Vigorously with Val Kleinhans
Welcome to Vigorously with Val Kleinhans—a podcast that shares thoughtful conversations with guests and solo reflections centered around navigating life with effort, energy, and enthusiasm.
Hosted by media personality and style maven Val Kleinhans, this show celebrates those who live life out loud. Whether it's fashion, mental health, music, pop culture, or personal growth, Val brings her curious energy and signature positive outlook and honesty to every episode. If you're into real talk with real people who aren’t afraid to be themselves, this one’s for you.
New episodes drop weekly—let’s live vigorously.
Follow @vigorouslypod on Instagram
Inquiries: val.kleinhans@gmail.com
Episodes
173 episodes
Weaponize Knowing Your Worth
Can I be my own best friend? What happens when you become so bulletproof against outside opinions and external clutter that you've actually weaponized knowing your worth? Well vigorous ones, it's a beautiful place to be.The events in Min...
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27:23
Are Music Genres Even Real Anymore?
Genre-blending, playlists replacing scenes, and identity-less sound. What does it all mean? Does music need labels or do we? Val attempts to dive into how the lines blurred, who benefits, who loses, and why it feels confusing (and freeing) as a...
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27:15
Ins and Outs for 2026
Ready for some ins and outs in 2026? These ones span daily interactions, fashion, music, and social commentary. Enjoy!
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41:00
Music to Watch (and Listen For) in 2026
2026 is finally here! Val checks in with a full list of artists (new and old), tours, and announcements in music that you need to be paying attention to this year.
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32:47
Encore!
We're ready to put 2025 to bed! Val shows up in her finest jammies and puts a bow on 2025 by dissecting the use of encores in live shows, recaps the year in a very general fashion (purely based on vibes), and shares hopes for 2026.
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29:22
I Defined “Vigorously” the Wrong Way
Val holds herself accountable in this episode, and explains how the didn't quite define Vigorously the right way when she first started working on it. This is the tale of the podcast itself, with tons of branding tips that allow you to dive int...
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31:45
2025: The Year Music Stopped Performing
Val looks back on a year in music (2025) that was ultimately a year of realignment, and an encouraging nudge toward reinvention. Music felt like a companion again, not content. It reminded us why we fell in love with music in the first place.
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31:20
Acknowledge Your Wounds Without Judging Yourself
Give yourself permission to feel that. You’ve been trying so hard, and that effort deserves to be recognized—not punished.Val goes over why acknowledging your emotions isn't ignoring them or a "weak" thing to do. She also explai...
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32:50
Kendra Erika: Genre Deaf In A Golden Way
Kendra Erika, an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and actress, has cemented her place as a powerhouse in the music industry. With five Billboard Top Ten dance hits, Kendra hit the pinnacle of success in 2019 when her single “Self-Control” t...
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36:22
I Feel Safer Alone (Even If I Don’t Want to Be)
For the ones who crave connection but have trust issues, trauma, or fierce independence. You're not alone! Val is the same way. We'll dive into how to name and change the paradox that "being alone is better because it's safer" - because it's ke...
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28:34
What I Learned From My 2025 Spotify Wrapped
If you're a music fan, you're obsessed with the fact that your 2025 Spotify Wrapped was released this week. You shared your results with your friends. You cringed. You laughed. You celebrated. You got nostalgic. You might've even been pissed of...
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22:27
Saying “No” Still Makes Me Feel Guilty
The holidays have arrived, and this time of year means a lot of "no" might be necessary. It's hard to say "no" and mean it. Val walks us through how to find our own voice so we can learn what to say "no" to, and how to practice saying no in a w...
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39:17
Spiritbox, Aerosmith, and Yungblud… Oh My!
Val presents a full recap of the Minneapolis stop on Spiritbox's Tsunami Sea tour which also featured Honey Revenge and Periphery. She also dives into what she's been listening to lately - hint: a lot of it has been the One More Ti...
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20:06
My Sustainable Style Tips
Tis' the season that early Black Friday sales are dominating our algorithms and shopping habits. Don't get overwhelmed! Val shares some tips on how to navigate a busy and expensive shopping season in the middle of an uncertain economy.
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22:47
Our Lord and Millennial Savior: Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff has returned to music, much to the enjoyment of every millennial out there. Val chats about her new single "Mature" and ponders what the musical future could look like for Hilary.
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12:29
Superior Serial Killers
Why is it that we're so obsessed with serial killers? Val examines this with the help of an article from Boston University, and shares her thoughts on Monster: The Ed Gein Story on Netflix. BU Today article: <...
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29:11
I Saw Lorna Shore in Minneapolis and This Is What Happened
Val caught the Lorna Shore tour when it hit Minneapolis over the weekend. Luckily, they brought PeelingFlesh, Shadow of Intent and The Black Dahlia Murder with them. This is what happened.Gas station food is u...
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22:40
Influencers of Metal: Brotherhood, Metal, and Life’s Heaviest Moments
In this episode of Vigorously with Val Kleinhans, Val sits down with Tom and Collin from the Influencers of Metal podcast for a deep dive into the brotherhood that built their show and the brotherhood fuels the metal sc...
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1:15:34
My Playlist Knows All My Trauma
This episode suggests that music has a deep understanding of your traumatic experiences and their lasting impact on your mental, emotional, and physical well-being - triggers and all. Val provides personal examples. We also introduc...
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23:26
I Don’t Have The Patience…
The Charlie Kirk of it all has created a national firestorm in the United States, and Val is having none of it. Americans are hurting, and it's well past time we do a deep dive into why in the hopes that another assassination...
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37:33
Framing Hanley: A Middle Finger to Apathy
Two decades of rock, reinvention, and raw honesty—Nixon of Framing Hanley joins Val to reflect on the band’s 20-year journey from breakout hits to enduring resilience. They dig into the highs, the hard lessons, and what keeps the fire bu...
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20:54
Kelsey Kempainen: Strings Attached, Bass Lines & Family Life
In this episode of Vigorously with Val Kleinhans, Val sits down with bassist Kelsey Kempainen to dive deep into the rhythm behind the music and the mindset of a true groove master. They talk about what drew Kelsey to the bass, t...
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40:24
Why Being ‘Her’ Changes Everything
On this episode of Vigorously with Val Kleinhans, we’re diving deep into the power of feminine energy—what it really is, why it matters, and how to unapologetically tap into it in your daily life. Val breaks down practical ways to embr...
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29:30