Hi Friend!

My name is Kodi, aka “everyone's best friend”. An Aries, female travel photographer, Tarantino storyteller, jack of all trades and collector of all things. Here’s a peek into my world, work, and wander, while sharing my stories on living, laughing and what’s the 3rd one? Oh yes! ADHD! This is a choose-your-own adventure, so try to keep up -but first let me tell you about this one time I was the luckiest girl in the world First things first, I’m not a writer.

Yeah… I know what you’re thinking- “then why the fu** did you start a Substack?” *note to self: is cursing on Substack- allowed?* The truth is, I’m a photographer. Kinda like if Wes Anderson directed for Nat Geo* type of photographer. *note to Nat Geo: Please hire me.* One of my best friends, told me about this platform and motivated me to start writing- because she claims that I’m “everyone’s best friend” and I always have a story- but really, I’m just that sentimental stranger next to you on the plane who ends up chatting with you the entire flight and then somehow you feel close enough and inclined to invite me to your Grandparents 50th anniversary and join you for a wedding in the spring. People say they’ve played the 6 degrees of Kodi game- so I’m the “connector” type of friend. Not like one of those annoying friends who brag about the private jet, lavish celebrities type of stories but the ADHD, excitable, luckiest girl in the world, entrepreneurial wins, horse named after her in Ecuador kinda stories. I’m your colorful, crafty, ride or die, DIY, biggest cheerleader, with just a sprinkle of Debbie Downer friend.

Anyways… are you following along? 😚 I’m trying to.

The question is why follow? Why me? And really- my answer is ….why not?! Let’s connect! I’m so many things, but a “writer” has never been one of them. I’m hoping to create a close, safe community on here while also learning to be a better storyteller and face my fear of the online world. I want to share more of my art, experiences and most of all, I want to connect. The power of connection is so important to me so if you want to have fun bouncing around in my colorful short stories traveling with me while I give you an inside look of my creative, cinematic adhd brain, and if you like to get your stories handed to you like Tarantino (1.middle 2.beginning 3. end) then bb, I think we just became best friends!

If you know me, you know that for every story, I’ll have 88 photos and videos to accompany it. So get ready for lots of those! *see pretty photos below 🤩* And maybe even some Photo Roulette*! *Think… choose a date and I’ll show you a story. Or this one time I was an officiant in Las Vegas recently at a Taco Bell. Or how about my adorable rescue Frenchie, Sir Truffle Butt III who I’m currently traveling cross-country with! We’re in our fourth city and have four more to go so there’s going to be a lot of documenting that while visiting our friends along the way too.

What about this one time I used the last $110 in my account to expedite my passport renewal on the off chance I get a job in Bali… and 48 hours later…got that job- that’s a great one. What about the sad stories too? Of death, grief, and trauma? Hmmm maybe not those yet... we just met 😉I brag about my friends a lot so get ready to hear about the chosen families I’ve been so lucky to be part of. If I had a TED Talk, it’d be about the power of a chosen family and how a great support system can save your life. This one time I chatted with my morning baristas so often, we ended up traveling to Hawaii together and now almost 10 years later, we still celebrate holidays together and are truly Ohana. Or maybe how this one time I found myself on the back of a scooter with 3 other people in the middle of Bali before sharing a kiss with Mathew McConaughey*- oh wait- he looked like* Mathew McConaughey (spoiler alert, surf towns have a lot of different versions of good ol’ Matty). Speaking of, do you know This is why you’re not happy?

Anyways! I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let’s just start with this one time I started a Substack…

xoxo,

Gossip Girl

Kodi René