emerged from The Bench Summit in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida: moments of honesty, humanity, and self-led leadership that had nothing to do with titles and everything to do with how we show up for ourselves and one another. Whether you were in the room or not, these reflections offer a new way to think about influence, ambition, and the kind of leader you’re becoming.   HIGHLIGHTS Why embodied leadership isn’t about having the right answers; it’s about creating space for others What happens when high-achieving women let their guard down and tell the truth The difference between “leading the room” and holding a room How vulnerability, not performance, became the Summit’s most powerful takeaway How the right community expands what feels possible The unexpected (and at times, hilarious) moments that revealed what it looks to build in real time and take up space   FOLLOW Kim on Instagram and LinkedIn Kim's Website

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