We were lucky to catch up with Kira Mesi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kira , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I remember being 7 years old, and I was always singing, especially in the shower. I know a lot of people can relate to that! I remember one night after a particularly incredible rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls just wanna have fun”, and dancing around my room with a hairbrush as a microphone, my parents walked by and said , “Wow, you really can sing! Do you want to take singing lessons?” I thought why not that sounds amazing! Music was always just inherently in me, and I always felt this great love to perform.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

From a young age, I wanted to sing and dance and act. Putting on a show wherever I could for whoever would watch would bring me such joy! Music is such a bond that we all share whether we are on the stage or we are in the audience. It truly is a beautiful experience of shared emotions of love and joy, and sometimes even sadness. All the feels transcend into magic on a stage. As a young artist , I started out singing in lots of musicals, both in school and out of school and soon found my way to NYC performing professionally on some of the greatest stages. Truly a dream come true, I had the opportunities to be a part of the great stages of Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Living my dream out loud was absolutely wonderful! And, of course, I have had so many incredible people, both teachers, mentors, and my parents who along the way have inspired me to always believe in myself and live out that dream.
Jump forward through the journey and this is how my podcast FINDING RAINBOWS ON AN ORDINARY DAY became even a thought. I had started to take some time away from the stage and dream other dreams. Starting a family, cheering on my own sons and their dreams, and expressing myself creatively through new creative paths including my love for Photography. It was at that time that I was longing to put something more out into the world creatively and use my voice in a new way. I wanted to bring something to everyone who maybe never had someone in their corner saying “You can do this!” like I was fortunate to have through the years. And that’s how my podcast was born. I want to encourage people to go after their dreams, the tall and the small; to know that everything they need is already inside of them. And so 4 years ago this December, that’s my podcast FINDING RAINBOWS ON AN ORDINARY DAY was born. The concept that we can dive into the ordinary looking for the extraordinary, because life is hard, but if you look close enough, you will find the Rainbows. A labor of love born out of LOVE. Top 100 motivational podcast on Apple & Spotify, Finding Rainbows brings me such joy knowing people are listening and truly creating a life that they love by being authentically themselves. As we end each episode, I always say, “The Rainbows are all around you. You just have to open up your heart to see them.”
We all have big dreams and goals and thoughts for our lives, and it’s so very important to know that the journey is the destination. When you can live life right along side all of those dreams, checking off those blessings each and every day that is Finding Rainbows. A thankful heart will open the doors to your dreams.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely one of the biggest things I needed to learn was to not put all my eggs in one basket. That is I was very singular in my thinking in the beginning of my career. I was a singer that was that, the end. It was great when things were going my way, but when things got difficult it was hard to see past the thoughts of ,“Well what now? “ My biggest advice for a creative is you may be known for one particular thing, and that is absolutely incredible, but don’t allow that to take away from being supportive of other creative passions that you carry inside of you. Try them all! You will be so many things in this beautiful life, and this is one of the greatest Rainbows you can give yourself. Keep learning, keep growing, You just don’t know until you go! And sharing my passion for people and their dreams on my podcast, as well as sharing my photography at galleries has been just as rewarding as music has been in my life.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Being a creative, you simply can’t forget about the business side! And listen once you build your love and your brand, you can start outsourcing to someone you might think could help you in that department. But in the beginning, don’t forget it, It’s so important that you learn to market yourself, and some of the greatest tools I have found have been right on social media from TikTok to Instagram to YouTube. Literally there is someone willing to give you free information through a video format on how to do just about everything! I used to shortchange myself when I first started the podcast, thinking I am not tech savvy. Never say never folks, I had a message to deliver on the microphone, and so I figured out how to get it out there. Now editing the podcast is one of my most favorite parts of putting it all together! Three things I have found to be invaluable when working towards your goals are:
1. Google it! There’s always someone or an app for that that will help you build your business, start your podcast or learn a new skill.
2. Show up for yourself! Especially on the days when you are not motivated. Do not work from emotion work from consistency. My favorite word! Because you’re not always gonna be motivated, and a little movement forward every day goes a lot further than starting and stopping..
3. Everyone won’t get what you’re doing, but that’s ok! Your dream was meant for you! The only voice that matters is that inner voice that’s telling you to just try. You won’t know till you go. And don’t quit! The quickest way out of the game is to bench your dreams..You have come too far for that!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/FindingRainbows
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingrainbowsthepodcast?igsh=MWl2YWE2azZ2cm90bg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Photography by Kira Mesi