Tales from a Bucket List Champ
30 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 17 ratingsWhen you almost die, everything changes. But how do you get beyond surviving to thriving... bucket list thriving? Kiki Kelley tells her inspiring tales with help from author friend, Amy Hallberg.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
It's a Wrap!
July 03, 2022 15:10 - 14 minutes - 12.8 MBKiki and Amy look back over the four seasons of Tales from a Bucket List Champ.
Everybody Wrestles
June 11, 2022 16:10 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBKiki goes to the Rio Olympics and pulls back the curtains on what's going on behind the scenes.
Cleanup in Aisle Six
May 28, 2022 17:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBDuring her work with USA Wrestling, Kiki led a very full life of travel. This meant that when she was home, she had a very full life of tending to everything else.
Cleanup on Aisle Six
May 28, 2022 17:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBDuring her work with USA Wrestling, Kiki led a very full life of travel. This meant that when she was home, she had a very full life of tending to everything else.
Tehran, Tashkent, Toronto
May 21, 2022 15:10 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBKiki's job as Team Leader for USA Greco Roman Wrestling had her traveling all over the world. Here's what she was doing.
Sports Diplomacy
May 01, 2022 15:10 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBKiki gets her own private tour of Iran and returns to notoriety in Washington D.C.
Welcome to Iran
April 23, 2022 15:10 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBAmerican women don't normally go to Iran, and in 2014, women didn't go into Iranian sports arenas. As team leader for USA Greco Roman wrestling, Kiki did both. Listen as she recounts the story of one of the best weeks of her life.
Kiki the Team Leader
April 16, 2022 15:10 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBFrom Kiki: Women's Senior's Freestyle Wrestling is somewhat difficult to talk about to a general (read: non-wrestling fan) audience because of the complex structure of the pool of wrestlers, which comes from high school, college, and clubs. One of my goals is to create women's amateur wrestling trading cards, so fans and kids in general can get to know the greats, like Clarissa Chun (now coaching at Iowa) and Tamyra Mensah-Stock. A good reference for all American Wrestling is USA Wrestling. ...
Through the Looking Glass
April 10, 2022 15:10 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBI can't believe it was 2020 when we last put out an episode..... so much has happened since then, some really really challenging experiences that continue to test the soul's mettle. It's not the prettiest content (we got our groove back, thankfully, for the rest of the final season), but it gets the job done. It's a getting back on the horse episode after a thorough bucking. I'm considering taking the transcript of the entire podcast and fixing strange turns of phrase and other things that ...
Mexico
November 01, 2020 06:10 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBFrom Amy: This is for everyone who has had to move on after a marriage. There is a visceral conflict—what's the "right" thing to do, and what will make you happy again? Kiki addresses this head-on, reclaiming hope.
Kiki Falls Apart
October 28, 2020 15:55 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBFrom Amy: Last episode was emotionally intense, as Kiki relives the events leading up to the death of her marriage. This one, by comparison, is resolute. What's done is done, what's coming will come, but just for now Kiki shares with candor and humility what it's like to be in the midst of an unraveled life.
Things Fall Apart
October 25, 2020 18:11 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBLet us know how this episode lands. We may feature your comments here.
The American Dream
October 21, 2020 16:10 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBWe're at the halfway point for this season. If this podcast speaks to you, please let us know how. We may add your comments here.
Building Foundations
October 18, 2020 17:34 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBFrom Amy: There's something funny about Season 3, It's Complicated. People who listened to the first episode have noted how upbeat it is. And that's true. As I wrote in the previous episode notes, Kiki asked me to take the lead on releasing these episodes while she processes the emotions they evoke. That's the thing about self-revelation: the more interesting a story is for audiences, the more vulnerable it often is for the storyteller. There are two really hard episodes coming up that ...
What Norma Said
October 14, 2020 17:00 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBAbout this season: It's Complicated From Amy: Ever since Kiki and I first envisioned this podcast, this was the season that felt the most tender, its energy palpable from the start. Yes, the first season detailed a life-altering, near-death experience. And yes, the second season was a technical nightmare due to our sudden COVID lockdown. But this was the the place we were always moving toward, as the pivot point. It's also the one season she most dreaded, necessary for the rest of her story...
Come and Join the Dance
June 28, 2020 16:10 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBKiki was told 100% she'd never be a mother. Join in her journey from the strangest dream to miscarriage to viable pregnancy. But what about her career?
Dreams of Things to Come
June 21, 2020 16:10 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBKiki promised to tell us how she met her Jungian analyst and became a multimedia artist. Today she delivers in this short but impactful episode. This stuff runs deep, and right now, humanity could use deep healing.
Forrestina Gump
June 14, 2020 16:10 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBIf you've listened a while, you'll notice Kiki's been present in more than a few defining moments, crossing paths with multiple notable people, even though she's never sought fame. It's almost hard to believe, but it's true. It's also been a LONG spring-into-summer, so here's a lighter episode, where we catalogue some very big items that don't fit anywhere else.
Invisible Illness
June 07, 2020 16:10 - 31 minutes - 29 MBIn this episode we discuss coping mechanisms like the Arts and therapy, and reference Elizabeth Kübler-Ross's Five Stages of Grief. David Kessler is her former collaborator who, with the permission of her family, added a sixth stage. Read more about him here.
Early Google
May 24, 2020 16:10 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBThis is the true story of how Christina (Kiki) Kelley became Google’s first official editor. It took 14 interviews to land the job, so perhaps it’s reasonable that it took us 3 recording attempts to land this episode. Thanks, Coronavirus. If you haven’t listened to Kiki’s podcast before, listen to this one. (And if you like her stories, go back and catch the rest.)
The Big Blue
May 17, 2020 16:10 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBWhat people are saying: "Wow. You guys make every episode thoroughly absorbing, whether the story line is being a string of dramatic horrors or, like here (and high time too!), it's pretty much all upbeat. I think this may be because your main character is just so darned appealing -- one so wants good things for her! -- Fanboy
Viper's Den
May 02, 2020 16:10 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBReviews from Season 1: "What Grit Sounds Like — The old saying goes, 'history is written by the winners.' It's true. But sometimes survivors and over-comers share their stories too. Here is a series, not just one memory, knitted through the life of an individual who's striven for much, gained plenty, but at every turn "shouldn't have" made it. She did. Now she's sharing. The arc is brilliant, the questioning in-depth while...concise..., all pieces relevant for those with ears willing to he...
Teach for America Nearly Killed Me
December 29, 2019 17:10 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBNote from Kiki: The Kid, as we decided to call him—a bit of an anti-hero—not only made it to 22 without injury or prison, he's now 40 years old with a beautiful wife and family. It's my honor to still be in touch with this inspiring young man who taught me more than I taught him. Here's what people are saying: “Amazing podcast. Thanks for sharing your story. You are an inspiration for many. So excited for Season 2.” — Beth R. "Whoa! Once again—so brave of you to share such personal storie...
Beyond Surviving
December 22, 2019 17:10 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBWhat people are saying: “It has been so interesting listening to these. Looking forward to the next!... Inspiring.” — Alexandra F. “The Holocaust will be a shame for all of humanity always, and we must learn many things from this awful event, but we’re facing similar situations in other parts of the world. I hope this episode will reach the right places. You and Amy did an excellent job.” — Sohrab K.
Small Blanket Fort
December 15, 2019 17:10 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBNote from Kiki: My memory did not do justice to the '93 Corps TFA teachers (the corps I was supposed to be in instead of the '94 Corps): I'm happy to say I'm FB friends with at least two TFA teachers (who also completed 2-3 yrs, one even being named Teacher of the Year), as well as with two additional colleagues, one still teaching at the school! Here's what people are saying: "An interesting glimpse into the making of a podcast. Amy is not a passive bystander/interviewer... It intrigued m...
The Year of Living Dangerously
December 08, 2019 19:10 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBNote from Kiki: Even now, that year made me tired, and you can hear it. You can even hear my dog snoring! But know that this episode is about the tunnel btw overwhelming grief & finding your way back to Life. My hope is that it speaks to your dark years and allows you to see the light that comes from such liminal spaces..... What people are saying: "I love the shit out of this podcast." — Rachel R. “Wonderfully done. It’s so easy to listen to. I am not a podcast person whatsoever. But I h...
Mayo Miracle
December 01, 2019 17:10 - 37 minutes - 34 MBHere’s what people are saying: “Harrowing!!! Yaaaayyyyy, Mom!!! “Fetch me another chaplain!” was my favorite line. Continued excellent work.” — Kev H. “Episode by episode, these are amazing. Thank you for putting all this out there in this way. Kiki, you were already well established as one of my hero-exemplars, but after just listening to Episode 3, your Martin-Luther mom has been added as another.” — Eric H.
Work Hard, Play Hard
November 24, 2019 17:10 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBNote from Kiki: It was Not a Nissan commercial but Isuzu! Thx to CJ Camp & his librarial skills in tracking down the commercial! Here's the link to watch for yourself. Also, this episode contains multitudes. We invite you to look for the major themes for the full 5-season series. Now available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. What people are saying: “Your story is powerful and your energy contagious. You have a great presence delivered through the tears and laughter.” — D...
Love and Collateral Damage
November 17, 2019 17:10 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBIn the Series 1 opener for "Tales from a Bucket List Champ," we meet Kiki Kelley, as she adjusts to serious chronic illness during her college years. Author Amy Hallberg acts as Kiki's Virgil, leading our intrepid but sometimes still traumatized Dante/bucket lister through Hell and back, thus beginning an inadvertent but unforgettable odyssey. What people are saying: “Way to go, Kiki and Amy! You’ve done a great job of storytelling, bringing out Kiki’s self-deprecating humor and setting t...
Series Overview
October 27, 2019 21:10 - 1 minute - 1.28 MBThis unique podcast, Tales from a Bucket List Champ, begins with Season 1, comprised of seven episodes, ranging from the start of serious illness at college, and months at the Mayo Clinic, to a single year of jobs as a nanny, at Signet BankCard, and an English tutor/local guide to Saudi Nationals, to—finally—the long sought-after Halifax County, NC HS teaching job. But the entire first season can be summed up handily as the double-edged sword of "Teach for America Saved My Life." What peop...