Conversation with McKenna Gaughan - Reconnection and Life Updates

Overview

This conversation was a reconnection between Gary and his ex-girlfriend McKenna Gaughan after several months without contact. The call occurred while Gary was in New York for meetings. They exchanged updates on their professional and personal lives, with Gary sharing details about his new role with Alpha Schools and McKenna discussing what appears to be career considerations and an upcoming exhibition. Gary also suggested potential opportunities for McKenna in Austin and offered to host her for a visit.

Key Points Discussed

Gary's Current Situation

• Location: In New York for meetings, feeling overstimulated compared to DC:

  "I'm in New York right now for for a few meetings, and I'm reminded that I'm over stimulated. over stimulated. This is a why seriously why capital was really good for me because..."

• Career Transition: Gary shared his experience with an AI bootcamp and subsequent job opportunity:

  "So, I graduated from this AI but Kim, which I, you know, I'm glad I did it. Um, the worst case it might be like I signed up for it was like the worst case is just I was doing whatever I was already doing in Cap Hill. and just, like, experimenting with different stuff on my own."

• New Role with Alpha Schools: Detailed his current position at a company with futuristic schools:

  "It's about schools that are pretty futuristic in in and teach kids AI and also use AI in interesting ways and so you know I care about ventoring young people and supporting their growth. and and a lot of the role a lot of the role that the adults play in theseoles is like basically like entering them..."

  "The flagships are in in Austin and we here for 12. Yeah, and then there's one put up in New York. There's other locations, too, that there is more in New York, and I I chatted with the principal of that today."

• Job Satisfaction: Expressed contentment with the new role and its longevity potential:

  "I can see this being a role that I keep for a while"

• Corporate Culture: Appreciates the openness to constructive feedback in the company:

  "The guy who who has been working for this company for, uh, two and a half years said, like, you don't you don't get punished for saying uncomfortable truths... you don't you don't get punished for with just calling out things and especially if you're doing a soft, you know, and and and you know that's not not always the case at all."

McKenna's Current Situation

Gary's questions and comments provide clues about McKenna's situation (McKenna's side of the conversation is not in the transcript):

• Child/Baby: Gary asked about McKenna's baby, suggesting she has a child or is caring for one:

  "Anyways, how's your baby?"

• Career Considerations: McKenna appears to be considering career options, potentially in "Dom" work:

  "Do do you do you still feel good about the d like the Dom stuff? Yeah, it's it's a commitment."

  "I mean, it's you know, it's the longer the the longer you wait, the more you will regret if you don't wanna do it anymore"

• Exhibition: McKenna has an upcoming exhibition:

  "When is your exhibition again? ... Well, well, well, I guess keep sprinting towards that"

• Potential Relocation: McKenna may be considering a move to Miami:

  "What what what why Miami? Oh, uh of your brother. Whoa."

Gary's Suggestion of Austin Opportunities

• Industry Potential: Gary suggested McKenna would be successful in Austin:

  "I kind of think that you would kill it in Austin in in a lot of different ways, seriously. Dom, Dom and nightclub..."

• Industry Connections: Shared details about opportunities through his connections:

  "I became friends with some really successful people... even if you didn't I feel like you would kill it even without the dumb stuff, too. So, like, for example, my a new friend of mine, he just incredible dude, he one of the many things he's doing is um is gonna create the best, like, multipurpose event in nightlife and lounge in restaurant space, like 30,000 plus square feet in, like downtown Austin"

• Previous Experience: Referenced McKenna's past success:

  "You you told me that you you've cleaned up when you did the bottle stuff, like, years ago"

• Hosting Offer: Extended invitation for McKenna to visit Austin:

  "I kind of feel like my gut's telling me you should just hang out with me for, like, even, like, a week or two. then just see how it feels. And like, I'm I'm literally by water, like, all the time. I have a pool, I have a river one one minute walk away that you can we can canoe in."

  "I have a room. I'm happy to crash on the couch if you want to just like check it out"

Closing the Conversation

• Future Contact: Gary suggested reconnecting in a few weeks:

  "Well, let's catch up, you know, um, after after your well, you know, we don't it doesn't just have to be after the spring, but let's catch up like, you know, in a few weeks, just see how you're doing"

• Positive Note: Ended the conversation on a friendly note:

  "Great to hear your voice... All right, I. I'll do bye."

Context and Significance

This conversation represents an important step in reconnecting after a relationship and period of no contact. The tone remained friendly and supportive, with both parties sharing updates about their lives. Gary offered professional networking connections and hospitality in Austin, suggesting a transition to a friendship with potential professional collaboration elements.

There appears to be genuine interest from Gary in McKenna's well-being and success, offering advice and connections without pressure. McKenna seems to be at a decision point regarding her career path and potential relocation, with an upcoming exhibition as her immediate focus.

The conversation maintained appropriate boundaries while keeping the door open for future communication and potential in-person reconnection after McKenna's exhibition.