Meet Kelly Pfleider of Southern California

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Pfleider.

Hi Kelly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been drawn to theater. I love creating worlds, stepping into different perspectives, and bringing stories to life. That’s just how my brain works. Growing up, no matter the assignment, I was the one who wanted to present: to turn it into something people could feel, not just hear.

When I was introduced to performance education in college, it honestly felt like I had been on that path the whole time without realizing it. It clicked immediately.

I started my work focusing on sexual assault prevention—something most people are familiar with, but often only experience through lectures, statistics, or conversations that feel heavy or hard to engage with. I wanted to approach it differently. I wanted to show the reality of these situations in a way that felt honest and recognizable, without making people shut down.

When I started Pure Praxis, my goal was simple: make difficult conversations easier to digest without watering them down. I wanted people to feel engaged, not intimidated. To be pulled in, not talked at. To connect with these important messages in a real way and walk away with something they could actually use.

Because I remember what it felt like to sit in a room, fully capable, but shut down by the way information was delivered, feeling intimidated instead of included. I built this to be the opposite of that.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No….it has not been a smooth road. I had a clear vision and belief in the work, but I didn’t come in with a strong business background. For a long time, I was honestly embarrassed to admit that.

Over time, though, I’ve come to see that as part of the story. This has truly been a grassroots effort. I built Pure Praxis from the ground up with my own resources, without a big company backing me or buffering financial challenges. It’s been a lot of learning in real time.

But that process shaped how intentional and resilient the work is today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Pure Praxis, we use live, scenario-based theater to help organizations practice the moments that matter most: communication, accountability, and how people show up for one another when it actually counts. We specialize in topics that are often difficult to talk about—sexual assault prevention, workplace culture, suicide, boundary-setting; but we approach them in a way that draws people in instead of shutting them down.

We are known for making the conversation real versus theoretical. We put people inside the moment next to our trained Actors, then we pause it, unpack it, and let them step into the response. It’s what we call Cultural Rehearsal. People don’t just hear what to do… they try it, see it, feel it, and leave knowing they can actually do it.

What I’m most proud of is that people stay ENGAGED in my sessions. In rooms where you’d expect people to check out, they lean in, or speak up and contribute in a very meaningful and authentic way.

One of my favorite moments is at the very beginning of my trainings. Before anything has started I enjoy watching people walk into the space. You can see it on their faces… the uncertainty, the hesitation, sometimes even the resistance. They don’t quite know what they’re about to experience, and based on what they’re used to, they’re bracing for something heavy or uncomfortable.

And I know it’s going to be great but it’s all a risk for a few minutes.

Then, there’s a shift that happens. You can feel it. The walls start to come down, people start to engage, and suddenly the room is alive in a way they didn’t expect. Winning them over in that moment—when they realize this is different, that they’re actually part of it—that’s the part I love the most.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Honestly, my biggest resource is people. Everything I create lives somewhere between fact and fiction. I’m constantly listening—through conversations, interviews, and the feedback we get in our sessions. I never take someone’s exact story, but I pull from real experiences, including my own, and shape them into something others can recognize and learn from.

Because our work is live, the audience becomes part of that process. If something doesn’t land or a character feels off, people will tell you—sometimes immediately. And that feedback doesn’t just sit there… it gets put into motion. The work evolves in real time.

So while I appreciate books and podcasts, the most valuable “resource” for me is real human behavior—how people react, what they say, what they don’t say—and using that to continuously refine the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://purepraxis.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purepraxis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purepraxis
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purepraxis
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@purepraxis

Image Credits
@ArcherInspired, @LoveataLittleOne