DISCLAIMER!
This is an X-Rated episode, not just because I cuss any more than usual, but because the context of our conversation revolves around themes of porn, and heavier body modification.
My guest on this episode, is the lovely Leigh Raven. We met what feels like a lifetime ago, when she looked me up to experience body suspension for the first time. After a super laid back and fun session at my old loft, we went ahead and made some art soon after. It’s been a hell of a trip since!
Jumping right into what she does for a living, Leigh shares an eye opening breakdown of what it’s like working in the porn industry. What stands out to me about her experience with that world, is how she has worked her way through the industry on her own terms.
Looks like sticking to her guns is paying off, as she has signed on with kink.com recently, and there are so many positive changes taking place in her personal life. Just following through on experiencing new things to sate your curiosity, no matter how extreme or bizarre it may be, tends to yield better results. You’ll never end up with the regretful ‘what if I had tried that’ thought process that way.
Before she got into porn, Leigh was modeling, working at an Apple store, and also aa a coffee shop. Talk about a NYC hustle - IYKYK. Leaving that behind to move to LA and start a new life, in a new industry, and in a new relationship is terrifying for most people to think about doing. It’s a drastic shift.
Maybe her ability to handle drastic change is related how she can handle extreme states of being. Porn and body modification are only two facets of a large fringe culture that extends into horror, extreme sports, and even stuff like performance art. And it makes me think about how there are spectrums within what people consider to be extreme.
For example, if porn is a fringe industry, what is considered “traditional” porn in that world? Leigh fills me in on what “mainstream” porn is, and points out that people were making serious money a couple decades ago. Which means that folks are not making that kind of money now. Is this part of the price of shifting towards content with more personality?
It’s a new economy - apparently not just for traditional artists learning to leverage digital art communities and platforms. Now with something like OnlyFans, Leigh can get creative with what she’s sharing with her fans, taking her beyond the restrictions of the previously gatekept models of sex work.
Speaking of OF, her fans sent her BONSAI LEGOS. Holy shit! I want plant legos. What a time to be alive.
So at one point, I just abruptly change the topic and get right into the topic of empowerment, and what that means for her. I think it’s invaluable to hear what her story looks like; porn or no porn, folks go through very abusive, stressful, and generally non-consensual situations in this world, and taking one’s power back can look very strange to outsiders. Talking about power dynamics briefly, we touch on how things are not always what they seem. It’s a tough topic for most - Leigh handles it with grace.
And naturally, I get to ask her about what her suspension experience looks like for her. I love the answer: she has different experience with different practitioners in different environments. The other person she suspends with is Chase Campbell - he is an incredibly talented body modification artist, and you should check his stuff out on Instagram if you’re ready for some heavier mods. TW: it’s some seriously heavy shit. There is blood.
We proceed to go down some rabbitholes with what heavy modification looks like, and even visit how things like breast augmentation, lip fillers, etc all fall under body modification. I love this topic because I am an advocate for folks modifying their bodies to become more comfortable in their skin. Dye your hair, get a tattoo, or just get a big ol implant jammed under your skin. You do you!
With Leigh there’s an element of exploration with everything, and this is also the case with breast augmentation as well. However, when talking about liposuction, she really lays out how this specific modification served as a confidence booster for her. It’s not just an exploration, it’s a true modification of her physical form intended to modify her mental state as well. Body dysmorphia is a very difficult and underrated mental health topic.
Asking her to share stories about the weirdest things that have happened to her, we go down an insane rabbithole of crazy stuff she’s been through, and I’ll let you hear that all for yourself. It gets wild.
I find that stories like Leigh’s serve to remind us that creativity is not limited to traditional or even digital canvases. What she does is performance art, with a utility that is high in demand. And her interest and ability to begin curating what she presents, and explore new mediums, is a beautiful motivator for anybody that is willing to keep an open mind and challenge themselves, by trying something new once in a while.
Be sure to check Leigh out on social media. Check her out on Instagram here, and on Twitter as well.
Next week: DAMNENGINE.
I’m so stoked for this. We got thick into some weeds with him, about art, technology, and life. It got a little personal, and very deep.
Transmission #25 - Leigh Raven