How a Mom Turned Heartbreak Into a Movement

Summary

Podcast Summary: Living Your Legacy

Episode: How a Mom Turned Heartbreak Into a Movement
Host: Kira Brinton (Guest hosting for Rudy Mawer)
Guest: Kristin Merwin (Founder of Magic Inside, integrative coach, author)
Date: June 10, 2026

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Episode Overview

This heartfelt conversation delves into Kristin Merwin’s journey from personal heartbreak to the creation of "Magic Inside," a movement and brand focused on helping women and young people reconnect with their authentic selves. Hosted by Kira Brinton, the episode explores how Kristin transformed her own experiences and challenges into a vehicle for empowerment, creativity, and resilience. Listeners gain a candid, inside look at the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the power of female mentorship, and the transformative potential of storytelling—especially in Kristin’s new books, inspired by her family and personal healing.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Beginning of a Life-Changing Partnership

• First Connections and Masterminds

  • Kristin was Kira’s first client to commit to her mastermind program, marking a defining moment in both their entrepreneurial journeys.
  • The vulnerability of "showing the insides of my brain right now" (Kristin at 02:32), exposing her ideas, and finding support and encouragement from Kira.

• Investment in Self and Dream

  • For both Kristin and Kira, saying "yes" to each other was their biggest self-investment at the time.
  • Quote (Kristin, 02:20): “It was the biggest investment I had ever made in myself and the business that I had dreamed of.”

2. Building Community and Experiences

• Retreats and Shared Adventures
  • Highlights from attending retreats together in various locations—from cabins to sacred islands—where creative and business breakthroughs happened (03:15-05:03).
  • The importance of fun and presence, regardless of surroundings:
    • Quote (Kristin, 05:06): “It’s us. Wherever we are, we are bringing the sacred. … We’re bringing the fun and we’re being in creation.”

3. From Resistance to Creation: The Writer’s Journey

• The Book That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen

  • Kristin initially resisted the idea of writing a book, even as she went to Writer’s Island.
    • Quote (Kristin, 05:34): "I said I'm not writing a book, Kira."
    • Quote (Kira, 05:38): “That’s okay. You can still be on the show.”

• Breakthrough Moment

  • Inspiration struck unexpectedly on the way to the retreat, leading to her first children's book, "Magic Mountain" (05:49-06:04).

4. Storytelling, Healing, and Legacy

• "Magic Mountain": Rooted in Family and Metaphor

  • The book is inspired by stories Kristin’s grandmother wrote, blending personal family legacy with universal themes of self-discovery.
  • The plot follows a little girl’s journey back to “Magic Mountain,” discovering that the wisdom she seeks comes from within (06:06-07:15).
  • The book offers children visual anchors and lessons—a gift of intergenerational wisdom and healing.
    • Quote (Kristin, 06:08): "Each character explains to her one more clue on how to get back to Magic Mountain... None of these characters were coming from the stone. They're all within you."

• A Book for Mothers

  • Kristin talks about her upcoming book for mothers, describing the depth and courage needed to revisit painful stories to offer something real and healing to others (07:34-08:00).
    • Quote (Kristin, 07:35): “In order to have an authentic book, I knew I had to go to the depths of myself, and I had to revisit all those old stories. … It was really hard at first.”
    • Quote (Kira, 07:59): “It’s so courageous to bring this through.”

5. The Emotional Truth of the Journey

• Reflection on the Road So Far

  • Both express profound gratitude for taking risks and for the partnership, highlighting how mutual support turns dreams into reality (08:12-08:39).
  • Humorous, relatable moments about almost not signing up for the life-changing journey ("I'm gonna go back to the laundry. … Just give me some Dr. Pepper and I'll watch my soap operas.")
    • Quote (Kira, 08:27): "Just give me some Dr. Pepper and I'll watch my soap operas. Like, really?"

• A Sense of Beginning—Not Ending

  • Both Kira and Kristin frame this conversation not as a wrap-up, but as the beginning of even greater things to come (08:39-08:42).
    • Quote (Kira, 08:39): "What's weird is I feel like we're just beginning."
    • Quote (Kristin, 08:42): "That's what's interesting. I know it."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 02:20 | Kristin | "It was the biggest investment I had ever made in myself and the business that I had dreamed of." | | 05:06 | Kristin | "It's us. Wherever we are, we are bringing the sacred. Wherever we are, we're bringing the fun and we're being in creation." | | 05:34 | Kristin | "I said I'm not writing a book, Kira." | | 06:08 | Kristin | "None of these characters were coming from the stone. They're all within you." | | 07:35 | Kristin | "In order to have an authentic book, I knew I had to go to the depths of myself, and I had to revisit all those old stories." | | 07:59 | Kira | "It’s so courageous to bring this through." | | 08:27 | Kira | "Just give me some Dr. Pepper and I'll watch my soap operas. Like, really?" | | 08:39 | Kira | "What's weird is I feel like we're just beginning." |

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Important Timestamps

• [02:00] — Introduction of Kristin and their business partnership origin
• [03:15] — First mastermind and creative retreats
• [04:37] — Brainstorming, overcoming overwhelm, and the supportive process
• [05:49] — Inspiration behind "Magic Mountain" children’s book
• [07:34] — Discussing the book for mothers, authenticity, and healing
• [08:39] — Reflections, gratitude, and anticipation for the future

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Tone and Style Reflection

The tone is deeply supportive, warm, and personal—a candid dialogue between two women who've supported and inspired each other. Humorous anecdotes, open vulnerability, and mutual admiration create a sense of belonging for any listener interested in authentic transformation, creative risk, and building a meaningful legacy.

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Final Takeaways

This episode is an intimate glimpse into how heartbreak and self-doubt can be transformed through community, courage, creative expression, and a willingness to "go to the depths" for the sake of something authentic. Whether you're a mother, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply craving inspiration, Kristin Merwin's story and her partnership with Kira Brinton offer tools, hope, and a vision for writing your own legacy—one authentic step at a time.

Transcript

[A]

In order to have an authentic book, I knew I had to go to the depths of myself and I had to revisit all those old stories. Yeah, it was really hard at first.

[B]

Kristin Merwin is a compassionate, empowering, and insightful integrative coach and the founder of

[A]

Magic Inside, a movement dedicated to helping

[B]

women and young people reconnect with their authentic selves. I will never forget the moment we were sitting on the floor of my office with all of your papers, of all your ideas and creations, and all I could see was your brilliance. I was like, this woman is so, so brilliant.

[A]

I've never had anyone that could pull out the vision so you could see everything in that huge pile. And I remember almost being embarrassed to show you, cuz I was like, I'm showing you the insides of my brain right now.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you were just so encouraging and inspired me. You were like, don't give up on this. Do not give up on this.

[B]

What's weird is I feel like we're just beginning.

[A]

I know.

[C]

Spans the globe like a super high cold Internet Elvis. Ready for today. Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win. The living your legacy podcast for those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary. The impossible has happened. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan Open Chicago with the. You said Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.

[B]

Welcome back to my season of legacy makers. I'm Kira Brinton and I'm so excited to introduce you one of my favorite humans, Kristen Merwin. Yes. So in 10 minutes. How do we sum up? Kira and Kristin?

[A]

We're gonna need an hour.

[B]

I know. We have to begin by saying that you were my very first client to say yes to a mastermind.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And I always thank you because you believed in me to say yes to my very first mastermind. And we have walked through some of the most extraordinary journeys together.

[A]

Incredible, right? I had never been in a mastermind either. I didn't even know what a mastermind was actually. So I was like, well, tell me more. And it was the biggest investment I had ever made in myself and the business that I had dreamed of. So thank you for seeing that huge pile of papers and seeing beyond the chaos of what it was and saying yes to me.

[B]

I will never forget the moment we were sitting on the floor of my office with all of your papers of all your ideas and creations, and all I could see was your brilliance. I was like, this woman is so brilliant. Thank you. And you are. And what you're doing in the world is so needed. I don't even know where to start. What do we do? We've been everywhere together. You went to my grandparents cabin for my first retreat.

[A]

My favorite place. It was beautiful.

[B]

It was.

[A]

I had never had an experience like that.

[B]

Probably never again. Then you came to Boise for a retreat. Went to Missouri. Then you went to the sacred island just a month ago. Talk to me about some of your favorite moments in our journeys together.

[A]

What I love, Kara, is that you are just having a good time wherever you are.

[B]

True.

[A]

So it doesn't matter if we're in that 10 passenger van, right, Roland?

[B]

12. 12 passengers? Yeah. I drive a 12 passenger van.

[A]

It doesn't matter if. If we're in a Greyhound, actually. I mean we just. I've never had anyone that could pull out the. The vision so you could see everything in that huge pile. And I remember almost being embarrassed to show you cause I was like, I'm showing you the insides of my brain right now. Yeah. And. And you were just so encouraging and inspired me. You were like, don't give up on this. Do not give up on this. And that was in 2019. And that first retreat. One of my favorite memories, I think is when we sat down and did like a brain map kind of. I don't know if you remember that.

[B]

No, I don't.

[A]

We sat down and you took a pen and paper and we just started writing things out. And you were so excited and I was at first overwhelmed, but you were like, no, this is, this is so good to have too many ideas, you know, Too many.

[B]

Yeah. And

[A]

I love that no matter where we go, I told you on the Sacred island, it. It doesn't matter where we are. I'm having just as much fun.

[B]

It's so true, right?

[A]

No, it doesn't matter.

[B]

It's the truth. Like really, like, sure. The Sacred island, it brings a lot of magic and luxury is nice.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

But it's us. Wherever we are, we are bringing the sacred. Wherever we are, we're bringing the fun and we're being in creation. And so I just, I have loved walking this with you and I love that you're on the TV show Riders Island. I love the book that you didn't go to write the book.

[A]

I said I'm not writing a book, Kira. And I'm like, okay.

[B]

And I was like, that's okay. You can still be on the show. Totally new. I know. Like that's fine. Yeah, just come and just be on the island. Kristin. It's okay.

[A]

And I hadn't even gotten to the island. I mean, we were boarding the plane, and I was like. I just had it completely drop in the whole thing.

[B]

Isn't that amazing? So you wrote this children's book that is probably one of my favorites, and I'm so excited for us to publish it. Talk to me about the name of it.

[A]

Magic Mountain. Based on the books Magic Mountain Stories that my grandmother would write for all of us grandkids. And it's a story of a little girl, really, as a metaphor to myself as a child. And she gets lost from Magic Mountain in this story. And chasing glitter. She thinks that it's glitter or gold, and when it rests on the ground, it's just dirt. And now she's lost. So as she's finding her way back to Magic Mountain, she has characters that begin to appear from this seven layered stone. And each character explains to her one more clue on how to get back to Magic Mountain until she reaches the end. And it's dark by this point, and she's scared. And the very last character appears, and that's Inner Compass. And he says, none of these characters were coming from the stone. They're all within you. So she bows her head and closes her eyes and discovers the last step, and she slides all the way home to Magic Mountain.

[B]

I can't wait to hold this book.

[A]

And it has the stone that is such a beautiful visual for kids to anchor in the lessons and everything from the book. So I'm super excited.

[B]

Me, too. And now you have a book that. For mothers, which is really needed.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. I'm excited. And a little. It's been a little overwhelming. I really. At the island. Yeah. I. In order to have an authentic book, I knew I had to go to the depths of myself, and I had to revisit all those old stories. Yeah. It was really hard at first, but

[B]

it's so courageous to bring this through.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

And that's what we need. We need help from others. Every one of us, as mothers need support. And you have so many skills and tools that will help. I'm just so proud of you. I'm so proud of you.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Like, little did we know what we would do. We might not have said yes, either one of us, had we known, we would not have. I'd be, like, 100%.

[A]

I'm gonna go back to the laundry.

[B]

Never mind. Just Give me some Dr. Pepper and I'll watch my soap operas. Like, really? Like, I'm so grateful that you said yes. I'm so grateful for all that we've done together. And what's weird is I feel like we're just beginning.

[A]

That's what's interesting. I know it.

[B]

Me, too. So thank you for being here today. Thank you. And thank you, everyone, for just popping in on this little moment with us. I'm so excited for you to get to know Kristen. I love her so damn much. And you will love her, and you will love her episode, and you're going to love her on Writer's island, and you're going to want her books. So stay tuned, be here with us. And I will see you next time on Legacy Makers.