In the summer of 2024, we recorded our first Fresh Face interview with Steve Turner, the trailblazing guitarist of Mudhoney. We initially planned on being an audio-only podcast, but we quickly realized that America prefers to watch people talk, so we started the YouTube channel. We wanted to re-release some of the early episodes that didn't get the video treatment on the channel, so we're starting with Steve. In this episode, we talk about collecting records, the early days of the Seattle punk scene, Steve's long journey in music, from basements to arenas, and his excellent memoir Mud Ride. You can also watch the interview on our YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/7la6_5MwPyc

linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison





 

Francis Weller is a retired psychotherapist and renowned author of "The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief". Francis believes that grief and gratitude are inseparable, and that our capacity to feel loss is proportional to our capacity to love. Believing that communal grieving is essential for genuine healing, Francis hosts weekend retreats in Northern California where participants share stories of loss, write, sing and engage in symbolic ritual to tend to their grief. We discuss this process and his expansion of our understanding of what grief is, be it the loss of a loved one, a loss of vitality, or a loss of hope. Through what he calls the sacred work of grief, Francis offers tools to help us reconnect and heal, and ultimately navigate our way out of what he refers to as the long dark. If you're a fan of Joesph Campbell or Carl Jung you'll love what Francis is laying down here.  

https://www.francisweller.net/

linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison





 

If I were tasked with creating a soundtrack for the Evison family, Eric D. Johnson would definetly be featured. My kids would know the lyrics already from repeated listens. From Bonnie Light Horseman to The Shins to Fruit Bats, Eric has amassed a discography of indie folk-pop amazingness that few could rival. Eric has also created scores for films such as Wild, Our Idiot Brother, and Spivak. A Chicago native, we get into some of the celebrated and unknown artists coming out of the Midwest. Fruit Bats' new album, The Landfill, comes out this June and I couldn't be more excited.

https://www.fruitbatsmusic.com/

linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison





 

We're all a little vain and self-involved at times, does that make us narcissists? Today’s guest, therapist and writer Vanessa Reiser, posits that although we may all be guilty of manipulation and self-aggrandizing, most of us are not, clinically speaking, narcissists. In today's episode Vanessa breaks down the telltale signs of a proper malignant narcissist. We discuss the crossover of sociopaths and psychopaths with their common need to dominate others. We talk about how a narcissist will bide their time before revealing their toxic traits (four months, to be exact). And you'll be surprised to hear that Vanessa doesn't think Donald Trump is a narcissist. This is a really fun conversation about some dark shit — enjoy!

Narcissistic Abuse:  https://www.amazon.com/Narcissistic-Abuse-Therapists-Identifying-Manipulative/dp/0306833174

linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison





 

This month, Hachette Publishing cancelled distribution of their book Shy Girl after it was reported by The New York Times that large portions of the text had been created by AI. When the author originally self-published the novel, it garnered rave reviews with 4,900 ratings on Goodreads and an average of 3.52 stars. Eventually, readers started to notice the tell-tale signs of AI slop: repetitive phrasing, confusing metaphors, and maybe more than a few - em dashes. This poses some difficult questions for publishing. Are authors necessary? Is a 4,900 Goodreads rating good enough for readers? I dive into these troubled waters with my friend Bruce Barcott. Bruce is a journalist, editor, and founder of The AI Humanist.

The AI Humanist:  https://ai-humanist.beehiiv.com/

linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison





 

Excited to talk to my old friend, Roger "Buzz" Osborne, King Buzzo, or as I like to call him, Buzz Melvin. Buzz is the founder and front man of the seminal punk band The Melvins. As the punk sound of the late '70s evolved into '80s hardcore, the tempo accelerated aggressively. The Melvins, inspired by Black Sabbath, decided instead to slow things down. This unique combination of hardcore and metal became the precursor for what became known as grunge. We talk about those early days and how The Melvins set the table for so many successful bands that followed. We talk about Buzz's love of golf — he's never shot over 100! Buzz is another notorious contrarian (we're on a roll) and a prankster, so expect some spicy takes.

Metropolis Documentary / Seed & Spark https://seedandspark.com/fund/metropolis#story

linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison





 

Thrilled to talk to one of my punk rock heroes today, Exene Cervenka. In 1977 Exene, along with John Doe, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake, formed the seminal LA punk band X. We talk about those early days and how her music evolved over the years with collaborators like Dave Alvin, Mojo Nixon, and Ray Manzarek. We also talk about how art and punk overlapped in the '70s and how that time taught her to follow her passions in art, songwriting, and writing. An incredible portrait of a life dedicated to creativity. Exene is still a contrarian, but she is also so charming and funny.

Metropolis Seed & Spark:  https://seedandspark.com/fund/metropolis?fbclid=IwY2xjawQew1pleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETE2SFZoa3hqamFVRUJBOUw1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHihOvtV0-ITXULawbnqhFSv5PGHdCGW1haB7M_zCIcOaZrH1bBxJ-mBWDEVN_aem_H0PejDjqxU4CoUSuu-J2tw#story

linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison





 

Today I talk with a musician I have mad respect for--Built to Spill frontman Doug Martsch. I’ve seen Built to Spill a bunch of times, along with another one of his bands, Treepeople. Doug and I rap about the origins of BTS and Treepeople, along with the two Bretts—Netson and Nelson. We discuss the musical influences that helped shape his signature sound, while I profess a love of Boise’s annual Treefort festival, which I liken to SXSW thirty-five years ago. We talk about the scene of artists that came from Idaho, including Caustic Resin, The French Tips, Dirt Fisherman, and Braided Waves. Doug is such a humble, soft-spoken, down-to-earth dude, it’s hard to believe he’s a rock star.

linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison





 

Noah Giansiracusa is a professional mathematician who has figured out how to use his super powers to hack into the algorithms that rule our lives. From social media to credit scores to online shopping, Noah encourages his devotees to understand how math is used to manipulate you at every point of decision-making in modern life. Remember saying in school, "When am I ever going to use this?" Well, it turns out that math is using you!! Wake up, sheep — it's time to take control of the algorithms. Read all about it in Noah's book, "Robin Hood Math".

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/744578/robin-hood-math-by-noah-giansiracusa/

linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison





 

Marco Collins is a seminal figure in both the San Diego and Seattle alt-rock music scenes of the '80s and '90s. As a radio DJ, Marco was instrumental in introducing new artists to eager listeners at 91X (San Diego) and later at KNDD, The End (Seattle). Many bands, like NIN, The Pixies, and the Cocteau Twins, only got airplay because Marco fought with his stations to play them. He leaked demos and hid singles from test groups so he could get music heard. A tireless advocate for his audience and a consummate rebel, Marco's star has burned bright across our culture, so much so that he has a display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison