Big Dreams & Little Things

About Big Dreams & Little Things

The podcast for independent artists, writers, freelancers and creatives. We talk about the real creative life, the mess and the magic - with accountability, a supportive community, and a victory dance for every win along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Maria Wronski-Ellis, Karina Kampe

Category

arts · business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Mar 2025

Latest episode

11 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

45 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Sept 2026

   Summer Rewind: The Victory Dance:

   This summer, we are revisiting a small handful of episodes we love the most, the ones we feel need to be heard again and again. Each one gets a brand new intro plus highlights from the reflection session recorded the week the original episode aired. Old favorites, fresh context, one combined listen. Grab a sun chair, or an umbrella if it is raining where you are, and settle in. Episode Overview You hit publish. You finish the project. You finally complete that thing you have been working on for weeks, and then, silence. No confetti. No applause. Just you, your laptop, and the quiet that follows doing something brave. In this Summer Rewind, Maria and Karina revisit the art and science of small wins, why they matter, how to celebrate them, and how tiny victories build real creative momentum. Along the way, they share a personal update: podcast, community, and platform now share one name, Big Dreams and Little Things. You will hear the story behind Phoebe Waller-Bridge's private rituals while writing Fleabag, Karina's golden stars coaching story, and why solopreneurs especially need to become their own hype person. Plus the science of dopamine, visual momentum, and why celebrating a win protects your mental health as much as it fuels your next one. Topics Covered Why small wins matter more than you think Phoebe Waller-Bridge's private creative rituals while writing Fleabag Karina's golden stars coaching story Building your own celebration list, small, medium, and large The science of celebrating: dopamine, momentum, and stress reduction Tiny Experiments: a hum reset and a one-win-a-day practice Announcing our new name, Big Dreams and Little Things Timestamps 00:00 Intro: a quiet solo celebration after publishing an episode 01:02 Welcome and episode theme, small wins nobody claps for 02:07 Check-ins: Karina's "reload," Maria's school submission 03:37 Announcement: podcast, community, and platform all named Big Dreams and Little Things 04:48 Small wins can be invisible, leading into the Phoebe Waller-Bridge story 05:22 Feature story: Phoebe Waller-Bridge's private rituals while writing Fleabag 08:09 Karina's "golden stars" coaching story 09:47 Karina's birthday celebration, a recharge weekend at a boutique hotel in Visby 11:37 Why celebration matters, and why not to wait for big milestones 12:29 Building a personal list of small, medium, and large celebrations 14:08 Listener prompt: what deserves celebration today, and what are you proud of this week 15:00 Personal celebration styles: pampering, small luxuries, Charlotte's tea and Netflix ritual from Episode 9 16:04 Free ways to celebrate: music and dance, artist dates, solo movies 16:44 The science of celebrating: dopamine, visual momentum, stress reduction, growth, feedback loops 19:52 Tiny Experiments: Maria's hum reset (with a handwashing-song duet), Karina's one-win-a-day practice 25:53 Closing thoughts: make your own confetti list, don't wait for validation 26:32 Sign-off: Instagram, newsletter, and Ignite 27:19 Outro song Links mentioned Ignite waitlist: ectahub.net/ecta-ignite (https://www.ectahub.net/ecta-ignite) Instagram: instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings (https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings) Newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter (https://www.ectahub.net/weekletter) Referenced, Episode 9, "How to Stay Creative, Clear, and Connected" (Charlotte's celebration ritual): Spotify episode (https://open.spotify.com/episode/48WdbDazUnAdHeh2Gg13O3?si=db4204fe5e9e415d) Full show notes at: ectahub.net/victory-dance (https://ectahub.net/victory-dance/) Connect With Us Website: www.ectahub.net (https://www.ectahub.net/) Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings (https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings) Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings ( https://www.facebook.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   28 Aug 2026

   Summer Rewind: Proving it's never too late

   This summer, we are revisiting a small handful of episodes we love the most, the ones we feel need to be heard again and again. Each one gets a brand new intro plus highlights from the reflection session recorded the week the original episode aired. Old favorites, fresh context, one combined listen. Grab a sun chair, or an umbrella if it is raining where you are, and settle in. Episode Overview What if the best chapter of your life… hasn’t even started yet? In this warm, inspiring, and truth-telling episode, Karina and Maria crack open the myth that success has an age limit. Whether you’ve been dreaming of starting something new or quietly wondering “Is this all there is?” this conversation is your invitation to tune in, turn toward the whisper, and start (or restart) with purpose. You’ll hear stories of late bloomers who made magic well past their “prime,” personal reflections from your hosts (with all the real-life messiness), and a mini science deep dive into how your brain actually supports reinvention. Plus, we’re launching a brand-new segment: Tiny Experiments! Small actions, big shifts. Let’s go. Memorable Quotes “Big changes don’t have to start big. They can begin with a whisper, a sketch, a 20-minute experiment.” – Karina “You are not behind. You are not expired. You are arriving—right on time.” – Maria “I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering what might’ve happened if I hadn’t.” – Vera Wang (featured story) “Your brain might say ‘this is scary,’ but your spirit is saying, ‘this is true.’” – Maria “Show up, speak up, and never skip the victory dance!” – Karina & Maria Topics Covered Why it's never too late to begin again The story of Vera Wang’s incredible career pivot at 40 Neuroscience behind fear, courage, and change (hello, Amygdala!) Maria and Karina’s personal reinvention stories Tiny Experiments: how 20 minutes a day can shift your whole vibe Why your purpose doesn’t expire with your birthday Famous “late bloomers” who prove the best may come after midlife How small actions build momentum (and confidence!) Resources & Recommendations Vera Wang’s origin story – If you didn’t already love her designs, you will love her grit. Harvard Adult Development Study – Decades of proof that meaning leads to longevity and joy. Mentioned: ECtA Speed Accountability Tool – Free download to help you get started on your “What if?” Book rec: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay – the classic that changed Karina's path. Connect with us: Sign up for Backstage, our weekly newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter (https://www.ectahub.net/weekletter) Find us on Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings (https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings) Did this episode resonate? Share it with a musician, writer, or fellow freelancer who needs to hear it. And leave us a review — it helps more creatives find the show. Show up. Speak up. And never miss the victory dance. Connect With Us Website: www.ectahub.net (https://www.ectahub.net/) Podcast Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta (https://www.instagram.com/Bigdreams.ecta) Podcast Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta (https://www.facebook.com/Bigdreams.ecta) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   14 Aug 2026

   Summer Rewind: Imposter Syndrome

   This summer, we are revisiting a small handful of episodes we love the most, the ones we feel need to be heard again and again. Each one gets a brand new intro plus highlights from the reflection session recorded the week the original episode aired. Old favorites, fresh context, one combined listen. Grab a sun chair, or an umbrella if it is raining where you are, and settle in. Episode Overview In the second episode of Big Dreams & Little Things, hosts Maria and Karina explore that nagging feeling that you don't belong, that your success is just luck, or that any moment now, someone will find out you're a fraud. From J.K. Rowling to Paul McCartney, we discover how even the world's most successful creators battle with feeling like imposters - and what you can do when that voice in your head says you're not good enough. Topics Covered The universal experience of imposter syndrome and how it affects everyone J.K. Rowling's journey from self-doubt to transforming her vulnerability into strength Famous creatives who battled imposter syndrome (Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Maya Angelou, John Steinbeck) Maria's personal experience returning to university in her 40s Original research by Clance and Imes in the 1970s How childhood experiences with perfectionism and criticism can plant the seeds of imposter syndrome A practical 5-minute method to combat imposter syndrome MORE SHOWNOTES: https://ectahub.net/episode-2-imposter-syndrome-feeling-like-a-fraud-when-youre-actually-not/ (https://ectahub.net/episode-2-imposter-syndrome-feeling-like-a-fraud-when-youre-actually-not/) Connect with us: Sign up for Backstage, our weekly newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter (https://www.ectahub.net/weekletter) Find us on Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings (https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings) Did this episode resonate? Share it with a musician, writer, or fellow freelancer who needs to hear it. And leave us a review — it helps more creatives find the show. Show up. Speak up. And never miss the victory dance. Connect With Us Website: www.ectahub.net (https://www.ectahub.net/) Podcast Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta (https://www.instagram.com/Bigdreams.ecta) Podcast Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta (https://www.facebook.com/Bigdreams.ecta) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Who has been a guest on Big Dreams & Little Things

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Amber Mogg Cathy
• Amber Mogg Cathey
• Liz Gilbert
• Tonia Thorne

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

495

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 46 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

48

Social presence

91

YouTube

64

Engagement

0

Contact Big Dreams & Little Things

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Big Dreams & Little Things