Konversations With Kai

Kai

Beyond the title and the polished introduction is a person with a story. Konversations with Kai™ makes room for that story through thoughtful, candid conversations about the experiences that shape us and the human questions that connect us. As a matchmaker, Kai brings a natural curiosity about what makes people who they are. But these conversations reach well beyond dating and matchmaking, following the story wherever it leads. Warm, perceptive, and sometimes funny, the show looks past the résumé to meet the person behind it. Kai is the founder of Black Tie Introductions™, a private matchmaking firm serving accomplished men, and is known professionally as “Matchmaker to the 1%™.” Kai is also the author of Done Swiping and an ESSENCE contributor. As host of Konversations with Kai™, Kai brings a matchmaker’s curiosity to the people and experiences behind every story. Looking for love, or know someone exceptional who is? Private, personalized matchmaking for accomplished singles: www.BlackTieIntroductions.com Prefer to meet in person? Club Matchology brings elite singles together at intimate gatherings. See if we’re in your city: www.ClubMatchology.com

  1. 6d ago

    When Everyone Counts on You: Success, Boundaries & Burnout | Dr. Susan Truong

    Everyone knows they can count on you. When did you last stop to ask what you need? Dr. Susan Truong was voted “most dependable” in high school—a description that followed her into a career caring for patients, building a business, and showing up for the people around her. Then her younger brother died just nine days after his cancer diagnosis, changing how she understood success, time, and the life she was working so hard to maintain. In this episode of Konversations with Kai, Susan shares the personal loss behind her wake-up call and the questions that led her to create the Atlas Woman Movement. She and Kai explore what happens when being capable becomes a reason to keep carrying more, even when your priorities have changed. The Konversation moves through healthy boundaries, guilt around self-care, living on autopilot, and the difference between looking successful and feeling fulfilled. Susan also reflects on making more time for her parents, putting herself on her own calendar, and taking small steps toward change before a crisis demands your attention. For the accomplished woman everyone turns to, this episode offers a moment to pause and ask: does the life you’re managing still reflect the life you want? THE CENTRAL KONVERSATION What happens when you become so good at carrying your life that you stop asking yourself whether you still want to carry all of it? IN THIS EPISODE • How being “the dependable one” shaped Susan’s identity from childhood into leadership. • The loss that changed her relationship with work, family, and time. • Setting boundaries without confusing care with taking responsibility for everything. • Making room for self-care when guilt and expectations keep getting in the way. • The Atlas Woman Movement and the questions behind choosing a more fulfilling life. ABOUT DR. SUSAN — IN HER OWN WORDS I’m someone who did a lot of the things we’re told we’re supposed to do. I built a successful career, worked hard, took care of people, and became very good at carrying a lot. But somewhere along the way, I realized there’s a difference between having a full life and being fully awake inside your life. That realization changed me. I’m still an optometrist. I still love my work and the life I’ve built. But I’ve become much more intentional about where I give my time, my energy, and my yes. These days, I’m less interested in doing more just because I can and much more interested in whether what I’m doing actually matters. That’s also what led me to create the Atlas Woman Movement. CONNECT WITH DR. SUSAN Website: https://www.drsusantruong.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susantruongod Instagram — @dr.susan_truong: https://www.instagram.com/dr.susan_truong/ YouTube — @DrSusanTruongOfficial: https://www.youtube.com/@DrSusanTruongOfficial CONTENT NOTE This episode includes discussion of bereavement, depression, relationship abuse, and financial challenges. The guest shares personal experiences and coaching perspectives. This episode is for informational purposes and does not replace individualized medical, mental health, legal, or financial advice. Consult an appropriately qualified professional before making treatment or debt-related decisions. Hosted by Kai. www.BlackTieIntroductions.com https://www.theblackbook.blacktieintroductions.com/

    When Everyone Counts on You: Success, Boundaries & Burnout | Dr. Susan Truong

  2. Oct 30

    When Achievement Stops Being Enough: Building a Living Legacy | Maria Emma

    You reached the goal. Earned the position. Did what you were supposed to do. Why does the next achievement still feel like it won’t be enough? Legacy Architect Maria Emma Isa joins Kai for a thoughtful Konversation about redefining success, finding belonging, and deciding who your life and work will serve. Growing up between cultures, Maria learned to adapt, observe, and achieve. She also came to recognize how overachievement could become a way of trying to earn belonging—and how easily a career can start defining your worth. Maria shares what happened when corporate advancement no longer felt like the future she wanted, how entrepreneurship challenged her identity, and why faith became central to understanding her purpose. She also reflects on an unexpected lesson from her school years: the example she set was opening possibilities for other girls long before she understood her own influence. Together, Kai and Maria explore a living legacy—the impact you create through your choices, relationships, and work while you’re here to see that impact grow. For anyone asking “What’s next?” after reaching a long-held goal, this episode offers space to consider a different question: what do you want your success to make possible for others? THE CENTRAL KONVERSATION What happens when achievement stops being enough—and the shift from asking “What can I achieve next?” to asking what you want to be known for, what you want to leave behind, and who you want your life and work to serve. IN THIS EPISODE • How growing up between cultures shaped Maria’s identity and sense of belonging. • Recognizing when achievement becomes a way to seek acceptance. • Separating your worth from your professional title. • The role of faith, reflection, and self-trust in finding purpose. • Building a living legacy through everyday influence, service, and example. ABOUT MARIA Maria Emma Isa is a Legacy Architect and founder of AfriMaisha Marketing. A third culture kid who spent much of her life navigating different cultures and learning how to find her place within them, Maria became accustomed to asking herself, “What can I achieve next?” Over time, that question began to change. Today, she is increasingly focused on what she wants to be known for, what she wants to leave behind, and how she can use what she has learned to serve others. CONNECT WITH MARIA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-emma-isa/ YouTube — Maria Isa - The Legacy Architect: http://www.youtube.com/@MariaEmmaIsa01 Curious about what we could do together? Explore working with Maria: https://www.afrimaisha.com/legacyblueprintsession-vsp/

    When Achievement Stops Being Enough: Building a Living Legacy | Maria Emma

  3. Oct 30

    Rebuilding After Business Loss and the Power of Storytelling | Robert Kennedy III

    The company was gone. The debt remained. Then came a knock at the door and a yellow envelope. Professional speaker Robert Kennedy III joins Kai for a candid Konversation about losing his business, rebuilding, and recognizing the stories we carry through difficult seasons. Robert explains how rapid growth outpaced his ability to manage the business, why returning to a job became part of his recovery, and how community and professional support helped him move forward. His answer to the question of identity may surprise you: he approached the setback with the curiosity of someone facing another problem to solve. From there, the Konversation opens into storytelling, leadership communication, and the courage to be heard. Robert shares why ordinary experiences can become powerful stories, how to be vulnerable without revealing more than you want to, and what makes a personal story meaningful to an audience. You’ll also hear the childhood bicycle ride that became one of his most useful teaching stories, his perspective on using AI for presentations, and why sharing your experience could help someone who is still finding their way. THE CENTRAL KONVERSATION Who are you when the thing that proved you were successful is gone? IN THIS EPISODE • Rebuilding after business failure, debt, and an unexpected return to employment. • Finding support, accountability, and room to think during a difficult season. • Turning everyday experiences into stories using Moment, Meaning, and Message. • Sharing personal stories with purpose, boundaries, and a clear audience takeaway. • Building trust through communication and bringing your own experiences to AI-assisted writing. ABOUT ROBERT Robert Kennedy III is a professional speaker, communication strategist, and founder of Kennetik Kommunications. His work in leadership communication and storytelling has taken him into organizations including the U.S. Coast Guard, Barnes & Noble, AARP, T-Mobile, and the Social Security Administration. But behind his professional accomplishments is a personal story of losing his company, facing significant debt, and rebuilding from the ground up. That experience reshaped how Robert thinks about identity, success, resilience, and purpose. Today, he helps leaders find their voices, build trust, and communicate in ways that create meaningful human connections. CONNECT WITH ROBERT Website: https://www.robertkennedy3.me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkennedy3 Instagram — @robertkennedy3: https://www.instagram.com/robertkennedy3/ TikTok — @realrobertkennedy3: https://www.tiktok.com/@realrobertkennedy3 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertkennedy3 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/robertkennedy3 RESOURCE MENTIONED Robert discusses his Moment, Meaning, and Message framework during the episode. Visit his website above for the 3M Story Framework resource.

    Rebuilding After Business Loss and the Power of Storytelling | Robert Kennedy III

  4. Oct 30

    Beyond the Itinerary: Travel That Feels Like You | Janay Trevillion

    What if your next vacation began with how you want to feel? A packed itinerary can leave you needing another vacation. In this episode of Konversations with Kai, travel curator Janay Trevillion, founder of Curated Passport Collective, explores how thoughtful travel planning makes room for what you actually need—rest, adventure, connection, or the freedom to simply enjoy yourself. From cooking with a local family in Morocco to slowing down over meals in Greece, Janay shares the experiences that shaped her approach to meaningful travel. She and Kai discuss why group trips need breathing room, how listening changes an itinerary, and the overlooked details that help travelers feel cared for. The Konversation also moves into entrepreneurship and AI: why Janay began building tools without a coding background, what an early app mistake taught her, and why technology still leaves an essential role for human connection. For anyone who has ever returned from a trip exhausted—or postponed an experience until life feels less busy—this episode invites a different way of thinking about getting away. THE CENTRAL KONVERSATION The best trips aren't about the destination, they're about how you feel when you get there. IN THIS EPISODE • Planning around your needs instead of a social media checklist. • Creating group travel experiences with room for individual preferences. • Connecting with local culture through food, conversation, and shared experiences. • Making space for reflection—and reconsidering the trips we keep postponing. • Using AI to simplify business while keeping personal conversations at the center of travel planning. ABOUT JANAY Janay Trevillion is a travel curator, entrepreneur, and founder of Curated Passport Collective. After more than a decade working in hotels, corporate travel, and leisure travel, she created a business designed to give accomplished women something they rarely experience: the freedom to simply show up and enjoy themselves. Janay believes meaningful travel is about more than destinations or itineraries. It's about creating experiences that reflect who people are and what they need in a particular season of life. She's also an AI educator and entrepreneur who has built technology products without a coding background, bringing together her interests in travel, innovation, and helping people simplify their lives. CONNECT WITH JANAY Website: https://empirebyjanay.com Instagram — @jazzylivinlife88: https://www.instagram.com/jazzylivinlife88/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janaytrevillion Substack — The Curated Life with Jazzy: https://substack.com/@curateyourbestlife

    Beyond the Itinerary: Travel That Feels Like You | Janay Trevillion

  5. Oct 30

    Don’t Wait for a Crisis to Show Up | Julie Duncan

    You’ve been meaning to call. To visit. To check on someone who crossed your mind. Then another ordinary day gets away from you. What if those ordinary days are where our most important relationships are built? On this episode of Konversations with Kai, Kai sits down with Certified Master Life Coach Julie Duncan for a heartfelt Konversation about friendship, grief, family, and what it really means to show up for the people we love. Within two months, Julie’s husband survived a cardiac arrest and she lost her father. She shares how the care her family received—from emergency responders and neighbors to friends who kept checking in—changed the way she understood being present. Julie also speaks candidly about a friendship she wishes she had stayed closer to, the everyday love her grandparents poured into her life, and the gradual repair of her relationship with her father. These stories bring the question home: how do we help people feel loved while we still have the opportunity? Together, Kai and Julie explore listening without rushing to fix, staying in touch after the immediate crisis has passed, and taking one small step toward connection rather than waiting for the perfect words. Julie also shares the inspiration behind her forthcoming book, Where the Ripple Begins: The Power of Showing Up, and how writing has helped her reflect on both the care she received and the ways she wants to care for others. If someone comes to mind while you listen, this may be the moment to reach out. THE CENTRAL KONVERSATION What if showing up before the crisis matters more than showing up during it? IN THIS EPISODE • Building connection through ordinary calls, visits, and small acts of care. • Listening to understand without feeling responsible for fixing everything. • Supporting someone through grief after the immediate outpouring of help fades. • Repairing a family relationship through small, consistent steps. • Discovering the lasting impact of shared experiences and everyday kindness. ABOUT JULIE DUNCAN Julie Duncan is a Certified Master Life Coach, speaker, educator, and soon-to-be author who helps people get unstuck, challenge the stories holding them back, and take their next brave step. Her perspective on what it truly means to “show up” was transformed during an especially difficult season when, within two months, her husband survived a cardiac arrest and she lost her father. That experience became part of the inspiration for her upcoming book, Where the Ripple Begins: The Power of Showing Up, which explores how the choices we make in ordinary moments can create ripples we may never fully see. CONNECT WITH JULIE Julie Duncan Certified Master Life Coach Empowering Life Coaching & Consulting, LLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1MXZT9fZWY/?mibextid=wwXIfr LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieduncan-executive-coaching/

    Don’t Wait for a Crisis to Show Up | Julie Duncan

  6. Oct 27

    Successful but Exhausted: Burnout, Nutrition & Recovery | Shah Ahmed

    You’re meeting the deadlines, solving the problems, and keeping everything moving. But what is it costing you to keep performing? On this must listen to episode of Konversations with Kai, Kai sits down with Shah Ahmed, a Registered Nutritionist and Burnout & Energy Recovery Nutritionist, to explore the tension between professional success and personal exhaustion. Shah remembers sitting in a graduate classroom after a full workday, unable to absorb what he was hearing. At the time, he questioned his motivation. Looking back, he describes someone who was exhausted—and mistaking that exhaustion for a personal shortcoming. That experience helps frame a Konversation about high achievers, perfectionism, and the instinct to push harder when something isn’t working. Shah shares his perspective on nutrition, sleep, recovery, and building flexible routines that leave room for both ambition and a life you enjoy. Kai and Shah also explore what happens when you become everyone’s problem-solver, why rest can feel like something you have to earn, and how little energy can remain for the people you love after you’ve met every other responsibility. If you’re successful on paper but privately running on empty, this episode invites you to consider what it takes to sustain the life you’ve worked so hard to build. THE KONVERSATION What happens when the thing that made you successful is the very thing that's burning you out? In This Episode • Shah’s experience of exhaustion while balancing work and graduate school. • His approach to nutrition, sleep, and energy recovery for high-performing career women. • Making space for rest without treating it as something you must earn. • Finding flexibility in your routines. About Shah Shah Ahmed is a Registered Nutritionist and Burnout & Energy Recovery Nutritionist who challenges one of the most common ideas about burnout: that the answer is simply to become more resilient, manage your mindset, or learn to cope better. Through Shah Nutritionist, he works with high-performing career women who are doing everything they’re supposed to do, yet still find themselves exhausted, depleted, and running on empty. His work explores what happens when we ask the body to sustain a high-performance life without giving it the nutrition, recovery, and balance it needs. Shah’s approach looks beyond “pushing through” and asks a different question: what if burnout isn’t a failure to cope, but a signal that the way we’re living is demanding more from the body than we’re giving back? Connect With Shah Website: https://www.shahnutritionist.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shahnutritionist_?stkn=ajVxbjdic2prcjR0 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shah-ahmed-med-chn-nncp-ba0b56175?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android Disclaimer: This episode is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The guest shares his professional perspective and personal experiences; individual results may vary. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about persistent fatigue, burnout symptoms, or changes to your nutrition or health routine.

    Successful but Exhausted: Burnout, Nutrition & Recovery | Shah Ahmed

  7. Oct 27

    When Being the Strong One Costs You Yourself | Casandra Austin-McDonald

    Everyone knows you can handle it. But what happens when you can’t—or when you no longer want to carry everything? On this powerful episode of Konversations with Kai™, Kai sits down with Somatic Identity Guide Casandra Austin-McDonald for a personal Konversation about over functioning, burnout, boundaries, and finding your worth beyond what you accomplish. From being a gifted student and scholarship athlete to navigating motherhood, marriage, and business, Casandra traces how achievement became part of her identity. She shares what she calls her “superwoman crash”—a season that challenged her belief that being capable meant she should keep pushing through. One of the most revealing moments comes when Casandra describes receiving her husband’s care while she had little energy to give in return. That experience helped her reconsider the difference between being loved for who she is and being valued for what she does. Together, Kai and Casandra explore pausing before saying yes, asking for support, having honest conversations about boundaries, and recognizing when work is taking time and attention away from the people you love. Casandra also shares how her Christian faith reshaped her definition of success—and why changing her pace did not mean abandoning her ambition. Their friendship brings another layer to the Konversation as Casandra reflects on the people who showed up when she could no longer be everything to everyone. For anyone who has built a life around being the strong one, this episode offers a question worth sitting with: who do you get to be when you no longer have to prove your worth? The Central Konversation What happens when the version of you that created your success is no longer the person you want—or can afford—to be? In This Episode • Separating self-worth and identity from achievement. • Recognizing over functioning and questioning the pressure to keep pushing through. • Pausing before saying yes and setting boundaries around your capacity. • Receiving love and support without feeling you must earn them. • Redefining ambition and success through faith, integrity, and relationships. About Casandra Austin-McDonald Casandra Austin-McDonald is a Somatic Identity Guide, speaker, and founder of the Supernatural Woman® movement whose work explores identity, success, faith, and what happens when the version of ourselves that helped us achieve no longer fits the life we're being called to live. Her own journey through over functioning, burnout, and personal transformation reshaped the way she thinks about success, self-sacrifice, and what it means to live and lead from a place of greater intention. Connect With Casandra Website: https://www.casandraaustinmcdonald.com Substack: https://substack.com/@casandraaustinmcdonald Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casandra.austinmcdonald/ Supernatural Woman Inner Circle Application: https://forms.gle/8yBeVkE5q2d249JS7

    When Being the Strong One Costs You Yourself | Casandra Austin-McDonald

  8. Oct 26

    Starting Over at Midlife: Dating, Self-Worth & Finding Your Voice | Rivkah Sherr

    What if the middle of your life is when you finally begin choosing yourself? In this episode of Konversations with Kai™, Kai sits down with advocate and founder Rivkah Sherr for a candid conversation about starting over at midlife, dating after divorce, and rebuilding a life that reflects who you are becoming. Rivkah opens up about questioning the expectations she grew up with, returning to school, and understanding herself differently after being identified as neurodivergent in adulthood. She also shares the frustration of wanting a meaningful relationship while struggling to meet someone who is emotionally available and ready to build one. Together, Kai and Rivkah explore self-worth, relationship standards, advocating for your needs, and the tension between helping everyone else and making room for your own future. Rivkah speaks from the middle of that process—with uncertainty, humor, determination, and a willingness to keep learning. For anyone navigating a midlife transition, rebuilding after divorce, or wondering whether there is still time to pursue something different, this conversation offers a personal look at what starting again can require. About Rivkah Sherr Rivkah Sherr is an advocate, founder, and MSW candidate with a background in psychology and more than 30 years of experience in advocacy and community support. Throughout her life, she has helped people navigate challenging seasons while building a deep interest in mental health, relationships, women’s wellness, aging, and personal growth. As the founder of Gluten Free Wellness & Solutions, she has also created resources and support for people navigating a gluten-free lifestyle. At the center of Rivkah’s work is a belief in connection, compassion, finding your voice, and the possibility of turning difficult experiences into opportunities for growth and change. Connect with Rivkah Gluten-free wellness Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/glutenfreewellnessandsolution Gluten-free wellness Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Glutenfreewellnessandsolutions LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rivkah-sherr-2b24b2161/ Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rivkah.sherr

    Starting Over at Midlife: Dating, Self-Worth & Finding Your Voice | Rivkah Sherr
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About

Beyond the title and the polished introduction is a person with a story. Konversations with Kai™ makes room for that story through thoughtful, candid conversations about the experiences that shape us and the human questions that connect us. As a matchmaker, Kai brings a natural curiosity about what makes people who they are. But these conversations reach well beyond dating and matchmaking, following the story wherever it leads. Warm, perceptive, and sometimes funny, the show looks past the résumé to meet the person behind it. Kai is the founder of Black Tie Introductions™, a private matchmaking firm serving accomplished men, and is known professionally as “Matchmaker to the 1%™.” Kai is also the author of Done Swiping and an ESSENCE contributor. As host of Konversations with Kai™, Kai brings a matchmaker’s curiosity to the people and experiences behind every story. Looking for love, or know someone exceptional who is? Private, personalized matchmaking for accomplished singles: www.BlackTieIntroductions.com Prefer to meet in person? Club Matchology brings elite singles together at intimate gatherings. See if we’re in your city: www.ClubMatchology.com

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