Meet Kat Baum | Musician, Writer, Teacher, & Empath

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kat Baum and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kat, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Growing up, I was taught the opposite of risk taking. Play it safe, be responsible to the point of sacrificing your true potential and desires, those pieces of conditioning were firmly implanted. It took me many years to shed that skin and start doing the things that scared me, giving me a taste of true, authentic living. My first experience of really doing that was probably when I took my first teaching job out of graduate school in a Tsimshian village I could not pronounce, on an island I never knew existed in Southeast Alaska. Going from landlocked South Dakota to an island rain forest surrounded by mountains and the Pacific Ocean opened my eyes to the possibilities of life. That experience paved the way for me to redesign my life multiple times throughout the years as I have moved through different careers, traveled to experience different cultures, and honed in on my purpose in this life of creating healing experiences for as many people as I can reach. And at 46, I have found myself pursuing a dream I’ve held onto since my adolescence of flying airplanes. Soon, I will be flying people to remote places around the world! A life without risk is not truly living.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been writing poetry and songs since I was a little girl, and growing up in a musical family led me eventually to the guitar and dulcimer so I could put my words to music. After years of performing as a singer/songwriter, and teaching writing, yoga, and meditation, I started to intertwine my passions and gifts and joined the roster of the South Dakota Arts Council’s Artists in Schools and Communities. Over the years, I have worked with people of almost every age and demographic, leading them through my unique program of music, writing, discussion, yoga, and meditation, and coming out on the other side with an original song composed from the experience, as well as personal healing and transformational growth, both for me and for those I sit in circle with. A little over a year ago, I moved into a studio apartment in an historic building on Main Street in Spearfish, South Dakota and turned half of it into an expressive arts studio, Inner Voice Studios, bringing people together to learn about the layers of human existence, practice movement & ceremony, and gather up as many tools as possible from the various classes, special events, and workshops to attain healing from past traumas and move forward into the life of their dreams, finding and then acting from their Inner Voice. Now, I am ready to take all of this to a new, expansive level. I am currently in the process of getting my Commercial Seaplane Pilot’s license, as well as taking steps to expand beyond the borders of South Dakota and then the United States, taking my Inner Voice Experience around the world. Eventually, I hope to have a retreat center on the beach somewhere in the world, where I can fly people in to guide them through a life-changing week surrounded by natural beauty.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love the outdoors, so we would go on several hikes! A drive out Spearfish Canyon is a must, any time of year, so we would check out Iron Creek Trail, Devil’s Bathtub, Bridal Falls, and Roughlock Falls. Lookout Mountain and Crow Peak trail would allow us to see the city from an eagle’s eye view. When we wanted refreshments, we would find Antunez, Nonna’s (located downstairs in my building), or Killians for their flavors and live music, maybe Spearfish Brewery for a nice dark beer. Coffee? The Green Bean or Black Bird for a solid cappuccino downtown, or head out to Creekside Bean & Vine for some ambiance on Spearfish Creek. When it’s time for yoga, we could go to the Hot Room and get sweaty or to Spearfish Yoga, Cycle, & Crossfit where I teach a couple times a week. If they’re up for a unique treat, we might make an appointment at Zero Gravity for a float in their salt float tanks, peruse my favorite crystal shops, The Giving Goat & Sacred Soul, or hit up a concert or show at the historic Matthews Opera House a few steps away from my studio. 🙂

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Michelle Grosek. She brought you to me, and she has always encouraged and supported my creative endeavors.

Website: www.yourinnervoice.org

Instagram: @discoveryourinnervoice

Facebook: Inner Voice Studios