An Inspired Chat with Kristina Guerrero of North Central

Kristina Guerrero shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Kristina, 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: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt pure joy – tightly holding my two kiddos for dear life on rollercoasters at Walt Disney World! Nothing fills my soul more than experiencing life’s ups and downs with my boys, Mateo, 12 and Sebastian,5, both figuratively and in this case literally! From my 12-year-old and me screaming to the top of our lungs on Space Mountain, to my five-year-old telling me he needed to face his fears and get on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (formerly Splash Mountain) — it was pure (albeit expensive!) joy!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kristina Guerrero, TV host; maybe you’ve seen me on E! News once upon and time and the syndicated lifestyle show, The List. But most recently, I’m the creator of She Believed, a podcast inspired by my memoir. It’s my story of Hollywood highs, sobriety, surviving breast cancer, and finding faith—basically, learning to gracefully adult while life throws curveballs. What makes my work different? I tell real, messy stories with honesty, heart, and a little humor. It’s my story, but I hope listeners see themselves in the wins, the fails, and the resilience—and feel a little less alone. Right now, I’m sharing these stories to inspire hope, connect with others on their own journeys, and turn my experiences into media projects that matter.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I think my hustle mentality—born out of growing up poor and survivorship—has served its purpose. When I left my small town behind, failure wasn’t an option—I had nothing to go back to. I hustled hard because I had to make it, to survive, to create a life bigger than my circumstances. So I pushed myself relentlessly and built a career from sheer necessity and determination. But now, I’m learning to release the part of me that ties my worth to constant achievement and perfection. I can still grow, heal, and make an impact—without always running at full speed.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Some of the defining wounds of my life stem from growing up poor with an alcoholic father, feeling the weight of instability, and navigating a world where failure wasn’t an option because I had nothing to fall back on. Those experiences shaped my drive, without a doubt but they also left scars—self-doubt, anxiety, and the pressure of perfection. Healing has been a journey of sobriety, confronting my trauma, embracing my faith, and learning to forgive myself and others.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’ve been in the public eye for twenty years as a TV personality, and I like to think I’ve always been my most authentic self—proudly saying, “What you see is what you get.” For the most part, that’s true. But there were struggles and insecurities I tried to hide, and a constant fear of being “found out.” That fear fueled my anxiety and imposter syndrome. But it’s why I wrote my memoir and started my podcast, She Believed—pouring out my heart, sharing the parts of me I needed to release, and saying, “This is me, unapologetically, in all my messy glory.” Now, I feel that the public me is the real me—and it’s been incredibly freeing.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I’ve recently found faith in God—a higher power beyond my understanding—on a deeper level than ever before. Within a year, I hit rock bottom, confronting my drinking problem, and was then diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer. I got through both because of my faith. I’ve learned that when I drift away from prayer and an intentional relationship with God, my life spins into worry and chaos. But when I return, the storm begins to calm. Even when circumstances are hard, it’s in that connection that I find my greatest peace.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kristinaguerrero @shebelievedpod
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ kristina-guerrero-journalist
• Youtube: @kristinaguerreroBELIEVED
• Other: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-believed-with-kristina-guerrero/id1819072697