Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kristen Case

Kristen Case shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Kristen , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building the thing nobody really sees is my self-confidence and my Substack. It’s funny, because this whole chapter of my life is quiet in a way. It’s happening behind the scenes, without an audience, without applause, without anyone really knowing how much work it takes. But that’s kind of the beauty of it. Some of the most important things we build don’t make noise. They grow in the background until one day they’re strong enough to show themselves. And that’s exactly what this season feels like for me. A private chapter, but a powerful one.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a multihyphenate creative who uses writing and storytelling as a way to understand herself and the world around her. Through her pieces for Unclear Magazine, her vulnerable essays on Substack, and her film-centered podcast The Cineglow Podcast, she explores the feelings, memories, and small moments that often go unnoticed. Each platform has become a place for her to be honest, expressive, and unapologetically herself. For myself , creating isn’t about chasing perfection or approval it’s about showing up, telling the truth, and building something that feels like home.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that has served its purpose and must now be released is the part that believed I had to chase.
I spent years thinking that if I ran hard enough, proved myself loudly enough, or achieved visibly enough, the world would finally reward me that “making it” would earn me worth in my own eyes and in the eyes of my peers. But that version of me was born from survival, not truth. She got me this far, but she believes in scarcity, in striving, in being chosen. I’m ready to let her rest. I no longer need to chase to be seen. I no longer need to earn my place. I’m learning to create because it fills me, not because I hope someone will applaud.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear I’ve carried for most of my life is the belief that one mistake could undo everything.
It’s a fear that taught me to overthink, to hold back, to tiptoe when I wanted to run. And even now, it’s something I’m still learning to unlearn. I’m still teaching myself that a mistake isn’t a verdict, that missteps don’t make me unworthy, and that growth requires softness, not punishment. This fear once protected me, but it also kept me small.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie the industry tells itself is that there isn’t enough space for everyone.
This idea that creativity is a limited resource that only a select few deserve to be seen, heard, or published is one of the most damaging myths we uphold. It creates unnecessary competition, keeps people small, and convinces emerging voices that they have to fight for a seat at a table that was never built with them in mind. The truth is, there’s room for all of us. Stories don’t cancel each other out. Voices don’t crowd each other. The landscape only gets richer when more people are allowed to exist in it fully.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing? 
What I will regret not doing is letting myself live fully while I had the chance.
I have had regrets I held back because I was afraid of being too much, too messy, too uncertain. I have regrets in the moments I muted myself so I wouldn’t inconvenience anyone. I have regretted when I did not taking the leap when something in me whispered that I deserved more. When I told myself “not yet” when what I really meant was “I’m scared.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://substack.com/@itskristencase?
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itskristencase/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itskristencase/
• Other: http://www.unclearmag.com/music-posts/2025/10/16/michelle-nez-interview – Unclear Mag
  http://www.unclearmag.com/music-posts/2025/6/23/emi-grace-interview- Unclear Mag