Kayla E. joins The Truth In This Art to discuss Precious Rubbish.
Kayla E. (award-winning artist, Creative Director at Fantagraphics, 2023–2024 Princeton Hotter Fellow) joins Rob Lee to discuss her debut full-length graphic memoir, Precious Rubbish.
An award-winning artist whose practice spans comics and fine art—textiles, sculpture, video performance art, painting, and drawing—Kayla E. brings candid, instinct-driven storytelling about life, family, and making work on her own terms.
In this episode, Kayla E. shares the story behind Precious Rubbish—why she made it for herself with no plan to publish, how every decision was guided by pure instinct, and how the book’s distinctive color palette was lifted from vintage “Komic Kards.”
The conversation also digs into audience and context: setting aside what’s proper, traditional, or would sell; focusing on truth over convention; and connecting the memoir to a broader art practice across mediums. It’s about how comics and fine art can hold difficult life stories while inviting readers to look closer.
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Make the conversation count: read Precious Rubbish—grab it from your library, Amazon, or thriftbooks.com. Kayla E.'s graphic memoir stays true to lived experience, trusts instinct, and turns memory into art without sanding off its edges.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Professional film curator and educator KJ Mohr returns to The Truth In This Art to talk about the Maryland Film Festival (MdFF) and Baltimore’s indie film scene at the SNF Parkway!
In the conversation we explore the 2025 Maryland Film Festival (MdFF)—what’s new, including the amazing new website and Festival Journeys—what still matters, and how a festival can truly feel like home. As director of the Festival and year-round programming, KJ shares how listening to instinct and inviting many voices into the process shape a lineup that feels authentically Baltimore and true to independent film. A large, local screening committee helps build the program from the ground up, and the Parkway’s communal vibe keeps people talking long after the credits roll. From indie film discoveries to community-centered conversations, MdFF 2025 champions Baltimore’s film scene at the SNF Parkway.
Festival Journeys: Four clear entry points—MdFF Pride (like I Was Born This Way), Black Voices (like Sun Ra: Do the Impossible and Kouté vwa), She/They (like Bay to Baltimore featuring ultramarathon open‑water swimmer and painter—and Truth in This Art alum—Katie Pumphrey), and WTF (like Fuck Toys)—to help audiences navigate with ease.
CineTech: Free-with-registration demos and conversations highlighting gaming and interactive, choose‑your‑own‑adventure storytelling, expanding how audiences experience moving images and connect across creative communities.
Student Films: Expanded to five days to make more room for student work, with student and local films threaded through most programs—spotlighting the next wave of filmmakers.
Mission and SNF Parkway’s future: A welcoming home base where films, filmmakers, and audiences connect—an inclusive, community‑rooted space that reflects Baltimore while linking to the wider film world.
Join us at the SNF Parkway for a robust week of programming—screenings, shorts, conversations, and in‑the‑room moments—and, most of all, a chance to be in community with Baltimore’s arts, film, and culture, and the independent film community that calls the SNF Parkway home. Explore the new website, pick a Journey, and come be part of it.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Chill or Be Chilled. Let's Watch It Again is back!
Rob Lee is joined by Lea Anderson to discuss the 1995 cult classic Tales from the Hood!
Tales from the Hood (1995) is a Black horror anthology directed by Rusty Cundieff, framed by a late-night visit to a funeral home where a mortician guides three men through four supernatural morality tales addressing police brutality, domestic abuse, racism, and gang violence.
In this retrospective, host Rob Lee and horror scholar Lea Anderson (Truth in This Art alum; FANGORIA columnist, SHUDDER contributor) examine the film’s construction, cultural context, and legacy in Black horror.
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Check out the episode on the Let's Watch It Again Feed
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Genesis Rodriguez joins The Truth in This Art for her first public deep-dive into her work and process.
A Philadelphia-area Latina mixed media artist known for blending bold color with striking realism, Genesis explores themes of femininity, natural beauty, and identity while bringing a thoughtful “emotional IQ” to both her visual art and emerging music practice.
In this episode, Genesis discusses her current “building era” of laying a strong creative foundation, what it means to engage with art beyond surface-level reposting, and how honesty and integrity shape the work. She also reflects on sharing her story for the first time, navigating visibility as an emerging artist, and the value of choosing depth over aesthetics.
This conversation explores the connection between art and community, focusing on authenticity, meaningful engagement, and the discipline it takes to build a sustainable creative practice.
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Thank you for listening to this conversation with Genesis Rodriguez. Explore more episodes of The Truth in This Art for discussions that spotlight creativity, culture, and the voices shaping our communities.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Sean 'SK' Kinsey returns for his second appearance on The Truth in This Art!
A Philadelphian visual artist known for blending a fine art sensibility with a street art aesthetic, Kinsey shares his thoughts on the power of art to reflect identity, honor community roots, and connect cultures in Philadelphia, the city that has shaped much of his work.
In this episode, Kinsey discusses how his North and Uptown Philadelphia upbringing influences his art, the lessons he carries from his creative practice, and the role that painting and urban art play in honoring untold stories. He also reflects on the joys and challenges of being an artist, cultivating consistency without burnout, embracing creative independence beyond labels, and his ongoing efforts to inspire and uplift the next generation.
This conversation explores the connection between art and culture in Philadelphia, focusing on resilience, representation, and the ways that urban art—bridging fine and street traditions—serves as a powerful expression of truth and community.
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🎨 Don't miss this! If you're moved by Kinsey's words, come experience his work in person at his upcoming solo exhibition:
Sean Kinsey Art & Underrated Achievers Brand Presents:
GIVE YOURSELF FLOWERS
A Solo Art Show Featuring Works of Sean 'SK' Kinsey
🗓 November 15, 2025
🕔 5 PM – 9 PM
📍 Urban Art Gallery (Top Level)
262 S 52nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139
Celebrate creativity, resilience, and self-love through bold, expressive works that honor untold stories and the beauty of growth.
Give yourself flowers — you deserve them.
👉 Mark your calendar. Bring a friend. Be inspired.
Thank you for joining this insightful conversation with Sean 'SK' Kinsey. Be sure to explore more episodes of The Truth in This Art for discussions that spotlight creativity, culture, and the voices shaping Philadelphia’s unique narrative.
Photo courtesy of guest. Interview recorded live in Philadelphia, PA.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Ernest Shaw returns for his second appearance on The Truth in This Art!
A renowned muralist and educator, Shaw shares his thoughts on the power of art to reflect identity, preserve community history, and connect generations in Baltimore, the city that has shaped much of his work.
In this episode, Shaw discusses how his West Baltimore upbringing influences his art, the lessons he carries from his family, and the role murals play in honoring untold stories. He also reflects on the joys and challenges of being an artist and educator, as well as his ongoing efforts to inspire and uplift the next generation.
This conversation explores the connection between art and culture in Baltimore, focusing on resilience, representation, and the ways that murals serve as powerful expressions of truth and community.
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Thank you for joining this insightful conversation with Ernest Shaw. Be sure to explore more episodes of The Truth in This Art for more discussions that spotlight creativity, culture, and the voices shaping Baltimore's unique narrative.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Zina Verduzco joins The Truth in This Art to explore how AI and digital innovation are transforming community and entrepreneurship for small businesses in Baltimore and beyond.
With deep expertise across marketing, branding, and emerging technologies, Verduzco shares her journey from museum work to leading-edge digital marketing and AI development. She offers practical insights into helping local businesses adapt to the evolving online landscape—emphasizing the power of authenticity, strategic storytelling, and creative use of digital tools.
Verduzco discusses the challenges and opportunities facing small business entrepreneurs today, from building a strong digital presence to navigating rapid changes in technology. For Verduzco, embracing the future means empowering communities, diversifying revenue, and using digital platforms to connect, uplift, and inspire.
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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Bmore Transform and Baltimore’s Graphic Novel Festival take center stage in this episode of The Truth in This Art. Guests Gab Sussman and Victoria Lebrón share how they are reshaping education and community through Bmore Transform’s abolitionist, decolonizing approach and the city’s premier Graphic Novel Fest—celebrating sequential art, uplifting Queer and BIPOC creators, and advancing arts and literacy education across Baltimore.
Sussman and Lebrón reflect on the powerful role graphic novels play in engaging young readers, making literacy accessible, and fostering a love of storytelling. They discuss their work with Bmore Transform—an initiative dedicated to decolonizing education and supporting youth through creative programming, professional learning, and book clubs—highlighting how centering community and equity transforms classrooms and learning outcomes.
The conversation explores how the Graphic Novel Fest was born from a passion for comics and a desire to create a celebratory, dignified space for visual storytelling in Baltimore. For Sussman and Lebrón, education means building community, championing inclusivity, and helping every young person find their voice through the arts—work exemplified by Bmore Transform and Baltimore’s Graphic Novel Festival.
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Baltimore’s very own Graphic Novel Festival
SAVE THE DATE: October 4, 2025
📍400 S Higland Ave, Baltimore
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Baltimore artist Akio Evans returns to The Truth in This Art for his second appearance, tracing his evolution from hobbyist customizer to full-time artist and self-defined shoe muralist. Evans shares how he moved beyond “customs” into shoe murals—wearable art that tells stories, carries meaning, and can move people to tears—by centering intention, integrity, and community in every piece.
Evans breaks down what changed in his mindset and practice to go pro, why he turned down copycat requests to protect his artistic voice, and how notable commissions (including work connected to Dave Chappelle) helped validate his path. Evans also opens up about building capacity through workshops, collaborating across generations, and taking on large-scale projects (like airbrushing dozens of pairs for an Apple TV production tied to a Kevin Durant scene) while staying true to the purpose behind the work.
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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Chef Chris Amendola of foraged. a hyper-seasonal eatery returns to The Truth in This Art, joining the rarified air as one of just a handful of three-time guests.
Amendola shares his journey as an executive chef and restaurant owner, revealing how embracing change and curiosity keeps his creative vision fresh in the kitchen. He discusses building community at Forged and now at Forged at Black Ankle Vineyard, highlighting the power of hyper-seasonal cooking and sustainable sourcing.
Amendola reflects on lessons learned as both leader and creator—from taking risks with late-night cocktails to dreaming of a restaurant on a farm—and explains how he balances science and soul to craft memorable dining experiences. For Amendola, creative evolution means saying yes to opportunity and letting passion shape everything from menus to mentorship.
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Get a taste at forgedeatery.com and follow @forged.eatery on Instagram for the latest culinary updates and special events.
Chris Amendola, chef-owner of foraged. Photo courtesy of foraged.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Laiya St. Clair joins The Truth in This Art to share how she crafts culture from behind the mic as a celebrated radio and podcast personality, producer, and voice artist.
St. Clair reflects on her transition from radio to the world of podcasting, exploring how her experiences in DC, Philly, and Baltimore continue to inspire her work. She discusses her passion for amplifying Black stories and voices, and how creative collaborations drive her career—from co-hosting award-winning shows like Questlove Supreme and J.I.L. to managing the St. Clair Collection featuring her father’s photography.
St. Clair details what it means to build lasting community through honest storytelling, and highlights how multi-disciplinary artistry helps to break barriers for Black creators in media. For St. Clair, being a “radio girl turned podcast producer” is about keeping conversations real, joyful, and deeply connected.
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Explore more of St. Clair’s work at stclaircollection.com and follow @laiyasworld on Instagram for updates, conversation, and cultural inspiration.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Will Walker, founder of A Tribe Called Run, joins the podcast.
Walker shares his personal journey from Cleveland to Baltimore, reflecting on how both cities' blue-collar spirit informs his approach to building community through running. A Tribe Called Run creates space for accessible runs, fitness events, and coaching, welcoming newcomers and experienced athletes alike.
Walker discusses the power of group running in forming authentic connections, improving health, and breaking down barriers. Through stories from the group and his own experience, Walker explores how running supports well-being and belonging, especially in urban environments.
Walker talks about balancing professional life with community leadership, and returning to “blog era” roots to foster deeper discussion about fitness, nutrition, and motivation. He shares practical ways listeners can get started or get involved, and the importance of representation and support in fitness spaces.
For Walker, movement is about more than exercise—it’s how we move toward each other.
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Learn more and join A Tribe Called Run at atribecalledrun.org, on Instagram or Facebook @atribecalledrun, or follow Will at water_n_oxygen on Instagram. Find community, and let your next run connect you.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Lead actor Chinai Routté and director Paige Hernandez return to The Truth in This Art to illuminate Everyman Theatre’s production of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson.
Routté shares the transformative experience of portraying Berniece, the play’s powerful central character, and how her own life informs the role’s emotional depth. Hernandez opens up about the responsibility and honor of being one of the few women to direct an August Wilson work, reflecting on why this representation deeply matters in the American theater landscape.
Together, they reveal the enduring impact of The Piano Lesson—exploring its themes of family, memory, and legacy, and discussing how Wilson’s storytelling continues to spark dialogue and unity in Baltimore and beyond. Their conversation uncovers the creative process, the challenges, and the joys of bringing this essential story to the stage.
For Routté and Hernandez , The Truth in This Art is a space to share what it means to honor history, create change, and inspire community—one performance at a time.
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Experience the play’s impact at everymantheatre.org and follow @everymantheatre on Instagram for tickets, updates, and behind-the-scenes stories.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Executive Director of Small Press Expo (SPX), Warren Bernard, returns to The Truth In This Art podcast.
Bernard shares insights into how planning, innovation, and community shape the road to SPX 2025. He reflects on the unique challenges and opportunities ahead, discussing how the evolving comics landscape and creative partnerships are driving the festival’s next chapter. Bernard’s work blends organizing, relationship-building, and artist support, bridging creators and audiences as SPX gears up for its milestone year.
Bernard discusses fresh approaches to programming, strategic outreach to new artists and organizations, and the dynamic energy behind SPX’s continued relevance. He talks about strengthening connections with fans and collaborators, using trust and authentic engagement to keep the festival vibrant and resilient. Bernard offers a behind-the-scenes look at how SPX adapts to shifts in the comics world and prepares to celebrate independent voices in 2025.
Bernard explores the importance of balancing tradition and innovation, supporting sustainable creative growth, and building spaces where artists thrive. For him, SPX 2025 represents both celebration and creative challenge, powered by local community, long-term partnerships, and a shared love for comics.
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Ready for the next chapter of SPX? Follow @spxcomics on Instagram or visit www.smallpressexpo.com to discover the latest updates, artist news, and future events.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Musician, Creative Consultant, and Band Leader Raymond J. Spence joins the podcast.
Spence shares how growing up in Baltimore shapes his approach to music, creative consulting, and community building. Spence’s work bridges performing, teaching, and guiding artists through the early stages of their creative journeys.
Spence discusses how collaborating across disciplines and organizations fuels Baltimore’s creative boom. He talks about helping both artists and businesses develop strategies, build portfolios, and jumpstart new ideas. Spence details blending hands-on art with consulting, and how both require trust, accountability, and authentic self-reflection.
Spence explores the realities of being a creative entrepreneur now. He shares navigating growth, balancing inspiration with pressure, and using discipline as the foundation for success. For Spence, creativity is both celebration and challenge, shaped by family, local networks, and the evolution of his Storage Unit Collective. Spence uses his experience to advocate for sustainable artistry and meaningful connection.
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Ready to see Spence’s creative world? Follow @spence_start on Instagram or visit www.spencestart.com to connect and explore upcoming events, music, and more.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Writer, curator, and editor-in-chief of UP Magazine, T.K. Mills returns to the podcast.
Mills shares how living in New York City shapes his writing, curatorial practice, and editorial leadership at UP Magazine. UP Magazine is the urban art publication he founded and leads. Mills discusses how UP Magazine gives a platform to street artists and storytellers covers graffiti culture while documents the creativity found throughout city neighborhoods.
Mills talks about building community and the impact of current events and city life on the artists he works with and features in the magazine. He reflects on balancing running an independent publication and fostering collaboration.
For Mills, art and journalism work together to strengthen connections across the creative world.
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Discover Mills’s work with UP Magazine at upmag.com or follow @t.k.m85 on Instagram.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Artist and Arts in Health Specialist Zoë Lintzeris joins the podcast.
Lintzeris shares how life in Baltimore and beyond informs her visual art practice. Lintzeris' work explores themes of love, loss, and resistance within both urban and rural settings.
Lintzeris discusses how current events shape her work, and how art helps her process personal and collective emotions. She talks about using photography and painting as tools to examine the human experience and foster community.
Lintzeris explores the realities of being an artist now. Lintzeris shares navigating competition, maintaining authentic expression, and building local support. For Lintzeris, art blends self-discovery with advocacy. Lintzeris uses creative work to spark meaningful conversations about life’s challenges.
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Ready to see Lintzeris’s creative world? Visit www.zoelintzeris.com or follow @zlintz on Instagram to view her work and stay connected.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Aspiring podcaster and artist M’Balou Camara interviews me for a special Maryland Art Summit 2025 recording.
M’Balou is a former student, current colleague, and emerging podcaster preparing to launch “The Heart Reflex,” highlighting voices of the African diaspora in the arts.
Our conversation—recorded live at Prince George’s Community College—explores our journey from a classroom connection at UMBC to ongoing collaboration, mutual mentorship, and co-leadership in the creative community.
I share insights from my nearly 20 years as a podcaster and host of “The Truth in This Art,” focusing on the value of storytelling, reciprocity, and building a living archive for Baltimore’s creative voices.
We discuss how authentic conversations, trust, and relational support are central to my approach as a host and educator. I break down strategies for fostering access, avoiding gatekeeping, and sustaining creative independence amid funding challenges.
Audience questions spark a discussion on practical advice for new podcasters, evolving media formats, and lessons learned from both successes and setbacks.
We close with a rapid-fire “reflex round,” reflecting on curiosity, inspiration, and the role of freedom in creative work.
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📍
Discover more at thetruthinthisart.com or follow me on Instagram.
Stay tuned for M’Balou Camara’s upcoming podcast “The Heart Reflex”.
📸 credit @teencudi
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Artist, poet, and climate justice advocate Neha Misra joins The Truth In This Art podcast.
Misra shares how growing up in India, studying physics, and her cultural roots shape her creative work. Misra's art blends visual art, poetry, and climate justice activism.
Misra discusses how reclaiming creativity helped her navigate periods of loss and anxiety. Misra shares her belief in art as an essential force for healing, resilience, and connection. She talks about finding inspiration in nature and using art bring people together and inspire hope. Misra shares her experience sharing vulnerable work and why creativity matters for everyone.
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Ready to experience Neha Misra’s creative world?
Visit www.nehamisrastudio.com or follow @nehamisrastudio on Instagram.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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Artist Kiara-Maribel Rivera joins the podcast. In this conversation, Rivera reflects on how her family’s migration and history shaped her identity and her creative work. She shares how her mother’s careful habit of saving photos, report cards, and awards helped her feel connected to her roots. Rivera discusses using art to examine memory, family archives, and the fragments of stories lost along the way. Rivera talks about the challenges of adapting to new places and navigating art school. Rivera describes learning how to preserve and honor the past while creating something new. Rivera opens up about the care needed when working with personal and family records, and how art becomes a way to explore belonging and heritage.
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Curious to discover more? Follow Kiara’s creative work and journey online.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
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