Bound & Determined℠ with Meg McKeen

Hosted by Meg McKeen

Business Careers Education Society CultureInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

108

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

Here we hold space for women in the insurance industry to tell their stories as we learn from, grow with, support, and celebrate one another. Hosted and produced by Meg McKeen, founder of Adjunct Advisors, LLC.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 14, 202636 min

Live in Omaha with Molly Stewart

Molly Stewart started in insurance just four days after her 16th birthday, and 27 years later, she is the Director of Sales and Distribution at Highstreet Insurance Partners, and she continues to pass on the vital information she has learned along the way. Molly looks back at the mentor who took a chance on her, the district manager who told her at 21 she would never make it, and the dollar bill taped under her chair at her first sales training and discusses how the “prove them wrong” fuel worked for her. She also acknowledges that this advice does not work for everyone, and what it truly means to coach each person with a different strategy. Molly opens up about helping her daughter Avery publish books written about living with anxiety and explains how anxiety can show up in the most mysterious ways. Listen in to learn more about the next generation entering the industry, the mentorship that is needed, and why it is okay for your life to form outside of your career. Meet Molly Stewart Molly Stewart is a passionate sales leader known for motivating teams, navigating challenges, and building strong, growth-oriented cultures through a collaborative and people-first approach. As Director of Sales & Distribution with Highstreet Insurance Partners, she brings over two decades of hands-on industry experience. Her career has spanned agency ownership, sales leadership, training, and business development. Giving her a uniquely broad perspective on growth and organizational success. Outside of work, Molly is a proud mom to three busy kids - Avery (11), Tatum (9), and Easton (7) - and shares carpool duty with her husband of 12 years, Troy. Faith and family keep her grounded, and she's always working towards that perfect balance of being able to do it all. Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live is presented by Westfield Westfield is a property and casualty insurance company with more than 175 years of helping people protect what matters most - and a long tradition of creating spaces for women to connect and build community. Westfield believes that when women share their experiences and champion one another, they can inspire lasting change across the insurance industry. Learn more about Westfield . Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Molly on LinkedIn Join Postmarked: Bound & Determined ℠ - and receive an every-other-month envelope of joy delivered to your mailbox Join Meg for an upcoming gathering: Bound & Determined ℠ Restorative Retreat , coming up in Michigan in November 2026 Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined ℠ Founders' Retreat Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here . To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors . To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, subscribe here . Not following Meg on Instagram? You can find her here . Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here , sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here . Thank you for listening!

September 3, 202636 min

Who Am I Fooling? with Amy Crandall

Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Amy Crandall for a conversation about her gray hair transition - and so much more. Amy shares about the moment she looked in the mirror and thought - who am I fooling? - and we talk about what we find underneath (it's more than hair) and the feeling of knowing that the time is now. Amy gives us the permission we may not realize we're waiting for to make a change - or not - simply because it's right for you. Meet Amy Crandall Amy Crandall has worked inside the insurance industry for more than 30 years with roles in a family-owned agency, large carrier and industry vendors. Her expertise lies in service - and when she's not supporting guiding her team, she's walking her rescue pup and enjoying the majesty of the Pacific Northwest. Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Amy on LinkedIn Catch up on past episodes with Liz Brock and Meg (solo) where we chat about silver hair transitions Join Postmarked: Bound & Determined ℠ - and receive an every-other-month envelope of joy delivered to your mailbox Join Meg for an upcoming experience: Bound & Determined ℠ Restorative Retreat , coming up in Michigan in November 2026 Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live tour, presented by Westfield , coming up in September. We'll be gathering in Omaha , Westfield Center , Chicago , Des Moines , Milwaukee and Grand Rapids. Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined ℠ Founders' Retreat Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here . To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors . To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, subscribe here . Not following Meg on Instagram? You can find her here . Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here , sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here . Thank you for listening!

August 20, 202647 min

Room to Grow with Ellie Platt

Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Ellie Platt - an insurance agency founder, community builder, and woman who has spent 15 years betting on herself as she goes - for a conversation about what it feels like to outgrow the pot you're in. We talk about the leap of faith it took to leave a good job with a two-year-old at home - the importance of saying what you mean, always, and why sometimes the brave thing isn't leaving - it's staying. Ellie is warm and generous in the most approachable way - and leaves us with a fun reflection on life through her lens today. Meet Ellie Platt Ellie Platt is the owner and president of Platt Insurance, an independent agency she built from the ground up in Youngstown, Ohio. Now celebrating 15 years in business, she takes pride in leading a team of 12 and helping them grow while building a strong presence in the insurance industry. Ellie is also deeply committed to her community, serving in multiple leadership roles while balancing life as a dedicated mom. Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn Learn more about Platt Insurance Join Postmarked: Bound & Determined ℠ - and receive an every-other-month envelope of joy delivered to your mailbox Learn more about Saya Hillman and the experiences she curates - and listen to our conversation on the podcast here Join Meg for an upcoming experience: Join Meg and Tracey Heeter Allen for Coffee & Conversation , coming up in Lake Oswego, Oregon on August 26th Bound & Determined ℠ Restorative Retreat , coming up in Michigan in November 2026 Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live tour, presented by Westfield , coming up in September. We'll be gathering in Omaha , Westfield Center , Chicago , Des Moines , Milwaukee and Grand Rapids. Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined ℠ Founders' Retreat Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here . To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors . To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here . Not following Meg on Instagram? You can find her here. Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here , sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here . Thank you for listening!

August 6, 202638 min

A Dash of Delulu with Ema Roloff

Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Ema Roloff for a conversation about the uncommon courage it takes to build something before you know how it's going to turn out. We talk about reimagining the ways we gather, the accessibility gap in many professional events these days, and how it feels to take the first step when the noise around you tells you to wait - or skip it altogether. Meet Ema Roloff Ema Roloff is the Co-Founder of Roloff Consulting, where she helps business leaders navigate digital change with clarity, confidence, and a people-first approach. With more than a decade of experience in B2B enterprise software and complex enterprise sales, she translates topics like AI, digital transformation, and leadership into practical strategies that organizations can immediately apply. Through keynotes, workshops, research, and content Ema equips leaders to communicate change, build trust, and thrive in a digital-first world. Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Ema on LinkedIn Learn more about Roloff Consulting Register for the IGNiTE Digital Leadership Summit , coming up in Madison, WI, on September 3rd. Take $100 of your registration through Friday, August 7th when you use code COUNTDOWN Join Meg for an upcoming experience: Join Meg and Tracey Heeter Allen for Coffee & Conversation , coming up in Lake Oswego, Oregon on August 26th Bound & Determined ℠ Restorative Retreat , coming up in Michigan in November 2026 Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live tour, presented by Westfield , coming up in September. We'll be gathering in Omaha , Westfield Center , Chicago , Des Moines , Milwaukee and Grand Rapids. Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined ℠ Founders' Retreat Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here . To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors . To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here . Not following Meg on Instagram? You can find her here. Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here , sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here . Thank you for listening!

July 23, 202648 min

{Un}Crowding My Life with Melissa Barr

Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Melissa Barr, the founder of Sisu Insurance Services, for an honest, grounded conversation about the moment Melissa decided she was tired of her day running her. We talk about the non-linear, make-it-up-as-you-go reality of early entrepreneurship, the busy badge of honor so many of us have worn for decades without question, and what it looks like to finally - purposefully - start to uncrowd your life. Meet Melissa Barr Melissa Barr spent the last 24 years within the independent insurance agency operations space. Two years ago, she started her own company, Sisu Insurance Services, to help other independent agents and agencies build their businesses through enhancing workflows, building policies and procedures, employee and VA training and agency management system optimization. Fun facts about Melissa? She's a licensed massage therapist and has run the Detroit marathon; she also enjoys biking, hiking, running, yoga, barre and pairing great wine with great food! Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn Learn more about Sisu Insurance Services Join Meg for an upcoming experience: Join Meg and Tracey Heeter Allen for Coffee & Conversation , coming up in Lake Oswego, Oregon on August 26th Bound & Determined ℠ Restorative Retreat , coming up in Michigan in November 2026 Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live tour, presented by Westfield , coming up in September. We'll be gathering in Omaha , Westfield Center , Chicago , Des Moines , Milwaukee and Grand Rapids ! Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined ℠ Founders' Retreat Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here . To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors . To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here . Not following Meg on Instagram? You can find her here. Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here , sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here . Thank you for listening!

July 9, 202651 min

Fear Is Loud with Emily Merola

Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Emily Merola, founder of the Blazer Society and leadership coach - for a conversation about what happens when we stop drifting and instead move with purpose. We talk about what happens when a woman finally gets clear on what she uniquely bring to the world, the courage it takes to bet on yourself after a lifetime of betting on everyone else, and why the women who need this support the most are often the ones who believe they deserve it the least. Emily is electric and so generous - this conversation will surely spark something in you, too. Meet Emily Merola Emily Merola is a former insurance industry executive – and today helps women leaders find the confidence to own the room and grow in their careers and lives. As a speaker and executive coach, she equips high-achieving women to move from overlooked to unmistakable through the power of presence. Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Emily on LinkedIn Follow The Blazer Society on Instagram Learn more about the global not-for-profit supporting women, ISC Group Join Meg for an upcoming experience: Bound & Determined ℠ Restorative Retreat , coming up in Michigan in November 2026 Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined℠ Midwest Live tour, coming up in September Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined ℠ Founders' Retreat Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here . To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors . To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here . Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here , sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here . Thank you for listening!

June 23, 202652 min

An Itch You Can't Not Scratch with Julie Tomlinson

Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Julie Tomlinson for a conversation about the professional sabbatical that came when the job, the title, even the industry stopped fitting. We talk about psychological safety (it’s not a soft skill), what it means to mother a daughter as they both learn to take up space, and how confidence isn't a feeling - it's data, collected one attempt at a time. Julie is candid and wise, and reminds us that knowing who you are is a skill that will always be in demand. Meet Julie Tomlinson Julie Tomlinson is a purpose‑driven insurance leader whose mission is to inspire advocacy and grace while empowering others with passion and respect. She serves on the Executive Board of the Girls Southeast Cincinnati Soccer Association, a nonprofit providing affordable recreational soccer to more than 1,000 girls across Greater Cincinnati. Before she joins Palomar Insurance in late July, Julie is currently enjoying a professional sabbatical, giving her the rare gift of time to fully soak in life with her wonderful family — Ryan (fellow insurance nerd and husband), Ellie (15), and Wesley (12). Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Julie on LinkedIn Join Meg for an upcoming experience: Bound & Determined ℠ Restorative Retreat , coming up in Michigan in November 2026 Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined ℠ Midwest Live tour, coming up in September Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined ℠ Founders' Retreat Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here . To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors . To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here . Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here , sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here . Thank you for listening!

May 27, 202643 min

Bound & Determined℠ X Outspoken & Overbooked Live

Join host Meg McKeen for a crossover podcast experience, featuring Kristin Heideman, the host of the Outspoken & Overbooked podcast. Recorded in front of a live, virtual audience, together we chat through our insurance career origin stories - and answer listener questions about moving from one role in the industry to another, and how to prep for the C-Suite, if that's what you decide is right for you. We already know it's who you know - but isn't it also how well you know yourself? Meet Kristin Heideman With over a decade of hands-on experience in the insurance industry, Kristin knows what it takes to succeed in this space - because she's been there. After years as an Account Manager, she transitioned into recruiting to help others find the right fit and help firms build stronger teams. Now, as the WBE-certified owner of The Brinkman Group, Kristin specializes in placing top talent across commercial lines, employee benefits, and wholesale brokerage. She works closely with hiring managers and candidates to make meaningful, strategic matches - not just quick placements. Whether you're hiring, exploring new opportunities, or just want to stay informed about the market - Kristin is a resource you can trust. Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn Learn more about The Brinkman Group and the work Kristin does to support insurance professionals Join Meg for an upcoming experience: Bound & Determined ℠ Restorative Retreat , coming up in Michigan in November 2026 Purchase your ticket for the Bound & Determined ℠ Midwest Live tour, coming up in September Nominate a woman in insurance you know to be my guest for the St. Louis stop here Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined ℠ Founders' Retreat Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here . To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors . To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here . Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here , sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here . Thank you for listening!

May 12, 202652 min

Episode 100 | No One Is More Surprised Than Me with Guest Host Danielle Morales

Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Danielle Morales as guest host for this special 100th episode of Bound & Determined℠ - commemorating 65 hours of conversation recorded since launching in 2020. Danielle brings questions crowdsourced from our community and a few of her own, and together they wander through all of it - the nuts and bolts of Meg's nomadic life, the marriage and job and city - and expectations - she left behind, the earliest years in business spent wondering when it would be her turn, and the slow, imperfect trust in herself to keep going. Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn Join Meg for an upcoming experience: Bound & Determined ℠ Restorative Retreat , coming up in Michigan in November 2026 Join Kristin Heideman and me for Bound & Determined℠ X Outspoken & Overbooked | A Crossover Podcast Experience on May 15th Stay up-to-date as plans for Bound & Determined ℠ : Midwest Live come together RSVP for Dinner in Denver on June 15th Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined ℠ Founders' Retreat Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here . To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors . To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here . Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here , sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here . Thank you for listening!

April 28, 202645 min

Finding Her Spark with Katie Gouldner

Listen in as host Meg McKeen welcomes Katie Gouldner for a conversation about the particular restlessness of being content but not fulfilled - and what happens when you stop waiting for your work to heal it. We talk about perfectionism and the unknown, the courage it takes to build something that's all yours, and what it means to express yourself without a title or a permission slip - or a guarantee that it'll even be good. Spoiler alert: it's great! Meet Katie Gouldner Katie Gouldner is a marketing and communications leader, podcast host, and mom of two based in Central Pennsylvania who knows firsthand the art of balancing work, family, and personal passions. With over 15 years of experience in strategic marketing and storytelling, she specializes in making complex ideas approachable and meaningful. Through her podcast Chasing The Spark, Katie shares honest conversations about motherhood, career growth, and connection. Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode Connect with Katie on LinkedIn Learn more about Chasing the Spark and listen on Apple and Spotify Join Meg for an upcoming experience: Bound & Determined ℠ Restorative Retreat , coming up in Michigan in November 2026 Join Kristin Heideman and me for Bound & Determined℠ X Outspoken & Overbooked | A Crossover Podcast Experience on May 15th RSVP for Dinner in Denver on June 15th Join the waitlist for the next Bound & Determined ℠ Founders' Retreat Have a question for Meg? You can send that to her here . To learn more about this podcast, and the work Meg McKeen does to support insurance professionals, visit Adjunct Advisors . To receive To Taking the Risk, the monthly newsletter Meg curates, including updates on her #digitalnomad adventures, subscribe here . Love the podcast? To show your support, consider leaving a positive review here , sharing this episode with a friend, or making a financial contribution here . Thank you for listening!