Latham Thomas

Glow Moment - So your insta-nephew is officially a rising senior at Berklee School of Music in Boston and is currently living in LA where he is interning for the next 10 weeks with music icon, will.i.am- musician, producer, technology entrepreneur and founder of Black Eyed Peas & FYI which is a music platform and App.

My son just started his internship this week and really loves the community work environment. He is loving LA living, walking around to get to know the neighborhoods and catching up with friends. He already has a party booked on June 28th if you’re based in LA and want to attend, I will share details.

He loves his little space which overlooks a beautiful yard with giant Birds of Paradise and cacti. I will share the space and decor soon too!

Fuli is settling in well and open to all recommendations for culture and dining suggestions. Please share. He really wants to immerse himself and enjoy all the city has to offer. If you have hair braiders in LA we should know about please send or drop in the comments.

Glow Moment - Mama Glow Foundation + Kate Spade New York
Celebrate the Mama Glow Icons Awards Brunch, a celebration of Mother’s Day & Maternal Mental Health.

On May 1st, the and invited 50 guests to attend our inaugural Mama Glow Icons Brunch at .bk to honor change-makers in our community who have made significant contributions to the advancement of maternal health care and maternal mental health advocacy.

As we celebrate Mother‘s Day/month and uplift Maternal Mental Health, we honor women who have made exceptional contributions in these fields and are leading the charge for the future.

Meet the honorees:
, founder of - Maternal Health Advocate Award

, 4th generation midwife - Maternal Health Advocate Award

, Executive Director of - Maternal Mental Health Advocate Award

Attendees included community partners, mental health providers, birthworkers, cultural leaders, and key stakeholders and community members who are actively engaged in maternal health solutions and mental health advocacy work. Guests dined on brunch delights from and were surrounded by poppies.

As we close out the month of May we reflect on the powerful work advocates are doing to advance maternal health and mental health. Saluting Mama Glow Icons everywhere!

Swipe to see more about this amazing day. ❤️❤️❤️
Tell us who some of your favorite maternal health and mental health advocates are.

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📍 .bk
Thank you and team on production and making this beautiful day come to life.

Over the weekend our family/community tragically lost a beloved friend, a mother, grandmother, beautiful spirit, a woman fighting an internal battle with mental health, and she didn’t make it. We’ve been mourning…

On the heels of that discovery and in the midst of mourning, news of the tent massacre in Rafah sent me over the edge. Women, men and young children are unhoused, displaced, starving, searching for traces of family members, and living in tents…. This is not how we are meant to exist. There is no where safe. We are not ok. It’s not business as usual. We are mourning.

I have not watched videos and have avoided images for my own mental health. I don’t need to see suffering to be sensitized to it. I know it is happening, just as I know what my ancestors went through, I don’t need to see a dramatization of it to be impacted by it.

In my life’s work I’ve witnessed and supported hundreds of people be born… know that life is precious and every life is a miracle. I know that children deserve to grow up in safety, dignity, community and in liberation. I know that mothers deserve to see their children grow up. I know that our nervous systems are not wired for war. We are not meant to move through the world harming others. We are human vessels of peace. We are meant to create spaces of love, belonging, community- that is what makes us uniquely human.

My heart is super heavy as we head into this week. Praying for everyone to stay soft in spirit and fortified in flesh. Asking that we all be gentle with one another. We don’t know how people are processing what is happening Geopolitically. We don’t know how people are making it through. We don’t know if they are struggling and at the end of their rope. I don’t really have words… but I know it’s time to be tender…. I’m still mourning. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Slides:

Glow Moment - It’s been such an incredible month personally and professionally and I am fully ready to slow down. I haven’t felt as compelled to share here although I do believe sharing is a powerful way to keep folks abreast of our journeys and to convey learnings and lessons. The Geopolitical climate is devastating so it’s hard to come on here and share delights and wins.

Last Monday I attended the 100 Health Awards dinner and ceremony. It was an evening centering global health and folks who are contributing solutions to some of our greatest health challenges.

Thank you to the hard working team over at Time for inviting me.

MAMA GLOW DOULA HOMESCHOOL ONLINE WEEKLY PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM - LEVEL 1
6-WEEK PROGRAM - SUMMER 2024

Since June of 2018 we at Mama Glow have trained over 2,500 Mama Glow Doulas globally and across 6 continents.

The Summer 2024 6-week professional doula training program covers pregnancy through the early postpartum period and will take place once per week on Sundays over a 6-week period.

Sunday, June 2nd - July 7th. Sundays from 12pm-3:30pm ET.
The course tuition is offered at $775 + processing fees.

The MAMA GLOW DOULA HOMESCHOOL virtual training program includes LIVE digital training via Zoom with Latham Thomas and modules with guest teachers, assignments to complete at home and with your fellow doula trainees.This program is open to all regardless of previous experience.

The Mama Glow Doula Homeschool course includes preparation and education for birth doula support. This is a CERTIFICATE PROGRAM designed to advance birth workers professionally. Aside from our world class and one-of-a-kind teaching methodology, the Mama Glow Doula Professional Training Program includes ongoing Professional and Work-force Development, which means we hold your hand as you take your certification journey and launch your business.You will be able to serve clients when you emerge from our program. You will also be eligible for professional opportunities through Mama Glow and the Mama Glow Foundation. Mama Glow Doula Homeschool Level 1 is a Path To Doula Certification with Mama Glow.

Receive a Supreme Education with Mama Glow
The Mama Glow Professional Doula Training Program has been offered as a course in Gender and Sexuality Studies at Brown University where Mama Glow founder Latham Thomas was appointed Visiting Professor of the Practice of Gender and Sexuality Studies in the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Learning on Women.

Don’t miss your chance to become a Mama Glow Doula!

www.mamaglow.com or link in bio to learn more

Mother’s Day Reflections - This weekend I picked up your intsa-nephew from college. He is officially a senior now. He completed his junior year with a 4.0 GPA and is on track to graduate with honors distinction. Fulano has an amazing internship planned and will spend the summer in LA for 10 weeks working with Will I Am and the FYI team.

I am thankful for a lot this Mother’s Day but I am mostly hyper aware of my privilege in this moment as a mother who is currently safe, housed, resourced and who’s child is also safe. I was able to pick up my son and not worry about his immediate safety. I am not worried about hunger, famine, where my next meal will come from. I am not rocking my child to sleep to the sounds of bombs. I am not displaced, I am not injured, I am not searching for loved ones in rubble. I am not giving birth without adequate medical resources, I am not trying to breastfeed a newborn through occupation, terror and destruction, suffering and devastation. I am not directly mourning generations lost, yet I am mourning generations lost because we are all connected. We are all family. No mother should ever go to bed worried about the safety of her children. No child should have to worry about their survival. Children deserve peace and liberation.

I’m so thankful to be a mother and have the responsibility of taking care of someone else. I salute everyone who pours energy into mothering, whether you have given birth or not. Mothering is a gift and we all have the capacity to nurture.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Glow Moment - Birthday Mode. Still Celebrating my 44th solar return. Still thankful. It’s my birthday weekend, really my birth month! May 3rd I turned 44 years alive y’all. 44 feels good. Roll call! Who else is a Ta**us Baby? I’m celebrating you too!!!! 🥰❤️🎂🧁💐

**us **us **usseason

Happy Birthday Mode 🎂Ta**us Season ♉️♉️♉️ Counting blessings. Making a wish. Thank you Lord for another year. I promise to do some good in this world. Thank you mommy for carrying me for 10 moons to safe passage earthside 44 years ago on this day. I wouldn’t be here if not for you.

This week is (May 1-7) is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is a week-long campaign dedicated to talking about mental health problems before, during and after pregnancy. The week is all about: raising public and professional awareness of perinatal mental health problems as well as advocating for those impacted.

On May 1st I had the honor of hosting the inaugural Mama Glow Icon Awards in partnership with and where we honored 3 incredible women for their contributions to maternal health and maternal mental health - Lisa Price of Carol’s Daughter, 4th Generation midwife Racha Tahani Lawler, and Sharlene Kelmer CEO of Loveland Foundation which is the incredible organization my sister Rachel Cargel founded. (Stay tuned for a recap).

This is me at my favorite place .bk in the window garden surrounded by Cherry blossoms. When I was little I couldn’t wait until May for the Cherry blossoms to appear. These blooms were placed for our Mama Glow Icons brunch in celebration of women making significant impact in maternal health and mental health.

At the end of the gathering I was presented with this gorgeous cake and a booklet of lovenotes collected throughout the event. I figured out who planned the surprise pretty quickly. Thankful for the acknowledgment and the love. 🙌🏾❤️ **us

Birthday Girl🧁🧁🧁 Today, May 3rd I celebrate my solar return. I am 44 years alive. Thank you Lord for the blessing of life force. I am so grateful as I look back on all that has happened in the past year. I opened a beautiful brick and mortar space in Williamsburg, .bk which is another extension of our Black female led enterprise at Mama Glow. So many beautiful lessons learned, a handful of incredible people came into my life, some who I love dearly, left my life and some I deepened my relationship with.

I have been navigating something quite emotionally challenging over the past year, and I feel light at the end of the tunnel as I step deeper into my Ease Era. Thankful for the people who have held me and nurtured me while I continue to show up for my business and the the community, the doulas, the birth workers, and the people we touch around the country and globally.

I am deeply impacted by all that’s going on in the world. It’s not easy for me to feel celebration. I know that my gift to the world is to bring beauty, create safe spaces, teach everything I know and elevate the work. That is my commitment. I’m surrounded by Poppies which represent peace. Poppies for peace. That is my wish, that is my prayer.

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes. ❤️❤️❤️
**us **usseason

Black Maternal Health Week - April 11-17

CAROL’S DAUGHTER & MAMA GLOW FOUNDATION’s BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH INITIATIVE, LOVE DELIVERED TURNS 4!

In a continued effort to improve birth outcomes the
Black-founded, Black-led beauty brand has joined forces with CVS to fund doula services for Black birthing people in partnership with the .

Carol’s Daughter proudly celebrates the fourth year of its groundbreaking Black Maternal Health Initiative, Love Delivered. Love Delivered has been dedicated to improving maternal health for Black birthing people, and will continue to empower, support, and equip Black birthing people and the greater community through impactful programs and partnerships.

As part of its ongoing efforts, Carol’s Daughter’s Love Delivered is continuing to empower Black maternal health by expanding access to doula care with a new round of doula grants. In partnership with CVS Carol’s Daughter will support the Mama Glow Foundation in their mission to improve the experience of maternal health for birthing people everywhere with an additional financial contribution of $32,000 in 2024 to fund doula support for Black families in need. Families living in major cities including NYC, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New Orleans and Washington DC who are pregnant or recently postpartum can apply to receive doula services through the grant program.

Our partnership with Carol’s Daughter has been deeply impactful and one that is innovative and rooted in service of community. Through our culture-shifting awareness campaigns, content and national doula service delivery program through the Mama Glow Foundation, we have been able to influence how care is delivered and how other organizations are modeling their programs. The Love Delivered partnership provides hope for a brighter future. Happy Birthday Love Delivered!

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Mama Glow Webinar: Advocating for Black Maternal Health: Leveraging Your Story & Engaging Stakeholders presented by

Monday, April 15th 2024 - 6:30 PM (EDT)

Held annually on April 11-17th, is a week-long campaign founded and led by the Alliance​ to build awareness, activism, and community-building​ to amplify ​the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people. This year’s theme is: Our Bodies STILL Belong to Us: Reproductive Justice Now.

Advancing Black Maternal Health is a collective endeavor that requires all of us to come together in support of Black birthing peoples’ needs. In celebration of Black Maternal Health Week, we are so excited to announce a new Maternal Health Advocacy Video Training Program developed in partnership with Carol’s Daughter to engage the community in maternal health advocacy.

Join us for a webinar where we bring together a handful of our maternal health experts featured in the series, to explore how we all can come to the table and use our voices to advocate for change.

The Maternal Health Advocacy Video Training Program powered by the Love Delivered Initiative, a collaborative effort between the Mama Glow Foundation and Carol’s Daughter that seeks to bring increased awareness to the Black maternal health crisis and shine a light on ways that Black birthing people and families can be empowered before, during and after birth.

In this webinar will address:
- How to leverage your position as key maternal health stakeholder
- How to take a multitiered approach to advocacy
- How to advocate for a birthing person’s needs in the hospital
- How to engage elected officials
- How to leverage your story for social change

We will be joined in conversation with the following panelists:
🌟Dr. Tia Jackson-Bey, MD, Fertility Specialist
🌟Natalia Louis, MPH, Program Manager, CONNECT Mental Health Program
🌟Mia Keeys, MA, Dr.P.H.(c), Director of Federal Affairs at Hologic
🌟Latham Thomas - Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies, Founder of Mama Glow

Register - www.Mamaglow.com or swipe stories

THE SOFT SPACE by Mama Glow is a 2,300 square foot wellness oasis in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The concept was born out of the collective need for ease, softness and recalibration in response to the challenging times we are living and is a dream realized by Mama Glow founder, Latham Thomas. Latham has been affirming people and doulas in particular around self-care modalities and contemplative practice to improve mental health for years. And this space is one where folks can engage in high touch experiences anchored in optimal wellbeing. This is a space where you are welcomed home.

In Williamsburg, 1 block away from the Bedford ave L train station, the space is easily accessible to all.

The Sanctuary features 17 foot vaulted ceilings with skylights, and a landscaped window garden. The sanctuary seats 75-80 guests and can accommodate 50 yoga mats. We host book signings, lectures and thought leadership, symposiums, retreats, blessing ways, product launches and so much more.

We welcome some of the leading mindfulness practitioners and thought leaders and design curated programming for our community.

Please join us!

THE SOFT SPACE BY MAMA GLOW
208 N 8TH ST
BROOKLYN

Rebirth Full Moon Workshop: Yoga, Breathwork, & Somatic Healing with &
Fri, Mar 29 at 6:00-8:00 PM

An Introduction to Exploring Manhood with Men At Work Healing with &
Sun, Apr 7 at 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

Womb Wellness Workshop: Nurturing Your Sacred Center
with
Sun, Apr 7 at 4:30-6:00 PM

Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week – Mama Glow Community Mixer with &
Thu, Apr 11 at 6:30-8:30 PM

Honey Molasses: Movement & Meditation Inspired by Yemayá & Ochún with
Sat, Apr 13 at 5:00-6:30 PM

An Introduction to Exploring Manhood with Men At Work Healing with &
Tue, Apr 23 at 6:00-9:00 PM

Sacred Belly Dance with Maya Luisa
Sat, Apr 27 at 1:00-2:30 PM

Mocktails & Mingling – Wellness & Entrepreneurship Mixer
with & friends
Fri, May 10 at 6:30-8:30 PM

Link in bio to register, or

Say his name…. Ryan Gainer. 💔 This baby was 15. He lived with Autism. He was beloved. He had a full life ahead of him. He was senselessly murdered by police and he should be here.

Our understanding of neurodivergence and our ability to support and respond to folks who are living on the spectrum is important, it is critical. How we respond can mean life or death for Black and POC people living on the spectrum. There is often a conflation of mental health diagnoses, addiction and neurodivergence. Those who are called to respond to someone with Autism experiencing an episode will automatically jump to the conclusion that the individual is “crazy” “dangerous” “violent” “seems to be on drugs” etc.

Because there is a lack of disability training we are not equipped to support the millions of people living with neurodivergence in this country. And yet, all of the news outlets are reporting Ryan Gainer’s murder as a result of mental health issues. He was a Black Autistic teen experiencing a crisis. He needed safe cover. He needed firm guidance, he needed trained professionals to support him, he didn’t need policing, he didn’t need to be shot 3 times resulting in his untimely demise.

I feel so much pain for his family. What a profound loss. Lifting them in prayer. So upset that this is yet again another senseless shooting of a young Black teen where cops get to claim “they didn’t have a choice”. When white people have a crisis…. suddenly patience is on the table, they can deescalate.

Neurodivergence is NOT a mental health disorder, but a developmental issue. The response to someone on the spectrum having an episode is to deescalate the situation, not take their life. Black Austistic teens are not a threat. This is a Black Lives Matter issue. This is a disability justice issue. We need to do better.

The news outlets have released footage of Ryan’s fatal shooting. I have not and will not watch it, just like I have avoided watching all of the shootings and lynchings of Black folks that have been recorded and circulated online. Take care of yourselves.

I’m so tired of our children becoming a hashtag.

Bless the spirit of this young King.

The Soft Space by Mama Glow is hosting , Michigan Democratic Candidate for U.S Senate.

Join Hosts: , , , and on Wednesday, March 13th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the stunning .bk Soft Space by Mama Glow in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This 2,300 square-foot wellness, education, and live events oasis sets the perfect vibe for an unforgettable gathering.

Hill Harper isn’t your average candidate – he’s a trailblazer, a champion for change, and a voice for the people. From the heart of the Midwest to the bustling streets of Detroit, his journey is a testament to the power of service and purpose. As a lawyer, union member, and acclaimed actor, Hill’s commitment to community and compassion shines through every aspect of his life. He’s also a devoted single father and proud owner of a beloved coffee shop in Detroit, where he stands at the crossroads of everyday American life and dreams.

Now, he’s on a mission to represent Michigan in the Senate, fighting for the issues that matter most: universal healthcare, climate justice, and economic dignity for all.

Why should you care about an open Senate seat in Michigan? Because the policies shaped in the Senate affect people across our entire nation. From environmental legislation to women’s reproductive rights, having a leader like Hill Harper in the US Senate means advocating for values that resonate across state lines.

This isn’t just politics as usual – it’s a movement, and we want you to be a part of it.

In this intimate space you can get to know Hill Harper and his platform and his deep commitment to women’s issues, as we celebrate Women’s History Month. He will be in conversation with Mama Glow founder, Latham Thomas.

RSVP in stories or use this link - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/hh-nat-ny-march132024-brooklyn

🎉Mama Glow Foundation - FIRST FOODS JUSTICE
BREASTFEEDING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR DOULAS -
Nourishing Our Babies to Nurture Ourselves 🎉

The Foundation is a 501c3 non profit committed to advancing reproductive justice and birth equity through education, advocacy, and the arts.

In the spirit of Black History Month and a deep commitment to investing in Black Futures, we are thrilled to announce the Mama Glow Foundation FIRST FOODS JUSTICE: BREASTFEEDING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR DOULAS - Nourishing Our Babies to Nurture Ourselves 🙌🏾

This application is for the inaugural cohort for our FIRST FOODS JUSTICE PROGRAM centered on reclaiming breastfeeding education and bringing lactation support to communities most impacted by low breastfeeding rates. The design of this course centers the safety and support of Black and Brown mothers, birthing people, and families as they navigate the unique challenges and joys of breastfeeding/chestfeeding.

The design of this course centers the safety and support of Black and Brown mothers, birthing people, and families as they navigate the unique challenges and joys of breastfeeding/ chestfeeding.

This course approaches the topic of breastfeeding from the framework of first food justice—the notion that all infants should have the right to access the best nutrition, and caregivers their right to provide it. We cannot discuss the joys that accompany the breastfeeding journey for BIPOC mothers without acknowledging the elephant in the room. While human milk is the gold standard for infant nutrition, Black birthing people and families face systematic barriers to breastfeeding—a reality that is tethered to the historical legacies of chattel slavery in the United States.

Compared to their white counterparts, Black mothers and birthing people are less likely to initiate breastfeeding—and once they start breastfeeding, they are less likely to continue the practice for long enough to confer the benefits onto their infants.

LEARN MORE & APPLY www.mamaglowfoundation.org

Mama Glow - CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
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BLACK GRAND MIDWIVES BIRTHED A NATION.
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The first African Midwives arrived in 1619, bringing with them ancestral knowledge of healing wisdom and herbalism from an array of African cultures and their rich and for prenatal care. Their extensive knowledge and well honed skills allowed them to care for enslaved black women and white women in the US and as well as deliver their babies. Very often the midwives would look after entire families, providing primary care for women, pediatric care for infants and , and medical care for men when necessary. Black Grand Midwives are integral to American history to the historical fabric of the obstetric and midwifery professions in United States.
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Legislative action combined with racist propaganda was used to change an entire health care system and ancestral way of life, contributing to the development of health and reproductive disparities that persist to this day. Black midwives were scapegoated for the high infant mortality rates in the rural south when in fact their birth outcomes were far better than those of physicians, because obstetrics was nascent and the ancestral knowledge about the sacred womb was extensive and passed down for generations.
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There was a systematic elimination of Black Midwives and their practices because new legislation provided reimbursement for obstetrical care suddenly making Black women attractive potential clientele to white physicians.
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This is Maude Callen, born in 1898 in Florida, she went to South Carolina in the 1920s to work as a nurse-midwife in the most disenfranchised communities in the Lowcountry. She operated a community clinic from her rural home. She delivered hundreds of babies over the decades, taught prenatal care, she also trained future midwives.
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The Legacy of Black Midwives is not celebrated as part of our rich history in this nation, we all collectively bow to the Black women who delivered this nation. These are the ancestors who paved the way for us and who guide us in spirit to keep on. 🙏🏽

The Soft Space by Mama Glow - .bk by feature in
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When it comes to the ethos of “women supporting women,” there’s no one who better exemplifies this concept than Latham Thomas .

The Brooklyn-based mother of one was first inspired to start her own doula practice after experiencing the life-changing birth of her son, Fulano, 20 years ago. She’s went on to launch Mama Glow and, more recently, the Mama Glow Foundation—both which support the training of doulas and midwives across the U.S. and even abroad.

For nearly two decades, her work has helped train thousands of birth workers, who have in turn improved health outcomes—sometimes actual life or death outcomes—for numerous mothers, babies, and their families.

She has been especially impactful in fighting the Black Maternal Health Crisis which looms over the U.S. In addition to getting countless Black mothers the care they need, she’s also one of the community leaders battling for key legislation, namely the Momnibus Act, which includes 13 individual bills that would provide critical investments to support Black maternal health, country-wide.

Latham’s most recent project is The Soft Space, a literal dream-come-true locale in Brooklyn, that is a now the physical home for her supportive work. “The concept was born out of the collective need for ease, softness, and recalibration, in response to the challenging times we are living,” she explains.

The Soft Space is an incredible venue to celebrate your life events, produce your content, host workshops and curated experiences. 🙏🏽

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Mama Glow- The Soft Space by I am so thankful for the feature in MOTHER written by

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“Children are our responsibility, but not our property. They are on loan to us. They are beings who are interdependent with us. They need to be able to trust us and depend on us and know that they are safe to explore and grow, with us holding their hand until they can move on their own. We are meant to imprint onto them a sense of safety, dignity, and belonging.”

“When your children begin to soar, you have to activate your trust and faith in ways previously unimagined, you have to trust that all of the lessons you gave and the messages you shared were encoded. You have to believe that you have raised a person who carries their values in their heart and makes good decisions without your direct and daily influence. And that mutual trust is the pulse of your relationship.”

“I am an evolved version of myself, I became anew when I gave birth to my son and I shed a layer of myself when he entered this new life phase. Open nesting is a rite of passage that we must honor and celebrate, we must also make space for our own personal life changes.”

💎Latham Thomas () on raising and parenting a 20-year-old and embracing her “open nest” era, today on 💎

🔗Link in bio for Latham’s full interview and a tour of The Soft Space by 🔗

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