Building Trust as a Creative Leader with Artist Kane Kongppien (he/him)

My Therapist is Out! Podcast - Ep 29 Building Trust as a Creative Leader with Artist Kane Kongppien (he/him)

This week host Renae Johnson (they/them) and Artist, Dancer, and Creative Leader Kane Kongppien (he/him) explore the depth of what it truly means to build trust and emotional safety with your creative colleagues.

 In this episode we answer:

• What emotional safety means in a professional environment
• How leading LGBTQ+ Pride events at Disney and in SoCal cities builds community
• What changes in Kane’s life inspired him to break his own intergenerational cycles 
• Compassionate and mindfulness strategies to utilize in your workplace to enhance connection and emotional safety

 Join us as we dive deep into Kane’s experience and how shifting his leadership style enhanced the safety, mental health, and creative expression for himself and his team.

 

Guest Bio: 

Kane Kongppien (he/him) has been a resident of Orange County for most of his life. Since high school, he's had a passion for the arts and later pursued theater and dance in college. After a few years in college, Kane auditioned to be a parade performer for the Disneyland Resort and has been working there for nearly 25 years. He has worn multiple hats over that time including Parade Specialist, Production Coordinator, Talent Casting Coordinator/Monitor, and now a Maintenance Choreographer. His work has been featured throughout many of southern California's pride celebrations, Disneyland Resort, local schools, and most recently choreographed for the first Pride celebration at Disneyland's inaugural Pride Nite event last June. Kane has taken his passion for dance, and mental health awareness, to help grow a support system within the LGBTQIA community along with his previous service as a director on the OC Pride Board for almost 15 years. 

 

Host Bio: 

Renae Johnson (they/them) founded Open Space Therapy Collective (OSTC), a group practice and community hub that focuses on mental health for and by the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities and their allies.  

 

Renae is an art therapist who specializes in working with queer artists who are exploring their gender identity and recovering from complex trauma. Previous to founding OSTC, Renae spent a decade in community mental health services, providing therapy and as an Operations Director in organizations serving people experiencing complex co-occurring diagnoses. Prior to their career as a therapist, Renae was a working artist who worked in figurative painting and sculpture. 

 

Renae is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Board Certified Art Therapist, and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional.  

 

To find more from us visit:

https://www.openspacetherapycollective.com/meet-debbie

https://www.instagram.com/openspacetherapycollective/

https://www.tiktok.com/@openspacetherapy

https://www.tiktok.com/@mytherapistisout

https://www.instagram.com/mytherapistisout

 

Content warning: n/a

 

Discussed in this episode: 

OC Pride

DisneyLand Resort