A Fresh Face in Hell with Jonathan Evison

Author JW Ocker is a man who has devoted himself to the study and research of bizarre cultural phenomena. In his book Cult Following: the Extreme Sects that Capture our Imagination - And Take Over our Lives, he sets his sights on cults. This week on A Fresh Face in Hell, JW joins me to discuss cults, their origins, belief systems, paradigms, recruitment techniques, and their sometimes fiery ends. We'll delve into some strange ...

Today we hear stories from the road with rock n' roll tour manager Danny Bland. After decades of playing in bands like Cat Butt, Best Kissers in the World, and The Dwarves, Danny used his experience to become a legendary tour manager. From Dave Alvin, Willie Nelson, John Doe to the Blasters and the Supersuckers, Danny operates as a referee, therapist, and coach to many road-weary rockstars. He gathers food, negotiates with clu...

When doing research for my novels, I often consult historians, scholars, and professionals to create more nuanced profiles for my characters. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with some truly fascinating people in incredible careers. Today, I want to tap into that by bringing on one of my favorites—a talented ER nurse named Lexi. Having spent many hours in emergency rooms myself, I’ve always found this environment ...

Been going down a CRISPR rabbit hole lately and wanted to talk to someone that is up to date on the world's most powerful gene editing technology. Kevin Davies is an Oxford trained science journalist and the author of Editing Humanity: The CRISPR Revolution and the New Era of Genome Editing. CRISPR is an enzyme that is found in bacteria that scientists have repurposed to surgically replace pieces of DNA for a myriad of purpose...

Humans are not the only species who have devised complex languages. How do their languages differ from ours? What can we learn from their languages? Do Spanish dogs understand Japanese dogs? How can our own knowledge of animal language help us in the realm of Xenolinguistics, and the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life? 

Today I rap with Cambridge zoologist Dr. Arik Kershenbaum about animal language. Arik is the Author of W...

Today, I speak with Ellen Vora, MD, about understanding, treating, and living with anxiety—a condition she thoroughly explores in her book The Anatomy of Anxiety.  Ellen and I discussed some of my experiences with anxiety over the past few years.  We explore some practical tools to manage the nervous system, from lifestyle changes to therapy, and even spirituality. While it’s not quite a free therapy session, it’s also not your typ...

Today, I speak with an old friend, Claire Dederer, about her seminal book, Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma. We ask the question: Is it possible to appreciate an artist's work if the artist's behavior is monstrous? Is the work of artists like Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Prince, and Alice Munro better understood if we have a greater awareness of the complexities of their lives, or is there a point at which the work is spoil...

Today, I have a conversation with my old friend Jeff Ament. We discussed his incredible rock 'n' roll journey—from the Seattle hardcore scene of the '80s to the rise of '90s Grunge, and eventually becoming the rock star bassist of Pearl Jam. Jeff is like the "Lucy" of Grunge, with stints in three of Seattle's most influential bands: Green River, Mother Love Bone, and Pearl Jam. We talked about his...

Today I speak with journalist and author Rita Omokha about her new book, Resist. We discuss how young Black activists like Ella Baker, Barbara Johns, and Johnetta Elzie have shaped our understanding of the power of organized action—not just in the Civil Rights Movement but in all forms of political protest. As we face the remainder of Trump's presidency (1424 days, 02 hours, and 50 minutes), it's encouraging to hear about...

Renowned NY Times science columnist, Carl Zimmer, talks with me about his new book, Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe. We talk about the air we breathe, the gazillions of microbes, bacteria, fungus and viruses that float effortlessly around us daily. From the oceans depths to our nostrils we take in all manner of life, most of it harmless but some of it nightmarish. No one explains science better than Carl Zimmer...

I thought we could all use something a little lighthearted this week — a welcome distraction from the constant news cycle. So today, I’m catching up with my old friend Warren Etheredge. Warren is a producer, author, playwright, festival programmer, and public speaker. He's deeply involved in the annual Seattle International Film Festival and teaches film studies at Cornish College and the University of Washington. Warren claim...

My friend and NY Times bestselling author, podcast contributor, teacher, and political activist, Steve Almond, joins me to discuss his seminal book Against Football. We dive deep into our toxic love affair with the gridiron, exploring its narrative strengths, subtle complexities, and its unique ability to unite people. At the same time, we weigh these against the darker side of the sport—nationalism, greed, racism, and misogyny—and...

This week, we talk about church--specifically Christian church. I’ll be talking with two Evangelical pastors, Andrew Hirschman of Calvary Ballard, and David Rivers of Calvary Sequim, about being a pastor in 2025. We’ll talk about the threat of Christian Nationalism, declining numbers among their congregations, and the challenges of filling their chapels in an increasingly secular culture.

Andrew Hirschman - https://calvary...

Josh Fernandez is one of my favorite people. Antifa organizer, anarchist, community activist and college educator. Josh walks the walk. When he’s not punching nazis, he’s taking care of his community in a myriad of ways, volunteering and coordinating. Oh, and when he’s not chasing his two adorable kids around, he’s teaching in prisons. Josh is the author of The Hands that Crafted the Bomb.

https://www.amazon.com/Hands-that...

This week, I talk to writer and anthropologist, Brian McVeigh, about Julian Jaynes's bicameral mind theory, as detailed in his seminal work, The Origins of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. It’s a theory that forces us to question the evolution of consciousness as we know it. We explore the theory and its relevance to world history, mental health, religion and politics.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch...

Filmmakers, explorers and brothers, Jim and Will Pattiz, talk with Jonathan about the National Parks ranking they do yearly for their popular site "More Then Just Parks". Some great tips and inspirations as well as some thoughts about preservation. Check out their list and a trailer for their documentary on the late great President Jimmy Carter:

https://morethanjustparks.com/national-parks-ranked/
https://car...

On a very special episode of A Fresh Face in Hell I talk to my pal, New York Times bestselling author Jamie Ford about generational trauma, epigenetics, two themes in his most recent novel, 'The Many Daughters of Afong Moy'. Jamie and I will talk about our personal experiences with trauma, and the journey toward overcoming our past, including Jamie’s experience at trauma camp last summer. 

https://www.simonandschuster.com/...

This week, I’ll talk to New York Times bestseller, activist, and public speaker Stephanie Land, author of Maid (also a hugely popular Netflix series), and most recently, Class. Stephanie and I will discuss class in America. We’ll talk specifically about our personal experiences overcoming the stigmas of growing up working class poor, and the realities of living in poverty in America.

https://www.powells.com/book/class-978...

This week, I’m gonna rap with legendary sportswriter, and New York Times Bestselling Author Joe Posnanski about the cult of sabermetrics, and how analytics are changing the way baseball is played, as well as changing the culture as a whole. We will also wax poetic about some of the iconic moments that shaped not only the greatest game, but America’s story, in his book. Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments.

https://sites.pr...