Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Katie Kerl of Center city

Katie Kerl shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Katie, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day looks a little different than most. I live with chronic illnesses AUDHD, and POTS that require maintenance.

I am not an early riser. I’m the 10pm -3am brain burst type of ADHD.

I start my day around 9:30 am by hydrating with electrolytes. Then, I take Thesis nootropics for focus. Along with other supplements instead of stimulant prescriptions .

A little plant medicine for brain balance is always in there too. It’s the terpenes in medial marijuana that work on different receptors in the brain for certain ailments.

From there, I focus on redirecting blood flow in my body to manage POTS, which is quite literally turning my body upside down.

Then it’s skincare, iced coffee , & stretch into the new day with light yoga, and I take moment for gratitude.

Wellness has been a cornerstone of my life for decades — it’s the foundation that allows me to function. Strong minds can’t be manipulated . Being consistent builds character and trust. .

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Katie Kerl, founder of Kerlup with Kate — a multimedia brand built to disrupt,
inspire, and empower.

With a background in behavioral science, I’ve always had a gift for spotting shifts before they hit the mainstream.

That’s why I leaned into Web3 and AI five years ago. Now, I help others navigate the transition.

What makes Kerlup unique is that it’s not just a company, it’s an ecosystem. From consulting small businesses on the new economy, to running a branded AI that bridges people and tech,
to sharing free Web3 education, recipes/ life-skills , and overall lifestyle content
– it’s all connected and authentic.

My pink haired space girl character is a representation of myself. I’ve always been different, with a feeling like I’m from mars most of my life .

At the core, my mission is simple: make sure no one gets left behind. If you have been around me, whether it’s 1 pm , or 2 am this is what I’m talking about .

Especially important for women, creators, and neurodivergent innovators who are the driving force in innovation .

For me, it’s not just about building technology, and clinging corporate titles as your identity. I’ve had enough of that fake circus .

It’s about recovering people from the web2 economy collapse . They traumatized and brainwashed you into tiny compartmentalized compliance boxes. .

Our systems are being dismantled before ours eyes . Capitalism has failed globally .

Kerlup helps you make the web3 economy pivot with ease.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Bonds break when people aren’t authentic — when they lie, use others for personal gain, or let ego drive them instead of identity.

Too many people consume instead of create, trying to steal someone else’s persona instead of asking the real question:

“Who are you?”

I even have that tattooed on me from Alice in Wonderland — it’s the most important question you can ever answer for yourself.

I’ve always known who I am, and I’ve walked through the fire of becoming that person. But once someone breaks trust, I don’t believe it’s repairable.

Small things, maybe. But big betrayals? People know exactly what they’re doing — that’s not a mistake, that’s their character.

The only thing that can restore bonds is ego death. You have to be able to see beyond yourself and your own struggles.

Most people don’t have the mental capacity for that. And when they don’t, I leave them where they are. My father taught me that.

“There’s levels to people he’d say”

Its not personal, it’s just their level of awareness.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self:
Learn the stock market. It’s all trends and patterns — perfect for an ADHD brain.

If you’re a natural trendsetter, it’s made for you. All you have to do is connect the dots and watch the plays.

Here’s the part nobody says out loud: stocks and money markets are just trending businesses.

The same way you spot the next sneaker drop or song blowing up, it’s the same skillset. They just wrap it in complicated language to keep people out.

Don’t let that intimidate you — the game was built for people like us.

That also applies to the city of Atlanta. Home of the culture curator . Start watching the money market trends on CNBC , and shift your mindset to growth over consumption.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say what really matters to me is having strong foundations — my family.

During COVID, my parents got remarried after 17 years apart, and that was my greatest triumph over generational curses, and my fathers cancer.

I got my family back.

My dad was a true provider worked 90 hours a week hard labor running cranes — a railroad man who worked with his hands, fought through three rounds of cancer, and every time he hit the ground, he got up stronger.

My mom is the ever praying force that held us together. She almost died from a rare autoimmune disease, was even paralyzed, and still came back.

That’s resiliency. That’s what I was raised on. I’m not allowed to give up — Kerl’s keep going.

It’s the same energy you feel in ATL. This city was built on hustle, on people getting back up when the system tried to knock them down.

My family’s grit mirrors that — it’s in the music, the culture, and the grind that keeps Atlanta moving forward.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think the biggest misunderstanding about legacy — mine or anyone’s — is that people think it’s about money or having your name on a building. To me, legacy is about how you made people feel.

That’s where I get misunderstood. Most people can be manipulated for money, but that’s never been it for me. My work is about progressing people, fighting injustice in corporations and society, and building community that lasts.

I also know the knowledge I carry, the patterns I see, most won’t catch up to for years. I’ve made peace with that.

My energy is like a liminal space — people step into it, learn what they’re meant to, and then move on.
The alining energy will always stay when they understand the shift coming .

In ATL, we see this all the time. Buildings go up, skylines change, but the real legacy is in the culture — the music, the grind, the people who shaped the city’s heartbeat.
I’m thankful, and proud to have met so many of them .

That’s how I see my own legacy: less about monuments, more about movement , and
What it feels like to,
Kerlup with Kate

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/kerl_up_with_kate
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerlupwithkate?igsh=MXh1eXNzNGxocjBlMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-kerl-09746b166?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits
All my images