The Manic Metallic Podcast

Manic Metallic

The Manic Metallic Podcast gives listeners the chance to dive into fashion and culture from all aspects of time: past, present, and future. In each episode, host Liberty Imhoff brings you a mixture of interview episodes with those involved in fashion, art, design, and other cultural sectors, and of solo episodes where she gives you her take on issues involving today’s fashion and culture sectors. Each episode is designed to challenge your assumption of what fashion and culture are, who they are for, and who can participate. 

  1. Jul 2

    068. America at 250: “Freedom Dreams” with Maori Karmael Holmes and James Claiborne

    In Episode 68 of The Manic Metallic Podcast, host Liberty Imhoff is joined by Maori Karmael Holmes and James Claiborne, the co-curators of “Freedom Dreams”, a film exhibition currently on view at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, PA. "Freedom Dreams" asks us to ponder the forms that freedom takes for Black Americans at the 250th anniversary of America's founding, giving visitors five short films created by Black artists and filmmakers to stimulate that thought process. Liberty, Maori, and James discuss the following: What they believe that today’s version of freedom and liberation for Black people looks likeWhy film was the correct artistic medium to make the “Freedom Dreams” case to the publicHow they narrowed down the “Freedom Dreams” exhibit selection to these five specific artistsThe level of influence that both author and historian Robin D. G. Kelley (from whose work this exhibit takes its name) and Dr. Albert Barnes (founder of the Barnes Foundation) had on the spirit of the "Freedom Dreams” exhibitWhether Philadelphia is doing a good job in promoting and facilitating the freedom and liberation of its Black citizens and other citizens of colorAnd more! MAORI’S BIO:Maori Karmael Holmes is a filmmaker, curator and cultural worker. She founded BlackStar Film Festival and serves as Chief Executive & Artistic Officer of BlackStar Projects. She has organized film programs at Anthology Film Archives, Barnes Foundation, MOCA, and Whitney Museum, and has organized the exhibitions Freedom Dreams (2026), Rashid Zakat: Uses of the Ironic (2024), Terence Nance: Swarm (2023), among others. JAMES’S BIO:James Claiborne is the Fleischner Family Vice President for Engagement at the Barnes Foundation and a curator and educator with more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit arts sector. He previously served as Director of Programming at the African American Museum in Philadelphia and Senior Vice President of Exhibitions and Programs at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. At the Barnes, he is co-curator of Freedom Dreams, the museum’s latest special exhibition, on view now, and has also co-curated John Dowell: A Public Intimate Space and William Edmondson: A Monumental Vision, including its accompanying performance series choreographed by Brendan Fernandes.   RESOURCES AND REFERENCESManic Metallic, “250 Years of Dreaming About Freedom” (“Freedom Dreams” exhibition review): https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/250-years-of-dreaming-about-freedom/ Barnes Foundation, “Freedom Dreams”: https://www.barnesfoundation.org/whats-on/exhibitions/freedom-dreams Barnes Foundation - Free July at the Barnes Foundation for Philadelphia city residents(info): https://www.barnesfoundation.org/whats-on/free-july Blackstar Projects: https://blackstarprojects.org/ SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donations CONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribe Manic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficial CONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoff Website: libertyimhoff.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

    068. America at 250: “Freedom Dreams” with Maori Karmael Holmes and James Claiborne
  2. Jun 4

    067. The Tribeca Festival, New York Art Fairs, and Why We Need To Treat Those Building A More Just World Better

    On Episode 67 of The Manic Metallic Podcast, host Liberty Imhoff talks about the following: Manic Metallic’s upcoming coverage of the Tribeca Festival (which runs from June 3-14, 2026), from the ground in New York, and how listeners can keep up with that coverageManic Metallic’s press coverage of events over the past couple of months, including numerous art fairs, exhibitions, a fashion show, and a conferenceThe recent passing of Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, better known as Jerry GogosianThe decision for Anxiety.eco to shut down, and how that is a bad indicator for those who wish to hold the fashion (and other creative) industries to account RESOURCES AND REFERENCES"Tribeca Festival 2026 Preview: Keep An Eye Out For These Six Films”: https://manicmetallic.com/films/tribeca-festival-2026-preview-keep-an-eye-out-for-these-six-films/ “Opulence At The Armory: TEFAF New York 2026”: https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/opulence-at-the-armory-tefaf-new-york-2026/ “Notes From Frieze New York 2026”: https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/notes-from-frieze-new-york-2026/ “How Do We Choose Who Gets To Be Immortalized?”: https://manicmetallic.com/reviews/how-do-we-choose-who-gets-to-be-immortalized/ “Nature, Mourning, and Hope: The Jefferson Fashion Design Class of 2026”: https://manicmetallic.com/events/nature-mourning-and-hope-the-jefferson-fashion-design-class-of-2026/ “A Nation of Artists — For Over 250 Years”: https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/a-nation-of-artists-for-over-250-years/ “250 Years of Dreaming About Freedom”: https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/250-years-of-dreaming-about-freedom/ “Marcel Duchamp Never Stopped Being An Artist”: https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/marcel-duchamp-never-stopped-being-an-artist/ SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donations CONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribe Manic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficial Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/manic-metallic CONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoff Website: libertyimhoff.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

    067. The Tribeca Festival, New York Art Fairs, and Why We Need To Treat Those Building A More Just World Better
  3. Mar 14

    065. Spring Art Exhibits, Culture Salons, and How To Think About Linkedin

    On Episode 65 of The Manic Metallic Podcast, host Liberty Imhoff updates the Manic Metallic community on what’s been going on with the company after a missed podcast week, including the following: Many spring press previews for exciting art exhibitions in New York and PhiladelphiaPlanning for the Manic Metallic Culture Salon, which is set for March 26thHow applying to a fellowship led her to question how she has been presenting her professional skills — and whether or not she has been underselling what she has to offerHer experiment with Anthropic’s Claude AI on auditing her Linkedin profile — seven areas that she was able to improve, and how you could potentially do the same updatesWhat everyone's goal for Linkedin should actually be RESOURCES AND REFERENCESManic Metallic: "The Whitney Biennial 2026: A Study In Relationality": https://manicmetallic.com/arts-culture/the-whitney-biennial-2026-a-study-in-relationality/ Learn more about The Manic Metallic Culture Salon: https://manicmetallic.com/the-manic-metallic-culture-salon/ SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donations CONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribe Manic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficial CONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoff Website: libertyimhoff.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

    065. Spring Art Exhibits, Culture Salons, and How To Think About Linkedin
  4. Feb 26

    064. Love Story: Your Obsession With Carolyn Bessette Kennedy Is Showing

    Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette is the hottest show on the streaming networks. Carolyn Bessette — long a style favorite of the fashion set — has now entered today’s mainstream. Her life, similar to when she was alive, is being picked apart piece by piece. You could say that people are obsessed. And that’s not a good thing. Join host Liberty Imhoff on Episode 064 of The Manic Metallic Podcast as she discusses the following: The specific traits that people admire about Carolyn Bessette — and why you can achieve those for yourselfWhat the people who say that they want to go back to the 90s are actually searching forHow the obsession with living in a previous time period robs us of the ability to improve our current lives and those of our fellow citizensWhy our society is made weaker by continually focusing on telling stories about the Kennedys — and what we should do insteadAnd more RESOURCES AND REFERENCESThe Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter: “#002 - Cultural Senses: What I Read, Saw, and Heard This Month” https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/002-cultural-senses-what-i-read-saw Learn more about The Manic Metallic Culture Salon: https://manicmetallic.com/the-manic-metallic-culture-salon/ SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donations CONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribe Manic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficial CONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoff Website: libertyimhoff.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

    064. Love Story: Your Obsession With Carolyn Bessette Kennedy Is Showing
  5. Feb 20

    063. In- Person Meetups Will Thrive In 2026, And Here Are Three That We Have Planned

    Meeting up with people offline is something that many people have on the top of their lists for various reasons — both to host and to attend. Manic Metallic has been listening to this sentiment from folks, and we have three in-person events either planned or in the planning stages for 2026 so far. If you are looking for a way to meet other creative people while building community, and you are either in Philadelphia, PA or willing to travel here, now is your chance to be one of the first attendees of a Manic Metallic-hosted event! Listen to Episode 63 of The Manic Metallic Podcast to find out what those events are and how you can attend. RESOURCES AND REFERENCESThe Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter: “#002 - Notes From The Underground: Company Founder Takes” https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/002-notes-from-the-underground-company Learn more about The Manic Metallic Culture Salon: https://manicmetallic.com/the-manic-metallic-culture-salon/ SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donations CONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribe Manic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficial CONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoff Website: libertyimhoff.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

    063. In- Person Meetups Will Thrive In 2026, And Here Are Three That We Have Planned
  6. Feb 13

    062. On Building A Cohesive Vision For Architecture With Architect Benjamin Imhoff

    On Episode 62 of The Manic Metallic Podcast, host Liberty Imhoff is joined by her husband, architect Benjamin Imhoff, for a special Valentine’s Day Week episode in which they discuss the following: What interested Benjamin in architecture — and his advice for other aspiring architectsThe importance of becoming licensed if you choose to work in the field of architectureDonald Trump’s strange obsession with design — and whether it was wise to elect a developer as president of the United StatesGentrification architecture: what it is, why it is reviled, and the alienation that exists throughout all levels of the creation process — from design conception to public perceptionWhy the recent traditional architecture movement’s philosophy is anti-intellectual, and its right-wing populist leaningsHow both the hyperneoliberalist landscape and the lack of a cohesive design vision for society lie at the root of many of the architecture industry’s issuesAnd more! BENJAMIN’S BIO:Benjamin works as a Project Architect at Donovan Architects in Haddonfield, NJ. He is licensed to practice architecture in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, he currently lives in Philadelphia, PA. RESOURCES AND REFERENCESThe Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter: “MM Substack Interview Series: Benjamin Imhoff, Architect” https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/mm-substack-interview-series-benjamin Donovan Architects Project Page: https://donovanarchitects.com/our-projects/ CONNECT WITH BENJAMINLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-imhoff-aia-94865a55/ Substack: https://substack.com/@bfibfi SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donations CONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribe Manic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficial CONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoff Website: libertyimhoff.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

    062. On Building A Cohesive Vision For Architecture With Architect Benjamin Imhoff
  7. Feb 6

    061. The Last Word - Paris Haute Couture Week SS26

    The Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 collections just wrapped last week, so what better time than now to do another edition of 'The Last Word' for The Manic Metallic Podcast? In these episodes of 'The Last Word', host Liberty Imhoff gives her take on the shows and discusses her takeaways and the role that these shows are currently playing in the realm of fashion. Not every show is covered, and this is not a play-by-play, but many shows are brought up. This episode has the following: Two questions that people tend to ask when questioning the necessity of the Haute Couture shows, and her answer to those questionsHer take on the Paris Haute Couture SS26 shows: who did well, who didn’t, and why these shows matterHer belief in the talent of the fashion industry’s designers RESOURCES AND REFERENCESThe Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter: "#001 - State of Fashion and Culture" https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/001-state-of-fashion-and-culture Paris Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 Calendar https://www.fhcm.paris/en/haute-couture-week/calendar#20260129 SUPPORT THE MANIC METALLIC PODCAST ($)https://app.redcircle.com/shows/11d2b542-f3b4-4462-b85e-5708034cb823/donations CONNECT WITH MANIC METALLICSubscribe To Our Substack Newsletter: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribe Manic Metallic Website: manicmetallic.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manicmetallicofficial CONNECT WITH LIBERTYSubstack: substack.com/@libertyimhoff Website: libertyimhoff.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libertyimhoff/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-manic-metallic-podcast/donations

    061. The Last Word - Paris Haute Couture Week SS26
4.1
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The Manic Metallic Podcast gives listeners the chance to dive into fashion and culture from all aspects of time: past, present, and future. In each episode, host Liberty Imhoff brings you a mixture of interview episodes with those involved in fashion, art, design, and other cultural sectors, and of solo episodes where she gives you her take on issues involving today’s fashion and culture sectors. Each episode is designed to challenge your assumption of what fashion and culture are, who they are for, and who can participate.