Rich Logis on Leaving MAGA and the Meaning of America's 250th Birthday

Rich Logis on Leaving MAGA and the Meaning of America's 250th Birthday

America turns 250 this year, and the country feels trapped in a cycle of outrage, suspicion, and political tribalism. Every election is described as the most important in history. Every disagreement becomes a moral crusade. Every compromise feels like surrender. Rich Logis believes there is another way, and he knows because he lived the alternative. Rich wasn't a spectator during Donald Trump's rise. He helped build the movement. He volunteered on campaigns, recruited voters, wrote for conservative publications, produced pro-MAGA podcasts, and believed he was fighting to save the country. When that conviction began to crumble, the hardest part wasn't changing his politics. It was rebuilding his life after politics had become part of his identity. That experience led Rich to found Leaving MAGA, a nonprofit dedicated to people who have begun asking difficult questions but don't know where to turn. The organization offers private conversations, peer support, practical resources, and a welcoming community built around curiosity, empathy, and intellectual independence. Rich personally speaks with many of the people who reach out, helping them process the emotional challenge of rethinking deeply held beliefs and, for those who choose, share their stories to encourage others facing the same crossroads. Mookie refuses to let the conversation drift into partisan comfort zones. He challenges Rich on the Democratic Party's own failures, libertarian alternatives, the rise of democratic socialism, media manipulation, algorithm-driven outrage, and the uncomfortable reality that millions of disillusioned conservatives still find voting Democratic unimaginable. The discussion circles repeatedly around a question that has no easy answer: if someone concludes that MAGA has lost its way, where do they go next? The result is a conversation that reaches well beyond Donald Trump or the next election. Rich argues that curiosity changed his life by leading him outside the media bubble that had shaped his worldview. Mookie wonders if America's deeper problem may be a political system that continually forces citizens into two increasingly polarized camps. Together they explore what it takes to change one's mind, rebuild trust, and recover the independence to think beyond party labels. Rich's story goes beyond politics and is proof that people can grow, convictions can evolve, and courage sometimes begins with a single uncomfortable question. As America enters its next quarter millennium, that may be the most hopeful message of all. The Guest Rich spent seven years as a devoted MAGA activist, pundit and podcaster. He left the movement in 2022 after becoming disillusioned with its extremism and negative impact on American democracy. Not content to simply walk away, Rich founded Leaving MAGA in 2024. Through public speaking, writing, and media appearances, he works fervently to support those seeking a path out of radicalization. Rich refers to himself as a born-again human being, and believes that empathy and understanding are necessary to reduce political polarization. He is the author of One Betrayal Too Many: Why I Left MAGA.  His Organization We empower people to leave MAGA and tell their stories. We foster reconciliation with friends and family. We develop movement leaders to help others leave.  https://leavingmaga.org/ [https://leavingmaga.org/] Send the host a text! Let him know what you think [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455321/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/c/MookieSpitz]

Sariah and Taylor Find Their Pot of Honey Gold

Honey Gold is what happens when live music, visual art, meditation, technology, and a willingness to leap into the unknown collide. In this 105th episode of No Hair All Heart, Mookie sits down with Sariah and Taylor, the creative force behind Honey Gold, an immersive audiovisual experience that combines original music, projection mapping, visual storytelling, and intentional design to create something increasingly rare in modern life: a space to slow down. The conversation explores the origins of Honey Gold, from Sariah's years in California's experimental art and rave scenes to Taylor's decades-long journey as a multi-instrumentalist and performer. Together, they discuss how a small local performance evolved into shows at Louisiana's historic Old State Capitol, a unique presentation at Audium in San Francisco, and an ambitious plan to create a full-dome planetarium experience that could eventually reach audiences around the world. Along the way, they discuss the realities of building an independent creative project from scratch, balancing a romantic relationship with an artistic partnership, surviving career disruptions, navigating technology's growing influence on art, and why authentic human experiences matter more than ever in an increasingly digital world. Their free-flowing conversation covers creativity, risk-taking, collaboration, and the strange way life sometimes rewards people who stop waiting for permission and simply start building. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, musician, dreamer, or someone trying to create something meaningful in a noisy world, Honey Gold's story offers a refreshing reminder that some of the most interesting things happen when people are willing to make it up as they go, while staying true to a vision that's close to the heart.  Honey Gold's upcoming performances include immersive events in Baton Rouge and San Francisco, with larger plans already taking shape for planetariums, virtual reality, and beyond. The Guests Honey Gold is produced and creatively led by Sariah Sizemore and Taylor Matherne, with visual direction by Wes Kennison of Version 47. The project is shaped through close collaboration across music, imagery, and environment, with each element developed intentionally as part of a unified experience. Sariah and Taylor lead the creative vision for Honey Gold, composing the original music and curating the visual content that informs the tone, pacing, and emotional arc of the experience. Their Website https://www.honeygoldexperience.com/ [https://www.honeygoldexperience.com/]' More Resources Honey Gold at Louisiana's Old State Capitol [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-honey-gold-experience-at-louisianas-old-state-capitol-june-25th-tickets-1988509809369] Honey Gold at Audium [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1990152538817?aff=oddtdtcreator] Donate [https://www.artsbr.org/donate]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honey_gold_experience [https://www.instagram.com/honey_gold_experience] Send the host a text! Let him know what you think [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455321/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/c/MookieSpitz]

Clayton Parker’s Journey from VW Surfer Van to World-Renowned Muralist

The 104th episode of No Hair All Heart features Mookie Spitz literally sitting down next to legendary muralist and visual artist Clayton Parker for a sprawling, funny, unexpectedly emotional conversation about art, survival, craftsmanship, and the long strange road between obscurity and mastery. Clayton isn’t some gallery darling who emerged fully formed from an MFA program wearing a black turtleneck and talking about “negative space.” He’s the real thing: a working artist who clawed his way through decades of murals, commercial art, restaurant commissions, billboards, album covers, menu designs, historical projects, and anything else that required paint, nerve, and the willingness to show up. Along the way he created the massive 565-foot Vista historical mural — officially recognized as the longest historical mural in the world — and built a career almost entirely through referrals, reputation, and raw hustle. The conversation moves from Clayton’s early years living out of a Volkswagen van while attending college, to the heartbreaking story of having that van, and nearly everything he owned stolen, to the improbable kindness of a banker who took a chance on a broke hippie art student with no collateral and no safety net. Clayton talks about the years of scraping by, painting at Oceanside Harbor to attract customers, turning boat owners into clients, and eventually becoming the go-to muralist for restaurants, tequila brands, casinos, and historical projects across America and Japan. Mookie and Clayton also dive deep into the psychology of creativity itself: why most talented artists never make it, how commercial work differs from fine art, why reliability matters more than tortured genius, and how so many creatives sabotage themselves by refusing to evolve. Clayton explains his philosophy of “illustrative realism with enchantment”: blending photorealistic technique with whimsical color, hidden details, and deeply personalized storytelling that turns murals into lived experiences instead of decoration. The episode is packed with stories: painting over pipes and industrial obstructions to create illusionistic murals, old ladies recognizing themselves decades later in a high school marching band scene, tequila companies delivering cases of liquor to his house, Van Halen playing school dances before they were famous, upside-down left-handed guitar playing that confuses musicians, and why some of the greatest artists in the world still don’t care about social media or personal branding. More than anything, this becomes a conversation about persistence. About surviving long enough for your craft to matter. About why talent alone is never enough. And about how art is ultimately a people business: one built on trust, relationships, vulnerability, and the willingness to keep creating even when nobody’s watching yet. Clayton Parker’s Advice for Artists * Be reliable. Showing up on time and delivering what you promised matters more than most artists realize. Clients remember professionalism. * Don’t pigeonhole yourself. If people think you only do one thing, you limit your opportunities. Stretch creatively and take on unfamiliar themes. * Find the need and fill it. Great art still has to connect to a real-world need, audience, or emotional experience. * Don’t wait for permission. Clayton built his early business by literally painting in public where people could see him working. * Word of mouth is gold. Reputation and referrals built most of his career, not advertising. * Collaborate with clients instead of treating them like obstacles. The work gets better when people feel personally connected to it. * Keep evolving creatively. Artists stagnate when they repeat themselves endlessly. Growth matters. * Learn everything you can. Skills that seem unrelated at first often become valuable later. * Don’t romanticize suffering. There’s no shame in commercial work if it lets you keep creating and feeding your family. * You have to like people. Art is not just self-expression. It’s communication. Connection matters. * Persevere through setbacks. Clayton rebuilt his life from almost nothing after losing nearly everything he owned. * Put yourself where opportunities can find you. Don’t hide in a basement waiting to be discovered. If you’re an artist, musician, writer, filmmaker, designer, or anyone trying to build something meaningful in a world that constantly pushes practicality over passion, this one will hit home. And if nothing else, you’ll hear the story of Santa taking a dump down a chimney. Enjoy! The Guest Clayton Parker is a veteran muralist, illustrator, and designer whose work has appeared in restaurants, casinos, commercial campaigns, and public spaces across the United States and Japan. Best known for the 565-foot Vista Historical Mural — officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest historical mural in the world — Clayton built his career through grit, craftsmanship, and decades of word-of-mouth referrals. Known for blending photorealistic detail with whimsy and immersive storytelling, Clayton has created everything from historical murals and tequila ads to album covers and large-scale public art. A lifelong surfer, musician, teacher, and unapologetically analog artist, he brings humor, humanity, and hard-earned perspective to both his work and his stories. Reach out here to contact him... He's not online. Really, really.  Send the host a text! Let him know what you think [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455321/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/c/MookieSpitz]

Pat Donohue Is Fingerpicking Good: The Acoustic Maestro Talks Shop

The 103rd episode of No Hair, No Heart has Mookie sitting down with Pat Donohue, one of the most respected acoustic guitarists alive and a player whose reputation among musicians is legendary. A Grammy winner, National Fingerpicking Guitar Champion, longtime performer with A Prairie Home Companion, and an artist once praised by Chet Atkins as one of the world’s great fingerpickers, Pat joins Mookie with zero ego and tons of good advice.  What follows is a sharp, grounded, often funny discussion about talent, discipline, and staying sane in a noisy world. Pat talks about his life in music, the long road from learning guitar as a kid to becoming one of the most admired players in the business, and why he still carries himself with the modesty of a working craftsman instead of an icon. The conversation also gets into something rare these days: an artist intentionally keeping politics out of the music. Pat explains why he prefers to let the songs speak for themselves and why not every stage needs to become a soapbox. In a culture addicted to public declarations, Pat's voice and approach are a refreshing stance. Pat also shares stories from his years on A Prairie Home Companion, where he spent decades as part of the famed Guys All-Star Shoe Band, performing for millions of listeners each week and contributing to one of America’s most beloved radio shows.  For younger listeners and aspiring players, Pat also offers the most practical advice imaginable: get out there and play. Don't theorize endlessly, or wait until you’re “ready.” Play live. Play often. Learn in public. Make mistakes. That’s where musicians are forged. The Guest Pat is one of the most listened-to finger pickers in the world. As the guitarist for the “ Guys All-Star Shoe Band” of Minnesota Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion, for twenty years, Pat got to show off his savvy licks and distinctive original songs to millions of listeners each week. Pat’s musical tastes are eclectic. Though he considers himself foremost a folk guitarist, Pat’s influences are rooted in bluesmen Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters and Miles Davis. He manages to blend jazz and blues with folk, and the mix is seamless. Over the years he has captivated audiences with his unique original compositions, dazzling instrumentals and humorous song parodies, including Sushi-Yucki and Would You Like to Play the Guitar? If you're in the city, come out and see Pat Donohue & Friends Dan Newton and Mike Cramer at the Midway Saloon in St. Paul.  His Website https://www.patdonohue.com/index.html [https://www.patdonohue.com/index.html] Send the host a text! Let him know what you think [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455321/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/c/MookieSpitz]

Jesse Krakow Flips Raving Fandom into a Creative Tsunami

On this 102nd episode of No Hair, All Heart your favorite bald host Mookie Spitz is thrilled to go full ADHD with the legendary musician, producer, bandleader, teacher, radio host, and industry connector Jesse Krakow: He's the musician's musician thanks to playing with everyone cool while somehow showing up wherever the interesting stuff is popping. Jesse's jet fuel is fan obsession. As a kid, he dove headfirst into the weird end of the pool—Zappa, Beefheart, outsider bands, avant-prog—and never stopped swimming. That energy carried straight into Time of Orchids, his long-running experimental band, and into a career defined by constant motion: new projects, thrilling collaborators, and endless experimental rabbit holes. One of the wildest threads is his deep connection to The Shaggs, the famously unpolished, totally singular band from the ’60s. Jesse loves them, tracked them down, organized a tribute, built relationships with the surviving members, and helped bring their music back into the world as a full-fledged multimedia revival. That’s how he rolls: If Jesse's energized, he dives in and makes it happen. His conversation with Mookie moves like his career: fast, sideways, and occasionally off the rails. Jesse tells wild stories, contemplates the value of failure while revelling in success, and bursts with ideas and enthusiasm. They talk about The Muse ignoring then inspiring the greats, and how brillance can end any second, stressing the need to double-down before she goes belly-up.  That mindset is all over Jesse’s process. He’s always thinking about music, working ideas out, playing gigs and publishing. Collaboration is baked into everything—bands, revivals, and teaching. His advice to young musicians is exciting and clear: make it good, believe in yourself, and listen to people who have been there and done that.  The Guest Jesse Krakow is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, sideman, teacher and music director. He was a co-founder of the experimental rock band Time of Orchids, a touring bassist for Shudder To Think and a member of The Shaggs/Dot Wiggin Band. He has worked with John Zorn, Paul Rudd, Kate Pierson (The B-52’s), Gary Lucas (Captain Beefheart), Nina Persson (The Cardigans), Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Gilbert Gottfried, Nona Hendryx (LaBelle), Roddy Bottum (Faith No More), Julee Cruise (“Twin Peaks”), Chris Butler (The Waitresses), and longtime NYC institution The Losers Lounge, among many others. He was awarded a Fellowship from The Brooklyn Philharmonic, hosted the weekly radio show “Minor Music” on WFMU, a Professor at Bootsy Collins’ Funk University, and has recorded re-creations of albums by Hulk Hogan and Corey Feldman. Currently he is the MD for MANDONNA: an all-male tribute to Madonna. His most recent recording is "Bastards of Prog", released on Cuneiform Records in July 2026 under the name KRAKHOUSE. Get More Jesse BoP: https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bastards-of-prog [https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bastards-of-prog] HULK: https://jessekrakow.bandcamp.com/album/hulk-rules [https://jessekrakow.bandcamp.com/album/hulk-rules] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessekrakow7127 [https://www.youtube.com/@jessekrakow7127] ToO: https://timeoforchids.bandcamp.com/album/sarcast-while [https://timeoforchids.bandcamp.com/album/sarcast-while] SHAGGS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecAAN6E6yY [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecAAN6E6yY] Send the host a text! Let him know what you think [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2455321/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/c/MookieSpitz]