How to Build a Sanctuary for Your Soul: Insights from Kate Eckman

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s time for High Velocity Radio.

Stone Payton: Welcome to the High Velocity Radio show, where we celebrate top performers producing better results in less time. Stone Payton here with you this afternoon. Please join me in welcoming to the broadcast author, speaker, coach and radio host Kate Eckman. How are you?

Kate Eckman: Stone, I’m so great. I’m here with you and your audience. I couldn’t be better. Thanks for having me.

Stone Payton: It is absolutely my pleasure. I’ve really been looking forward to this conversation. I’ve got a ton of questions, Kate, but maybe, uh, maybe a good place to start. How would you articulate mission? Purpose? What are you really out there trying to do for folks these days?

Kate Eckman: I’m really trying to help humanity heal and evolve one courageous conversation at a time. I’ve been a journalist for 20 years by trade, but also have these other careers. But humanity is is my jam and my passion and what makes me tick. And you know, I have felt so disconnected from myself and others at times in my life and felt how debilitating that is. And so I don’t want anybody else to feel alone. And I want us to be able to have uncomfortable conversations as difficult as they can be, but knowing that there’s a positive result. But really, you know, I have not felt good about myself and where I’ve been in my life. And so I know if I have felt that others have and I want to be a source of inspiration and empowerment, and I think we get there by having real, honest conversations.

Stone Payton: So tell us a little bit about the the Journey. It strikes me as incredibly rewarding work if you can get it. I’m sure it wasn’t a straight line, but give us some high spots on the journey if you would.

Kate Eckman: Yeah, I actually graduated from Penn State University. I was a swimmer there. I had an advertising and public relations degree minor in psychology, and I headed straight to Los Angeles. I wanted to work in the entertainment business. I loved movies, and I found myself. I kind of fell into a career as an entertainment reporter as a kid. You know, I’m 22, 23, interviewing the biggest celebrities in the world on red carpets and press junkets. And I again, it just I leaned into my genuine curiosity. I grew up in a house with Tom Brokaw on the news every night, and I would watch him, and then I would go up to my bedroom and and make up the news to my stuffed animals. And so I’ve always just liked to talk. I’ve liked to inform people because I’m just so curious about other people and what makes them tick and why they are the way they are. And, um, you know, of course celebrities get a lot of attention, but I’ve left that career and went to Chicago to get my master’s degree from Northwestern and journalism, and I went from interviewing Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie to delinquents and the the Cook County jail and court system, and found that to be more rewarding because there was such a need there to talk about deplorable conditions and what was going on. And, you know, I’m a humanitarian at heart.

Kate Eckman: So I had that journey. And then from there was a local news reporter all over the country and, um, after, you know, a decade or so of all the death and destruction, I, I pivoted into being a TV presenter on QVC all over the world. And, um, you know, it’s Covid and there was disruptions there. And so I, um, you know, I had worked as a model in New York City and did other TV work, and, um, I lost two loved ones to suicide in 2014 and 2015. And that kind of changed the whole trajectory of my life and career and went back to school to study neuroscience and positive psychology and whole person coaching techniques to work as a coach and and really help people because I was suffering. So I wanted the knowledge and tools to be able to first help myself, but then help others. And, um, you know that I’ve done a several things in the television world and radio world and now podcast world, having my own show with men and, um, have the most fascinating, remarkable, phenomenal guests on my show who are all overcomers in some way, but doing really big things in the world to to help humanity. And first, just by sharing their story. I think we help humanity by by being honest with ourselves and sharing our stories.

Stone Payton: Well, I’m looking forward to diving into this show because I’m fascinated with the kind of work you do. Of course, because I feel like there are there’s some overlap and some of the things that we get to do in ways that we get to, to, to serve people. When you were making that transition from that more corporate kind of existence with the celebrities and all that, I mean, I got to believe it wasn’t just all a cake walk. Did you have the benefit of some mentors along the way? Did you just get you learn from the school of hard knocks and you also, you made the distinct choice to become a formally credentialed as a coach. Speak to that a little bit if you would.

Kate Eckman: Yeah, sure. So I feel like I so much in my career, I have been thrown to the wolves and I’ve had to luckily I’m like a cat. Nine lives and I always land on my feet. But so much of my career, I just took really big risks and it worked out even when it didn’t, and even when it was tough, whether it was financially or, um, you know, there’s a lot of kind of itchiness and the, the on camera world, so I’ll just leave it at that. But, um, but, you know, and you’re a, you’re a broadcaster, so you know, how there can be some, some a lot of competition and a lot of ego that you have to manage? I think really in any career. But I was just kind of throw into it and really just leaned on my intuition and and leaned on my ability to connect. And I’ve always just genuinely cared about others. So I, you know, it was not so much research about someone I was going to interview, as much as just kind of connecting with them. And that always just worked out for me. And I think the key with any transition is believing in yourself and caring enough about yourself to to leave something that’s no longer resonating or or working out and trying something new, even if it’s, you know, you can feel like a failure or it’s not a typical path.

Kate Eckman: Or again, you know, finances might be tight, but I think if you really, truly believe and yeah, you can lean on some people, a support system is certainly really important. I had some great people too, to look up to. Um, and then transitioning into a coach for me, um, you know, therapists, obviously it’s a regulated business. I think coaching should be a regulated business as well, because I think a lot of people are operating and working out of integrity. You know, just because you went through trauma does not make you a trauma coach. And I think credentials are extremely important when you have someone’s well-being in your hands. And so that was really important to me to have the school, the the school, the skills and the tools to go along with my, you know, street cred, if you will, my personal experience to really be able to help people in a meaningful way.

Stone Payton: Okay, you got to tell me about this show. I want to know everything about it, how and why you got to go in the format, who you’re interviewing, what you’re trying to accomplish. Lay that on us.

Kate Eckman: Yeah. So I came up with raw ish. It’s like raw ish, like raw, you know, um, and RW and then ish raw ish because we’re just getting really raw and real. And I think so much media is performative and surface level and it can be superficial and no one’s saying the quiet part out loud. So I wanted my guests and myself, I have to lead by example and start saying the quiet part out loud, which a lot of quote unquote experts don’t want to do because they want to be perceived in a certain way. But I think when we share openly what we’re struggling with, um, the stuff that we don’t normally talk about, which that was the first line in the trailer for my show, is, what’s something you don’t normally talk about? Because I think our secrets keep us sick. They keep us sick. They keep us stuck. Um, they keep us fighting. So I really wanted us to start being more open. And it was really born from a place of disconnection, feeling disconnected from, you know, even immediate family members, um, friends, the world just so much going on. I recognize it’s a really challenging time for all of us. The world is tougher than it was even a few years ago. And so I think people are just at capacity and checked out.

Kate Eckman: So I wanted to kind of bring us back to our core and to our center and, and tell stories that can uplift and inspire and remind people that they aren’t alone. And we’re all going through things and that’s like, you know, I have guests. I had one gentleman recently, Austin Hatch, who survived not one, but two plane crashes that killed his entire family. He was had a traumatic brain injury. Level seven, the worst doctors had ever seen. Um, and he he survived and went on to play basketball at University of Michigan. And you know, that’s just one example. I have all sorts of people who have just really transformed me by hearing their stories and and connecting with them. And so my audience gets to have that experience as well. So I’m clearly very passionate about this work because I’m passionate about people and I’m passionate about people really living up to their full potential. And, um, even if things are really dark there, there is that glimmer of hope and light, and I certainly want to be a beacon of of hope for people and just remind them of their greatness and that it’s their birthright to have the life that they truly desire.

Stone Payton: I find what you’re doing and maybe more importantly, the way you’re going about it, the way you’re doing it to be incredibly brave. And I’m trying to wrap my mind around the the level of trust that you must certainly have to endear in your guest to have that caliber of honor exchange. I wow, how do you do that?

Kate Eckman: I think what’s been really and thank you for saying that. So and I think what’s been really cool for me is, um, which a lot of people haven’t understood. Um, I have not had a straight linear path. Um, but having all the experience as a journalist and so knowing how to ask the questions and hold space as a journalist who’s been asking questions for 25 years, really, actually, my whole life, you know, starting with my stuffed animals, they didn’t have much dialog back, obviously, but even just being curious about their experience, you know, as the Care Bear. Ah, whatever. Um, Cabbage Patch Kids. But, um, I think then going on to become a coach. I don’t know any, any professional journalists who are also professional coaches and vice versa. So having that double whammy of, um, being able to speak, but more importantly, the the skill of listening, which is a very underrated and undervalued skill in our society. But being able to listen on a really deep level, but also being a vessel and someone who can hold space for depth and for people to feel safe and confident enough to talk about things publicly they don’t normally talk about and show emotion to have grown men, you know, three time World Series champions crying on my show. Um, because they feel that safe and comfortable in my presence and their presence. And so that is a gift, um, to be able to really get to the heart of matter, of the matter and really get to know people so much deeper than where you live and what do you do? But who are you? Without all the titles and labels and limitations that are placed upon us?

Stone Payton: So what are you? Because you’ve been at this a while now. What are you finding the most rewarding these days? Because I know in my experience, sometimes that goalpost changes a little bit. Yeah.

Kate Eckman: I, I think it really is. It is. Even right now, like, I just even love connecting with you. Like, this is my Super Bowl. This is my World Series, this is my $10 million paycheck, is connecting with people and feeling your presence and your energy and your curiosity and and you feeling a certain way during and after the conversation. I think it’s that energy exchange and sharing ideas and sharing perspectives and you sharing something, or me sharing something that we’ve never thought or heard of before, that can change the way we go about our day or our life and and and again, it’s the hope. It’s the feeling. You know, I’m mixed feelings. It’s it’s being able to tap into emotion. And the full spectrum of emotion allow ourselves to feel and to grow and to evolve and to just feel alive after. Maybe we’ve been numbing or suppressing for so long.

Stone Payton: I have to believe the way you’re describing these conversations. I have to believe that coming out of any one of them, and certainly many of them, has to make you also that much better as a practitioner to help you solidify and crystallize your own thinking and your own approach to serving people in a straight coaching relationship. Yeah.

Kate Eckman: Yeah, I think it’s really important to understand people, uh, mostly in the world. And it’s a conversation I just had with an upcoming guest about understanding people instead of judging them. But first we have to understand ourselves. Understand our childhood. Understand our trauma. Understand what we like and what we don’t like, who we are, who we are and what we stand for, what we don’t stand for. And so yeah, I just, I like to be able to, um, really get in there with, with myself and others. But it first starts with, with me being able to, um, understand myself. So then I can, you know, in coaching too, we learn it’s it’s what our client is saying. It’s what they’re not saying. And then it’s kind of the meta, like what’s the what’s the noise and what’s the voice and meaning. Um, on a deeper on the collective. So um, again, listening is a very good, good skill to have. I forget your original question because I’m just so lost and describing it, I’m getting lost in these conversations that I’m having with people and it’s keeping me going. You know, I’ve I’ve gone through some challenges, like we all have. And these conversations, even what you and I are doing here right now, this is this is what keeps me going.

Stone Payton: Well, I can tell. I can see it in your eyes. I can hear it in your voice. Uh, no, I was just suggesting that with the coaching and the speaking and doing the show, that they. Surely they all serve each other, right? You learn something in one arena and you bring it to the other. And I gotta believe it makes you a stronger practitioner, which probably makes you a stronger writer, which probably makes you a better speaker. Like all of that. Serves everything. Serves everything, doesn’t it?

Kate Eckman: It does. And I one of my favorite quotes I don’t know who said it, but it’s nothing is wasted. And I think sometimes people fear, you know, making a big change in their life, whether it’s career where they live, a family, a divorce, whatever it is, and nothing’s wasted. You know, we get so much from each experience. And I think for me, I remember a time even when I put the journalism and TV broadcasting on hold and I was working as a professional model in New York City because, candidly, it paid a lot more, and I wanted to have that money to invest in my entrepreneur journey. And I had this photographer from my TV news career send me a snarky message and say something to the effect of, good to see you putting your journalism degree to good use. You know, mocking me, working as a model. And all I could do was was laugh all the way to the bank, because that modeling career really, first of all, it brought out all my insecurities. So I grew as a person, but it really gave me some money to to start my my practice as an entrepreneur and pay for grad school and things like that. So, um, I think it’s good. All of our experiences, if we allow them to be catalysts for transformation and make us better. And then you could, you get to combine different tasks and skill sets to make you that much better.

Stone Payton: When you when you become this invested in other people. Do you find sometimes there may be a risk of losing a little bit of yourself or neglecting a little bit of yourself? Is that something you have to work consciously to keep in check? Maybe.

Kate Eckman: Who are you? Intuitive? Um, yes. This has been a practice because I have always been very others focused, and that has gotten me into some relationships with some narcissistic types. And as an empath and, um, just how I was raised, and I think a lot of us, especially as women, we think our value is and how much we’re giving to other people, and then we forget to pour back into ourselves. We don’t feel worthy of it. We want people to like us. We are people pleasers. Um, you know, we don’t we don’t have that, that self-worth. Sadly, even if on the outside it appears that we do, um, to really give back to ourselves and we want to be liked. Right. So this has been a season of pouring back into myself and even recording a solo episode where there was that part of me that’s like, well, what if nobody cares or watches this, or you’re not enough to sign your own, you need a guest. And those have been my most popular episodes, and the one I did in Portugal, you know, with crappy lighting and all this stuff and, you know, frizzy hair from the ocean and all of that. But it’s just like, I don’t even care if anyone’s listening or watching, like, I’m doing this for myself. And that was that was one of my my most popular episodes. So I think it kind of proved the point.

Stone Payton: It made me a little bit of an unfair question, and I certainly don’t expect an accurate answer. I won’t hold it to you the next time we get the chance to visit on air, but I’m going to ask anyway what feels like is next or, you know, 18 months out, two years out. Is there a little bit of a of a beacon out there that you’re kind of moving toward?

Kate Eckman: I’m moving toward signing a really big contract with a partner that can help me really expand my vision and this show so that we can impact more lives. And I just want to keep doing that. And I have a lot of ambition and dream really big. But my coach recently said, you need to dream even bigger. And when I think of dreaming even bigger, I think of, you know, rush healing centers all over the world and, you know, gathering all of my favorite practitioners, many of whom have been on the show and just helping people prioritize their well-being mental, emotional, spiritual, physical. And so, you know, healthier people are happier people, and they’re able to fulfill their unique goal and purpose and mission, um, in an easier, better way. And so I want to be that like, it sounds so big, but instead of everybody being sick at the hospital, we had these big hospital like facilities where people are, you know, really into their health and well-being and going out and kicking butt in the world.

Stone Payton: Well, it does sound big. It sounds audacious, and I have a great deal of faith and confidence in you. I think you’re going to make great strides in that direction. You’re so passionate about this work. This may be a mundane or off topic question, but I often ask I’m going to ask you to, and I don’t even know when or where you’d find the time. But are there other little passions, pursuits, hobbies, interests kind of outside the scope of this that maybe you do pursue in the white space a little bit now and again?

Kate Eckman: You know, I’m absolutely obsessed with animals, and so I can’t believe I don’t have any animals in my own right now. It’s because I’m in transition and I don’t want to be a bad parent. But another dream, speaking of that would be to have a big farm or a piece of land where I could have just rescue a ton of dogs and horses. So I think mainly focus on rescue. I’d get some of my own to, but rescue horses and pigs and goats and sheep and cows and dogs and cats and just had it be a sanctuary for wellness for animals. Because animals need wellness too. I just saw something this morning that 75% of dogs are depressed, and that made me really sad. But instead of dwelling on it, I think, okay, and you know, what I’m thinking of doing too is just going down to the shelter. And if I can’t adopt, I can foster. And even you can take the dog for the day and take it to the beach and, you know, let it sleep in bed with you and give it really good food. And so, um, I’m really passionate about animals. I think they are just pure loving energy.

Stone Payton: I am so glad that I asked.

Kate Eckman: Why don’t you like that vision and me on the farm with all the animals? See, and thanks for letting me say that, because it’s my my lips to God’s ears. That’s my other big, my big dream. And there’s a woman that I know who’s doing something similar. So she’s been a good template and inspiration that, okay, I can do that too.

Stone Payton: At the risk of reducing your work to a cosmopolitan article, which is the furthest thing from my mind. Before we wrap up and we’re going to make sure that people have your contact info and know how to get to your show. Um, but I’d love to leave them with a couple of pro tips and things to be thinking about or reading to kind of have them live a little more into this Rausch mindset, if you would, if anything comes to mind.

Kate Eckman: Yeah, it’s something counterintuitive. A lot of people probably aren’t going to like, but it’s the practice that I call my sit and stare time. And you do just that. You sit and stare straight ahead out the window. No cheating. We’ve got no devices on, no music, no TV, no phone, no you, no social media app, no book. Even you can have a journal. But I really invite people to just sit quietly in a room alone, which sounds awful to a lot of people. It’s one of my favorite practices. And then you just get to tune in to your truth, to your higher self, to God, spirit, universe, whatever you believe in, and you get to listen to your heart. And in those moments, that’s where I got a download to even create this show and to come up with the language for it. And, um, if I have a problem in the past, I would just call up a friend and what do you think? And I’d be all stressed out. And now I just, I sit and stare and I invite in the guidance and I think, oh, that’s interesting. And I think we’re all so overstimulated and overcapacity and exhausted and stressed and anxious that this just gives you your body and your nervous system and your mind and your heart a chance to just take a deep breath and connect with yourself and just listen to what’s going on. And we’re so wise, and I think we’ve forgotten how wise we are. And we’re looking to everything and everyone else for the answers, but they’re all within. And it may sound cliche, and you’ve probably heard it a million times, but have you practiced it a million times? And I think that’s that’s the difference.

Stone Payton: What marvelous council. And I am going to take advantage of it, because as soon as you and I are done, I’m running out to the boat.

Kate Eckman: Oh, my gosh, that sounds fabulous. So you asked about hobbies. Being on a boat? I think with some animals. Maybe not horses, but being on a boat with a dog is is my greatest pleasure in life. So good for you.

Stone Payton: I love it. All right. What’s the best way for our listeners to begin to tap into your work? Uh, get to where they can listen to this show, maybe read your work. Let’s give them some coordinates.

Kate Eckman: Yeah. So if you just go to Kate Ekman k t e s, man, I’m Kate Ekman on all the social medias. My YouTube is Kate Ekman TV, it’s Rausch with Kate Eckman. Everywhere that you listen to podcasts, my book is the full spirit workout. But if you do go to my website, all of this information is there because I just threw a lot at you. But I would love to connect, as you can imagine and Um, and just hear what’s going on with you, and maybe we can address it on some shows or in my next book. And, um, I just I wish everybody well because it’s it’s hard out there these days.

Stone Payton: Well, k, it has been an absolute delight having you on the show. Thank you for your insight, your perspective, your your enthusiasm. And you really are having a meaningful impact on so many. And we sure appreciate you.

Kate Eckman: Thank you so much for having me. This has been such a blast.

Stone Payton: My pleasure. All right, until next time. This is Stone Payton for our guest today, Kate Eckman and everyone here at the Business RadioX family saying we’ll see you in the fast lane.