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This week’s hometowns include a murder saw and the Kentucky meat shower.

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I have been deeply moved and shifted by Britt East‘s A Gay Man’s Guide to Life, and I am so grateful to have had the chance to chat with him here. I’m especially happy that I get to share that conversation with you. This book is the instruction manual for living life as a gay man I wish I had been handed when I was an adolescent, but I’m so glad it’s in the world now! I know you are going to love this conversation about living our lives fully, balancing awareness of privilege and adversity, coming of age in the shadow of AIDS, and so much more!

Britt East is an author and speaker who uses his experiences to challenge and inspire change-oriented gay men to get down to the business of improving their lives. His new book, A Gay Man’s Guide to Life, is a resource for gay men who’ve experienced societal homophobia – at home, in school, in the workplace, and even within the gay community – to put in the work to live their best lives. This isn’t new-age mumbo jumbo or wishy-washy self-help jargon, but thoughtful dialogue that anyone in the LGBTQ+ community will find value in.

Follow Britt East on Twitter, and Instagram.

This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! This week’s bonus podcast will be an extended interview with Britt East where we chat where we discuss a bit about how to keep engaging with the world as homebodies who might be getting a little too comfortable with quarantine life. Learn more right here!

If you’d like to check out my other work, order The Animal Book directly from me here and get a free download of the album!Here are some other places you can find the book.Find The Animal Album streaming and downloadable here.Here’s some more merch and music.

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Karen and Georgia answer your summertime questions in quarantine.

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I’m Michael Harren. I’m a composer, pianist, electronic musician, storyteller and activist based in New York City. I’m the host of the MikeyPod podcast, known for finding and showcasing talented, yet to be discovered artists and creators. Every Monday I interview a new guest and explore their inspiring  stories of the courage, passion, and struggles they’ve faced while bringing their visions to life.

Since the podcast started in 2005, I’ve talked to countless musicians, performers, filmmakers, animators, authors, and activist. I’ve documented my times as a touring artists, as well as my various activist adventures and even my time living on a commune in rural georgia.

Expect a new 30-40 minute episode every Monday, I invite you to pour a warm drink, grab a notebook (in case inspiration strikes!), curl up with your favorite blanket or four-legged family member, and prepare to be moved by conversations about how artists use their creativity to quite literally change the world.

Find me in your favorite podcast app, or swing by mikeypod.comSee you there!

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Join me on Patreon and get access to this bonus content along with tons of other sweet perks!To view this content, you must be a member of Michael Harren’s Patreon at $5 or more – Click “Read more” to unlock this content at the source

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This week’s hometowns include a mysterious murder and a paranormal rescue story.

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Mr. Hip is BACK! Donald Vincent returns to talk about his new poetry collection, Convenient Amnesia. It’s always a blast chatting with Hip, and this conversation ranks as one of our best. We discuss his work, its inspiration, and he leans a bit on his experience in emergency management to share some tips about how to navigate these times of COVID.

Donald Vincent received his BA in Writing and Public Relations at Loyola University Maryland and MFA in Poetry from Emerson College. He is also known as Mr. Hip, a music recording artist with music available on all streaming platforms. His music projects include Vegan Paradise (2018), Who Is Mr. Hip (2018), International Hip (2017), and Jokes From My Ex (2015). He teaches English Composition at UCLA and Visual & Media Arts at Emerson College Los Angeles. Originally from the Southeast sector of Washington, DC, he currently lives in Los Angeles.

Music:The Recipe – Mr. HipOld School Hip – Mr. Hip

Follow Donald Vincent on Twitter, and Instagram.Grab a copy of Donald’s book here.Get all of his music here.

This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes. This week’s bonus podcast will be an extended interview with Donald Vincent along with some exclusive recordings of his poems. Learn more right here!

If you’d like to check out my other work, order The Animal Book directly from me here and get a free download of the album!Here are some other places you can find the book.Find The Animal Album streaming and downloadable here.Here’s some more merch and music.

As promised, here are Donald’s “quick tips to help you through the panic in an overzealous information age.”Be prepared. Don’t panic: This is easier said than done. Make sure you have your necessities at home. Create a checklist of what you truly need. What you don’t have, try to order online to stay away from large crowds at the store. If you must go, then only buy what you need. It has been confirmed that there currently isn’t a shortage of food and supplies. Wash your hands and take the necessary precautions. Read trusted sources for information gathering. Feel free to use your discretion with “trusted news sources.” Don’t expect full transparency from the Feds. For all we know, at worst, this could be biological warfare with foreign countries or at best a hoax on part of the government. Either way, trust your instincts and be smart. Wait to watch the news. While I sat and wrote this, my phone alerted me 6 different times from multiple different sources about COVID-19. Choose a time on a 6 hour interval, 4 if you’re not the anxious type, and only watch the news then. If you’re checking the news every 60 seconds, you’re not living your best life. Try to be in the present as namaste as that sounds. Check on your neighbors. We’re all in this together. If you don’t know them, now is the perfect time to introduce yourself. Watch out for scams. Be weary of donations and requests for your private information. Be adaptable and flexible with any changes. Whether it be work, working out, or your hobbies, it won’t last for a long time.

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Karen and Georgia cover the Zoot Suit Riots and the 1976 Chowchilla bus kidnapping.

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