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The advice Annette Bridges lives by is simple: don’t box me in, don’t underestimate me, and don’t tell me who I’m supposed to be. From a tomboy childhood in a military family to 33 years in the U.S. Army, Annette built a life around one powerful instinct - prove it, protect others, and keep moving forward. Kristina Richie sits down with her longtime "work wife" for a deeply personal conversation that reveals the roots of Annette’s fierce independence, loyalty, and sense of justice. Annette shares how growing up with brothers, a strong mother, and a difficult father shaped her views on fairness, inclusion, and what it means to stand up for the people you love.

Kristina and Annette also get honest about bullying, identity, family, divorce, grief, and the exhausting pressure of constantly proving your worth. Annette opens up about losing her brother Dan, the person who helped shape her compassion, and about the role she now plays caring for her mother in her 90s.This is a conversation about resilience, autonomy, and the cost of carrying everyone else for too long. It’s also about the freedom that comes from finally putting one of the balls down. Perfect for anyone who has ever been underestimated, mislabeled, or expected to stay in a box they never fit.