Radio Detox Season 2, Episode 1 - Gen Z, Soul, and Sats: Kathryn on Building an Artist-First Future

In this lively, on-the-ground episode from Antone’s in Austin and later Bitcoin Park in Nashville, I sit down with emerging R&B/soul artist Kathryn for her first-ever podcast interview and a follow-up nearly a year later. When I say lively, I mean we're interrupted by none other than the Podfather himself, Adam Curry. Then we're interrupted by Ainsley's Momager, which also happened in Nashville (though I edit that one out). Ainsley Costello also makes an appearance in the Antone's/Austin interview! We talk about Kathryn's grind of breaking into music post-Belmont, her detour through commission sales and what it taught her about rejection, and how discovering value-for-value (V4V + Nostr + Bitcoin) lit a new path beyond the saturated DSP model. Kathryn shares the story behind her first Fountain.fm release, “Socrates,” why she leans into R&B despite Nashville roots, and how she’s using instant, direct splits to pay her producer—setting culture and precedent in a new artist-first ecosystem. We get candid about learning Bitcoin and Nostr from scratch, the stigma and marketing hurdles, and practical ways Gen Z artists can onboard without sacrificing their art. Along the way, you’ll hear about community wins, live-radio boosts, and Kathryn’s expanding music catalog—“Lemons,” “Body,” “Scoot,” “Canvas,” “Relevance,” and “What Comes Next”—plus concrete ideas for better tools, artist portals, and college outreach that could help indie music thrive in a freedom-tech future. If you’re an artist or builder curious about direct fan support, instant splits, and keeping your creative control, this episode maps the messy, exciting middle—what’s working, what’s missing, and how you can jump in now to help shape what comes next.