1000 w/ Ron Placone

Before Lady Gaga, before Madonna, there was Johanna Went. Johanna Went is a performance artist. She found her home in the LA punk scene of the 1970s after a run doing experimental theater. The Minutemen opened for her. I got to meet her in Vetura because she was on a panel I was moderating for a screening of the film Desolation Center. I was stoked when she agreed to do the show.

Jonathan Berman is producer, director, and academic. His documentaries include Calling All Earthlings, My Friend Paul, and Commune. Commune is coming up on its 20th Anniversary. It’s about a commune in California that started in the 60s, financed by rockstars, and still exists to this day. We dive into his origin story, and what made him want to chase the counterculture.

Kerri Van Auken is an actress, writer, and comedian. For a brief period of time, her, myself, and Joe Moran ran a show together at a punk shop in Pasadena. Then, the Pandemic happened. Kerri and I crossed paths again this past June at the Hollywood Fringe. Her show, Blackout, blew me away. It inspired me to write a solo theater show, and I knew I had to have her on.

Will Wood is a musician, songwriter, and comedian. His show is part storytelling, part comedy, part music, and he can really wail on the piano. Will’s been open about his mental health and incorporates it into his art. We take a deep dive into all of it.

Sage Francis is an underground hip-hop legend. He’s won battles, toured the world, written everything from rhymes to poetry, runs Strange Famous Records, and he’s a dad. Also, he’s in my movie, Left At Wall, and we’re both big cat people, which is a big part of this episode.

Dale Dymkoski is a comedian, personal trainer, and he’s deaf. I saw his Fringe show, Feminist Ass Man, where he shares his story. He talks politics, and we talk politics. We have some different observations strategically, but we definitely want the same things. This was a really fun conversation about Dale’s life and the world at large.

Josh Stolberg is a Screenwriter and Director. The Saw Franchise, Avatar, Piranha 3D, and that’s just barely tipping the iceberg of his extensive resume. He has a new podcast called "Darren and Josh Make A Movie". It’s a must-listen for any writer slash filmmaker slash creative.

Angeline Mirenda is a Sex Educator. I saw her Hollywood Fringe Show, AP Sex Education. Not only was it entertaining, but also incredibly informative. She draws the connection between sex ed in the US and imperialism, racism, and capitalism. Ready to talk about sex?

Jason Freeman is a musician. He plays bass for the hardcore punk band, Zeke. Zeke’s been a legendary Seattle institution since the early 90s, setting their own bar, fitting in nowhere and everywhere all at once. We talk about him joining the band, how he discovered music, and the phenomenon that was the Seattle music scene of the 1990s.

Walker Bragman is a journalist. He covered Electoral Politics, particularly during Bernie’s first run in 2016, and now his main focus is public health. Right now, literal eugenics is on the rise in the United States, and this isn’t limited to some 4Chan space, this is an actual positions of power. We dive deep in this one. 

Kelly Spillman is a psychology professor and comedian. She’s also a friend of mine. In 2020, she was diagnosed with stage 4 Colon Cancer. She has a show currently running at the Hollywood Fringe Festival called “I Blame Florida”. The show documents her cancer battle, as well as how she finds meaning and hope in this incredibly difficult struggle. This is an emotional one y’all...

Giovannie Espiritu is an actress, filmmaker, and educator. She’s escaped from a cult, an abusive marriage, she’s overcome extensive loss and grief, all while maintaining a family and a career. To say her story is inspirational is an understatement. 

Robin Waite is an author, mentor, and coach. I came across Robin’s book, “Take Your Shot”, and I absolutely loved it. It used story to teach the principles of turning your passion project into a sustainable living. Robin narrated the audiobook himself. I couldn’t stop listening to it.

It used golf as a back drop, best part, I don’t even like golf! I decided I needed to learn more about Robin and his story.

Satori Shakoor is a storyteller, singer, actress, and comedian. She’s lived multiple lives in multiple places but she’s always found her way back to the Motor City. She’s worked with legends in comedy and film, and she toured with Parliament-Funkadelic. Yes, you heard that right.