I tell stories that celebrate the good around us—not to ignore the hard things, but to remind us we can face them together.
It’s work rooted in both/and thinking—holding meaning and mess side by side. I’m a strategist and storyteller. A professional and parent. Someone learning, like most of us, how to make sense of both.
By day, I serve as Editor in Chief for The Salvation Army in the western U.S., where I help shape stories that move people to awareness and action. By night (and early mornings, pickup lines and rare moments of quiet), I’m raising three boys and writing The Content Brief—a newsletter for thoughtful creatives who want both meaningful work and a livable life.
For two decades, I’ve sat across from people—widows, veterans, volunteers—finding the extraordinary tucked inside the ordinary Tuesday morning. Sometimes this work takes me across the world; most days it happens at my desk in Southern California, fueled by coffee and curiosity.
Wherever I am, the work is the same: paying attention to what matters and asking better questions.
What I believe:
Everyone’s story is fascinating (sometimes it just takes the right questions).
You can do meaningful work and still serve chicken nuggets for dinner.
The best insights come from unexpected places (often my 5-year-old).
Stories don’t just inform—they transform.
Clarity doesn’t come from choosing sides—it comes from learning how to hold both/and
The Content Brief
A newsletter and creative field guide for the beautiful mess of meaningful work and life.
CURRENTLY
CURRENTLY
📍 Living in: California with boys who think bedtime is negotiable but still say things like, “Mommy, you’re so cute and so shiny.”
📚 Reading: One Golden Summer + The Wild Robot Escapes
✍️ Writing: The Content Brief (twice monthly) + a podcast series on what it means to give with joy
💭 Thinking about: How to raise boys who notice the world around them
☕ Coffee count: Yes
Recent question from a boy: "If God made everything, did he make himself?" (6:30 a.m. Wasn't ready.)
The Content Brief: Stories + tools from the beautiful mess [Subscribe]
LinkedIn: For the professional stuff [Connect]
Instagram: Occasional glimpses of life and work [@christinlthieme]
Bookshelf: What’s on my nightstand [Shop]
Email Me: For real conversations [hello@christinlthieme.com]