***Please take the poll in the Spotify show notes & tell us what Johnny Hobo music we should repress on vinyl***

Pepe answers questions you all sent in, largely about Pat The Bunny during the Johnny Hobo days while also reflecting on his own journey through the folk punk scene. He shares personal stories of struggle, inspiration, & the DIY ethos that defined the era. Pepe emphasizes the importance of following one's dreams, even in the face of adversity, & the organic development of the folk punk scene without the constraints of commercial expectations. He discusses lost & unreleased music & the potential for future represses. He touches on the importance of community and personal growth, while also addressing the disbanding of Johnny Hobo and the choices that led to it & much more. Enjoy!

Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS

• Reading from an old letter Pat wrote
• What Pat said about remembering the early days
• Was Love Songs For The Apocalypse really recorded on a phone?
• Did you have a contract when you released music by Johnny Hobo & the Freight Trains?
• A question from John Warmb of the band Rent Strike
• What's the most you've seen this music sell for?
• Represses ever?
• Why & how the hell did Pat go to Australia?
• Any interesting stories with Pat & the authorities?
• How do you feel reflecting on yourselves back then compared to now?
• What is the lasting impact Pat's music had on your life personally?
• Did Pat give a reason for disbanding Johnny Hobo & The Freight Trains
• Do you relate to the person you were back then?
• Pepe's children recall being young kids & experiencing the early Johnny Hobo/folk punk days

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you; roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Listen to Johnny Hobo & The Freight Trains

• open.spotify.com/artist/7Mv8pqnyBgJGpNTRwbi7kl?si=my2hVoEARMiILPtdwUQyjg

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• [email protected]
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Pless & Pepe explore many engaging topics. Expect to hear about music & creativity from the time of early humans to the age of social media. Matt shares his extensive journey through the music scene & his time hanging out with Pat The bunny. The discussion also touches on the challenges of navigating between different musical worlds & environments & the impact it has. Matt & Pepe delve into personal experiences of betrayal & rebuilding trust, particularly in the context of addiction. The conversation concludes with insights into Matt's upcoming projects & we play a track of his.

Support the podcast to get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Hitting the road coast to coast
• What helped Matt spread his music around the country
• Folk punk french toast tips
• Why small towns can have the best shows
• Childhood interest in The Monkees
• How Matt was perceived as a kid in school
• What it's like to live between worlds in prison & music
• The songwriting process for Matt involves a mix of chaos & order
• Creativity in prison
• Does an artist have a responsibility to the listener first or the art first?
• Audience capture, social media & monetized art
• Birds & their connection to the origins of music
• Music was more impactful & felt differently for pre-civilized peoples
• Pepe connects Dante's Inferno, Pat The Bunny & betrayal
• Matt's views on addiction & betrayal with his brother
• Trimming weed
• Upcoming projects
• "Comin' through the Rye" played

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you; roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• [email protected]
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this informative episode, Pepe takes us on a journey to revisit the early days of folk punk with a focus on Pat the Bunny (Johnny Hobo) & the DIY Bandits label that released much of his music. He enlists the support of longtime friends Dani Chaoflux & Mark Leonard who also spent time with Pat during those days. Together they explore a fascinating origin story that sparked a local community that eventually helped ignite a country wide scene. This is part 1...stay tuned for parts 2 & 3!

Support the podcast to get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• "What were you thinking?" during the early Bandit days
• Creating the Love Songs For The Apocalypse layout
• What was a typical day like at Bandits HQ back then?
• What happened to the DIY Bandits website?
• Who were the DIY Bandits?
• Remembering the first Johnny Hobo shows
• Escaping security story
• Favorite memory about Pat The Bunny
• Did the Johnny Hobo music actually reflect who Pat was?
• What was the scene like?
• Would you do it all again if you knew how it ended up going?
• We didn't use the term "folk punk" in the early days
• Folk punk bands then & now
• Touring with Johnny Hobo & the Freight Trains
• What was the folk punk scene like in CT. in the early-mid 2000's?
• What was the difference between the early shows and current day shows?
• We like ska!
• Reflecting on Pat The Bunny during the Johnny Hobo era
• Some Thoughts on the podcast

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you; roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• [email protected]
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Todays COFFEE BREAK features The Homeless Gospel Choir discussing the song writing process & touring.

Listen to the full interview here:

Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/6a0xC8MZqfVjEzwAnOAtGN?si=c0dad602914d42b8

Apple podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homeless-gospel-choir-a-hopeful-conversation-around/id1681556943?i=1000618989421

Support the podcast & get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you; roasted by Pepe himself

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• [email protected]
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of this shadow work series, Pepe explores examples & thoughts about the shadow through Apes Of The State, Rent Strike, Carl Jung & his own personal journey in prison & more. Expect to learn what you can gain from doing shadow work yourself & some practical action steps to help you begin the process as well as a couple book recommendations to start with. No longer let the ghosts of your past rule your life in the present.

Listen to part 1 here:

Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/2e8o5zHHCWDNcU65yWQ4Mo?si=318ea54398634f6b

Apple podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-are-all-haunted-by-what-resides-in-the-shadows/id1681556943?i=1000673130662

Support the podcast to get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you; roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• [email protected]
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Warmb of the band Rent Strike returns to the show & talks to Pepe about recording their latest album Möbius Strip Mall & why thye often makes concept albums. A large portion of the conversation focuses on the power of words & the magic that flows through & out of them. Together, Pepe & John explore some practical of examples of how we cast a spell with the words we speak & how that can affect the very fabric of reality for better or for worse.

Support the podcast to get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Thoughts on concept albums
• The story of the Möbius Strip Mall
• Advertising is like sorcery
• Laurel Airica word alchemy
• Words as spells
• A snitch spoke magic words that led Pepe to prison
• The liberating value of using or not using certain words
• Language & perception
• Dr. Emoto water experiment
• Does John have any new beliefs since recording the latest album
• Covid, collapse & the time for liberating acts
• Exploring our escape plans through music

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• [email protected]
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

Follow/engage with the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you; roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Back on the Grind, Pepe Bandit discusses the transformative power of the shadow. Drawing from his background in life coaching, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma recovery & more, he aims to help others understand the shadow correctly. He discusses the differences between repression & suppression & how shadow material can accumulate over time & unconsciously influence our behavior & relationships.

Pepe delves into the concept of exploring the parts of ourselves that we often deny or refuse to acknowledge. He shares his own journey & personal anecdotes to illustrate how these shadow aspects actually manifest in our thoughts & behaviors, highlighting the duality of human nature—our capacity for both compassion & cruelty. The episode emphasizes the importance of self-awareness & acceptance of all facets of our identity for personal growth & healthier interactions with others. The episode also touches on the relevance of these themes in the context of Halloween, a time traditionally associated with hauntings & the unseen.

Support the podcast to get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS

• We all have hauntings that we can never fully escape
• Your shadow contains unwanted or “unhelpful” parts of ourselves we deny
• The shadow is not inherently evil; it's part of us
• Shadow material often stems from childhood experiences
• Repression vs. suppression
• How shadow material can manifest unconsciously in our lives
• Shadow work requires confronting uncomfortable truths about ourselves
• Engaging in shadow work is essential for personal and societal growth
• "Demon Song" by PT Burnem is played

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• [email protected]
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

Follow/engage with the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you; roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Todays COFFEE BREAK features an exclusive clip from our patreon featuring P.T. Burnem. He discusses meditation and Pepe shares a story about toilets in prison.

Article about prison toilets: https://prisonjournalismproject.org/2024/10/21/what-its-like-to-poop-prison/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=other

Use the code SHIPFREE to Get free shipping on any order from stayfreecoffee.com

or follow the link below and it will apply your discount automatically:

https://stayfreecoffee.com/discount/SHIPFREE

Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Listen to the full episode #3, Getting Intuitive with P.T. Burnem:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3zm4GV74nCNqe3PVoI0Ucj?si=3ea42318f9064c26

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-intuitive-with-p-t-burnem-3/id1681556943?i=1000613055220

Say hello, send us questions, comments or future topic suggestions to

• [email protected]
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

Follow/engage with the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

*Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"We became mermaids at the parade."

In this conversation Pepe does his best to get The Looms to open up about some rumors surrounding the band. They share their unique journey, touching on themes of rituals, personal loss, and the collaborative nature of songwriting. The band members reflect on their diverse backgrounds, from metal influences, philosophical studies & working in the medical field. The discussion culminates in a deep dive into the meaning behind their song 'Mourning Star'. The band members share their experiences with live performances, stepping out of their comfort zones, and the impact of digital communication. We close out playing the song 'Mourning Star.'

Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Pepe's attempt to get to the bottom of rumors about the "Order Of The Loominati"...
• The Mermaid Parade
• Rituals and their impact on individuals
• The songwriting process is collaborative and involves all members
• The band's history is intertwined with personal growth and friendship
• How 'Morning Star' reflects deep personal loss & the search for direction
• Live performances can lead to unexpected mistakes and funny stories
• Stepping out of comfort zones
• Communication in the digital age & anxiety
• Upcoming projects
• We play the song "Mourning Star"

THE LOOMS - listen & connect:

• Spotify open.spotify.com/artist/7iwcth8DNQNQPpzEMntFQG?si=sEEdBMIlQ3qVCByaR5fGZQ
• Bandcamp thelooms.bandcamp.com/music
• Instagram instagram.com/theloomsband/
• Website thelooms.band/home

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• [email protected]
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

Follow/engage with the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you; roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, Pepe Bandit and Jo Rodriguez discuss the impact of music on their lives, particularly folk punk music. They share personal stories of how certain musicians or songs have helped them through difficult times and provided a sense of grounding. They also discuss imposter syndrome and the challenges of feeling like they don't belong in certain spaces or conversations. Jo mentions her experience growing up in a (ex)Mormon family and how it has influenced her music. She plans to write a song about her parents' journey out of the Mormon church as a way to find forgiveness and peace. The conversation covers various themes, including anger towards parents, the impact of trauma, the desire to have a house venue, and the narration of an audiobook.

Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

takeaways

• Music has the power to provide comfort and grounding during difficult times
• Happy Happy, Apes Of The State & Rent Strike stories
• Imposter syndrome is a common experience, even for musicians and podcasters
• Personal experiences, such as growing up in a religious community, can shape an artist's music and lyrics
• Religious trauma
• Writing songs can be a way to find forgiveness and peace
• Sharing personal stories and vulnerabilities through music can create connections and resonate with listeners.
• Having a house venue can be a way to give back to the community
• Narrating an audiobook can be a meaningful way to contribute to projects that explore important themes and experiences
• Exploring personal experiences and emotions through music can be cathartic and healing
• We play the song "Practical Advice" by Jo Rodriguez

Connect with Jo Rodriguez:

Instagram - instagram.com/jobanjobanjo/?hl=en

Facebook - facebook.com/people/Jo-Rodriguez/100004513473999/?ref=xav_ig_profile_web

Website - jobanjobanjo.com/

Listen to Jo Rodriguez music:

Spotify - open.spotify.com/artist/2xADBEPdn61I8UPTHbJ2Xw

Bandcamp - jobanjobanjo.bandcamp.com/

Send us questions, comments or future topic suggestions to

• [email protected]
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

Follow/engage with the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.