Vigorously with Val Kleinhans

Assuming you're keeping up with the latest buzzmakers in rock, there is a good chance this isn't your first time hearing about Nathan James. He's on a mission to keep everyone accountable, and he's doing that in his own nu nu metal way.

Val and James chat music and mental health in this episode.

Hollywood Mortician is out in July. New single “Los Angeles” coming soon.

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Get more Nathan James: https://www.instagram.com/thatsnathanjames/?hl=en

Get more Val...

Love, Jade is the band you need to know! Jeanine, project leader, chats with Val about the power of music, why music resonates with us, and how to promote your upcoming single like a pro, authentically.

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Get more Love, Jade: https://www.instagram.com/lovejadetheband/

Get more Val: https://valkleinhans.com/

In this episode, Val and content creator Lizzie In Lace dive into an invigorating conversation about style, confidence, and the power of embracing individuality. Val shares her personal struggles with confidence, while Lizzie brings her unique perspective on fashion and lifestyle, blending both worlds to inspire listeners to live boldly and authentically. Whether you're looking to boost your self-confidence, find new ways to express yourself, or simply get motivated for the week ahead, this episode is packed with empowering advice and personal stories!

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Get more Lizzie: https://www.instagram.com/lizzieinlace/

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Liz of The Midsize Optimize is your hype girl you've been looking for - especially if you fall in the midsize size range. Val and Liz discuss whether there is a world for midsize baddies, and if so, how can we take it over? Or, at least feel confident enough to.

Val and Liz comiserate over life on social media - diving into how much work and effort content creation really takes. They also explore how they got to where they currently are.

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Get more Midsize Optimize: https://www.instagram.com...

Powerful, heavy and undeniably potent Nine Layers Deep are bringing thoughtful and simply crushing doom metal to the masses and forcing you to choke on their wonderfully bitter sonic pill.

Val and Alaysa chat about alt girlie things (see the conversation on 90s and 00s fashion), and metal culture as a whole. 

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Nine Layers Deep (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/ninelayersdeep/

Nine Layers Deep (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/artist/4A2TgnSQoPiOQWMe55cFg1?autoplay=true

Get more Val: https://valkleinhans.com/

Metal vocalist Narcissa shares what really happened behind the scenes while joining AfterTime as their new vocalist.  She also discusses Powerglove, metal culture, mom life, nurturing your mental health, and wedding fashion with serious honesty. You're going to relate to this one!

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Get more Narcissa here: https://www.instagram.com/narcissavox/

AfterTime: https://open.spotify.com/artist/53n0FvPeJDXcSj6ioYldbg

Powerglove: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6J0DfXSDiMxIHVrnRcDn7M?autoplay=true

Get more Val: h...

Thrash kings out of Richmond, Virginia, Vigil are giving metal icon neighbors Lamb of God a run for their money. Val chats with singer Jess about everything from clothes to finding your voice.

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Get more Vigil: https://www.instagram.com/vigilthrash/

Get more Val: https://valkleinhans.com/

TW: This episode will discuss domestic violence.

Barbara Blackthorne is making a name in metal by taking on some seriously cool projects! You know her as the front woman for Empress, and now Glyph.

In this episode, Barbara chats her musical journey and her experience with domestic violence. She also shares what we all can do to help. We learn how to identify these serious situations and how best to navigate a loved one going through it. 

This one's a journey y'all! Tune in.

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15 years of experience in the technology industry and a passion for metal turned Jasper De Man into a YouTube content creator ("Belgian Jasper") well known in metal four years ago. The COVID-19 pandemic expedited that mission. Now he's interviewing your favorite metal bands. This is how he did it.

Val and Jasper share and analyze their experiences in media and the music industry.

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Get more Jasper here: https://www.youtube.com/@BelgianJasper

Get more Val: https://valkleinhans.com/

One of Val's favorite bands, Mastodon, made a big announcement this week. After 25 years, and being with the band since its inception, guitarist and vocalist Brent Hinds has left the band. 

What's next? Val has some ideas. 

In 1997, the world came to know the concept of "girl power" thanks to the Spice Girls. Now, we celebrate the movement every March. It's so important for women to band together, stick together, and help each other in a world that constantly rejects their credentials, opinions and expertise...still...in 2025. 

In this episode, Val wants to bring "girl power" back. She cites Lzzy Hale as a modern example we can turn to. 

We also discuss the importance of diversity.

Interviewer extraordinaire, fellow MySpace millennial and live music enthusiast Stef from Stefs Rock Show has created a platform for everything music and pop culture since those nostalgic moments in the early 00s - controversial moments with Joe Francis and "Tiger King" Joe Exotic included. 

Val and Stef have a lot in common and a lot to chat about when it comes to being women in broadcast and music. In this episode, they share their journeys. 

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Get more Stef:

https://stefaniesrockshow.wixsite.com/stefs-rock-show-1

There's no better way to kick off March, a month dedicated to women, than by chatting women in music with vocalist Gina Bilardi. In this episode, Val and Gina share their experience as females in the music industry and chat motorcycles and camping. 

Strap in for the ride!

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Get more Gina: https://www.instagram.com/ginab_here/?hl=en

Gina's Women Of Rock Show: https://www.instagram.com/ginabs_womenofrock/?hl=en

Get more Val: https://valkleinhans.com/

Val gets personal in this week's solo episode, sharing why she left her hometown of Pittsburgh back in January of 2013. 

It ain't easy growing up in the rust belt. Pittsburgh has changed a lot since it became famous for steel during the Industrial Revolution. Let a former resident share how. 

Angela Gentile is a podcaster, content creator, educator and motivational speaker who explains she's, "your elder millennial here to guide you through life's challenging crossroads with resources, support and a whole lotta hype woman energy." Especially if you're a female childless millennial.  

Val and Angela take the opportunity to critique society on the topic, and bemoan millennial life while sharing their successes at the same time. 

Buckle up, millennials. This one is for you.

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Get more Angela:

https://www.theangelagentile.com/about1

Get mo...

Guilherme Costa is a Brazilian guitarist, music teacher, host and longtime metalhead. Val and Guilherme dive into their favorite things about metal, their favorite guitarists, and how they're keeping the scene alive for the younger generation.

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Get more Guilherme:

https://www.instagram.com/guilhermecostagt/

Get more Val:

https://valkleinhans.com/

Val has entered what Mel Robbins calls her "let them era" - and you'll learn how to enter yours this episode. Someone going you wrong? ...let them.

It's very simple, and it comes down to acceptance. 

Chris Johnson is a podcaster (Passion Pod), muralist, influencer, radio host, and entrepreneur based in Wisconsin. He's made his dreams a reality multiple times in his life, and wasn't afraid to pivot when they didn't work out either. He began running his own business at 23, and that taught him a lot. 

Now, Chris is ready to share his journey with Val and the Vigorously fam. Bring your notebook for this one. There's going to be notes and tips you'll want to take!

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Get more Chris:

https://www.passionpod.org/

Opening up yourself to the internet isn't an easy task. Add being a musician on top of it, and that's a whole other level of WILD. 

Val and drummer Alexa Rae chat her season of Jared Dines' Musician Mansion on YouTube, her time at NAMM 2025, learning to drum, the music industry, and content creation in this episode.

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Get more Alexa: https://www.instagram.com/alexa.drums/

Get more Val:  https://valkleinhans.com/

Happy Valentine's Day! Val shares everything she's ever learned about loving yourself in this episode, and that includes authenticity, boosting your confidence your way and leaving what no longer serves you.

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Get more Val: https://valkleinhans.com/

Val and content creator Tee Reva Alston chat fashion, plus size life, our current political frustrations and how to make the best out of life when things feel heavy. 

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Get more Tee Reva: https://www.instagram.com/teereva4/

Get more Val:  https://valkleinhans.com/

Los Angeles-based guitarist Celinda Chang first picked up the guitar at age 22. Years later, she’s infiltrating the local music scene with her infectious stage presence and electrifying guitar skills in multiple bands - and killing it in all of them.

Val and Celi chat her musical journey and discuss the potential future the music industry could see.

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Get more Celi:

https://www.celindachang.com/about

Instagram

Unpolished

Hollywood Apocalypse 

PINKTASTIC PLASTIXX

Get mor...

In honor of Turner Syndrome Awareness Month, Val shares her Turner Syndrome story, and what her life looks like living with it. 

Turner syndrome, a condition that affects only females, results when one of the X chromosomes (sex chromosomes) is missing or partially missing. In Val's case, only one of her X's is partially missing.

Turner syndrome can cause a variety of medical and developmental problems, including short height, failure of the ovaries to develop and heart defects.

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Get more Val: https://valkleinhans.com/

What does it mean to soft pivot? Val and business baddie/content creator Morgan Markowski chat trying new things and finding the courage to try them. 

Morgan helps creative service providers get paid to be themselves by building a brand around their personality and experience, not just their time-for-money skills.

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Get more Morgan: https://www.instagram.com/morganmarkowski/

Get more Val: https://valkleinhans.com/

Solo artist Chloe Clemente has a serious passion for 80s rock! She chats with Val about being a female in the music industry, taking care of your vocal cords, moving around the US, and those lovable corgis.

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Get more Chloe:
https://www.chloeclemente.com/about

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/ 

Alt girlie, makeup artist, and animal advocate Christy Ponte checks in from North Carolina. Christy and Val chat about the Carolinas, animals, their astrological destiny, makeup, alternative things, and content creation this episode.

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Get more Christy:
https://www.instagram.com/christystarmua/

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Nesdam’s whole life has led into his debut album Find The Truth. The moment listeners hear it, they’ll know: he’s not holding anything back.

The hard rock musician, whose given name is Patrick Madsen, has historically been best known as a drummer (notably in Random Hero). But over the past four years, he has found a new voice as a frontman. This is his story.

Val and Nesdam chat their journey in the music industry, and protecting your mental health.

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Get more Nesdam here...

Jon Barbas is a sommelier of extreme metal and blue-collar philosopher, host of Heavy Metal Philosophy, writer for Metal Digest, and concert photographer. Val and Jon chat content creation, ethics, and weigh a lot of hot takes circulating in metal lately.

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Get more Jon:
https://heavymetalphilosophy.com/
YouTube

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Alternative fashionista and favorite elder millennial emo EMPERIAM joins Val this episode to get very nostalgic. It's time to revisit those MySpace pages, those arguments with mom, and do a little comparing and contrasting when it comes to bands, festivals, and the US vs. Canada.

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Get more EMPERIAM:
https://www.emperiam.com/
https://www.instagram.com/imemperiam/

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Vanitas are rising fast in the UK heavy scene, bringing their unique blend of progressive metal and djent with orchestral elements that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Final Fantasy soundtrack; creating what they’ve coined ‘cinematic djent’.

Val and Jade chat about encouraging younger musicians, alt girlie things, and what's next for Vanitas in 2025.

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Get more Vanitas:
Spotify
https://www.vanitasband.com/about

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Val goes solo and shares some thoughts on turning 35, getting older and how she's working on blowing up Vigorously. Shenanigans from her birthday weekend are shared too! 

Lindsay Hayes is a content creator who you can usually find at a show or a beer event. She also loves a good brew and some millennial nostalgia. Val and Lindsay reminisce about all of the above this episode.

They also explore the sober curious movement that's taking over.

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Get more Lindsay:
https://www.instagram.com/hoppyhayes/

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Robert Walton, metalhead and host of The Metal Meltdown on YouTube is in the building this episode to chat content creation and all things metal with Val.

They chat about dealing with randos online, upcoming metal releases they're excited about, content creation and the ethics within, and so much more.

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Get more of The Metal Meltdown here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6DrrBx7gJ5fKAJFN0p19Ng?app=desktop

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Echos, the soon-to-be-iconic alt artist, is releasing her album "QUIET, IN YOUR SERVICE" on January 17 and it's a "must-listen" to warm your soul during this cold weather season.

Val and Echos chat cats, dark vibes, being alt girlies who finally stopped crying over boys, and the switch Echos made from making EDM music to alt rock on the new album.

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Get more Echos:
https://www.instagram.com/echosofficial/
Echos Spotify

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Melissa Grandmaison is a Dallas, Texas based makeup artist who specializes in commercial, editorial and bridal makeup. She loves to put a cute alternative outfit together, and she can have your makeup on point in seconds.

Val and the makeup artist chat about beauty, mom life, makeup, and all things alt girlies in this episode.

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Get more Melissa here:
https://www.instagram.com/_messylynne/

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Scottish alt rock duo VUKOVI are gearing up for a very exciting 2025! To start, the band is releasing their album "MY GOD HAS GOT A GUN" on January 24 via Sharptone Records.

Val and Janine chat artistry, imagery, design, the connection between horror and music, what's the come for the band and the current state of the music industry in this episode.

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Get more VUKOVI here:
https://www.vukovi.co.uk/

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Dose of Adolescence emerged onto the Inland Empire punk scene in 1999, initially a pastime that swiftly transformed into a lifelong dream for the Brown brothers: Jimmy Brown (Lead Vocalist) and Timmy Brown (Lead Guitarist).

Over the past 24 years, Dose of Adolescence has left an indelible mark on the pop/punk landscape, gracing numerous stages and sharing the limelight with iconic artists.

Timmy chats with Val about their journey, and that time his baseball team ended up in Hook with Robin Williams.


Get more Dose of Adolescence...

Alternative rock duo Plastic Rhino stop by to chat with Val about their new single "I Rise" out now. Though they're based in LA, they left the very musical city to record in England. Find out why in this episode.

Get more Plastic Rhino here:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FXugc5Lme1dHnjxD88do4?si=_UUdHgU8TdS_PGqw9TQXTA

https://www.instagram.com/plasticrhinoband/?hl=en#


Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Content creator, artist, designer, stylist, illustrator, advocate and all around do'er of everything Kary Santayana stops by!

Kary chats with Val about their non-binary journey, androgynous authenticity and all the creative skills learned along the way.


Get more Kary here:
https://www.instagram.com/karysantayana/

Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/

Content creator and non-binary badass Kary Santayana is in the building with Val this week chatting about their sense of style and surviving in a world that can have you feeling like they don't want you to exist.

Get more Kary here:
https://www.instagram.com/karysantayana/

https://linktr.ee/karysantayana?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYUTvEgs-BZSZ39R9KKnwbfQ2zzYZ5IALiYrQb1llm47hgQdz6KYzWIKqI_aem_IhLbg7yijU3Xj1oMd3Smhg


Get more Val:
https://valkleinhans.com/