Meet Kathi Reichel

We recently connected with Kathi Reichel and have shared our conversation below.

Kathi, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I find it nearly impossible to express the profound significance this question holds for me. Discovering my purpose not only altered the course of my life—it ultimately saved it.
My struggle with depression began when I was just twelve, following my father’s chronic illness and my mother’s own health challenges. The weight of these burdens grew heavier over time, peaking when I turned twenty. At that point, I was just drifting through life in a numb, ghost-like state. For years, my focus was consumed entirely by the wellbeing of my family, abandoning my own needs, desires, and dreams.
By what I can only describe as fate or perhaps a cosmic alignment, I stumbled upon Jay Shetty’s podcast. His wisdom and insight became a lifeline for me. Every day, I forced myself to rise from bed, slip on my headphones, and walk through my small town, immersing myself in his teachings. Little by little, his words reshaped the way I viewed my life. Jay Shetty speaks of the profound fulfillment that comes from discovering one’s purpose—by finding a passion and using it in service to others. But at that time, I was so numb that even the simplest spark of passion seemed foreign to me.
This disconnect propelled me on a personal, transformative journey. I knew I needed to leave home, as I had become a product of an environment I could neither change nor escape. The United States had called to me since childhood, so I heeded that pull and moved to New York for an internship. It may sound cliché, but from a young age, I dreamed of becoming an actor—and so, one feverish night, I impulsively signed up for an acting class. That decision marked the beginning of my healing.
The process of reconnecting with my emotions was slow and imperceptible at first, but gradually, I began to notice small shifts—a return of my authentic laugh, an ability to truly feel in my interactions, and even the unexpected joy of singing in the shower. I became deeply enamored with the person I was rediscovering.
When the class ended, I knew I couldn’t stop there. For the first time in years, I felt alive. I enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Institute, not only finding my purpose, but also a second home. I believe that whatever pain you cannot shake, you should transform into a creative offering. Through acting, I’ve come to understand that my purpose is to remain curious, open, and ever-evolving—growing and healing so that I may become the best version of myself. In doing so, I aim to fulfill a greater purpose: to touch, inspire, or help others by embodying the stories we all share.
In short, I encourage you to remain curious about the world around you, to seek out and nurture your passions, and to trust in yourself—knowing that you are here for a greater reason.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

In my previous response, I believe I shared quite a bit about my journey and how I embarked on the path of pursuing my dream of becoming an actor. However, I always enjoy reflecting on the fact that I come from a small town in Germany. Looking back, it almost feels surreal that I moved to New York City to hone my craft. As an international artist, such a transition is no small feat. I graduated from the Lee Strasberg Conservatory and am currently on OPT (Optional Practical Training), which allows me to work in the U.S. for a year, as I am not permitted to do so under a student visa. At the moment, I am attending school part-time to continue refining my craft, while also auditioning for projects and recently signing with a modeling agency (I’m still a complete beginner in that world!). It’s a lot to juggle, but because I feel so deeply aligned with my purpose, I can’t get enough.

In fact, I technically only have a year to apply for an O-1 visa—a process that many artists know to be nothing short of Herculean. I never anticipated how challenging it would be to stay in the United States, but I remain determined!

Recently, I had the privilege of filming a short film called Can You See Me? and I could not have enjoyed it more. Just last week, I wrapped another short titled A Glimpse of You, which proved to be a true challenge, yet a deeply rewarding one. The process of embodying these characters, telling their stories authentically, and moving an audience through those portrayals is what makes this work so exhilarating. What’s even more inspiring are the talented, kind, and extraordinary individuals I meet on these sets. The love and gratitude I feel after every shoot fills my heart, and I leave each day reminded of the power of collaboration and community. As artists, we thrive in environments of support, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such incredible people over these past few weeks. I was also part of a sketch comedy show, which was an incredibly fun experience that thanks to the amazing people I worked with.

At this stage, I’m focusing on building meaningful connections and expanding my network, and I am actively seeking representation to help guide my next steps. I’m always open to exciting new collaborations and would love to connect with anyone interested in working together.

I have an exciting project coming up in January, which I’m truly looking forward to, and I’ve found immense joy in the fact that no two days are ever the same. Each day brings with it new opportunities and challenges, and the constant ebb and flow of doors opening and closing keeps my life full of energy and possibility.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I believe the first key is a strong sense of self-awareness, reflection, and intuition. Developing these qualities—and truly tuning out the noise of the outside world to listen to your inner voice—was what ultimately set me on my path. We grow up in environments that often push us in a predetermined direction, simply because it’s what everyone else is doing, and we rarely stop to question it. Many people around me didn’t follow conventional paths, and that’s exactly what led them to living their dreams.
However, it’s not easy to listen to your inner desires without the fear of judgment from others—or even from yourself. My advice is to be gentle with yourself and with your dreams. Your desires are a directional compass; they were planted within you for a reason. If you ignore them, you’re only making life harder for yourself. I love the saying that life is difficult for one of two reasons:
1. Because you are stepping outside of your comfort zone.
2. Or because you are staying inside it.
Take time to reflect: Are you truly stepping outside of your comfort zone? Are you doing what you genuinely want to do? Are you enjoying it?

This brings me to another key trait: insatiable curiosity. When you discover a passion, nurture it by being endlessly curious. Learn everything you can about it—listen to podcasts, watch documentaries, talk to others who share the same passion, and immerse yourself in it every day. This curiosity will naturally push you outside of your comfort zone, and that’s where growth happens.

And most importantly, don’t forget the quality of joy. None of this should feel like a struggle. It should feel effortless and, above all, enjoyable. I remember when I was studying film, I was in misery and never questioned why I was doing it. Then I received a piece of advice that changed my perspective: “When you look back on your life, did you choose fun?”
So, above all, choose fun. Choose what brings you joy every day. Love what you do. When you love something, you will never stop learning about it.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

I often joke that I have “restless mind syndrome,” because it feels as though my inner voices never stop talking—and more often than not, they’re not kind. I can be incredibly hard on myself, and I’m exceptionally skilled at putting immense pressure on my own shoulders. The challenges of navigating OPT and visas certainly don’t make things easier. Now that I’m here—working, auditioning, and networking—I recognize I need to be better at practicing what I preach and not being so harsh on myself.

I believe that you should never look back, except to reflect on how far you’ve come. When it comes to my confidence, my health, and truly stepping into who I am, I find it helpful to look back occasionally, not only to see my progress, but also to acknowledge how much further I still have to go. There’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of self-love and overcoming the feeling that I’m not good enough. I remember my first time on set, when reality hit me all at once. As I watched the crew setting up, my mind spiraled, questioning, “What are you doing here? Are you sure they didn’t make a mistake letting you in?” But that’s exactly when the need for trust in myself, a love for what I can do, and a deep immersion in my craft comes into play.

I am living proof of the saying that “we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” It’s astonishing how powerful the mind is, conjuring up all these scenarios, yet the reality around you is often so different. People perceive you in ways you never imagined, and you walk away from so many experiences thinking, “Huh… that wasn’t at all how I imagined it, nor how I thought it would play out.”

So, at this point, I’m really focusing on practicing positive self-talk, keeping my attention on my own path, and not comparing myself to where others are. I’m also building my confidence by repeating things, over and over again. Insecurity, I believe, holds so much wisdom. By recognizing everything I feel insecure about, I can pinpoint where I still have room to grow. And I find that exciting. It places me on a continuous journey of self-growth and development, which is exactly what I need to serve my purpose and live it fully.

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Image Credits

Patrice Yip
Lisa Andraschko

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