Today I’m sitting down with author + poet Christopher Cipollini (for the second time o the podcast!) to celebrate the release of his third book, Pantheon: A Cathedral of the Mind — out Nov 30 (visit our website!).We got into everything — the weird alchemy of creativity, how a home reflects the artist living in it, the people who spark our best work, and why the kids absolutely are still into poetry… they just engage with it differently than we did growing up.We talked about modern music borrowing from poetry, why good art never really ages, and how authenticity is the only thing that actually connects.There’s also the reality check: in 2025, artists are fighting distractions, algorithms, and the ongoing struggle to protect their own work. Fun times.But the big thread running through the whole conversation?Community.How much it matters.How much it lifts.How it keeps artists afloat when everything else gets loud.If you’re into creativity, poetry, music, or just listening to two humans geek out about the things that make life less… beige — this one’s for you.🖤 LV(link in bio)

EP34 — Music, Memory & the Chaos of Growing Up (and Listening Closely)I welcome Anuj Rajkumar (again! - he lowkey is a regular at this point!) of The Legends of Music IG, where he has 1.2 MILLION followers watching him post about music he loves,This episode was originally two separate recordings — not because of anything artistic, but because I spent a solid half hour talking into the wrong mic like an absolute professional. Meanwhile, my audio engineer/producer/intern Desmond (yes, that Desmond) completely forgot to show up. So… we stitched the sessions together. It works. Don’t worry about it.In this episode, Anuj and I wander through family dynamics, generational sass-trauma, academic burnout, cultural expectations, and how emotional expression gets shaped by the households we grew up in. Humor becomes survival, pressure becomes disinterest, and somehow we still turn out semi-functional.We talk about the evolution of the music scene, how social media watered down a lot of the magic, and how personal connections around music still build some of the deepest conversations. Concert culture gets its spotlight too — especially the audience dynamics at a recent Guns N’ Roses show and how different regions have wildly different concert etiquette. (Some crowds are reverent. Some crowds… should be studied.)We go into the emotional weight music carries, why certain songs crack you open, and how AI is quietly reshaping music discovery. Through it all, the common thread is the same: music connects us — to people, to moments, to versions of ourselves we forgot were there.If you’ve ever bonded with someone over a song, felt your soul leave your body at a live show, or grown up in a family where “I love you” was translated as “don’t get smart with me”… this episode will feel familiar.Sayonara Cupcake is a non-monetized community for music + art lovers. Share/follow if you vibe. 🫶link in bio or visit www.sayonaracupcake.comFAIR USE NOTICE (17 U.S. Code § 107)All audio, visual, and musical excerpts referenced or included in this episode are used strictly for educational, commentary, analysis, criticism, and cultural discussion purposes.Sayonara Cupcake does not monetize its podcast, channels, or social platforms in any way.All rights remain with their respective owners. This content does not claim ownership, does not replace the original work, and does not impact market value.If you are a rights holder and would like proper credit, correction, or removal, please contact us.#sayonaracupcake #musicpodcast #concertstories

NEW EPISODE 🎙️ — Time Travel, Neutrinos, Dreams & the Fine Art of Staying Sane....AND you're not crazy, I am posting episodes out of order right now just based on variety of factors....This week it’s me and Desmond (my audio engineer/producer/intern/chaos co-pilot), and we cover… well, everything. Wellness, water therapy, time travel paradoxes, neutrinos just vibing through reality, dreams that probably say more about us than we want to admit, and how to stay emotionally intact when the news feels like a doom buffet.We get into why mobility matters more as we age, why recovery is the real MVP of fitness, and how genetics and height secretly bully all of us. We talk early music memories, how going from CDs to digital scrambled our attention spans, and why independent artists still get squeezed even in 2025.And somewhere in there: humor, coping, teachers who change your life, and why the way we spend money always exposes our value system… even when we pretend it doesn’t.Basically: it’s a conversation that pinballs around the universe but still lands on the one thing that matters — understanding ourselves enough to stay human in a weird, loud world.Sayonara Cupcake is a community for music + art lovers. We share stories, poetry, music, breadcrumbs to explore… and we don’t monetize. ✌️• This post falls under fair use (17 u.s. code § 107) for educational and commentary purposes.• All rights remain with their respective owners.• Please share or follow if you dig 🫶• Hit the link in bio or visit www.sayonaracupcake.com#sayonaracupcake #podcast #newpodcast #wellnessjourney #mobilitytraining #recoverymatters #timetravelparadox #neutrinos #dreamanalysis #mentalhealthcommunity #creativeminds #musicindustrytalk #indieartists #cdtolivestream #digitalage #emotionalwellbeing #humorheals #artistcommunity #mindbodyconnection #fitnessover40 #realitycheck #deeptalks #poetrymusicart

In this episode, I sat down with a dear old friend and archaeologist, Sara Dowds, and we covered everything from high school reunions to cranial deformation… no, seriously. We talked about growing up, the weird pull of nostalgia, and how driving around with the windows down still feels like freedom. We got into nature, birdwatching, and the joy of just being outside and paying attention.Sara shared her background in archaeology—especially her time in Peru—and how being in those ancient spaces made her feel energy that’s hard to explain but impossible to ignore. We talked about textiles as currency, indigenous brilliance when it came to the environment, and how storytelling helps keep lost knowledge alive. There’s this moment where she reflects on cranial shaping not as something "weird" but as deeply cultural and purposeful. It made me think about how often we judge the past through a modern lens and how wrong that can be.We also spiraled into spirituality, experimental archaeology, and how globalization’s flattening out nuance—and erasing entire identities while it’s at it. Music came up, of course… because it always does with me. It’s the thread that ties us to memory, to each other.At the heart of it all, this episode is about curiosity—about honoring mystery, asking better questions, and making space for both science and spirit. It's about remembering that growth comes from listening… and that the night sky still has more to teach us if we’re paying attention.#podcast #storytellingpodcast #archaeology #ancienthistory #peru #indigenouswisdom #spiritualjourney #naturelover #birdwatchinglife #communitybuilding #healingjourney #empathylens #astrologycommunity #nightskyphotography #criticalthinking #lifelonglearning #personalnarratives #curiositydriven #experimentalarchaeology #shamanicwisdom #generationalhealing #musicandculture #culturalidentity #changemakers #nostalgiatrip #friendshipgoals #spiritualpodcast #explorationmindset #historicalperspective #mindfulconversation #sayonaracupcake

i discovered poet christopher cipollini after he left a comment on a post… and like any curious human, i clicked. what i found wasn’t just someone who wrote beautiful words—he spoke them. regularly. with heart, grit, and rhythm. so of course, i had to invite him on. what started as a convo about music and poetry turned into something deeper— we talked about the evolution of music discovery, the struggles artists face in a world that consumes but rarely compensates, and how performance poetry can crack something wide open—both for the artist and the listener. chris shares his journey from visual art to spoken word, and we both reflect on how childhood soundtracks shape us… how art, when it’s real, always finds its people… and how finding your voice can be one of the most liberating things a person can do. unscripted. personal. communal. this one’s for the artists, the overthinkers, and the ones still trying to make sense of the noise.

🎙️ new episode of sayonara cupcake w/ christopher cipollini 🖤 hosted by lv

(according to his official bio on amazon: chris cipollini is a writer, artist, and spoken word poet originally from ventura, california. he’s been captivated by the surreal, the majestic, and the arcane since a young age. his work has taken him from hollywood to seattle, to europe—blending poetry, performance, photography, and travel. he’s the author of the musings and the secret kingdom, and has contributed to publications like the desert observer, downtown zen, and french quarter magazine.)

#sayonaracupcake #spokenwordpoetry #musicdiscovery #artandexpression #creativityinchaos #communitythroughart #intentionmatters #poetrypodcast #christophercipollini #themusings #thesecretkingdom #spokenwordartist #venturapoets #supportindependentartists #artistjourneys #poetryandmusic #artcommunity

In this episode, I bring on Diana Dagaz, a cultural anthropologist and astrologer. I found it fascinating that she dangles her feet in both worlds—science and what many still consider mysticism. We ended up recording for over three hours, and honestly, we could’ve gone for several more. Just two goth girls talking about… well, everything.We dive into astrology—not in a surfacey horoscope way, but as a tool for deeper insight into relationships, music, identity, and even world events. We talk energy, vibrations, and how the unseen might be more real than we give it credit for.The conversation also covers generational trauma, female identity, cultural resilience, and how compassion, science, and healing intersect. Diana brings a unique perspective on how cultural anthropology informs personal growth, and we both reflect on how our lived experiences shape what we believe, what we reject, and what we’re still figuring out.As always, animals come up (because of course they do), and we touch on neurodivergence, the weirdness of labels, and the ongoing work of showing up authentically. We even get into gaming as a metaphor for life, and how community—when built with intention—can be the most powerful healing space.This episode is full of open-hearted, no-bullshit reflections on identity, culture, and the power of perspective.#astrologyandscience #culturalanthropology #gothgirlsunite #neurodivergentvoices #healingjourney #compassionateconversations #identityandculture #animalwisdom #spiritualgrowth #personalgrowth #femaleidentity #mysticismandlogic #openmindedness #emotionalintelligence #perspectiveiskey #resilience #authenticitymatters #sayonaracupcake #podcastlife #musicandmeaning #dianadagaz

This one’s a ride. LV and Damien pick up like no time has passed—except all the time has. They go waaaay back. They dig into their punk rock roots, swapping stories of sweaty venues, artistic heartbreak, and the weird ways grief can supercharge (or stall) creativity. There's no sugar-coating: America feels different, politics feel absurd, and relationships—whether with people or ideals—have only gotten more complicated.They wander through it all: how music still saves lives (even when the amps are blown), how parenting and activism collide in unexpected places, and how being a human in 2025 sometimes feels like trying to scream in a soundproof room. Model Citizen’s legacy gets its due, as does the current state of punk rock—still scrappy, still loud, still swinging.The convo flows from Secret Service visits to animal rescue, from pigeons to politics, from burnout to enlightenment, and somehow it all fits—because life’s messy, and that's the point. It’s equal parts deep dive and dry comedy, with a throughline of respect, curiosity, and the reminder that connection—real connection—is still the most radical act.This is also the only episode which I really have to flag and underscore is really 18+ because if you are one the 170,000+ people following him on TikTok, you know he is.#punkrock #music #politics #personalloss #relationships #Americana #ModelCitizen #socialmedia #parenting #culturalperspectives #entrepreneurship #politics #personalenergy #activism #culturalperspectives #familydynamics #success #happiness #enlightenment #punkrock #friendship #animalrescue #pigeonhospital #MikeTyson #boxing #influencers #sexindustry #contentcreation #musiccommunity #SanDiegoMusicScene

In this episode, LV chats with Justin Corwin of the @TheDeepDive YouTube Channel about... well, a little bit of everything. We dive into music, storytelling, parenting, and how this whole podcasting thing even started. We talk about what it means to build community—how during the pandemic, when everything was falling apart, creativity somehow stitched things together... and how music always finds a way to connect people, no matter where they’re from.

We also get into life in Saudi Arabia... what people *think* it’s like vs. what it actually is... the dress code misconceptions, the expat experience, and how starting a YouTube channel became a way to bridge cultures. Detroit’s music scene comes up too—how it shaped us, what it taught us—and of course, the underrated magic of bass lines.

There’s Smashing Pumpkins talk (obviously)... fan communities then vs. now\... and this idea of legacy—how the music we love becomes part of how we parent, how we connect, and how we remember who we are. It’s personal, it’s funny, it’s a bit all over the place... but that’s kind of the point.

#PodcastCommunity #MusicPodcast #ParentingAndMusic #StorytellingMatters #SmashingPumpkinsFans #DetroitMusicScene #ExpatLife #LifeInSaudi #TheDeepDive #CreativeConversations #PandemicCreativity #BassMatters #MusicLegacy #SayonaraCupcakePodcast #IndiePodcast #FanCommunities #ArtistStories #PodcastInterview #Netphoria #Fucknetphoria