Kenny Kane’s Blog
Being There at 2 A.M.: My Conversation on The AI Edge
I went on The AI Edge with Louis Fernandes to talk about Firmspace, and we ended up somewhere better: how a small foundation in Austin built a chat agent that sits with scared people at 2 a.m., in ten languages.
Claude AI for Writing: The Complete Guide for Authors and Content Creators
The rise of AI writing tools has changed how we think about authorship. For most creators, the challenge isn’t whether AI can write—it’s how to make it work with your process, not against it.
After years of building organizations and publishing books, I’ve found that Claude AI (especially the 3.5 Sonnet model) is the first system that feels less like a generator and more like a collaborator. It doesn’t try to be the author—it helps you become a better one.
This guide distills how I use Claude to write and edit long-form projects like The Accidental Nonprofiteer and Mission-Driven Ecommerce. Whether you’re a novelist, nonfiction writer, or content creator, you’ll see how to integrate AI into your workflow without losing your voice or authenticity.
Inducted into the Islip High School Hall of Fame
A letter from Islip High School stopped me in my tracks: an induction into the Hall of Fame, Class of 2005. It sent me back to where the whole thing started, a pharmacy job at 15, my dad's diagnosis my senior year, and the football field where I'll stand again this fall.
The Book I Wish My Family Had in 2005
If These Balls Could Talk: A Guide to Testicular Cancer is the book I wish my family had in 2005.
It's 22 chapters. It covers everything, from what testicular cancer actually is, to early signs and diagnosis, to treatment options, to the things nobody talks about enough: fertility, sexual health, mental health, how to navigate conversations with your employer, how to manage isolation, how to be a caregiver without losing yourself, and what life looks like on the other side.
Reflection: Hospitality Isn’t the Latte. It’s the Reliability. (Still True.)
In May 2024, I joined the Flex World Series panel hosted by OfficeRnD to talk about hospitality in flex workspace. The core idea still holds true today: hospitality isn’t what you add, it’s what you remove. Remove friction, remove uncertainty, and deliver reliability every single day.
Why I Added an llms.txt File to My Site (and Why You Probably Should Too)
I recently added a file called llms.txt to my personal website.
If you’ve never heard of it, that’s fine. Most people haven’t. It’s not a standard yet. It’s not something Google Search Console is nagging you about. There’s no official documentation page with a shiny logo.
When Stupid Cancer Rang the NASDAQ Opening Bell
Every once in a while, something comes up in conversation that stops you for a second and makes you realize just how much time has passed.
Not long ago, someone asked me about the day Stupid Cancer rang the opening bell at the NASDAQ. They talked about it like it had just happened. I nodded along and then later did the math. It has been just over ten years. That honestly surprised me. It still feels recent. The details are still clear. The energy of that morning has not really left.
What I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation Really Was
Before it was Stupid Cancer.
Before it had a national summit, a recognizable brand, or a seat at policy tables.
Before the language of AYA oncology entered the mainstream.
I’m Too Young For This! was a refusal.
It was a refusal to accept that young adults with cancer should quietly disappear into the space between pediatric and adult care. A refusal to accept isolation as normal. A refusal to believe that survivorship only counted if you were old enough to be taken seriously.
Grabbing Life by the Balls: A Conversation on Cancer, Work, and Building Things That Last
I recently joined Mallet & Michelle for a conversation that ended up covering a lot more than testicular cancer, even though that is where my story usually starts. What made this one different was how naturally it moved between personal history, work, leadership, and the experiences that quietly shape how we show up in the world.
My connection to testicular cancer is personal. When I was a high school senior, my dad was diagnosed. There was no long lead-up or time to process it emotionally. He found a lump, saw a doctor, and within days was in surgery. That summer, which was supposed to be about graduation and getting ready for college, turned into chemo appointments and hospital visits. Like a lot of families who go through cancer, we figured things out as we went. You do what needs to be done and worry about the rest later.
Listening to Your Emails and Messages Makes You a Better Communicator
For most of my career, I’ve moved fast. I’ve relied on instinct, momentum, and the ability to figure things out on the fly. In small teams or early-stage environments, that approach works. You don’t have to explain every step or provide perfect clarity—you just build, adjust, and keep going. But as the organizations around me grew, the cost of unclear communication started to show up in ways I couldn’t ignore. I’d send a message that made perfect sense in my head, only to realize later it didn’t land the way I intended. Or I’d fire something off quickly and it would accidentally create more work or confusion for someone else. That’s when I started using a small Mac feature that unexpectedly became one of the most effective productivity habits I’ve ever built: Speak Selection.
Podcast Feature: The Flex Uncensored Podcast — Clarity in Flex with Kenny Kane
Recorded August 30, 2023
I joined hosts Jamie Russo and Giovanni Palavacini on The Flex Uncensored Podcast to talk about Firmspace’s growth, our focus on serving established professionals, and my own path from operations to CEO.
