Independent Minded

Independent Minded

Independent Minded is a podcast where DIY music professionals, indie artists, and pop culture icons tell their origin stories, talk about inspirations, commitment to craft, and struggles and triumphs in the entertainment biz. Hosted and produced by Ron Scalzo, an indie musician with an independent record label of his own, Bald Freak Music.

Episodes

April 28, 2026 60 mins

#180. Devon Gilfillian makes a pledge to unplug, Konradsen gathers new chords for a title track, Genghis Tron gets intentional with a techno-inspired idea.

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#179. Director Sara Joe Wolansky & executive producer Adam Moskowitz confront cultural clashes, personal struggles, and melting cheese to make their new documentary feature The Big Cheese.

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March 31, 2026 55 mins

#178. Robot Slide transforms a classical art song to curb their collective anxiety, Beaming mixes banjo and cigarettes into their new single.

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March 10, 2026 31 mins

#177. NYC metal icon Tommy Victor joins Ron to talk mixing bands at CBGB, idolizing Kiss and Rush, and the rise, fall, & rebirth of Prong in a chaotic music world.

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#176. The Sun Harmonic slows things down to create some space, Gogol Bordello gets some post-punk groove revenge, Failure sets the air on fire.

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February 10, 2026 26 mins

#175. Musician & author Roddy Bottum talks with Ron about the unexpected rise of Faith No More, coming of age in a San Francisco subculture, being a queer rock pioneer, his new memoir, The Royal We.

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January 28, 2026 55 mins

#174. Winged Wheel see poseurs every day, Ken Park makes the most of a spur-of-the-moment smartphone recording, Holy Fuck reconvenes to resurrect a decade-old jam.

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January 13, 2026 27 mins

#173. New York folk duo The Whispering Tree talk with Ron about the warm embrace of the Hudson Valley's artistic community, being rescued by Musician Treatment Foundation, abandoning the digital world, burying the Bones of Better Days.

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#172. Foy Vance meditates on fatherhood, Pauline Andres sweetens December, The Tea Club experiences a demonic attack. Ron pays tribute to amazing human & one-time podcast guest Rob Reiner.

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December 12, 2025 30 mins

#171. Pennsylvania singer/songwriter Hunter Root talks with Ron about emotional honesty, going viral, flirting with the majors, battling Lyme disease, striving to be a strong man.

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#170. Boutique Feelings throws a pity party, Grace Inspace shakes off the shackles of pity-pleasing, Hate Dept. hands out a unique trophy. Ron shares new faves from Phantogram, GreenLady + more.

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#169. Bombargo channels '70s-era soft rock, Rocket refuels an old demo, Bad Self Portraits think they're going to Hell. Ron shares new faves from Astronoid, PREYRS + more.

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October 16, 2025 22 mins

#168. Seattle musician Daniel G. Harmann talks with Ron about psychedelic therapy, battling depression, building a soundtrack for others to float on & live in, a spill off the steps that started him on a new path to music-making.

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September 30, 2025 59 mins

#167. Georgia Maq converses with The Devil, Dillon Warnek reflects upon recklessness, Jano & Luther Rix combine forces to remake a Dr. John classic. Ron shares new faves from Social Station, Andrew Bird + more.

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#166. Madeline Kenney throws a marimba party, Lynyn moves to the rhythm of modular synths, In The Pines make their sunbeam dream a reality. Ron shares new faves from Dillon Warnek, Indigo De Souza + more.

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August 18, 2025 29 mins

#165. Singer Andi Deris talks with Ron about leaving Germany for the Canary Islands, idolizing KISS, trading his accordion for an electric guitar, celebrating 40 years of heavy metal in Helloween.

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#164. Adam Wright has an Austin-inspired fever dream, Stella and the Very Messed break up with the past, Joe Alterman + Mocean Worker pay tribute to a soul jazz legend. Ron shares new faves from Atsuko Chiba, POLICA + more.

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July 15, 2025 25 mins

#163. Scott "Monty" Munro of Canadian post-punk band Preoccupations talks with Ron about the band's democratic DIY spirit, their Black Sabbath cover band, and their near-name change to Santa Claus Orchestra.

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#162. Paul McDonald holds on to his loved ones, Phoebe Rings drifts towards bleeps and bloops, Peter Salett tunes down and tunes into the natural world. Ron shares new faves from Other Lives, Wombo + more.

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June 11, 2025 28 mins

#161. Memphis singer/songwriter Mike Doughty returns to talk with Ron about his commitment to creating on Patreon, the allure of A.I., and the reasons behind the Soul Coughing reunion he said would never happen.

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