LaunchLeft

By LaunchLeft and Kast MediaSociety & Culture News Entertainment News Music

LaunchLeft episodes

May 31, 2022MHA | Art & Mental Health
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month. On this special episode of LaunchLeft, Rain welcomes several artists to expound upon their struggles with mental health and the role art and music play in helping them through difficult times, including mental health crises. Tune in to hear more from guests Carolesdaughter, PUP, HODGY, and Poppy Ajudha.
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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
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IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:00] Hodgy on music being a transformative space.
[18:00] Zack Mykula from PUP on keeping the balance with his bandmates between work and doing something they love together.
[25:00] Thea from Carolesdaughter on music as her healing space.
[34:00] Poppy Ajudha on the highs and lows of touring and live performances.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Being open about mental health can really help others relate. You are not alone.
Music and creativity can be a mental healing space for many.
Putting feelings into music and words can be a healing process and also help others heal too.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
42 min
May 10, 2022WARPAINT | Portrait
On this episode of LaunchLeft, Rain sits down with members of the band, Warpaint, Emily Kokal, and Theresa Wayman. Warpaint is an American Indie Rock band formed in 2004, including Jenny Lee Lindbergh and Stella Mozgawa. The band has released four studio albums, including Radiate Like This, which dropped May 6, 2022. Tune in to this episode as Rain, Emily, and Theresa talk about their album-making process, the impact of the pandemic on their tour, how they met as children through music, and what’s coming up next for them.
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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
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IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:00] Emily and Theresa talk about their new Album, Radiate Like This.
[09:00] How music has evolved in Emily and Theresa’s lives as their personal lives have changed and grown.
[16:00] How the pandemic impacted Emily and Theresa’s lives and music.
[23:00] The different experiences and energy Emily and Theresa get performing in certain places vs. others.
[32:00] Warpaint’s form of activism.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The pandemic gave Emily and Theresa some time to sit back and slow down with their music and helped give them the time they might not otherwise have.
As you grow within your personal life, it may affect your music and you should allow it to have new influence as it creates new points of view.
Bio:
Blending psych-rock, post-punk, dream pop, hip-hop, and more into a smoldering style all their own, Warpaint are one of indie's most acclaimed bands. Their 2008 debut EP, Exquisite Corpse, demonstrated their gifts for hazy sensuality and stripped-down arrangements, qualities they refined on 2010's full-length The Fool (which also marked the debut of powerhouse drummer Stella Mozgawa). From there, the band evolved with each release, whether they polished their sound and added electronics and hints of dub on 2014's self-titled album or gave their music more urgency with 2016's Heads Up. With 2022's Radiate Like This, Warpaint took another leap forward by bringing more clarity to their sound and highlighting their intuitive interplay.
Warpaint started work on their fourth album in early 2020, recording the foundations of its songs with engineer turned co-producer Sam Petts-Davies. When the COVID-19 global pandemic hit, the group's members worked on their own, recording their parts in their respective home studios. While the band created the album, Wayman released her second solo album, 2020's TT, and Warpaint performed a streaming acoustic concert in December 2020. They also released the April 2021 single "Lilys," which appeared in the HBO series Made for Love. Released in May 2022, Radiate Like This' tightly crafted songs reflected the time Warpaint spent honing the album. Around the time of its release, Lindberg issued her second solo album, Heart Tax, while Mozgawa and Boom Bip's project Belief debuted with the Versions EP.
RESOURCE LINKS
Warpaint
Warpaint on Instagram
Warpaint on Twitter
Warpaint on Facebook
Warpaint on YouTube
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
36 min
April 26, 2022LOLA KIRKE | Portrait
Lola Kirke is an English-born American actress and singer-songwriter. You may recognize her from the films Mistress America, Gone Girl and American Woman, and the television series Mozart in the Jungle. On this episode of LaunchLeft, Lola sits down with Rain to chat about her new album, Lady for Sale, set for release this month. Inspired by her love of 80’s country and her new roots in Nashville, Lola tells Rain all about her process of recording and releasing this album. Tune in to hear more from Lola!
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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
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IN THIS EPISODE:
[02:00] Lola talks about her record, Lady for Sale, and the inspiration behind it
[05:30] What’s next in terms of her music and film career
[10:30] Lola’s form of activism she is passionate about
[16:00] Lola talks about the ability to express creativity as an artist and making connections with others while staying true to herself
[21:00] How Lola got started with music
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Staying true to yourself and being creative can offer a gift you can share and relate to others.
Inspiration can come from many different genre’s and sources and you can use that as a reference point in your own form of art
Bio:
Lola Kirke stands out like a flash of neon magenta in this nostalgic landscape of Americana tin-types. While many of her singing, and songwriting peers look further back for inspiration, Kirke’s sweet spot is decidedly in the excess of the 80’s. Anyone only familiar with Kirke through her on-screen performances (Mistress America, Gone Girl, or Mozart in the Jungle) may be surprised by just how dazzling Lola-playing-Lola can be. Just a few lines into “Better than Any Drug,“ it’s clear no written role could reveal more of Kirke’s wit, lust for life, and sense of humor than this record captures with the help of producer Austin Jenkins (White Denim, Leon Bridges).
Scheduled for release in April 2022, the 10-song sophomore full-length album showcases Kirke’s unselfconscious, country-twinged vocals alongside a brightly colored candy shop of glam-twang guitar riffs, department store tv commercial synth stylings, and swooping, lilting, unabashedly feminine background vocals. Lady For Sale channels a high-spirited insouciance that feels invigorating and familiar, decidedly more easy-going and fun-loving than what we’ve come to expect from its genre (and the world in general) in recent years. This is a party you’ll want to attend.
RESOURCE LINKS
Lola Kirke Music
Lola Kirke on Instagram
Lola Kirke on Twitter
Lola Kirke on Facebook
Lola Kirke on YouTube
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 min
April 12, 2022DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL | Portrait
Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional has released their 9th studio album, All the Truth That I Can Tell. The album was worked on throughout their tour and also through the pandemic. Drawing inspiration by surrounding himself with other songwriters and artists, Chris worked on this album for an extended time before the release this past February. Hear more about his process and about how music has evolved in his life on this episode of LaunchLeft.
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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
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IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:00] Chris talks about working on All the Truth That I Can Tell, while on tour.
[09:30] Finding a creative company and how it helped inspire him.
[15:30] Chris’s form of activism in the community.
[22:00] Albums that Chris and Rain find timeless and relatable across generations.
[32:30] Chris shares about some new artists he’s worked with.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Songs aren’t always written in one sitting, sometimes they take weeks, months, or even years to be complete.
Finding inspiration can come from other artists of different media- whether it be songwriters, singers, or musicians. Chris found great influence from others while working on this album.
Many classic albums stay relatable and timeless across generations.
Bio:
Christopher Carrabba is the lead singer and guitarist of the band Dashboard Confessional, lead singer of the band Further Seems Forever, and is the vocalist for the folk band Twin Forks.
In February of 2022, Chris released All The Truth That I Can Tell, Dashboard Confessional’s ninth studio album.
RESOURCE LINKS
Dashboard Confessional Website
Dashboard Confessional Instagram
Dashboard Confessional Twitter
Dashboard Confessional Facebook
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
36 min
March 29, 2022BITCH | Portrait
Musical artist Bitch makes witchy poet pop using violins and synthesizers. Her new album Bitchcraft came out on Kill Rock Stars February 4th, 2022, and today she joins Rain to talk about her career as a queer music icon. This album being her ninth studio album, Bitch reflects on the evolution, notable collaborations, and journey of her career. She also expounds upon her hopes of what she'd like to portray in her music to her listeners and fans. Tune in to hear more from Rain and Bitch on this episode of LaunchLeft.
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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------
IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:00] Bitch talks about her evolution as a music artist.
[06:00] The experience Bitch had from touring and how it influenced her artistry
[14:00] Bitch talks about her online presence and upcoming tour
[24:00] Listen to Bitch’s song “Pages” from album, Bitchcraft
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Don’t be afraid to collaborate with other artists and have them put their own spin on things too.
Bio:
Bitch makes witchy poet pop. She does it with violins and synthesizers. The resulting songs from her new album Bitchcraft which came out on Kill Rock Stars February 4th, 2022 are heartbreaking, spectral, political and beautiful. Bitch is based in Los Angeles after living in New York for many years. She’s a longstanding queer music icon and “Bitchcraft” is her 9th studio album.
RESOURCE LINKS
Bitch Music
Bitch on Instagram
Bitch on Twitter
Bitch on Facebook
Bitch on YouTube
Bitch on Bandcamp
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29 min
March 15, 2022BAND OF HORSES
Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses joins Rain today on the podcast to talk all about going out on his own creatively and releasing his new album. Ben talks all about music, bands, and albums that influenced him from a young age and how that directed his own musical career. Tune in to hear more from Rain and Ben on this episode of LaunchLeft.
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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
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IN THIS EPISODE:
[04:00] Ben talks about going out on his own creatively and professionally
[08:00] Ben talks about how music found him at a young age
[14:00] Bands and records that influenced Ben’s teenage years
[18:00] Rain asks what Ben has done differently on this album compared to his others
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Having the confidence to pursue your own path may take some time, but believing in yourself and your message can help you feel like you need to share it with others.
It’s okay to pay homage to your influences, but don’t get too caught up in re-creating what they’ve already done! The key is in finding your own voice.
Creating art is often a journey of self-discovery, and it can be rewarding to see how your work has evolved over time. Be proud of where you’ve come from and let that reflect in your music.
RESOURCE LINKS
Band of Horses
Band of Horses on Instagram
Band of Horses on Twitter
Band of Horses on Facebook
Band of Horses on YouTube
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 min
March 01, 2022HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF launches Amelia Jackie
On this episode of LaunchLeft, Alynda Segarra of HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF, launches artist Amelia Jackie. Turning to music as a young kid, Alynda was inspired by Amelia’s songwriting to write songs and play their music. Alynda talks about how their move to New Orleans influenced many things in their lives and how it helped shape their life and music career. Stick around to the end to hear the song “All Around Town” from Amelia Jackie.
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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------
IN THIS EPISODE:
[1:15] Alynda talks about how they turned to music as a young kid and moving to New Orleans when leaving home
[11:00] Alynda talks about identifying as an adventurer and stepping out of themselves to finish projects and start a new chapter in life
[17:00] How Amelia Jackie inspired Alynda to write songs
[20:00] Rain introduces Amelia Jackie and talks about meeting Alynda
[28:00] Hear Amelia Jackie’s song, “All Around Town”
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Stepping out of your comfort zone can help start a new chapter in life as well as inspire projects and career paths. A new city can help to inspire those feelings.
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF LINKS:
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF
HFTRR on Wikipedia
HFTRR on Instagram
HFTRR on Twitter
HFTRR on Facebook
HFTRR on YouTube
AMELIA JACKIE LINKS:
Amelia Jackie
Amelia Jackie on Instagram
Amelia Jackie on Facebook
Amelia Jackie on Sound Cloud
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
33 min
February 22, 2022EPISODE REWIND | Black Violin
On today’s episode REWIND of LaunchLeft, Summer & Rain Phoenix get to talk with Kev Marcus and Wil B. of the musical duo, Black Violin. Kev and Wil B. are classically trained string instrumentalists who have combined classical music with hip-hop. Today, our guests share with us their musical influences, their goal for others to be inspired and active in the music community, and to help provide others with opportunities. Tune in to this episode and stick around to the end to hear a LIVE performance at Gold Diggers LA of one of their songs!
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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------
IN THIS EPISODE:
[03:00] Kevin & Wil B. of Black Violin, talk about their musical style and new album
[06:00] Kevin & Wil B. explain how they found music in their lives, studying classical music, & how they decided to marry classical music with hip hop
[13:00] The musical influences in their lives that have inspired their music
[21:00] How the duo’s music creates common ground among people
[26:00] Kevin & Wil B. share how their hope to inspire others
[37:00] How they use their artistry as a form of activism
[40:34] Listen to a LIVE song from their latest album
LINKS:
https://blackviolin.net
https://www.instagram.com/blackviolin/
https://www.facebook.com/BlackViolinMusic/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC13qVNV7MWSB54MegD5C19w
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
45 min
February 08, 2022SPOON launches Andrew Cashen
Spoon’s tenth album, Lucifer on the Sofa, is the band’s newest record to date. Texas-made, it is the first set of songs that the quintet has put to tape in its hometown of Austin in more than a decade. Today, Britt Daniel sits down to chat with Rain about the band's upcoming tour, how music found him, recording their new album and even some 4 track nostalgia! Stay tuned till the end as Britt launches Andrew Cashen and discusses their recent collaborations.
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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------

IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:00] Britt talks about recording Spoon’s new album, Lucifer on the Sofa
[07:00] Rain and Britt chat the upcoming tour for their new album
[09:00] Britt’s journey with music starting at a young age and learning the bass
[16:00] Rain and Britt discuss the recording process and editing
[20:00] Britt introduces artist Andrew Cashen

LaunchLeft SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Exclusively today on our YouTube channel, the legendary George Clinton of Parliament - Funkadelic. Watch this full video conversion with P-Funk’s Clinton for the first time and don’t miss the end as he’s launching 3GP aka 3 generations of P-Funk, the group that includes himself alongside his daughter and grandaughter. We reach him at his home in Florida for this very special episode chock full of wild stories from his life on the road and many otherworldly experiences.
Haunted Summer’s pre-save link is live.
We are happy to share about our new label artist Haunted Summer and celebrate by posting the pre-save of their first single You Put My Love Out the Door a Daniel Johnston cover) streaming everywhere Valentine’s Day. Did you know PRE SAVES allow more streaming algorithms to detect the release, which translate into streams on release day…?
We appreciate your support. PLEASE PRE SAVE TODAY!

SPOON LINKS:
https://spoontheband.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_(band)
https://www.instagram.com/spoontheband/
https://twitter.com/spoontheband
https://www.facebook.com/spoontheband
https://www.youtube.com/user/spoontheband
https://soundcloud.com/spoontheband

ANDREW CASHEN LINKS:
https://www.agiantdog.com/newwp/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Giant_Dog
https://www.instagram.com/agiantdog/ ; https://www.instagram.com/andrewcashen/
https://www.facebook.com/agiantdog ; https://www.facebook.com/andrewcashenmusic/
https://twitter.com/agiantdog ; https://twitter.com/andrewcashen
https://agiantdog.bandcamp.com ; https://andrewcashen.bandcamp.com
BIO:
Spoon’s tenth album, Lucifer on the Sofa, is the band’s purest rock ’n roll record to date. Texas-made, it is the first set of songs that the quintet has put to tape in its hometown of Austin in more than a decade. Written and recorded over the last two years – both in and out of lockdown – these songs mark a shift toward something louder, wilder, and more full-color.
From the detuned guitars anchoring “The Hardest Cut,” to the urgency of “Wild," to the band’s blown-out cover of the Smog classic “Held,” Lucifer on the Sofa bottles the physical thrill of a band tearing up a packed room. It’s an album of intensity and intimacy, where the music’s harshest edges feel as vivid as the directions quietly murmured into the mic on the first-take. According to frontman Britt Daniel, “It’s the sound of classic rock as written by a guy who never did get Eric Clapton.”
While Spoon’s last album, Hot Thoughts (2017), bristled with drum machines, synths, and astral moods, the nonstop touring that followed in its wake tugged the band back toward a stripped-down sound. “I liked where we’d gone on Hot Thoughts – it had a specific style and it covered new ground for us – but we kept noticing on the road that the live versions of the songs were beating the album versions,” says Daniel. “And it got us thinking”.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 min
January 25, 2022US GIRLS launches Dottie.Imax
On this episode of LaunchLeft, Rain is joined by Meg Remy of US Girls to talk about life, art, music, authenticity and her connections to humanity and the world through her music. Rain shares a dream about water which leads to discussions about the planet and shared life experiences. Stay tuned at the end of the episode as Meg launches artist Dottie Imax on the podcast, and they talk about their art and collaborations. Listen to this episode to learn more from Rain, Meg, and Dottie. And be sure to look out for U.S. Girls sublime cover Born in a Prison from the tribute album Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono coming February 18th.
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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------

IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:51] Meg from US girls talks about her dedication to authenticity
[09:29] Rain and Meg discuss the lost appreciation of our shared humanity
[14:10] Meg’s experience as a mom
[19:23] Dottie joins Meg and Rain on the podcast to chat art and how they met and know each other
[22:11] Dottie talks about her work and collaborations
LINKS:
U.S. GIRLS LINKS:
https://yousgirls.blogspot.com/
https://www.instagram.com/usgirls.and.remy
https://twitter.com/yousgirls
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh0oPo8AHsibYz9p0CWJhNw
https://soundcloud.com/usgirls
DOTTIE.IMAX LINKS:
https://imaxdottie.storenvy.com
https://www.instagram.com/dottie.imax/
https://soundcloud.com/dottieimax
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26 min

About LaunchLeft

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LaunchLeft is a music discovery podcast where famed creatives launch emerging artists. Hosted by Rain Phoenix you can expect in-depth conversations with well-known musicians discussing…