Different Leaf: the Podcast

In this episode of the Different Leaf the Podcast, photographers Sam Lee and Hunter Abrams discuss their long-running creative partnership and their approach to shooting one of the book’s most striking visual stories. Having worked with leading outlets including Vogue, Interview Magazine, The New York Times, and GQ, Lee and Abrams reflect on how they first met, how their collaborative process evolved, and what it means to build trust behind the camera. The conversation centers around their Different Leaf photo shoot with André De Shields — Tony Award–winning actor, singer, and cultural icon — whose presence, movement, and history informed every frame. They break down the role of styling and wardrobe, and how thoughtful choices allowed De Shields’ creative energy to lead without overpowering the image itself. Lee and Abrams also speak to Bob Faust and Nick Cave’s original vision for the book, and how they translated that vision into photographs that expand the narrative while honoring its spirit—adding texture, rhythm, and humanity to a world built on art, cannabis, and storytelling.

In this episode of the Different Leaf: the Podcast, host Brit Smith talks with curator Denise Markonish as she unpacks the vision behind the inaugural book hitting shelves in Summer 2026. Drawing on her extensive background in contemporary art — including her current work as the Martin Friedman Chief Curator at the Madison Square Park Conservancy and previously at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MOCA) — Markonish reflects on what has shaped her curatorial approach and why subversive artists feel especially vital in today’s political and cultural landscape. She shares what drew her to invite Nick Cave and Bob Faust to guest edit the book, highlighting the rigor, playfulness, and social awareness that defines their artistic practices. The episode traces the early conceptual framework for the book project, following the journey of Mr. Karen, an other-worldly character created by author Jonathan Lethem who moves through Different Leaf’s richly layered world of art, cannabis, community, and storytelling.