Kate Hakala

Location

Brooklyn, NY

School

University Of Massachusetts

Expertise

Health & Wellness, Connections, Literature, Comedy

Kate is an Editorial Hiring Manager for Static Media.
Over the last decade, Kate's writing has appeared in Playboy magazine, Mic.com, Racked, Refinery29, Nerve, Salon, The Offing, and Matador.
Formerly, Kate was the editor-in-chief of Nerve.com, a relationships and culture site.

Experience

Kate has been a writer and editor for nearly a decade. She started her career at Nerve.com, writing features and conducting interviews that explored music, arts, sex, and relationships. She went on to work as a senior staff writer for Mic.com, helping to launch their Connections vertical. Kate has been with Static Media since 2020, starting as a Feature writer for Grunge. Now on the hiring team, Kate enjoys mentoring new editors.

Education

Kate has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She attended the honors college and received a specialization certificate in Creative Writing.

The unique content on Grunge is a result of skilled collaboration between writers and editors with a broad array of expertise in everything from history to classic Hollywood to true crime. Our goal is to provide accurate and diverse content bolstered by expert input.

Focused on accuracy and ethical coverage, the Grunge editorial team consistently fact-checks and reviews site content to provide readers with an informative, entertaining, and engaging experience. Click here for more information on our editorial process.

Stories By Kate Hakala

Entertainment

The Real Reason Angus Young Started Wearing Schoolboy Uniforms On Stage

AC/DC's lead guitarist Angus Young is well known for his wild stage presence, including his duck walk and schoolboy uniforms. Angus Young has been wearing his schoolboy uniform on stage for the last four decades, but the reason he does is because his older brother Malcolm insisted on it.

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Entertainment

The Real Reason Depeche Mode Is Being Inducted Into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

British New Wave group Depeche Mode have been up for a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2017 and 2018, so why are they finally being inducted in 2020? The real reason Depeche Mode is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame might have to do with their heavy use of synths.

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Entertainment

This Was The Least Popular Member Of Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin, the influential rock band of the 1970s, consisted of members John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant? But among the four members of Led Zeppelin, who was considered the least popular member? Reader polls suggest that the bassist is often overlooked.

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Entertainment

Why Led Zeppelin Hated Releasing Singles

Led Zeppelin is known as one of the most influential English rock bands of the last 50 years, but they mysteriously never had a top 10 hit in the UK because they hated releasing singles. Led Zeppelin was so opposed to releasing singles because of a dispute in 1969 with their record company.

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Music

The Beach Boys: The Truth About Brian Wilson And Mike Love's Feud

The highly-publicized feud between Brian Wilson and Mike Love of the Beach Boys first started in 1966, when Love purportedly criticized their upcoming album Pet Sounds. While Brian Wilson and Mike Love are wildly successful musicians, ego, lawsuits, and creative disputes are at the center of a feud.

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News

The Most Dangerous Holidays In The US

The most dangerous holidays in the United States are largely determined by the number of traffic-related fatalities that occur each year. Leading the pack of dangerous holidays is Independence Day, which sees the most deaths per year out of any holiday in the US.

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Entertainment

The Truth About Eddie Van Halen's Beat It Guitar Solo

Eddie Van Halen's guitar riff is the centerpiece of Michael Jackson's 1982 number-one hit "Beat It." But Eddie Van Halen first thought the call to collaborate was a prank call from Quincy Jones. Not only did Eddie Van Halen contribute guitar to "Beat It," but he arranged it as well.

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History

Things Your History Class Didn't Teach You About Anne Frank

There was more to her than Anne Frank than her diary revealed. Here are the things your history class didn't teach you about her.

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History

Kisses That Changed The Course Of History

Today, about 90 percent of the world's population takes part in the fascinating ritual of kissing, but some kisses are more about making a statement.

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History

The Tragic History Of The Search For The Fountain Of Youth

Throughout history, explorers ventured into uncharted territories to source a body of water that could turn back biological clocks, but how seriously did they take their quests for curing waters? Here is the perplexing, sometimes tragic history of the search for the Fountain of Youth.

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Science

What Happens To Your Body When You Stop Wearing Tighty-Whities

Ditching the tighty-whities can result in some surprising effects on more than just your fashion sense (and your decision to walk over sidewalk grates).

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History

What Solomon Northup's 12 Years As A Slave Were Really Like

Solomon Northup's tale is unique because his account of slavery was from the lens of a free man. He was educated, married, and had children before he was stolen and forced into 12 years of cruel bondage. This is what Solomon Northup's 12 years as a slave were really like.

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American Civil War

What Life Was Like For Black People During The Civil War

History forgets the role Black Americans had in their own liberation during the Civil War. This is what life was like for Black people during the Civil War.

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Black History

The Untold Truth Of George Washington Carver

Many know George Washington Carver as "that peanut guy," but this hardly scratches the surface. This is the untold truth of George Washington Carver.

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History

The Crazy True Story Of Abolitionist John Brown

The abolitionist John Brown strove to end slavery and became the first American hanged for treason. Here is the crazy true story of John Brown.

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History

What Happened To The Little Rock 9?

This is the story of the Little Rock Nine and their courageous fight to integrate a public school was doing everything to combat the tide of change.

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Weird

The Legend Of The Headless Horseman Explained

The Headless Horseman has cantered through Scandinavian mythology, early German folklore, and northern Indian lore. This is the legend of the Headless Horseman explained.

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Entertainment

The Crazy Real-Life Story Of Hot Yoga Instructor Bikram Choudhury

Yoga doesn't exactly make you think of a fedora-wearing, Bentley-driving, cursing showman, but that's precisely who Bikram Choudhury is. Here is the crazy real-life story of hot yoga founder Bikram Choudhury, from his meteoric rise to fame to his disgraceful run from the law.

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Jazz

The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald gained a devout audience for over six decades, though her troubled history isn't usually mentioned. This is the tragic real-life story of Ella Fitzgerald.

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History

The Messed Up Truth About Hugo Chavez

There are few modern political figures quite as polarizing as Hugo Chávez. Venezuela hasn't been doing so well lately. Here's the truth about Hugo Chavez.

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