KINSEY GADE: Welcome back to Impulse Podcast. I’m Kinsey Gade. I am a writer for the Spring 2025 edition of Influx Magazine. Today we have Kacie Riddle, the founder of Girlhood Social Club. Thank you for joining us today. Thanks for having me. For those who aren’t familiar with the Girlhood Social Club, would you mind giving us a little tidbit or overview of what it’s all about.
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah, absolutely. So Girlhood Social Club is a group that meets pretty frequently. I try to do at least one event a month, and it was created for girls to meet other girls in their twenties. Most of my events are 21 plus. And it is made for girls to come do a craft, make a memory, make a charm, necklace, take pictures.
There’s always a theme that corresponds with the event. I just wanted a way for girls to meet other girls without having to go out. Not having to drink all the time. It has just become a really great way. It feels like a birthday party every single month, I think.
KINSEY GADE: It’s so much fun. I became kind of a fan. I think it was like the first TikTok that I saw. That’s crazy. The picnic. Yeah, that was the first one. It was literally a year ago. And recently there was the one year anniversary event for the Girlhood Social Club, which I was lucky enough to attend.
It was so much fun. I had my little necklace on that I made today. What was that experience like for you compared to your first event again, only a year ago?
KACIE RIDDLE: So surreal. I never thought it was gonna turn into what it has, but it’s truly. Driven by my passion for connection with women.
My passion for event planning and also just women showing up who’ve got the same interest as me. I definitely think back to my first event, which was literally just a picnic in the park with like 2020 of my friends and like they all brought a friend, so that’s how that blossomed.
But to go from that to renting out. A museum and having 180 girls there who are dressed so beautifully making friends giggling taking pictures and exchanging numbers. It’s just the most special thing. When events first started, I felt like I had to facilitate a lot of the conversation.
I felt like I had to be the one making sure everyone was having a good time. And what’s been so beautiful over the last couple of months as it’s gotten bigger is being able to watch those connections form without, me having to be a part of it. Because as much as obviously I wanna still come and make friends, it’s so beautiful that that can happen just at this event.
Sure. That I give them a place for.
KINSEY GADE: Yeah. And we actually interviewed previously for my article that’s alongside this podcast. You were the most fun person to interview. Thank you. Obviously had to chat about everything we talked about more. I really liked in our first interview how you describe the purpose of the Girlhood Social Club as a sort of a revival of girlhood or like childhood mm-hmm.
For girls. Yeah. What is that? Mean to you? What does the name mean to you and what’s the importance that that holds?
KACIE RIDDLE: That’s a great question. When I first started Girlhood, it was just a podcast and it was a way for me to connect with this inner child version of myself that loved to make videos and like vlog.
And I found a video of myself when I’m like maybe 11 years old in my bedroom and I’m like, Hey guys, welcome back. It’s Casey. Today we’re gonna talk about my favorite song right now, which is Glitter in the Air by Pink. Oh my God. And I’m like, that is so iconic. She knew what she wanted
it was like on photo booth on my mom’s computer. That is what I wanted to. Come back to. When it first started it was very much so a way for me to get in touch with my inner child. I realized how much that was resonating with other girls. That was also the summer the Barbie movie came out.
There was a lot of talk about being a woman and what womanhood looks like today. We were girls together and that aesthetic was all over the place. I thought of the name Girlhood and it got really popular on TikTok, so that’s what got me to start it right away.
But it’s just been so great because it’s kind of aligned with our culture right now where we’re talking about being there for each other as women. Girlhood to me is really about. Loving yourself unconditionally through these times in our lives. When we are 17, when we’re 20, when we’re 25, I think I missed out on such a vital part of my life because I didn’t go to an on-campus college.
And so I’m trying to get that back by having it aligned with my life right now, but still having those kinds of experiences that I felt like I missed out on by not going to a college party or not going to tailgating. I just have found that that is truly what gets me excited because it’s not about, like for me, it’s not about drinking or that kind of social aspect of it.
It’s way more about the connection aspect of it. And so girlhood to me is not just for one gender, it’s a feeling. And I have a lot of, queer people that come to my events and trans women and non-binary folks. And I just want it to feel like an inclusive, safe space where we can celebrate this feeling of childhood.
Girlhood just happens to really align with that mission.
KINSEY GADE: Yeah, I remember afterwards of our interview just really resonating with that idea of girlhood and we talked a bit about how. Womanhood is kind of pushed on girls. When, they go through puberty at like 12 or 13, there’s this kind of sense of letting go of girlhood
and entering womanhood right away. And like mannerisms and, adult issues that are kind of just pushed on them. Guys don’t really go through that. Or not that, you know, it’s not really that big of an experience for them. I mean, they do go through puberty, but I feel like there’s so much history and like
mm-hmm.
KACIE RIDDLE: You know? That’s why last weekend’s event was also so special because it was in collaboration with this. Beautiful exhibit. I don’t know if you had time to go in there. Yes, it, I loved it. It was just so powerful that this thing that I feel so passionately about has all of this history that the girls got to look at and walk through and take their time.
And if you haven’t been to the Minnesota History Center, they have this girlhood exhibit running through June 1st and it’s free admissions on Thursdays. And it is so worth the time to walk through there for sure. It’s just a beautiful exhibit. I cried. How can you not? It’s so powerful.
KINSEY GADE: I was like, I didn’t really, I knew we talked about girlhood and womanhood but I didn’t really know the power that that held on until I was in the exhibit and I was like, wow, this is crazy. And I interviewed a few people. At the event. Oh, you did? Yes, I know. They were lovely.
One of ’em specifically said, let me find this quote because I have to quote her. Girlhood is not that far from womanhood. And that really resonated with me. And I was like, it’s really not that different. And it’s just like a term. That’s like a blanket on top of puberty.
But from your perspective. What’s kind of your understanding between the difference of girlhood and womanhood?
KACIE RIDDLE: I think girlhood is about play. It’s about fun, connections, womanhood which is so funny ’cause it’s like I’m in my. I’m 26, so like I was about to say, I’m in my late twenties and then like I got sick saying that, so I didn’t say that because I’m in my mid twenties.
Yeah. But I am like in that era right now of like, I, a womanhood is like, there’s this bravery we have to stand up for ourselves. Be strong when it’s hard. We have to speak up. It’s literally like that freaking speech at the end of the Barbie movie where she’s like, you can’t talk about your kids too much, but then if you don’t talk about
you know, that’s the hard balance. For me, girlhood is coming back to this version of ourselves that was so innocent and pure and fun. I saw this TikTok yesterday that was like, you never know. When it’s your last time going over to a friend’s house for a play date.
How can I bring those kinds of feelings into Girlhood social club? That’s what it’s become. What was so special about my Gallatine state party that I said in my speech was, I want this to feel like. The slumber party that we were all invited to, but then only some of the girls got to stay for the sleepover.
Like this is the sleepover that you get to stay for. Finding ways that we can come back to that version of ourselves because that little girl who was obsessed with crafts or playing with chalk or getting outside in the dirt, she lives inside of all of us how can we, in a world that is actively sometimes against us, still be able to come together and find that joy as girls together.
KINSEY GADE: Yeah, for sure. And while we’re on this topic of empowering women to live out their girlhoods as adults, what has been one memory over the past year that’s really struck you, from one of your events? Oh my gosh.
KACIE RIDDLE: every event that I host, I always say that it’s the best event yet.
And it’s hard to pick because truly every event is like, how’s it gonna get better than the last one? And then it does. My Christmas event that I hosted in December was really, really special. I hosted it at Relish in, Minneapolis, it was a cocktail attire Christmas party and halfway through the party I surprised everybody with Santa
KINSEY GADE: I love that literally
KACIE RIDDLE: felt like being a kid again,
the way that everyone reacted to me walking in with Santa Claus and like that was so special, but specifically this specific moment about this party, I have this group of four girls walk up to me. And invite me to go get drinks with them afterwards, they were like, what are you doing? Do you wanna come get drinks with us?
We’re gonna go across the street I asked them, did you guys just meet? They were like, yeah, we just met in line. Like we all came alone and now we’re gonna go get drinks together. That is music to my freaking ears because the connection is happening and girls are being open-minded and being brave and showing up.
To an event alone is really hard. And I always wanna tell girls that like, if you show up alone, no. You will not be the only one alone. There are so many people come not knowing anybody. Yeah. And so watching girls be brave and get out of their comfort zone and break out of their shell and laugh it’s also just been so special watching people from my childhood show back up.
People that I grew up with coming to my events. That’s probably one of my favorite things that happens is when people are like, I follow you on Instagram, and you know where we were in like fifth grade together. Aw, yeah.
KINSEY GADE: And so how has, I mean, it’s only been a year.
Mm-hmm. Which is crazy. I know. Because again, I remember seeing the picnic TikTok like a year ago and now it’s huge. I know. How has this whole process affected you? Like what has been your emotional roller? Like I bet it’s a been emotional rollercoaster. I. What, like, take me through that. I would say
KACIE RIDDLE: the hardest thing about the last year is that I wanna do it all the time.
I like really, truly. A year ago even was like, happy with the job that I have, and I still feel that way. My 40 hour a week job is such a dream and I’m so, so lucky. But I just thought that was it for me. This is what I’m gonna be doing and I’ll find other ways to enjoy, finding.
A passion and I thought I was just gonna do the podcast. I just was completely content with that. When I started the social club, it was just like this thing unleashed inside of me that was like, oh no, this is my purpose. This is what I’m meant to be doing. That has been such a relief.
It’s brought me such peace that. I know this is something I’m good at. I super, super love to do, and it’s making a difference because I always felt like, the difference I’m gonna make in people’s lives is on kids, because I love working with kids and on my friends because I love my friends.
But knowing that there is a. Bigger difference to be made, gets me really excited. And I love the idea of getting so involved with the community. That’s kind of my goal with Girlhood right now, is to just figure out how to bring my community together. The last year has done that. I’ve worked with so many amazing vendors and businesses and talented people who have just offered to be a part of it.
Knowing that, it is something that is bigger than me I hope that. I can do this forever, but I’m gonna do it as long as girls keep coming. So that’s where I’m at right now.
KINSEY GADE: Yeah, I know. I’m so excited to see what the Girlhood Social Club holds in the future. Gosh, I am so
KACIE RIDDLE: excited for this summer because last summer it was like still pretty little.
But this summer, I don’t know what is gonna happen. It’s gonna be crazy.
KINSEY GADE: Yeah. I’ve also talked, I can’t remember her name, but. It was at the one year event, and focusing on smaller groups. Mm-hmm. Because it’s gotten so big. Totally. Talk me through that.
KACIE RIDDLE: What are we doing that’s, that was like, one of the things I was reflecting on last week is something that has always been important to me about events is that I wanna be.
There to say goodbye to everybody. And I felt like last week, even though it was great, it was two hours, which was really, really fast. And I didn’t feel like I got to say hi to everybody. And that is something that’s important to me is making people feel like it’s not transactional.
The host of this wants to meet you. I started a Patreon last month and I’m doing Patreon only events. Next week I have one on Tuesday with Queenie and Pearl in Minneapolis. We’re doing an upcycling event on Earth Day, which will be really, really sweet. Trying to find ways to keep it intimate without, excluding anybody is, a bit of a challenge.
That’s what I’m working through right now. It just got way. Bigger. Yeah, it got really big really fast. Yeah. And like I am so grateful and so lucky, but I still want it to feel intimate and I still want it to feel like girls are walking away with a connection, for sure.
KINSEY GADE: Yeah, I think I remember that. I feel like I watched the progression of it on social media and I remember it was the Relish Party. The Christmas party. I saw that and I was like, this is getting big. It was epic.
KACIE RIDDLE: It was so epic. Big parties like that are so fun.
My Gines party had 300 girls, which was insane. Last week was amazing, but the Valentine’s Party was my favorite event ever. It was just so fun. I’m continuing to find ways and honestly, I would say what my biggest struggle is right now is just figuring out venues.
I think summer will be easier. ’cause you know, we’re just gonna go to the freaking beach and then it’s like, stop by when you want. I’m looking forward to that for sure.
KINSEY GADE: I just press play. Okay. I wanna deep dive into your persona. I think one of the biggest things I’ve noticed going to your one year event and talking to people at the event was how just extroverted and open and willing to just talk about. The craziest randomest stuff. Mm-hmm. Anytime, like you are the friendliest person I’ve ever met.
Thank you. From the first time that we met, from the first moment. What’s that like? Is there pressure and how do you hold yourself together?
KACIE RIDDLE: what makes. How do I say this as an influencer, I think where I have found so much success is that, I am always gonna show up 100% authentically as myself.
What you are seeing on my social media, what you’re seeing at my events, that is exactly who I am when I’m with my best friends. Once I realized that being really loud and never shutting the hell up and always having a funny story to share. Wasn’t something I needed to hide, I just realized that that is what drew other people to me, for sure.
My best friend recently told me that. One of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me. She was like, when you talk to people, you give them your 100% undivided attention. Absolutely. That’s not something I’m even doing intentionally. I genuinely am so interested to know about people.
I’m so interested to know, Hey, how did you find girlhood? Did you come alone? If you came with a friend? How are you guys friends? How’d you meet? What made you guys decide to come? What are you most excited for? What are you doing later this week? Should we hang out? I just believe in the power of connection and the power of female friendships so much
I’m gonna attract the people who are similar to me. I also have been burned in the last year with girls who might not align with that. And that has been like a hard realization. I think I’ve gotten worried that my friendliness can sometimes be taken advantage of. I am learning to have my guard up a little bit.
But at the end of the day I’m like. I am a girl’s girl to my core, I believe that women have the power to do incredible things, and I let that drive me versus the fear of being proven wrong in some aspect, and remembering that one person’s actions or one person’s decision.
It’s not about me. I’ve gotten really into the Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. That has helped me a lot in the last year, especially with other social groups that are out there. I think that there’s a space for everybody. Whether it’s Girlhood Social Club or it’s one of the other social groups, like the point of it is for girls to come and make friends.
The point is for girls to have fun together. Who am I to get annoyed at competition? Somebody trying to do the same thing as me, what has made me stand out to girls is that what you see is what you get. I’m gonna talk to you.
KINSEY GADE: Yeah.
KACIE RIDDLE: You and I met and within five minutes I was telling you my life story.
Yeah.
KINSEY GADE: And I loved it. And I was like, wait, this is a sign. Yeah. Totally. Yeah. And I think that what differentiates you from other social clubs is you. You’re the heart and soul of the Girlhood social Club. Yeah. And it shows, I don’t think I’ve ever met a person like you.
Aw. You embody the entire purpose, the entire message of Girlhood Social Club. Thank you. I wanna talk more about that. So I know you were a theater kid. I was. I’m a retired theater kid. Yes. Talk me through it. Tell me the story. Tell me the lore
KACIE RIDDLE: I think I’m such an open book to people because I have been,
an extrovert my entire life. I wanted to be a professional actress when I was a kid and my parents were like, okay, fine, from the ages of six to when I was 15, I performed professionally around the Twin Cities in different shows, at different theaters, it kind of forced me to get out of my shell and be challenged.
To me it didn’t feel like work. Yeah. To me it was like, I get to go hang out with like 30, you know, at the time in my head they were so much older than me, but now looking back at it, I’m like, oh, they were all like in their twenties and thirties.
I got to hang out with them and be one of them and be treated like a grownup. I loved that. I loved being challenged and I loved being on stage and performing, it was something that I was so passionate about and I thought I was gonna continue to do it professionally.
I went to my first year of college at Mankato and thought I’m gonna get my Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater, and I’m gonna be a performer and go to New York. There’s a video of me at eight years old talking about how my dream is to be a Broadway actress. I love her.
Hell yes. Like she’s in me. Yes, she literally lives inside of me. But. What got hard, speaking of being a woman, is that once you enter the industry as an adult at least this is how it felt to me, they stop looking at you for your talent and start looking at you for your looks.
Absolutely. And when you’re eight and you can sing and you’re professional, you’re hired, but when you are. 19 and you look like every other person in the room, like what makes you stand out? You know? Yeah. And I didn’t like that this thing that in my head was so pure and so joyful. I didn’t want that to be tainted by a director looking at me and being like, you’re not skinny enough, or You’re not tall enough, or We want a brunette, or whatever it was, because like, that’s fine.
I personally wanted it to stay. My brain as this incredible, magical thing that I got to do for 10 years of my life. Yeah. And so the reason I ended up starting Girlhood is because I did a show for the first time in six years, in 2022. I auditioned for a community theater production of Legally Blonde.
I’m obsessed and I played All Woods, of course. It was my first time because I didn’t go to an on-campus college after my first year at Mankato. It was my first time being around a group of adults with. Similar interests as me. Most of my friends were from high school or work, where when you work at a Starbucks for six years, it’s people from all sorts of backgrounds.
I just found, oh my gosh, these people have the same interest as me. I love getting to know them, I love talking to them. I wanna hear all of their life stories. And then one day someone was like, you need to start a podcast. And I was like, great. Done. I’ll do it.
Not even reminded me. It just showed me how special community is. Yeah. And that’s really the thing that sparked all of this
KINSEY GADE: Yeah. And so you went to college for one semester at Mankato? Mm-hmm. A whole year Actually I did. Oh, 2017, fall
KACIE RIDDLE: through 2018 spring. I ended up taking a gap year.
I left that first year at Mankato being like, I don’t really know what I wanna do. I know I wanna do something with kids, but I don’t wanna be a teacher. I don’t really wanna perform anymore. I did end up doing the Disney College program. I am a retired Disney adult as well, and I moved down to Orlando for four months.
So fun in 2019, which if you’re listening to this and you are a college student and you’re like, I need a break, do the Disney College program, it’s worth it. It’s freaking amazing. Yeah. No regrets, but I wish I would’ve spent more time down there. It was just so much fun. I think I left with like negative $700 in my bank account.
I made literally no money. But it was like best memories ever. And it’s my fun fact for the rest of my life that I used to live at Disney World. I took that gap year and when I got back from Disney, I was working at Starbucks. I’d been working there since high school and at this point I was.
I decided to do Arizona State University online because Starbucks has something called the College Achievement Plan where they pay for the tuition for their baristas. All of my college was paid for by Starbucks, which was really nice. Amazing. And at the time I didn’t appreciate it.
And now as a 26-year-old with not a lot of student loans, I’m like. Thank God for that. Perfect. Yes. And once I graduated college, which was in the spring of 2022, a year later than everybody else. That’s kind of when I entered the workforce and just figured out what I wanted to do. It really was just trying to find jobs, working with kids, but not specifically in schools.
And so I dabbled in some jobs here and there and then found my current job, which is so incredible. I’ve been there for almost two years no plans of leaving. I love it. Amazing. Yeah. And then girlhood,
KINSEY GADE: so, yeah. I kind of wanna talk about this post-graduation. Kind of loss of identity.
I mean, yeah. It’s a big step.
Mm-hmm.
KINSEY GADE: What was that like for you? Yeah. Because you did the Arizona State University
KACIE RIDDLE: Yeah. And it was all online. And so, I missed out on this vital four years. Yeah. Of having these cool experiences FOMO was the definition of my life. For four years.
I was so jealous of my friends posting on Instagram. Who would be at a football game or out. I don’t know. And like, I just, I never felt drawn to like, I go to bed at 10:00 PM like I don’t wanna be out late. I’ve never been that kind of way. But there is still a part of you that’s like, well, when you are in college, that’s what you’re supposed to do, right?
This is the time that you’re supposed to do that. And instead of it becoming, in the middle of college is when Covid hit for my grade. So everyone moved online. I was already doing. Everything online, right? So it was totally fine for me. It wasn’t a big adjustment, but what I did learn is that people came home and there was this intense feeling of isolation and loneliness and resorting back to your old ways where you have to live with your parents
to take care of yourself in your mom and dad’s house after being independent for two plus years, is a big shock. I just asked my friends who have been on a college campus for four years about it. I’ve done a lot of learning about just post grad loneliness.
For me it looked a little bit different. My post grad loneliness was literally four years long because I just was trying to find my people for so long. And I think what has made Girlhood social clubs so special is that it gives you something to look forward to. It gives you a reason to dress up and do something fun.
KINSEY GADE: Yeah.
KACIE RIDDLE: drinking culture has changed a lot in the last couple of years. I don’t drink alcohol I serve it at my events, but like, that’s not what you’re doing. Right. You’re coming because of the connection, not because of to get drunk.
I think
KINSEY GADE: that’s a huge thing in college. Yeah. Where it’s like everything, all hangouts are just surrounded by alcohol. It’s, oh, do you wanna go to the bar for happy? And that was like,
KACIE RIDDLE: never me. Like I just wasn’t that way. I just didn’t have this curiosity in me to try it out.
I just was so turned off by it. I instead would rather have the hangout be like, everyone goes home with a craft. I want you to Uber so that you can stay as late as you want. Not so that you don’t have to drive. I don’t know, just trying to reframe it like that.
As we approach the end of the school year, and I know that you’re graduating this spring, the best advice that I can give as somebody who hasn’t directly gone through it but has helped other people go through it, is I.
Figure out what you, what makes you excited? Figure out things that you love to do. Figure out what lights you up. Even if you’re gonna be in a different town, or even if you’re gonna live in your parents’ house, or even if you’re gonna have a shitty living situation, whatever it is, like find those times to.
Come back to yourself in doing those things, whether it’s, making a craft with a friend or going to a freaking yoga class, finding community is so important. Especially in your early twenties when you are literally thrown out into the world and expected to just like enter the workforce and figure it out.
Yeah. That is the most scary time and remembering that you’re not alone in that is so important. There’s this part of. College kids when they graduate, that’s like, I’m gonna go to New York get this job and I’m gonna be super successful and it’s gonna look so cool on Instagram.
The reality of it is with what?
KINSEY GADE: Money?
KACIE RIDDLE: Right. It’s almost cooler to me to be like, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Yes. But I’m figuring it out. That to me is more impressive That’s comforting. Yeah. Of being like, Hey, does this freaking suck for you too?
I think that has been, something coming back to the authenticity of what I try to make this brand of girlhood, is that. There’s nothing to hide. That’s part of the journey. Yeah. And it’s not gonna feel like this forever, but it also sucks, and it’s okay to feel sad and alone and isolated.
Yeah. But then there’s also really great things that you can do, but you have to show up to the girlhood event alone. You have to sign up for that yoga class and go like the only person stopping you as yourself.
KINSEY GADE: Right. I think, you touched on a really good topic there. I’ve done so many international classes talking about the difference in specifically European French culture, just ’cause that’s what I’m majoring in. There is so much community in Europe they’ve got it figured out. Like coworkers going out to lunch for hours.
In between the workday, getting to know each other and communities at the park, like parents taking their kids to the park. They talk. I feel like that community’s so lost in the US. I remember my mom telling me. That I need to find my friends in college because that’s like the last opportunity.
To find friends before I’m on my own in the workforce. And that’s terrifying. And that should not, and it’s not true. Exactly. And I feel like that is just so terrifying to all college students because I think a lot of college students believe that.
KACIE RIDDLE: One of the things to remember.
And I think this is just like part of being in your early twenties is something that I think back to being 22 is like I didn’t wanna come off too strong. I didn’t wanna come off too excited when I met somebody that I clicked with. But also I should just be myself. Right? And if they click with me, then it’s a match.
Why would I wanna be with somebody who’s not gonna match my excitement, you know? Right. One of my closest friends right now, her name is Marley. I met her because she was a regular at the Starbucks that I worked at, and I literally walked up to her one day. I was like, maybe 22, and I was like, Hey, would you ever wanna be friends?
We are still friends to this day. It’s just stuff like that where you see the opportunity, you can tell somebody’s energy based on being around them. If they are inviting you in, you need to accept that invitation because the worst that could happen is that you talk once and never talk again.
But the best that could happen is they say, oh my gosh, I have this friend that I think you’d love. And then you introduce him to that friend. That friend introduces you to another friend. Remembering that part of being girls together, is that we get excited about the same things find your common ground and let that take you even further with your friendships.
And I look at my friends right now who are from completely different circles and Girlhood Social Club has brought all of us into this nice big friend group, which is something that I remember. Being really worried about. When I was like 21 and thought I was gonna get married right away. I was like,
who’s gonna be in my wedding party? And now I’m like, I can’t have a wedding party because I have too many friends. I can’t hurt anybody’s feelings. So it’s just like remembering that this too shall pass and it’s extremely normal, take the risk and slide into a girl’s dms
that’s what you did with me, you know? Yeah. I did
KINSEY GADE: slide into your jams. Yeah. And I answered. The Girlhood social Club, I’m so excited for the future of it. What has it done for you and your girlhood? We’ve talked a lot about your work and your planning, but.
Turning it onto your girlhood. What has that done for you?
KACIE RIDDLE: I think she’s really proud of me. It’s even hard for me to like articulate it right now to you ’cause I can just feel it in my chest. I said this when I was on NPR recently, but I said like, there’s this quote that says when you walk away hanging out with a group of women and there’s this glowing ball of light coming out of your chest,
can feel that all of the time. Like even just right now talking to you. Yeah. The interaction that I had this morning that was like with somebody who I didn’t really wanna invest time in, it was a date. You guys, it was a man. But like, this is like lifting me up. Yeah. And like I even remember the day after my breakup that you and I first met.
I was like, I am not how I wanna show up. I don’t know how I’m gonna show up right now. It’s not my best self. And instead of me trying to pretend that I have somebody that I’m not in front of you, I was like, heads up. This is what happened yesterday. I feel like it allowed us to skip the pleasantries and go into this even deeper level of being able to connect.
Absolutely. And I am trying to channel that all the time because I’m trying to remember that like that’s the version of myself that I’m the most proud of. When. I feel confident in who I am and I feel confident in the way I’m approaching a conversation and the way I feel confident is by. Try not to pretend to be something that I’m not.
Yeah. And I think that especially with influencer culture right now, is all about curating an aesthetic and like making it look all nice and pretty. And like I’m learning that I want things to be bright and colorful and pink and red and sparkly and glittery and chaotic and fun all the time.
And that’s who I am. I would say now at 26, this is the most me I have ever felt. I wish that I could look at 23-year-old me and like give her a hug and be like, guess what girl? It’s about to get really, really good when I think of my younger self, I tend to go to my childhood self.
But the self that really needed love was the me three or four years ago that felt really alone For sure. And so I think that that version of me is the version that I’m connecting with the most right now.
KINSEY GADE: Yeah. And I think there’s so much truth in yes, going to a university, being on campus is great, and meeting friends and people on campus is great, but there’s also this sense of loneliness too,
like you said, a lot of social hangouts in college are based on alcohol and there’s very little room to feel like you can just. Be your Yeah. Most true self. Yeah. It’s the fear of being judged, I think. Absolutely. What advice would you give to college students coming in, going out? Yeah. This is a difficult
four years
KACIE RIDDLE: Totally like you, you literally leave high school and it’s like, what do you wanna do for the rest of your life? Oh, you don’t know. We’ll pick something. Yeah. I think remembering not to compare is the most important thing.
I would go on Instagram, look at all my other friends who had super cool lives, and I wasn’t. Enjoying what I had because I was thinking about what I was missing out on and then I would think to myself, if I was there, would I even wanna go to that? Right? Would I even wanna be out at the bars?
Would I even want to be at this party? Like, no, that’s not what I love to do. It’s not what I wanna be doing. So remembering that it’s your journey and it’s nobody else’s journey, but your own not comparing. The freaking let them theory, which has literally changed my life. And remembering that the fear of being judged or the fear of being silly is not gonna help you get any further.
It’s only gonna hold you back. I’ve kind of just learned that my favorite version of myself is this version of myself that I was suppressing for so long.
Because
KACIE RIDDLE: I was like, I never shut the hell up. I also was dating somebody that shushed me all the time, which is a whole other story. Don’t date somebody that shushes you, you guys, that’s my other advice.
But like, just remembering that the love that your friends can give you and the love that female connection and friendship can give you is magic. In my house, which I call Girl House, because I’m a girl and I live there alone. My house is where magic is made.
There’s just this feeling of people coming into my house and it being a safe place for girls to be girls together. Just remembering that the way that you feel right now is not always gonna feel this way, but that’s not a bad thing. Embrace it, embrace the hard stuff, and embrace the unknown and enjoy life being messy and confusing and like, yeah, you’re broke as hell.
Right now I’m 26 and I don’t have it together, but I’m having a lot of fun, just remembering that, you are so not alone, which when I was 23 I was like, yeah, I am. Yeah. I am alone. Actually. Nobody’s feeling what I’m feeling. But it’s actually the opposite. You’re always gonna find your people
as long as you’re a hundred percent yourself, your people are gonna come.
KINSEY GADE: Yeah. I mean it’s been one year, but I think the Girlhood social Club is just getting started.
KACIE RIDDLE: I think
KINSEY GADE: What are your hopes for the future? Oh yeah. Give us the details.
KACIE RIDDLE: So I am really into manifestation. I truly believe that.
My outlook on life in the last year has changed so much that what’s meant for me is gonna find me. And so I’m trying to release a little bit of control, and show up as my authentic self, which transparently has been really hard this last month going through a breakup. That’s something that I’m actually really struggling to talk about.
If I’m being honest, I have not been able to show up as much as I want to on social media right now because I’m like, how do I. Navigate this. Right now, in this moment, in April, it’s taking a pause before summer because summer is, we are gonna go so hard.
I just want to have the best summer ever. Beach days, grilling days, clothing swap, like I just want it to be. A summer out of a movie. I want it to feel like what legally Blonde looked like at the beginning when Ella is in Harvard and all of the girls are in the sorority house.
I want it to be that amazing, but as adults in Minneapolis. So, yes. I’m just taking it a day at a time right now. I’m enjoying the success and I’m trying not to be like, okay, I hit this goal now what’s the next thing? I’m trying to just like sit with the excitement of what it is right now.
Yeah. I think the growth will come with that for sure. I’m just trying to not put any pressure on myself I don’t want it to ever. Feel like a job. I just want it to continue to be fun. If I could have any goal for myself for a year from now, it’s that obviously I would love for this to be a job that I do forever.
I would love for it to become a job like I would, that’s my dream, but I don’t wanna lose. The purpose of it for myself. Yeah. And so that’s what I’m focusing on right now is figuring out how to make it bigger and better, but not make it so that I don’t wanna do it.
KINSEY GADE: And there’s that balance. And also fear of burnout.
KACIE RIDDLE: Totally. You gotta go. Yeah. I do think this last month like really prove to me that like I have to just. Slow down. Yeah. But it’s okay. It’s a really exciting time. I can’t wait to see what the next year holds. I, I am manifesting all of my goals, but.
I could ask for is that it just continues to be fun and I continue to reach more girls,
KINSEY GADE: cannot wait to see where we’re have in the summer ever. I’m so excited. And for all the girlies out there listening where can they find social club?
KACIE RIDDLE: I primarily use Instagram at Girlhood Social Club.
That is the primary place for content, but I also have a website. I know that there are some girls without social media, so I, recommend updates on my website, which is just girlhood social club.com. I also have a Patreon, which I call my Girlhood Social Club close Friend story.
It’s $5 a month and gets you a lot of extra bonus content as well as extra events. The podcast goes out every Tuesday and after we get off, you’re gonna teach me how to be a better podcaster. And so looking forward to. Being able to just be more intentional with that too.KINSEY GADE: Yeah. Amazing. Casey, thank you so much for being with us today. Yay. And thank you everyone for tuning in to this episode of Impulse Podcast. Thanks, Kinzie. Thanks for having me. Bye.