We are changing the way the world does connection.
Let's talk support,
mental health, and community
Each one of us, day after day, lives through hundreds of moments where we’re either warmly understood or passively rejected. When we put ourselves out there, people will either lean toward us or away from us. Each bid for connection will either fill us up or take its toll.
​
But we really need each other.
The Founders
Official Bios
Kayla and Andy Izard are authors, speakers, founders, and facilitators changing the way the world does connection. Their movement, The Raft Project, is making support normal and expected. Along with creating a safe space for real conversations in their community, they've poured their hearts into their Amazon bestseller, Good, and You? How to Get Real Support Instead of Faking It. Good, and You? explores support and connection in a real, practical, lively way.
After Andy’s prolonged mental breakdown in 2018, they doggedly pursued an open support group concept to process what they were experiencing. They knew they needed support – what they didn’t expect was so many others looking for the exact same thing.
While Kayla has BA in Communications and Andy in Psychology, this movement is built mostly on lived experience and an unwavering passion to do good for other people and themselves.
Kayla Izard
As an author, speaker, founder, and CEO, Kayla Izard is changing the way the world does connection. Together with her husband, Andy, she founded The Raft Project – a movement to make genuine support normal and expected. Kayla and Andy also released their Amazon bestseller, Good, and You? How to Get Real Support Instead of Faking It, in April 2023.
Kayla is an Arizona native, born and raised. Homeschooled, Kayla spent her childhood singing, dancing, acting, pretending, creating, and playing piano. After graduating with her BA in Communications, Kayla helped to launch numerous brands, businesses, and non-profits, including Andy's first business.
​
Kayla is an expert storyteller and vibe master. She works to create spaces where everyone can feel loved and celebrated for who they are. With a deep love for people, animals, and our planet, she’s always nerding out about a better society and justice in the world. But her greatest life’s work is her son Sammy.
Andy Izard
As an author, speaker, founder, and facilitator, Andy Izard is changing the way the world does connection. Together with his wife, Kayla, he founded The Raft Project – a movement to make genuine support normal and expected. Andy and Kayla also released their Amazon bestseller, Good, and You? How to Get Real Support Instead of Faking It, in April 2023.
​
A Phoenix native, Andy is always connecting with strangers. You’d almost think he's always had “I care about you” written across his forehead. Growing up, Andy did everything: sailing, scuba diving, flying, climbing trees, riding motorcycles, target shooting, and playing sports. He still loves to be outside – surrounded by pine needles. Andy is one of the safest people in the world for the gritty stuff. The shit that makes other people laugh uncomfortably and change the subject. Probably because in his teens and early 20s, Andy struggled with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and addiction. He understands not being ok. That’s one of the reasons he got his BA in Psychology.
​
In the many jobs Andy has worked, from security to sales to business ownership, his goal has been helping people feel seen, heard, and safe. And no one more than his wife Kayla and son Sammy. His greatest loves.
How The Raft Project got started...
This movement, The Raft Project, began with entrepreneurship. In the middle of Andy’s breakdown, we landed in business together with a small window cleaning company. If you know, you know: entrepreneurship is dynamic, scary, and fucking hard. It is painfully vulnerable, extremely high stakes, and very lonely. Nothing can prepare you for it, and there are surprisingly few places to be honest about it.
We soon realized that we weren’t the only ones treading water. So, we called together a group of our entrepreneur friends to help us develop an open support group concept (like Andy was finding in the 12-Step community) – collaborating to find a format that would allow us to really be there for each other.
We knew we needed support; we just didn’t expect that so many others were looking for the exact same thing.
Turns out, what we thought was an entrepreneurship problem… is just a human problem. We all need support. We all need community. We are so much more alike than we are different.
​
Now, The Raft Project is for people from all walks of life who are looking for a place to lean in and connect deeply. It’s a place where genuine support is normal and expected. Where we can be there for each other and be real – a place where no one goes under.
We’re really honored that you’re here.
New book release!
Good, and You?
We're all trying to get by on our own… next to each other. We’re each convinced that we’re the problem. Too needy, too lazy, too insecure.
This Amazon bestseller manifesto-guidebook is about being there for the people in your life, and allowing them to show up for you. We desprately need to start opening up to each other, instead of faking a smile, giving some bullshit answer, and then feeling alone.
The Raft Project Brand Assets
#373A59
#BD4F85
#E27E88
#0D715F
#DFD85C
#75A9AE
Blood Orange
Disruptors Script
Public Sans
We respond, promise!
Talking about connection gets us so hyped. Let's have a conversation!
480-269-0420
