Totally Booked with Zibby: "Transitioning to the Next Stage" with Krista Williams

Date: January 30, 2026
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Krista Williams

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Zibby Owens interviews Krista Williams—author, podcaster, and wellness leader—about her book Almost 30: A Definitive Guide to a Life You Love for the Next Decade and Beyond. Together, they explore the ongoing nature of personal transformation, the untold realities behind creative success, body acceptance, and navigating life transitions at any age. Krista candidly shares her own journey, the evolution of the Almost 30 podcast and community, and her philosophy on self-compassion and growth.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. The Universality of Life Transitions

• Zibby immediately relates to Krista’s work, highlighting that the lessons in Almost 30 apply to any age or milestone, not just the late twenties.

  “Funny enough though, I feel like a lot of the things that you talk about in this book apply just as much to someone my old age or any age, any sort of milestone where things are changing or uncertain." (Zibby Owens, 07:13)

• Krista describes how themes of transformation and self-growth transcend age—while the show started as a late-twenties project, those lessons recur throughout life.

  “There hasn't been one period in my life where I haven't felt like I was in deep transformation and growth and change.” (Krista Williams, 08:09)

2. Origins and Success of the Almost 30 Podcast

• Krista recounts her and co-founder Lindsay’s uncertain beginnings, both feeling lost and unsupported by traditional timelines of success (career, relationships, family).

• She notes their commitment to consistency and authenticity as keys to success, and stresses the importance of allowing space for projects to evolve without rigid expectations.

  “Honestly, the reason why it’s successful is for three things. We were consistent... There was no expectation... and we were so vulnerable and so authentic and true.” (Krista Williams, 12:23)

• Vulnerability is another cornerstone—even early episodes candidly covered taboo topics without overthinking future repercussions.

3. Navigating Authenticity with Increased Success

• Zibby asks how success has impacted Krista’s ability to be authentic.
• Krista reflects that a larger audience brings both validation and scrutiny, adding responsibility and sometimes self-censorship.

  “At first it was Lindsay and I in the closet. No one was listening... And then you get people that listen... and there’s also people that don’t or get triggered or get upset or have feedback about what it is that you’re doing.” (Krista Williams, 14:20)

• She highlights the continual "dance" between personal expression and audience pressures, expressing a desire to be even more free and authentic.

4. The Book Writing Journey

• Despite industry pressure, Krista and Lindsay waited until they truly felt ready and had “done the work.”

  “We cleared a lot of our business to start to write a book. And we had our agent reach out, like, perfectly at divine timing... And the book writing process, honestly, was the best.” (Krista Williams, 19:44)

• For Krista, writing became a portal for deeper self-reflection and healing—both enjoyable and unexpectedly intense.
• She and Zibby bond over how writing helps the brain process and release old narratives.

5. Body Image and Healing

• Krista openly discusses her lifelong struggle with body image, shaped by her mother’s example and reinforced through dieting, disordered eating, and external expectations.
• She describes a moment of surrender that sparked healing, and the importance of Internal Family Systems therapy, emotional awareness, and giving up using food as a coping mechanism.

  “The feeling of my feelings, I think, was the biggest unlock for changing my body and changing my relationship with my body and food and really helping me get the power back… and not as much like a foe or a crutch.” (Krista Williams, 24:49)

• Both reflect on generational patterns and the lasting impact of body image issues on women’s self-actualization and participation in life.

  "So much of what stops them is their body... I noticed with myself, too, that I was holding myself back in so many ways because of a feeling like I wasn't enough or there was something wrong with me and my body." (Krista Williams, 27:13)

6. Ambition, Fulfillment, and Service

• Zibby asks Krista what’s next and how she views her continuing evolution.
• Krista is candid about her inner tension between self-acceptance and striving for more, aspiring to balance fulfillment with growth.
• She acknowledges both her desire for impact and a healthy recognition of her ego’s cravings for success.

  “My work now of what I want to conquer or do is find a balance between believing I’m deeply successful and achievement... how can I accept myself... and also how can I strive for more?” (Krista Williams, 28:01)

• Zibby reassures her that never feeling finished is a trait of the most successful people, encouraging ambition without self-judgment.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We just started to bring our conversations to a podcast and just kind of made it up and really had no intention of it becoming anything.”
  — Krista Williams, 11:34
• “When I have these expectations... it created a spaciousness for the truth of this magic to come in.”
  — Krista Williams, 12:37
• “I wish I was more expressed, to be honest. ...We kind of have that taste of like, oh my god, I could be so much more free.”
  — Krista Williams, 15:34
• “It’s beautiful to even write your story down. ...We have so much richness if we, like, take the time to just be with it.”
  — Krista Williams, 22:30
• “I had this moment where I was like, you know, I think I'm going to die just thinking about this all the time. ...And that surrender weirdly opened up a space for me to heal.”
  — Krista Williams, 24:10

Suggested Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro to Krista and her book: 04:00–06:17
• How Almost 30 began and its relevance: 07:30–09:17
• Podcast success & authenticity: 09:53–14:03
• Translating the journey into a book: 19:17–21:53
• Body image struggles and healing: 23:18–27:41
• On ambition, fulfillment, and what's next: 27:59–29:56

Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, warm, and introspective, marked by Krista’s vulnerability and Zibby’s empathy and relatability. They navigate deep, universal themes with humor and authenticity, making complex inner work feel accessible and inspiring.

This summary covers all major themes and insights from the episode, focusing on the content-rich discussion between Zibby and Krista, and omitting non-content ad sections.