In this conversation, Pepe Bandit and Jo Rodriguez discuss the impact of music on their lives, particularly folk punk music. They share personal stories of how certain musicians or songs have helped them through difficult times and provided a sense of grounding. They also discuss imposter syndrome and the challenges of feeling like they don't belong in certain spaces or conversations. Jo mentions her experience growing up in a (ex)Mormon family and how it has influenced her music. She plans to write a song about her parents' journey out of the Mormon church as a way to find forgiveness and peace. The conversation covers various themes, including anger towards parents, the impact of trauma, the desire to have a house venue, and the narration of an audiobook.

Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

takeaways

• Music has the power to provide comfort and grounding during difficult times
• Happy Happy, Apes Of The State & Rent Strike stories
• Imposter syndrome is a common experience, even for musicians and podcasters
• Personal experiences, such as growing up in a religious community, can shape an artist's music and lyrics
• Religious trauma
• Writing songs can be a way to find forgiveness and peace
• Sharing personal stories and vulnerabilities through music can create connections and resonate with listeners.
• Having a house venue can be a way to give back to the community
• Narrating an audiobook can be a meaningful way to contribute to projects that explore important themes and experiences
• Exploring personal experiences and emotions through music can be cathartic and healing
• We play the song "Practical Advice" by Jo Rodriguez

Connect with Jo Rodriguez:

Instagram - instagram.com/jobanjobanjo/?hl=en

Facebook - facebook.com/people/Jo-Rodriguez/100004513473999/?ref=xav_ig_profile_web

Website - jobanjobanjo.com/

Listen to Jo Rodriguez music:

Spotify - open.spotify.com/artist/2xADBEPdn61I8UPTHbJ2Xw

Bandcamp - jobanjobanjo.bandcamp.com/

Send us questions, comments or future topic suggestions to

• Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.com
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

Follow/engage with the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"In any corner of the radical left it makes most sense for this conversation to be happening, in my opinion, it's in the folk punk world."

Community organizer and musician shugE joins Pepe to discuss the tactics of cancel culture & rethink if they align with folk punk & radical politics in general. Is cancel culture the best way to create a better world? Does it reproduce harmful aspects of the carceral/prison system? Plenty of folks have expressed concerns & fears about discussing these topics freely . As a result the conversation very often happens privately, outside the public discourse but, shugE & Pepe choose to have it openly through this public platform. The conversation is at times difficult & uncomfortable but remains honest with a desire for a better world full of more compassion & care for every one of us living in it. We close out playing the song "With Me" by shugE.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Organizing with the IWW
• Getting canceled & getting exonerated
• Seeking out commonalities rather than our differences
• Does cancel culture even exist?
• Famous people & cancel culture
• Defining cancel culture
• Pepe realizes the similarities between cancel culture & his own incarceration experience
• Hypocrisy of supporting prison abolition & cancel culture/putting people in social prisons
• Working with people who experienced sexual abuse/assault
• Working with people who have problematic/harmful behaviors
• Restorative justice
• Why cancel culture is attractive
• Getting to a place of healing
• Daryl Davis & the KKK story
• Self-censorship
• The recovery movement & its role in questioning cancel culture
• Folkpunk has a history of embracing the "rejects" of society
• The "commons" as a place for open discussion
• We play the song "With Me" by shugE

Connect with shugE:

instagram.com/shugemusic/

shugemusic.com

Liste to shugE music:

open.spotify.com/artist/6K0YGX255v474682p6eZnf

Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Send us questions, comments or future topic suggestions to

• Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.com
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

Follow/engage with the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you roasted by Pepe

• BanditCoffeeRoasters.com

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Crunch comes on to share his story of opening a successful gay bar (The LURE) in the 90's. We also dive into what it was like to discover punk rock & the fact he was gay when he was younger. From there we follow his story to becoming a state trooper at 19, facing harassment/resigning, moving to NYC, getting sober, supporting folk punk and much more. Overall, John is just a regular guy who lived an interesting life & loves folk punk. Enjoy!

Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• John's early life & intro to punk rock
• Having ADHD in the 80's
• Coming to acknowledge he was gay
• Getting hired as a state trooper at a young age
• Difficulties & resigning from a homophobic job
• Thoughts on NYC & Opening a gay bar in the 90's
• The intersection of punk & gay culture
• Why investors of the LURE (gay bar) didn't want their real names to be known
• How mainstream culture viewed the gay community in the 90's
• Complications opening & running a gay bar
• Pros & Cons (for communities) with the rise of the internet/apps
• Discovering & supporting folk punk
• Getting injured & developing a new understanding of disability
• Getting sober
• Favorite folk punk bands
• Song - "I Love You To Death" by Never Say Surrender

Send us questions, comments or future topic suggestions to

• Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.com
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

Follow/engage with the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you roasted by Pepe

• BanditCoffeeRoasters.com

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.