Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Day
Kathleen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Kathleen, but most people call me Kat or K. I’m a 43 year old neurodivergent mother, creative entrepreneur, journalist and humanitarian. In 2022 I founded my multi-award winning inclusive global publication, PEPPER Magazine and have been its acting editor in chief / creative director. As of now, it’s what most people in the community know me for.
My career life has always been a juggling act. I’m an internationally published artist, author, creative consultant and intuitive life coach. I create whimsical art under my umbrella company The Imaginarium Wonder Emporium, through which I was named the winner of the Fashion Artist of the Year Award at the Texas Trailblazer Awards, 2024. And I sit on the Board of Directors for the Alora nonprofit for adult autists, a neuro-inclusive mindful community.
I’ve been a photojournalist, art illustrator and content writer for various publications and blogs for over two decades. Storytelling is my most foundational niche interest as it permeates everything I do. That led to the creation of my blog, The Alchemist + The Butterfly, in 2012, which I revived at the end of 2024.
I held a modeling career for over 17 years that led to acting and directing, which I still engage in on occasion. My current projects are as introspective and engaging as my previous film works, and I’m looking forward to creating more cinematic art with likeminded creatives going forward.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Given my innate handicaps, I’ve struggled in various areas throughout my growth in business, as well as in life. “Adulting” has always been difficult for me despite having been considered a highly gifted student growing up. Now we’ve collectively become more informed when it comes to how neurodivergence affects different aspects of an individual’s life, aptitude and ability to navigate real-world situations. Prior to understanding my neuro complexity, I honestly thought there was something wrong with me; why was everything harder for me than it seems to be for others?
I learned over time to lean into my strengths and talents and ask for proper supports when needed. This has helped me overcome challenges that felt insurmountable on my own. I owe much of my success to the help and encouragement from my family and community members who have mentored me along the way.
It’s especially important for me to advocate for others like myself who struggle with average life issues, disabilities and developmental delays. I like to be a living example of the things that can be achieved by individuals on the spectrum while understanding that my experience is my own and not all of us are able to self-advocate to the same degree. Mostly, I want to help change the perception of what autism looks like. It’s diverse—it’s a full spectrum for a reason.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Alchemist + The Butterfly ?
Under The Alchemist + The Butterfly, I conduct my intuitive life coaching with my lifestyle blog being a creative supportive outlet and counterpart. This allows me to do more community outreach, showcasing other creatives and entrepreneurs who are doing great things in SA and surrounding areas, and sharing DIY, life hacks and general inspiration.
Instead of running a regular podcast, I’ve found that multi-part filmed interviews and informative articles are easier for me to keep up with while honoring the demands of motherhood to a teen with special needs and juggling other career responsibilities. It’s a system that works for me and seems to be helpful to my interview subjects as well.
When it comes to the coaching end of what I do, my neurodivergence and lived experiences make me unique in my field. To add, my method is entirely my own and tailored to each client I work with. Over time, my success rate in effectively helping to change people’s lives for the better has garnered many speaking engagements that I have found highly rewarding. The latest of which was my live discussion during DreamWeek for this year’s theme “We Are Neighbor”, for which my segment was titled “Where Do We Go From Here?” and gained a lot of excellent audience participation and feedback. As a mental health professional, my favorite part of this is the conversation, so when I’m able to experience that element in larger groups, I feel I learn so much about myself and others even as I’m teaching.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Until recently, I’d not had time to delve into podcasts. But in researching the two newest ones I’ve been invited as an interview guest for, they’ve become fast favorites. I highly recommend the local podcasts “Unbroken” via Frontline Strong nonprofit for first responders and service individuals, and “Rainbow Revelations” which is centric to the LGBTQIA+ community and inclusive to all. I’m also now a fan of news anchor Ernie Zuniga’s “Pick Up Lines” web show after having presented alongside and with him during DreamWeek last month.
Pricing:
- My journalism is always free, though I’m available for hire as an influencer for paid sponsorships, product reviews and ads through my blog and website. The cost varies depending on the project but I’m always open to working with individuals based on their financial situation.
- My individual coaching sessions are $95 and that price goes down when you purchase multiple sessions and packages as listed on my website.
- My photography and creative consultation begins at $300, but again, varies depending upon the project.
- As a model / actress, my starting rate is $100/hr. with a 2 hour minimum, but may vary dependent upon the demands of the project.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alchemistandbutterfly.weebly.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleen.day.official
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katevday
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/thealchemist.and.thebutterfly
