XO, Your Unlicensed Therapist

11: boundary setting and baseball feat. Gracie Cashman

Everyone, meet Gracie. Known to many as the host of a New York Emmy Award Winning show on the YES network "The Story of My Number", but to Kate? She's her best friend. Kate's Northwestern partner-in-chaos (thanks, NU) and, yes, now a host at the YES Network and professional film/tv actress. Get an inside look at their friendship and listen to their conversation about growing up in the public eye, slowing down, and choosing peace over perfection.  In this episode, Gracie and Kate get into: * How to honor your limits without feeling guilty * Privilege, perception, and owning your story * Family, friendship, and finding steadiness after chaos Let's get into it!

10: outgrowing dreams and how to cope

On today’s episode, Kate opens up about what it really looks like to walk away from the dream you’ve carried since childhood. From seeing Wicked at age four to training at Northwestern, acting defined her life for over two decades—until it didn’t. Kate shares the grief, the spirals, the identity crisis, and the hard-won clarity that led her to finally say, “I don’t want this anymore.” She talks candidly about the difference between a rough season and something that’s actively hurting you, how to let go without feeling like you’ve “wasted” your past, and how she’s redefining success around sanity, joy, and health. If you’ve ever felt guilty for changing your mind—or scared that pivoting means failure—this one’s for you.

9: being a mother isn't the end. it's the beginning. feat. Bella DeNapoli

Being a mom isn’t the end—it’s the beginning. On today’s episode, Kate sits down with the radiant Bella DeNapoli—vocal powerhouse, songwriter, and proud new mama—who you might recognize from The Voice (Team Ariana, duh). Bella opens up about breaking the mold of what it means to be a mom in the performance world, how she kept her mental health steady while on national television, and how she’s learning to chase her dreams while building a beautiful real life, too. If you’ve ever wondered if you can have it all—the baby, the career, the partner, the passion—this one’s for you.

8: dreams can change (and it's okay) feat. Veronica Stern

In this special episode of XO, Your Unlicensed Therapist, Kate is joined by guest co-host Veronica Stern—actor, podcaster, and all-around dream re-evaluator. Together, they dive deep into what it means to pivot, pause, and reimagine success as a creative in today’s world. From leaving national tours to exploring corporate careers, Veronica shares her journey of redefining what “making it” really means. They unpack toxic industry myths (hi, “theater or bust”), the weight of social media expectations, and the power of giving yourself permission to evolve. If you’ve ever felt like your dream is shifting—or like you’re “behind”—this episode is the hug (and reality check).

7: evict them!

This week, Kate is diving into the friendships that shape us—for better or worse. Some friendships ebb and flow, while others slowly fade for a reason. So how do you know if it’s just a rough patch or a friendship that’s run its course? From what a healthy friendship actually looks like to the subtle signs that something might be off, we’re unpacking it all. Because sometimes, the hardest part isn’t losing a friend—it’s realizing they were never really one to begin with.