Ep 396 Love Across Oceans with Kimberly Crossman & Tom Walsh

Zach sits down with Kimberly Crossman, actor, writer, and mental health advocate, and Tom Walsh, cinematographer and creative producer, for a deeply honest and inspiring conversation about love, loss, and partnership across continents.
The couple, who split their time between Los Angeles and New Zealand, share how they’ve learned to stay connected while traveling constantly, navigating pregnancy, sobriety, and creative careers. Kim opens up about her journey through depression, anxiety, and miscarriage, while Tom reflects on his own path to sobriety and emotional growth. Together, they’ve built a relationship grounded in curiosity, compassion, and the shared belief that love, like art, is something you keep creating.
They talk about running a production company together, how they manage conflict as opposites, and why celebrating small rituals, like handwritten notes and monthly anniversaries, keeps them grounded even when life feels uncertain.
Key Takeaways

• Connection through consistency - Daily check-ins, “good morning” and “good night” messages, and humor help them stay close despite long-distance stretches.
• Mental health awareness strengthens love - Kim’s diagnosis of high-functioning depression in 2019 opened the door to deeper empathy and communication between them.
• Sobriety is shared growth - Tom’s decision to get sober after years of travel and industry burnout reshaped their relationship; Kim joined him in solidarity and clarity.
• Creativity is their glue - Their shared passion for storytelling and visual art fuels both their work and their emotional connection.
• Rituals of love matter - Monthly anniversary cards, dinners, and handwritten notes give their relationship structure and playfulness.
• Conflict reveals care - They’re learning to balance different conflict styles: her need for words and connection versus his need for space and calm.
• Loss leads to perspective  - Their experience with miscarriage deepened their empathy, patience, and gratitude as they prepare for parenthood.

Guest Info
Kimberly Crossman
Instagram: @kimcrossman
Kimberly is a New Zealand–born actor, writer, and mental health advocate known for her work on screen and her candid conversations about emotional wellness. 
Tom Walsh
Instagram: @the__tomwalsh
Tom is a cinematographer, director, and creative producer with over two decades of experience in film and television.  
Together, Kim and Tom co-run a production company focused on storytelling for small businesses, social campaigns, and documentaries.

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