"When I'm writing music & lyrics, the best thing I can do is just empty my head...that's the best way to make art that is authentic."

In this episode Pepe talks with John Warmb of the band Rent Strike. They discuss the hug John & Pepe shared when they first met, time, solitude vs. solitary confinement, the psychological value of alchemy, the problem with hiding things in your shadow/unconscious, the ego's struggle admitting the power of the unconscious exist & much more.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• John & Pepe's hug
• Making & breaking bread
• Thoughts on Covid (inside prison & in the "free" world)
• John asks Pepe about his biggest struggle being in solitary confinement
• Pepe tells John about "ghost drugs"
• Self inflicted prisons can be far worse than physical, government operated prisons
• Alchemy & inner work
• John & Pepe discuss what they think is one of the most important things anyone can do in life

Connect with Rent Strike:

instagram.com/rent__strike/

rentstrikenow.com/

Read Pepe's response (written from prison) to John's question about "Time"

preparingforfreedom.org/2021/05/02/reader-question-have-you-changed-your-relationship-to-time-since-entering-the-system/

Read Pepe's "The Gift Of Coffee" blog post John also mentioned in this episode

preparingforfreedom.org/2021/12/15/the-gift-of-coffee/

Back On The Grind Records - DIY & folk punk music merch:

backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Check out Pepe's new project:

STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERS

StayFreeCoffee.com

Say hello, send us feedback about any episode or ask a question for possible discussion on a future episode:

• [email protected]

Follow the podcast:

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram
• shows.acast.com/back-on-the-grind

Word of mouth really matters. If you like what you heard, here's two things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share the podcast with a friend who you think will find value in it.
2. Please leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you!

Stay Free until next time!

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

While Folkpunk Dad is away on tour & unable to be in the studio, we're airing an older interview Pepe gave 1 week before he went to prison in 2019. Pepe talks about originally facing 10 to life, the work he did to keep his relationship(s) intact, preparing for release before he was even sentenced, being in relationship while one partner is incarcerated, having a morning routine & working out, & how it's usually not easy to do the work that life asks of you but, it's worth it. This is an inspirational interview that can help you see there is a way through even the toughest of times.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Pepe's box of shit story
• Pizza & prison with the kids
• Pepe's positive response to his apartment burning down
• The questions Pepe & his wife asked each other about their relationship before he went to prison
• Doing the work
• What Pepe did first thing the morning he was getting sentenced to prison

Watch the interview here:

• youtube.com/watch?v=br9Y1smB1hQ&t=123s

Back On The Grind Records - DIY & folk punk music merch:

backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Check out Pepe's new project:

STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERS

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Help support this podcast & get some exclusives:

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Check out Pepe's blog from prison:

• PreparingForFreedom.org

Get in touch to send us feedback around this episode (& others) or to ask a question for possible discussion on a future episode or just to say hello:

• [email protected]

Follow the podcast:

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram
• shows.acast.com/back-on-the-grind

Word of mouth really matters. If you like what you heard, here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going:

1. Share the podcast with a friend who you think will enjoy it.
2. Please leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you! Really, this is a huge help in growing the podcast, so please take a moment to do this :)

Fuck the Feds and

Stay Free until next time!

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

"There's moments where I feel like all the good songs are written...I'm able to look at my friends who are writing amazing songs & are filled with love & gratitude & I feel, well maybe there's some hope left in this old guitar for me too & I'll get back in there & give it a try."

Derek Zanetti a.k.a. Homeless Gospel Choir has an inspiring conversation with Folkpunk Dad. Derek has a lot to share & he does it with an upbeat honesty that is refreshing to hear amongst all the chatter of the modern world today. They dive into what Derek is up to musically, writing good and bad songs, discovering punk rock before the internet made it easy, crab rangoon, addiction/sobriety, choosing to resist, upcoming tour & much more. Enjoy the show!

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The song writing process
• Getting started
• What Derek learned from his first tour
• Mental health & music
• The role of punk music & politics for Derek
• Integrity as an artist within capitalism

Connect with Homeless Gospel Choir:

• thehomelessgospelchoir.com
• thehomelessgospelchoir.bandcamp.com/album/curt-large-demo-tape-recordings

Back On The Grind Records - DIY & folk punk music merch:

backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Check out Pepe's new project:

STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERS

StayFreeCoffee.com

Send us feedback around this episode (or others) or to ask a question for possible discussion on a future episode:

• [email protected]

Follow the podcast:

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Support the podcast:

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Word of mouth really matters. If you like what you heard, here's two things you can do to help keep this podcast going:

1. Share the podcast with a friend who you think will find value in it.
2. Please leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you!

Coffee for the FolkPunk in you

• BanditCoffeeRoasters.com

Stay Free until next time!

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

Pepe is trying to show up for people in his life that are currently facing challenging times. Him and Folk Punk Dad discuss what this means and how you can actually do it. Then they talk about how showing up for yourself is just as important. Thoughts on swamps, compassion, resentment & snitching are also shared.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Showing up for friends/family when it's difficult
• Facing uncomfortable feelings
• Self-care & self-love
• Finding solace in the swamplands
• Having compassion for someone who has caused harm
• Managing resentment
• Pepe's lack of resentment for the folks who snitched & sent him to prison

Support the podcast:

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Check out Pepe's video by the swamp where he talked about getting ready to go to prison:

• facebook.com/diybanditsfurever/posts/an-update-about-my-situationkeep-an-eye-out-for-johnny-hobo-and-wdu-vinyls-a-pat/907986072892779/

Chill out to Pepe's rocksteady playlist on Spotify:

• open.spotify.com/playlist/1og9SP4Leh9a8mbcEqDI0c?si=2NO7OD5xS--UX9vrDujxMA&nd=1

Back On The Grind Records - DIY & folk punk music merch:

backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Check out Pepe's new project:

STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERS

StayFreeCoffee.com

Get in touch to send us feedback around this episode (or others) or to ask a question for possible discussion on a future episode:

• [email protected]

Follow the podcast:

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Word of mouth really matters. If you like what you heard, here's two things you can do to help keep this podcast going:

1. Share the podcast with a friend who you think will find value in it.
2. Please leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you!

Stay Free until next time!

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

"Nothing had ever spoken to me before I got into music...The first 16 years of my life...I was just faking my way through it all."

We bring you closer to Mike Miller of Endless Mike And The Beagle Club endlessmikeandthebeagleclub.bandcamp.com/music which also played as the backing band for Wingnut Dishwashers Union.

In this conversation Mike talks about his early life, touring, struggling with Christianity, incidentally finding his way into the folk punk scene and much more.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Reflections on building a scene
• Connecting & working with Pat (the Bunny)
• Thoughts on Christianity
• Was Jesus a radical?
• What kind of world Mike desires
• Prison abolition
• Listen to their new song "Heman and Skeletor"

Connect with Endless Mike And The Beagle Club

instagram.com/emandthebc/?hl=en

Follow the podcast:

instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Support the podcast:

patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Back On The Grind Records - DIY & folk punk music merch:

backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Check out Pepe's new project:

STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERS

StayFreeCoffee.com

Word of mouth really matters. If you like what you heard, here's 2 things you can do to help keep this podcast going:

• Share the podcast with 2 friends who you think will find value in it.
• Please leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you!

Stay Free until next time!

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

Listener feedback, the married life & the early days...Pepe discusses opening an illegal venue, the origins of the DIY Bandits, meeting a young Pat The Bunny & Folk Punk Dad points out the many aspects of intuition involved. Folk Punk Dad shares stories & practical steps that helped him access intuition & he helps Pepe become more comfortable using the word. Where does intuition come from?

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Getting married

• How/Why did the DIY Bandits get started

• Pat the Bunny story

• What is intuition

• Folk Punk Dad shares several stories of intuition

• Steps to getting intuitive

• Fear vs. Intuition

• The unconscious & Carl Jung

• Pepe's Intuition around getting busted by the Feds

Support the podcast & get exclusives!

patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Follow the podcast:

instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

shows.acast.com/back-on-the-grind

Connect with Folk Punk Dad:

instagram.com/folkpunkdad/?hl=enw.

tiktok.com/@folkpunkdad?lang=en

Back On The Grind Records - DIY & folk punk music merch:

backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Check out Pepe's new project:

STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERS

StayFreeCoffee.com

Read Pepe's blog from prison:

preparingforfreedom.org

If you like what you heard...word of mouth really matters. Here's 2 things you can do to help keep this podcast going

• Share the podcast with 2 friends who you think will find value in it.
• Please rate or review our show. It will help us reach & support more folks like you!

Stay Free until next time!

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

"We have to think about music as a physical touch. It moves from my mind, through my body, through the string and then to you."

We bring you closer to independent rapper, P.T. Burnem' ptburnem.bandcamp.com/music who has a unique way of combining the organic and the technological in his music.

In this conversation Burnem' shares his ideas around intuition, replacing guilt with responsibility, relationships and much more.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Burnem's ideas around intuition

• Music is physical touch

• Burnem' asks Pepe about quieting the mind in prison

• Taking responsibility for telling your own story in life

• Getting curious about other people's stories

• Reaching out to people

• Using your voice to tell your own story

Check out the new song P.T. Burnem' contributed

Back On The Grind Records - DIY & folk punk music merch:

backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Check out Pepe's new project:

STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERS

StayFreeCoffee.com

P.T. Burnem' instagram.com/ptburnem/?igshid=ZWIzMWE5ZmU3Zg%3D%3D

[email protected] - We do this for you...Feel free to email us if you have any questions or comments about this episode or the show in general-we promise results!

Insta - instagram.com/BackOnTheGrindPod/

If you like what you heard...word of mouth really matters. Here's 2 things you can do to help keep this podcast going

• Share the podcast with 2 friends who you think will find value in it.
• Please rate or review our show. It will help us reach & support more folks like you!

Stay Free Until Next Time!

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

Folk Punk Dad brings you closer to Pepe through a deep dive into fear and his responses to it. Pepe shares personal stories & practical action steps around fear. We talk about Pat The Bunny, prison, regret, doing the work & more.

Support the podcast (& get exclusives!)

patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The advice Pat The Bunny gave Pepe about fear before he went to prison
• What Pepe feared more than prison
• Pepe's "corny" acronym for FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real)
• Two types of fear & how to identify them
• Pepe goes to the edge & faces a literal mountain of fear with his fiance & friend
• The value of embracing micro-courage
• Folk Punk Dad helps Pepe look at the word faith in a new way

Follow the podcast:

nstagram.com/BackOnTheGrindPod/

Back On The Grind Records - DIY & folk punk music merch:

backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Connect with Folk Punk Dad:

instagram.com/folkpunkdad/?hl=enw.

tiktok.com/@folkpunkdad?lang=en

Check out Pepe's new project:

STAY FREE COFFEE ROASTERS

StayFreeCoffee.com

If you like what you heard...word of mouth really matters. Please help us keep this podcast going; here's 2 things you can do:

• Share this podcast with 3 friends who you think will find value in it.
• Please rate or review our show. It will help us reach & support more folks like you!

Stay Free until next time!

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

"I was fucking terrified...there just wasn't a sober moment...I feared a sober moment."

We bring you closer to April Hartman, founder of the influential folk punk band Apes Of The State. In this conversation she shares intimate details of her journey through addiction and fear. We discuss the death of her mother, the world of folk punk, loneliness, relationships and at one point April really opens up and gets emotional answering one of Pepe's questions.

Support the podcast & get exclusives!

patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Pepe tells April about his fear of Apes Of The State
• The shift in April's life that led her to alcohol at age 12
• People wrote to Pepe in prison, telling him about April & her band
• April shares why Pepe "Should & Shouldn't run a label"
• April explains what she calls her "feelings bank"
• The most fearful moment in April's life
• Feeling loneliness in addiction & in prison
• Upcoming projects
• New tack played

Check out Back On The Grind Records the new song April contributed:

backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Apes Of The State :

nstagram.com/apesofthestate/?hl=en

apesofthestate.com

Follow the podcast:

instagram.com/BackOnTheGrindPod/

shows.acast.com/back-on-the-grind

[email protected] - feel free to email us if you have any questions or comments about this episode-we promise results!

Check out Pepe's coffee project:

BanditCoffeeRoasters.com -Officially launched September 2023

If you like what you heard, word of mouth really matters. Please help us keep this podcast going; here's 2 things you can do:

• Share this podcast with 2 friends who you think will find value in it.
• Please rate or review our show. It will help us reach & support more folks like you!

Stay Free until next time!

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

Welcome to the show!

Meet your hosts of Back On The Grind. Find out what the show is all about, here's a quick list of topics you can look forward to hearing about:

• Life

• Music

• People

• Stories that bring us all closer

Episodes are published twice a month. On the 1st of every month we interview a musician. On the 15th of every month we will share our personal stories and occasionally have conversations with additional guests.

• Do you have a question about something you heard in an episode?

• Do you have a question for us about something you're dealing with in life?

• Is there a topic you think we should discuss?

• Is there something you want to know about us?

Send an email an email with your question and we will do our best to address it on the show.

[email protected].

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