Rotary Voices: The Strength of Stories – Rotary Ambassador Kat Graham

Podcast: Rotary Voices
Host: Linda Yu (Rotary Magazine)
Guest: Kat Graham (Actress, Singer, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Rotary Champion of Women and Girls Empowerment)
Date: September 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Linda Yu interviews Kat Graham about her deep involvement with Rotary International, her life’s commitment to advocacy (especially for refugees, women, and girls), and how storytelling and personal empowerment guide her diverse career. Kat discusses her personal history, influences, the meaning of her work across acting, music, and activism, and shares actionable insights about purpose, empathy, and mental health.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kat’s Connection to Rotary & Core Values

• Empowering Others: Kat was drawn to Rotary because of its philosophy that everyone can make a difference, regardless of circumstances.
  • “Nobody can empower you like a Rotarian. You know what I mean?” (02:48, Kat)
• Diversity of Opportunities: She highlights Rotary’s wide range of initiatives—from environment to women’s health—emphasizing that anyone can find an aligned cause.
  • “It's not a one size fits all. You can literally find any and everything in Rotary for something you’re passionate about, whether it’s animals or the environment, women's health…you name it and it’s there.” (04:09)

2. Firsthand Experiences in Uganda (Nakivale Refugee Settlement)

• Importance of Storytelling: Kat’s trip to Nakivale, Uganda, and engagement with the rotaract club based in a refugee settlement underlined the power of narrative in creating real impact.
  • “What was really important was…the narrative that we brought with us and that we shared with the world.” (04:09)
• Commitment to Female Empowerment: Much of Kat's work at Rotary centers around empowering women, regardless of their circumstances.

3. Motivation for Advocacy & Global Perspective

• Personal Purpose: Despite a busy creative career, Kat sees advocacy as central to her life’s mission—leaving the world better than she found it.
  • “I want to live a meaningful life, and I want to leave this earth better than I found it. And also, there’s so much work to be done.” (05:33)
• Interconnectedness: Kat rejects the idea that world events are isolated, describing how crises in one area reach another.
  • “What affects one part of the world will eventually affect all of us. Injustice to one is injustice to all of us.” (06:55)

4. Family History & the Inspiration for Storytelling

• Heritage of Resilience: Kat’s grandparents’ experiences as refugees and survivors instilled a sense of responsibility.
  • “I have the privilege and the responsibility to them to make sure…they’re not silenced in the noise of entertainment. I don’t want to be part of the noise. I want to be a part of the solution.” (07:54)

5. Early Life and Path to Stardom

• Beginnings: Acting and dancing from a young age, Kat built her career step by step—balancing commercials, dance, and major acting roles.
• Breakthrough Role: Bonnie Bennett in “The Vampire Diaries” launched her to stardom; subsequent work included significant roles with Netflix and acclaimed artists.

6. Art with a Message – Acting and Music

• Meaningful Roles:
  • “[Cutthroat City] really made me feel like I was in purpose for sure.” (11:01)
• Music as Global Activism: Upcoming album “Pele: One World One Song” pairs activists with artists representing different countries and issues, aligning her art closely with her advocacy.
  • “It’s an album where I’m pairing activists with artists. But it’s an international album…this is the first time actually in my history in music where I’m in full alignment with what I’m supposed to be doing.” (12:34)
  • She references Nina Simone: “The best artists represent the times.” (13:46)

7. The Power of Language and Connection

• Multilingual Engagement: Kat discusses connecting through various languages and cultural experiences during mission trips.
  • “Language is also an energy thing…It's about not speaking down to children, but playing marbles with them on the ground….” (14:46)
  • “We don’t really need to talk…and that’s your language. It’s our language.” (15:52)

8. Empowerment Through Rotary

• Transforming Powerlessness: She relates her own struggles with powerlessness to the transformative potential Rotary offers.
  • “So much of my own personal suffering came from feeling like I didn’t have any power…if we could just stop giving ourselves such a hard time and start accepting our own power…” (16:28)
• Real Examples: Kat shares the story of "Charlie," a woman working with imprisoned women in Colombia.
  • “It can be as niche as you can dream. It really can be.” (18:10)
  • She also emphasizes breaking down perceptions that Rotary is an exclusive “boys club.”

9. Prioritizing Mental Health

• Personal Practices: Kat prioritizes maintaining her own mental balance, both for her effectiveness and as a model for others in service.
  • “Mental health is so important…you have to fight for [it]. I give from my overflow…if I wake up sick or I’m feeling depleted, I will put myself first and take care of this.” (19:38)
  • “For Rotarians…you’re a leader, which means you set the tone for your group. So if you are showing up whole, complete, strong, nourished…everyone that follows you is going be parallel to that.” (21:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Empowerment:
  “Nobody can empower you like a Rotarian. You know what I mean?”
  — Kat Graham (02:48)

• On Interconnectedness:
  “Injustice to one is injustice to all of us. And we are all responsible for each other as a human race.”
  — Kat Graham (06:55)

• On Her Family’s Influence:
  “I don’t want to be part of the noise. I want to be a part of the solution.”
  — Kat Graham (07:54)

• On Her Activism Through Art:
  “Nina Simone always said that the best artists represent the times. So that’s where I’m at.”
  — Kat Graham (13:36)

• On Rotary’s Inclusivity:
  “If people think it’s a boys club…it’s not, you know.”
  — Kat Graham (18:10)

• On Mental Health and Leadership:
  “I give from my overflow. If I wake up sick or…depleted…I will put myself first and…I’ll let you know when I’m back. But it takes work…”
  — Kat Graham (20:24)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction & Kat’s Background – 00:00–02:48
• What Drew Kat to Rotary – 02:48–03:55
• Experience in Ugandan Refugee Settlement – 04:05–05:10
• Motivation for Advocacy & Global Responsibility – 05:33–07:42
• Family History & Inspiration – 07:54–09:10
• Kat’s Childhood and Career Start – 09:24–10:43
• Most Meaningful Acting Roles – 11:01–12:13
• Music Projects Aligned with Activism – 12:34–14:17
• The Power of Language & Connecting Across Cultures – 14:17–16:14
• Empowerment and Rotary’s Role – 16:14–19:20
• Importance of Mental Health for Service Leaders – 19:20–21:41

Tone & Style

The conversation is earnest, passionate, and inspiring, reflecting Kat’s drive to align her creative work with social impact. The episode moves naturally between her personal stories, professional journey, and practical advice, with a welcoming and inclusive approach to empowerment and advocacy—a hallmark of both her work and Rotary International’s mission.

For Listeners: Key Takeaways

• Rotary offers countless opportunities for service and empowerment tailored to diverse passions.
• Kat Graham’s advocacy and art are deeply intertwined, shaped by personal history and a commitment to global interconnectedness.
• Anyone can make a difference—sometimes it starts simply with listening, telling stories, or connecting in another’s language.
• Self-care and mental health are fundamental for anyone in service—“give from your overflow.”
• Rotary is not exclusive—changing lives (including your own) is open to all ages, backgrounds, and interests.

End of summary.