Insights
Words That Cut Through
This isn’t a blog for clicks. It’s a space for real conversations about voice, identity, power, and the systems we’re here to challenge. We write about what’s happening in the industry, how communication shapes culture, and what it means to show up fully in spaces that weren’t built for everyone.
Here, we don’t water things down. We call things in. And we say what we mean—clearly, directly, and unapologetically.
A podcast for the ones who build anyway.
This show is for the leaders, creatives, and disruptors who know what it means to start without a safety net. Or worse—start in the red. If you’ve ever built something from scratch, spoken up without backup, or created when the door was already half-closed, Operating From Zero is for you.
What We Talk About
We go deep on what it takes to lead, create, and stay true in an industry that was never built with us in mind. From queer actors breaking out of typecasting, to DEI leaders navigating boardrooms that still resist real change, to showrunners holding onto their vision while staying employed— we talk honestly about it all. This is the place where we drop the performance and tell the truth. No pandering. No pretending.
Just real stories, real strategy, and the unfiltered experiences of people still standing—still building—without the usual privileges or protections.
Hosted by
Kristina Streip-Lewis
Founder of Kindly Unapologetic. Queer, hapa Asian-American. Culture strategist. Academic. Hollywood insider. Voice amplifier. Kristina brings years of experience in corporate communications, creative writing, and DEI strategy—plus the lived experience of being told she wasn’t “enough” for the table, and showing up anyway.
Why It’s Called
Operating From Zero
Because some of us didn’t start on equal ground.
We started with less money, less access, fewer connections—and more expectations to stay
small.
This show is about what it takes to keep going anyway.
Who It’s For
Episodes drop weekly on Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.
