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

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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#167. Georgia Maq converses with The Devil and God, 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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#160. The Last Revel draws inspiration from an accident, Real Estate releases some rarities, After Ours finds the missing piece to her debut album, and Ron shares new faves from Indigo De Souza, Doobie + more.

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May 6, 2025 34 mins

#159. Ron talks with Rose Marshack and Rick Valentin of Illinois indie rock band Poster Children about their pioneering podcast, four decades of music making, riding the wave of Nirvana mania, and surviving the grunge-era feeding frenzy.

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#158. Larry Peace-Love Yes becomes present in his body, SENNA preaches songwriting patience, AL1CE and X-RL7 collab on an animated adventure, and Ron shares new faves from Ya I Feel Ya, Sparks, + more.

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#157. Big Black Delta meditates on an era of uncertainty, Janet Devlin comes back to her senses, Theodore has musical orgasms, and Ron shares new faves from Courting, Alan Sparhawk, + more.

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March 19, 2025 21 mins

#156. Ron talks with Minnesota singer/songwriter Dillon Spurlin about a pure love of creating, our cold email courtship, growing up in a musical family, embracing baldness and The Beatles.

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#155. Social Station finally meets their record label, mclusky makes a comeback with a phallic opener, Love In Reverse stops so band members can move forward, and Ron shares new faves from Niis, Preoccupations, + more.

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February 3, 2025 23 mins

#154. Ron talks with NYC guitarist Rob Mastrianni about being banished to Catholic school, his Brooklyn roots, birds of prey, belly dancers, releasing his first-ever solo album.

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January 11, 2025 52 mins

#153. Shutdown celebrates 30 years of Brooklyn hardcore, Gloin gets dynamic, Pray For Sound bakes an album opener for two years, and Ron shares new faves from Boutique Feelings, Eidola + more.

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December 22, 2024 33 mins

#152. Ron talks with singer/songwriter Paul Spring about touring in a canoe, his bohemian ancestry, playing Sunny's Bar, pottery-related popularity, and why he'll likely never sign with a label.

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#151. Nona Invie raises their vocal game, Ben Hazlewood is too loud for Tokyo, Bear Hands wreck cars in the desert, and Ron shares new faves from Paul Spring, Haley Heynderickx, + more.

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November 21, 2024 30 mins

#150. Ron talks with Miami guitarist Ben Katzman about competing on Survivor, teaching young people to shred, Jews who rock, why being yourself is the best recipe for success.

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#149. Bike Routes cruise through the streets of New Jersey, Illiterate Light push themselves towards Hollywood, Patrick Watson loses his voice and finds inspiration, and Ron shares new faves from Sinkane, Waxahatchee + more.

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