Raised by Hippies

RAISED BY HIPPIES MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - March 2026

First things first, I owe you an apology.

It has been a little while since the last YouTube video, and I know some of you noticed. The past couple of months have just been a bit chaotic behind the scenes. Nothing dramatic, just life getting busy and the work taking longer than expected. These videos take a lot of research, writing, editing, and fact-checking, and sometimes the process stretches out more than I would like.

I really appreciate the patience.

The good news is we finally have a new video out.

NEW VIDEO: BOB DYLAN VS. LEONARD COHEN

The newest video on the channel is called:
Bob Dylan vs. Leonard Cohen & The Hallelujah Lie That Reveals Everything.

It begins with a small moment from the late 80s: Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen sitting together in a café in Paris, talking about songwriting. Dylan asks Cohen how long it took him to write “Hallelujah.”

Cohen gives an answer that was not entirely true.

Dylan’s response somehow makes the whole thing even more interesting.

That brief exchange opens the door to a much bigger question about the two of them. They were both working with similar musical traditions, similar imagery, even similar structures in their songs, and yet their approaches to writing and to fame could not have been more different.

That contrast turns out to reveal a lot about both artists.

40,000 SUBSCRIBERS!!

Somewhere along the way the channel quietly crossed another milestone.

We are now over 40,000 subscribers on YouTube.

That number still feels a little surreal. When we started Raised By Hippies, the idea that tens of thousands of people would want to watch long videos about music history felt pretty unlikely.

So if you are one of those 40,000 people, thank you. And if you have shared a video, left a comment, or used the “hype” feature on YouTube to help the videos reach more people, that stuff really does make a difference.

LATEST PATREON DOCUMENTARY: GOD LIVES ON SAINT-LAURENT

Our most recent documentary on Patreon is called “God Lives On Saint-Laurent.” It tells the story of Leonard Cohen’s early life and the environments that shaped him long before the world knew his music.

We go back to mid-century Montreal, into the Jewish communities where garment makers lived alongside poets, then across the Atlantic to the Greek island of Hydra where artists and wandering writers gathered in the early 1960s. From there the story moves to the Chelsea Hotel in New York, one of the most legendary creative crossroads of the era.

The film looks at how those places and communities helped form Cohen’s voice and personality, and how those early experiences echoed through his work for the rest of his life. Mysterious, dark, and endlessly compelling, Leonard Cohen really was one of a kind.

That documentary is available now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/RaisedByHippies525

COMING SOON: MUSIC + POLITICS

The next YouTube video should be out in about two weeks.

It looks at the long relationship between music and politics and pushes back a bit on the idea that music suddenly became political sometime recently. When you look back at the history, it becomes pretty clear that music has always been reacting to the world around it.

Sometimes that reaction is obvious. Sometimes it is buried inside stories about love, work, or everyday life. But the connection is almost always there.

That one has turned into a really interesting rabbit hole and I am excited to share it soon.

NEXT PATREON DOCUMENTARY: MARVIN GAYE

Over on Patreon, the next documentary we are working on will focus on Marvin Gaye.

Patreon is where we release our longer documentary projects and where supporters get to vote on upcoming topics. A $5/MONTH subscription gives access to the full archive of documentaries along with those voting rights and other exclusive content.

SOMETHING NEW ON PATREON

Beginning this month, we aim to release one short video every week that is a little different from the documentaries and long YouTube essays. These will be shorter, more candid videos where I about things that do not always fit neatly into the YouTube algorithm. Current bands, music trends, artists we have been listening to lately, or just thoughts about where music seems to be heading.

The main idea is to create a space where we can speak a little more freely and connect with people in a more personal way. Not everything needs to be a full documentary or a heavily researched video essay. Sometimes it is nice to just talk about music the way people normally do.

So if you have ever wondered what I think about certain artists or parts of the music world that do not usually make it into the main videos, this will be a space for that.

MERCH

No merch announcements this month, but we are working on some new design ideas for the shop. A few concepts are still in the sketch phase, so nothing to reveal just yet, but there are some ideas we are really excited about.

Hopefully we will have something to show you in the next month or so.

I will say there has been a lot of expressed interest in the Broomours shirt so check it out if you're interested: raised-by-hippies-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd/produ…

THANK YOU

I say this a lot, but it really does mean a lot that people care about these stories.

Music history is full of strange little moments that could easily disappear if nobody keeps talking about them. The goal with Raised By Hippies has always been to keep digging those stories up and sharing them with people who love this music as much as we do.

So whether you watch every video, support the Patreon, or just quietly follow along, thank you for being here.

More soon.

- Vanessa

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3 days ago | [YT] | 31

Raised by Hippies

Hey everyone!

Quick check in because this week is basically one connected story.

We just released a new Alanis documentary on Patreon. It’s a close up look at how “Jagged Little Pill” got made, Ottawa to Los Angeles, the journals, the songwriting, and what it actually meant for a 19 year old to put that much honesty on the radio in 1994.

Tomorrow’s YouTube video is the wide angle version. It’s about women in 90s music, not as a ranking or a nostalgia trip, but as a map of the pressure they were under and the different ways they pushed back. Pop perfection, tabloid cruelty, alternative anger, Riot Grrrl infrastructure, Lilith Fair, the whole ecosystem. Alanis is in the middle of it, but she’s not the only one who had to fight to be taken seriously.

If you want the deep Alanis story, the doc is on Patreon now. If you want the bigger decade picture, the YouTube video is out tomorrow.

Patreon - www.patreon.com/c/RaisedByHippies525

Who is one woman from 90s music you think people still don’t give enough credit to, and what do they miss?

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4 weeks ago | [YT] | 65

Raised by Hippies

Elvis fans, I’ve always loved how his voice changes depending on the era. Where do you think he sounded best?

If you want to make your case, drop one song or performance that proves it!

1 month ago | [YT] | 14

Raised by Hippies

LAST CALL FOR CHRISTMAS MERCH & CAROLE KING NEXT WEEK!

The Classic Rock Christmas sale is on, and our holiday merch is officially in “last call” territory. 🎄✨

Today (the 11th) is the last day to order if you want your merch guaranteed to land under the tree in time. After that, shipping gets a little wild and I can’t make promises. 🎅🏻🎁

Grab your favorites in the shop through the link in our bio and let’s make your December wardrobe a little more festive. ✌️

Shop - www.raised-by-hippies-shop.fourthwall.com/

Also we're finally releasing the Carole King doc for YouTube this coming Tuesday so stay tuned!

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1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 17

Raised by Hippies

RAISED BY HIPPIES MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
November 2025

This season has been wild, and if you have noticed it’s been a minute since our last YouTube drop, trust us, we feel it too. October and November have been a bit of a whirlwind behind the scenes. If you have been waiting for something new to hit the channel, thank you for your patience. We are hard at work on a full-length Carole King documentary for YouTube and aiming to have it out within the next week. We really do appreciate everyone who checks in, shares kind words, or sticks around while we try to get these stories right.

Our goal for the New Year is to set ourselves up so that we can continue our posting schedule of every two weeks.

The Dick Cavett Show (Two-Part Documentary, first hour free)

Last month, we dropped a two-hour, two-part documentary on The Dick Cavett Show over on Patreon. The first hour is totally free to watch, you can just sign up for Patreon with a free account and you are in. If you want to catch the full second hour (plus the whole archive of documentaries and the power to vote on what comes next), a $5 monthly subscription gets you full access. We wanted to give everyone a chance to check out what we do on Patreon, so if you are curious, now is a great time to take a look.

PATREON - www.patreon.com/c/RaisedByHippies525

Black Friday & Holiday Merch Sale

The holidays are here, and so is our biggest merch deal of the year. We are running a storewide sale in our shop, 20% off all purchases from November 26 through November 28. Whether you want to grab something for yourself or someone else, now is the time. We will also be dropping new Christmas designs in December, so keep an eye out for those.

SHOP - raised-by-hippies-shop.fourthwall.com/en-cad

What’s Next

Between the Cavett doc, the upcoming Carole King release, and the usual year-end chaos, we want to thank you for rolling with us. If you are new here, welcome! If you have been along for the whole ride, we appreciate it more than you know. Your support, feedback, and encouragement make every project possible. As always, if you want to see us keep going (or growing), sharing our stuff, leaving comments, or using the “hype” feature on YouTube goes a long way.

Here’s to a season full of music, good company, and a little peace wherever you find it.

Peace and Love, Vanessa <3

3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 25

Raised by Hippies

IT'S SPOOKY SEASON 👻🎃🐈‍⬛

Halloween at Raised By Hippies means the Rumours lineup with a twist: Stevie as a witch, Mick as a skeleton, and two shirt styles to choose from. The Spooky Version brings in bats and a jack-o-lantern for full October vibes. The alternate pulls back on the Halloween extras but keeps the transformed duo front and center. Both are out now, and both are made for anyone who loves a little weirdness in their wardrobe.


Shop: raised-by-hippies-shop.fourthwall.com/

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4 months ago | [YT] | 63

Raised by Hippies

RAISED BY HIPPIES MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
October 2025

September was a big month on the channel, with two new deep dives into corners of rock history that rarely get their due. First up: Surf Rock. We followed the wave from Southern California garages to legendary stages, tracing how twangy guitars, endless reverb, and some sunburned kids set the template for decades of American pop weirdness. If you ever wondered why the Beach Boys sounded the way they did, or how bands like Dick Dale made a Stratocaster sound like a tsunami, this one is for you.

Next, we took on the debate about punk’s true beginnings with “Did The Ramones Invent Punk?” The video traces how four kids from Queens took the raw energy of 1970s New York and CBGB’s and helped ignite a global movement, exploring both their influences and their impact on scenes from London to Los Angeles.

We also released a video on the history of popular music in 1965. This one covers the musical landscape of that pivotal year and dives into the shifts, breakthroughs, and new sounds that set the stage for everything that followed. From folk and rock to soul and pop, the 1965 video traces how artists and scenes collided to create a musical turning point.

Our next video will be on Laurel Canyon and it will be coming out late next week.

PATREON

Each month, we dig a little deeper for our Patreon documentary. September’s was “Our House: The Story of Laurel Canyon.” If you know, you know. Laurel Canyon was more than an address. It was the backdrop for a whole generation reinventing American music in kitchens, on porches, and sometimes in houses barely standing on the hillside. While the video starts with the geography, it is the conversations, the music, and the tangled lives that turn it into something bigger.

This one seemed to hit home for a lot of you. Here is what Patron Larry Cecil had to say:

"A favorite topic; Laurel Canyon. I have read several music and film history books where L.C. plays a central role. Your perspective as well as still images and film clips previously unseen by me made this episode a revelation. Once again, thank you for another excellent documentary."

Patreon is where we drop these every month. Five dollars gets you full access, voting power on upcoming documentaries, and access to all Patreon-exclusive videos, including over a dozen documentaries and counting that are available to stream anytime. If you are not ready to subscribe, you can also purchase a single documentary to check out.

Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/raisedbyhi...

Looking ahead, October’s Patreon documentary is all about Dick Cavett and the show that somehow managed to sneak rock’s oddest and brightest into the living room of middle America. Expect stories from both sides of the desk, some legendary and infamous interviews, and maybe a few moments that never made it to air. Patrons picked this one, so if you want in on the next vote, now is the time.

NEW MERCH DROP: LAUREL CANYON SHIRT & MORE

To mark the Laurel Canyon documentary, we released a special edition shirt. It is simple, vintage-inspired, and has no overt branding. It is the kind of thing you would wear to a midnight jam or a Sunday record swap. The Laurel Canyon shirt is available in the shop.

Keep an eye out for seasonal drops. Halloween and Christmas designs will feature nods to artists you know, some you might have forgotten, and at least one that will have to be seen to be believed.

Shirt: raised-by-hippies-shop.fourth/...

PODCAST UPDATE

We are still plotting the Raised By Hippies podcast. After plenty of starts and stops, we are aiming for a January kickoff with stories, interviews, and maybe a few unexpected detours.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU!

We are thinking about new ways to make Raised By Hippies more interactive and rewarding. Would you be interested in becoming a YouTube channel member, which means purchasing a $5 subscription to the YouTube channel every month, to get special perks and early releases? Would that be worth it to you? Would you want to access our documentaries directly on YouTube as members, the way we offer them on Patreon? Let us know what would actually feel worthwhile for you, and what kind of perks or features you would care about most.

HOW YOU CAN HELP ON YOUTUBE (I KNOW, I KNOW)

Look, nobody really likes hearing this part, but here it is. The reality is, commenting, sharing, and subscribing really do help us reach more people. If you are enjoying the videos, dropping a comment or passing them on to a friend is huge.

And if you have a second, there is a feature called “hype” on YouTube now. Giving a video some hype pushes it out to more folks and lets the algorithm know people are paying attention. We would honestly rather just make the stuff and let it find its own audience, but that is not really how the platform works anymore. So if you want to see Raised By Hippies keep growing, those small gestures actually do a lot.

THANK YOU

Seriously, thank you for being part of this community and for supporting Raised By Hippies in all its forms. Whether you have been with us since the beginning or you are just discovering what we do, your interest and encouragement have kept this whole project moving forward. Every view, comment, vote, and message lets us know these stories matter to you too.

This project is about sharing music, history, and creativity in a way that feels genuine. It is only possible because of people like you who care about these stories and want to keep them alive. We are grateful you are along for the ride and we cannot wait to share what is coming next.

- Vanessa & Christian

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5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 21

Raised by Hippies

When I started Raised By Hippies, it was just a way to share the music I love and the stories that shaped me. I never imagined it would grow into the kind of community it is today. And now, thanks to all of you, we’ve officially launched our merch store.

This is a big moment for me. Not just because it marks a new chapter, but because it brings together two things I’ve always loved: music and design. In my twenties, I worked in local fashion boutiques, where I learned about fabrics, fit, the feel of a good tee, and how much care can go into even the simplest look. That stuck with me. So when it came time to make merch for this channel, I didn’t want to slap a logo on a shirt and call it a day. I wanted it to mean something.

Some of the pieces are vintage-inspired. Some are louder, some more subtle. Each one was made with a wild obsession for the music, the cultures, and the stories we’ve built together here. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or you’ve just found the channel, I want to say thank you - it’s really all about you.

And this is only the beginning. We’ll be constantly adding new designs, refining what works, taking in your feedback, and growing this thing together. I want this to be a store that evolves with us as something we can keep building on for years to come.

If you feel like checking it out, I hope you find something that speaks to you. And if you pick something up, know that you're not just wearing merch. You're carrying the spirit of this whole thing forward.

With love and gratitude,
Vanessa
Raised By Hippies

RAISED BY HIPPIES STORE! - raised-by-hippies-shop.fourthwall.com/en-cad

7 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 5

Raised by Hippies

Today we reflect on the passing of Brian Wilson at age 82. As a cultural pioneer, he reshaped how pop music could be imagined and produced. His innovative studio techniques and emotional honesty have rippled through artists across generations. Personally, I’ve been profoundly moved by the ways his melodies captured both the brightness and shadows of life.

Our latest video explores Brian’s extraordinary journey from the surf-pop breakthrough of the Beach Boys to the introspective brilliance of Pet Sounds and the inner turmoil that both fueled and fractured his creativity. We navigate the rise of Good Vibrations, the ambitious yet ill-fated Smile project and his ultimate revival in later decades.

For those who want more, we’ve published an exclusive double-song analysis on our Patreon’s free-tier: a deep dive into the form and feeling behind “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “Good Vibrations.” No paid tier required—just sign up to Patreon’s free access to watch our breakdown of these two masterworks.

🎧 Join our free-tier on Patreon to access the song analysis vid where we break down "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "Good Vibrations:" www.patreon.com/c/RaisedByHippies525

Thank you all for your support. If Brian’s music shaped your life as it did mine, we’d love to hear your favorite memory or song in the comments.

8 months ago | [YT] | 24

Raised by Hippies

Hey everyone, Vanessa here with a big update for June!

We don’t post a lot of these, but there’s been so much happening behind the scenes at Raised By Hippies, it felt like time to check in—especially with so many new folks joining us lately.

We’re closing in on 20,000 subscribers, which is honestly hard to believe. Just over a month ago we were celebrating 10,000 and talking about starting a podcast. At the time, we thought we had a little breathing room—but clearly things picked up faster than we expected. So first and foremost, thank you. Whether you’ve been with us for a while or just found the channel recently, I’m really glad you’re here.

This week happens to be THE WHO week—part of a monthly series we do here where we focus entirely on one artist for seven days. Every day we’re posting new YouTube Shorts, plus stories, photos, and deeper reflections over on Threads.

To go along with it, we just dropped a brand new YouTube video: Keith Moon – The Art of Chaos. If you’ve ever wanted a closer look at how Keith’s legendary drumming and legendary destruction were two sides of the same coin, this one’s for you.

And if you want to dig even deeper, the new full-length documentary—The Who: Art of Destruction—is now available on Patreon (link below or in my profile). It explores the unique and volatile connection between Keith Moon and Pete Townshend. Both were drawn to destruction, but for different reasons. One used it as performance, the other as therapy. It was raw, combustible, and in its own strange way, deeply collaborative.

A few other updates:

The Raised By Hippies podcast is still in development. We’ve made good progress and we’re excited about the direction, but with the subscriber growth taking off the way it has, we’re taking the extra time to build something that’s worth the wait.

We’re also launching a seasonal merch line. Every season we’ll release a limited run of new designs—some standalone, others part of a collectible series. We have some really neat ideas that we're excited about. But hey, once the season’s over, those pieces are gone. We're going to try and get that launched by end of July, so stay tuned!

Lastly we have a couple more long-form YouTube video coming soon. You guys won't have to wait another month for a video, we're going to try and have one out next week!

That’s it for now. More videos, more stories, more music history on the way. Thanks again for being here, it means more to me than I can express, you guys ❤️✌️🎸

The Who: Art Of Destruction - patreon.com/RaisedByHippies525

- Vanessa Hughes

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