Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Liautaud
Hi Kathleen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The late-night news was playing when I walked in on my mom to tell her that I no longer thought I needed my degree in theater. It was at this moment she suggested I study journalism. My mother has been watching the news like binge watching a Netflix series for as far back as I could remember. I could easily mimic the anchors and knew their mode of expression but, there’s much more to the job than what is shown on the screen. I was eager to learn more to see where my interests could place me. During my journalism studies at CUNY York College, I gained the skills needed to conduct effective interviews, craft a story, and also being able to share that story on camera. Similar to the days of taking acting class, the experience of being on camera enhanced my reporting skills for my campus’ radio and TV station. Like most graduates, I had the goal of finding employment in the field. Since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, there was a shift in the way people received their information. Most talk shows had switched to online streaming and YouTube is where I listened to journalists share their research on current events. Aside from the news, I wanted to be entertained while I was locked inside for three months. Last year I spoke with Dwayne Parker, the director of the award winning film,VEX and founder of Knight 7 Productions, about the amount of independent channels that have emerged since the pandemic. If you scroll on social media, you can easily find an interview being done via Zoom. The convenience of being in your own home and recording from your phone had a tremendous impact on the way information is being shared with facts and misinformation. It’s also a gateway for mindless entertainment which people had more time to consume during the lockdown. During our conversation Dwayne suddenly said, “why don’t you start your own show?” I gawked at the idea. With so many YouTube channels, Twitter (at the time and now X) accounts and talk shows back in studio, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to garner enough interest to get people to watch my own show. As Dwayne kept pushing the idea, he put together segments for my own talk show and we talked through it. Earlier during the year, I gathered a few guests to interview and we started filming “The Kaye Liautaud Show,” produced by Knight 7 Productions. Along with covering new topics and having guests do interviews, The Kaye Liautaud Show shares product reviews, perspectives, entertainment, news, and inspiration.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the biggest challenge of starting my own show was choosing a name. My last name has been a source of embarrassment and confusion since grade school. People either laughed at my name or raised an eyebrow trying to pronounce it. My father who is from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, always took pride in his name and culture. As a child, I felt shame in being Haitian because of the many jokes that came with it. At one point, I asked my mom not to speak creole with me around my friends. Over time, I learned more about the rich and beautiful Haitian culture. I’m proud to have the blood of the first independent black country running through me. I take pride in having Liautaud (pronounced Lee-oh-tō) as my name. I also chose the name Kaye over my first name because it’s a childhood nickname I was given by a friend. I told my friends I didn’t like the name Kathy and a friend suggested “Kaye,” The name has stuck with me ever since. Another important aspect of the show is recognition. We needed something that would capture people’s attention in an intriguing way. It had to be reflective of my interests. Knight 7 Productions scouted an eccentric studio in Brooklyn to have our set. It’s also important to have an inviting space for guests to feel comfortable to share. We wanted to have a different style of talk show that was informative, sincere, and a bit playful. The Liautaud Show was inspired by some of the talk shows I’ve grown up watching with my family and rerun talk shows from the 90’s-00’s with a presentation that appeals to millennials and Gen-Z.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Currently, The Kaye Liautaud Show is still in production and being pitched to major streaming platforms. The pursuit in our endeavors carry joy in the moments we see our efforts producing fruit. I’m proud of the journey that simply started with my mother pointing to the news one night. It’s the learning process that I am most grateful for because that’s where I learned to fail gracefully. Learning from those failures only propelled a better outcome for me. It’s those failures, rejection letters, and mishaps that really gave me the drive I needed to keep working toward achievements. Keep an eye on my social media pages for an interview with a celebrity guest.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I was inspired by Candace Owens and Kim Iverson for their boldness to always speak the truth and create their own platforms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kayeliautaud.com/2019/04/09/barbie-60-year-anniversary/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.liautaud/?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
All photos were taken by Carlos Vessup.
