Karla Rendon shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Karla, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think one of the biggest things people are secretly struggling with—but don’t always say out loud—is the pressure to hold everything together. Whether it’s in their career, relationships, or personal goals, so many people feel like they have to show up as if they’ve got it all figured out, even when inside they’re overwhelmed, anxious, or battling self-doubt.
From my experience as a DJ, I see it at events all the time. People are there to celebrate, but you can tell some of them just need that release on the dance floor. And as a motivational speaker, I hear it when people come up to me after talks and say, ‘I thought I was the only one.’
The truth is, mental health conversations are happening more than before, which is powerful, but there’s still this stigma around admitting you’re struggling in the moment. I think people secretly want permission to be vulnerable without feeling weak—and that’s why I try to create spaces, whether through music or words, where they feel safe to let go and just be themselves.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What’s up everybody! My name is DJ KICKIT—like ‘Can I KICKIT?’ and you say ‘Yes you can!’ I’m not only an award-winning DJ, I’m also what I like to call a Keynote DJ—remixing culture and connection through music and spoken word.
I’m a proud member of the Recording Academy, a former 3x Golden Glove Boxing Champion, a state record holder in Powerlifting, and soon to be an author. My first book, B.E.A.T. The Odds – How to Win in Business, Sports, and the Creative World, is set to release this fall (2025).
But beyond the titles, what really drives me is showing up fully as who I am—a woman, Latina, queer, and unapologetically loud on purpose. My mission is to inspire others to own their identity, lean into their talents, and find power in their story.
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 did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I no longer believe that I am not enough, or that people like me don’t deserve success or greatness. My culture is beautiful, rich in colors, music, and hardworking people. But growing up, there was, and still is, a stigma that women only belong in one type of role: to submit or to stay out of certain spaces. That mentality lived in me for years.
Even with my boxing accolades and athletic success, I was still told, ‘This is a man’s world.’ And as a queer woman, the treatment was even harsher—being told I’d never amount to anything, that I’d end up on the streets, or worse. None of that was true. It took therapy, self-work, and a lot of courage to unlearn what I was taught.
Now, not only am I successful, but I get to stand as an example for the next generation. Because when you are unique, gifted, and talented, you can’t control whether others will accept you. But you can control how boldly you show up. So show out anyway, stand tall, and live unapologetically as yourself.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
MUSIC! And not just any music—HIP-HOP and R&B to be specific. Music always had a way of speaking to my soul in ways words couldn’t. As a kid, whenever I felt sad or scared, I’d lock myself in my room, throw on those dollar-store wired headphones, and tune in to the radio. But I didn’t just listen like everyone else—I dissected every part of the music. I’d get lost in the drumming rhythms of hip-hop, the vocal scales of legends like Whitney Houston, and the harmonies of groups like Boyz II Men and Dru Hill. I’d isolate the melodies in my head and hum them, almost like I was in the song myself.
By the time I was in middle school, I was playing the drums—studying rudiment patterns, sharpening my timing, and carrying that all the way through high school. Then I started rapping and writing poetry, influenced by the cadences of DMX, Method Man, Biggie, Nas, and Jay-Z. It became my outlet to process what I was feeling.
Even today, music is still my therapy and self-expression. When I’m DJing live, I channel that same inner child—the one who got lost in rhythms and harmonies—and I bring it into my blends, my genre-bending, and the energy I create. That’s why music isn’t just something I do—it’s who I am.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. What you see on stage, on social media, or in person—that’s all me. People can smell the bullsh** right away when someone is being fake or unauthentic, and I refuse to be that. For too long, I suppressed who I really was because of cultural and societal expectations—out of fear of not being accepted. But the truth is, who you see now is who I’ve always been: that energetic, curious kid who just loves making people laugh, have fun, and smile.
The only difference today is that I don’t hide it anymore
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
Aside from listening to music, which can sometimes turn into work mode for me, I feel most at peace when I disconnect completely. That usually looks like being curled up on the couch with my wife and our dog, just cuddling and binge-watching our favorite shows or a good movie. It’s simple, but it’s those quiet, cozy moments that really recharge me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.djkickit.com
- Instagram: @djkickit17
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/karlasrendon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djkickit17
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djkickit17
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@djkickit17
Bandcamp: https://djkickit.bandcamp.com/
Image Credits
Maricruz Kwon, Jake Rabin, Mama Duke
