A Fresh Face in Hell with Jonathan Evison

If you're ever feeling depressed about our troubled times, go talk to a bio futurist to get some perspective. From plastic-eating microbes to CAR T-cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, we're on the brink of a bio-revolution. Today's guest, Andrew Hessel, is a pioneer in synthetic biology, microbiologist, geneticist, inventor, entrepreneur, and world-class optimist. Andrew's idea of digital biology is that DNA works like computer code, so we can use technology to read, edit, and even program living cells. He argues that combining AI, DNA synthesis, and automated laboratories will make biology increasingly engineerable, enabling the design of new therapies, organisms, and biological systems much as software is developed today. Andrew is the co-author of the 2022 book, "The Genesis Machine: Our Quest to Rewrite Life in the Age of Synthetic Biology."

https://andrewhessel.com/

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





 

Today I talk with Mudhoney's frontman, Sub Pop warehouse manager, and old friend, Mark Arm, or as we like to call him… The Wizard. We talk about Mark's Pomeranians, his early musical influences, and, despite his aversion to nostalgia, some fond memories of the good ol' days. We talk about Mark's relationship to his status in the pantheon of punk rock icons - call him a rock star at your own peril. We also discuss the longevity of Mudhoney, to which Mark credits a lack of inertia. Mark is not the easiest guy to interview, but it's hard to deny his charm.

https://mudhoney.org/

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





 

Lachi is an American singer / songwriter, record producer, media personality, author, and disability culture advocate. She is legally blind and neurodivergent, but don't call her differently abled, she doesn't play that. As her book title says, Lachi proudly identifies as a blind woman. She is confident, fiercely independent and wildly creative. Lachi is also full of grace and gratitude for her gifts and is very open about her experiences. So many dumb questions answered!! This was one of the more inspiring conversations I've had on this podcast, I hope you agree.    

I Identify as Blind:  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/761599/i-identify-as-blind-by-lachi-with-tim-vandehey/

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





 

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





 

Before grunge had a name, Kim Thayil was helping invent it. As the founding guitarist of Soundgarden, he spent four decades building one of rock's most singular sounds. Today we talk about those early Seattle days, and the punk and metal collisions that became the Seattle sound. He opens up about the brotherhood he built with Chris Cornell, Matt Cameron, Ben Shepherd, and Hiro Yamamoto — and what it feels like to carry that legacy forward. Kim opens up about being on the autism spectrum AND having synesthesia - a pretty unique experience for a rock star.  Check out Kim's new memoir at,  

Screaming Life: https://www.elliottbaybook.com/item/1sM1NJwkMQdwyuhweOwQmg

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





 

Today I talk with journalist and author, Jasper Craven about his book, God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood. Jasper explores how military culture has come to define American values. From the Graham Platner's sordid past to cage matches at the White House we talk about our culture of violence and how the lasting traumas of war seep into our daily lives. Jasper charts how this culture evolved through Vietnam, the antiwar movement, and the forever wars, with the military simultaneously burrowing deeper into civilian education through ROTC programs and organizations like the Boy Scouts. Jasper posits that the toxic strain of manhood now roiling American public life was not an accident but an institution, carefully built and persistently defended across generations.

God Forgives,  Brothers Don't:  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/God-Forgives-Brothers-Dont/Jasper-Craven/9781668087190

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





 

As a novelist, I firmly believe that the defining characteristic of a remarkable character lies in their capacity for transformation, whether it be for the better or the worse, as a direct consequence of their choices. In his book, “You’ve Changed,” author and journalist Benoit Denizet-Lewis delves into the very essence of self-transformation. Through a series of case studies, Benoit explores our remarkable ability to authentically alter our beliefs, values, temperaments, political affiliations, or even gender identities. From a bully who embraced Buddhism to a gay rights activist who became a pastor Benoit delves into the factors that define genuine change and the transformative journeys these individuals embarked upon to achieve it. While some transformations may take decades, others may occur abruptly, but ultimately, we all possess the inherent power to rewrite our own narratives.  

You've Changed: https://www.benoitdenizetlewis.com/

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





 

Do you love hearing me rant about late-stage capitalism and the struggles of the American working class? Well, grab your hammer and sickle, comrade, I have an episode for you! Today, I talk with journalist Ann Larson about her experience of working as a checkout clerk at a supermarket in Utah. Ann's book "Cleanup on Aisle Five“ dives deep into supermarkets and how they operate, from the low-wage workers stocking the shelves to the communities these stores serve and the larger capitalist forces and corporate interests at play that control how we shop for food.  Ann argues that supermarkets serve as a point of connection with our neighbors, and we explore how that is being threatened by automation. We also discuss how workers can organize in a time when their labor is being valued less and less. All the power to all the people!!  

Cleanup on Aisle Five:  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Cleanup-on-Aisle-Five/Ann-Larson/9781668094501

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





 

In an effort to get some of our older episodes up on YouTube we've decided to revisit the episode on Grudges with my friend, journalist and radio host, Danny O'neil. Danny has a newsletter called Grudgery.com where he explores famous grudges, as well as some of his own. This episode was intended to be light fun fare but ended up being a little more therapeutic than expected. We dig in deep on our grudges: the how, the what, the why of them. Which grudges are forgivable, and which ones irredeemable? What do our grudges say about us as people?

YouTube: https://youtu.be/EOuhuwgVAf8
Grudgery: https://www.grudgery.com

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





 

I've spent a fair bit of time talking about early 80's hardcore on the West Coast.  In past episodes, we've covered Seattle, San Diego, and Los Angeles, but today we head east. Nancy Barile's memoir "I'm Not Holding Your Coat" is about her experience in the 80's punk scenes of Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, DC, and Boston. As a disaffected Catholic schoolgirl, Nancy became a central figure in the northeast corridor as a DIY concert promoter and band manager. She survived punk riots and urban decay, ran the streets with outcasts, and ultimately found her calling as a teacher.  Today, we hear stories about what it was like coming up in an area that output some of the hardest rocking punk bands in the 80's.  

I'm Not Holding Your Coat:  https://www.amazon.com/Holding-Your-Coat-Bruises-All/dp/1935950207

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