Broken Class

Alamance is a rapidly rising Eugene-based rock and metal band. Alex, Ivan, Josh and Matt graciously let me join their practice studio in west Eugene. They are frequently releasing new singles, playing shows all around the PNW, and gaining ardent fans both locally and internationally. 

Check out Alamance:

Brian Steveson makes an overdue appearance on my show, as we try and fail at keeping our focus on the delightful 10-year HS reunion we are helping to plan for our North Eugene HS class of 2012. 

We discuss Ted Cruz and shoestring fries (1:30), Social dynamics and how to treat people (13:34), Brian's film love & taking IB Film Studies (17:50), The Crucible and all of Brian's NEHS plays (21:34), ASB background and WOW Hall background (26:54), "Hey wait a minute" and Project Give assembly (36:43), Reunions in the social media era (41:15), ACTUAL REUNION CHAT BEGINS more lol (some activities) (46:25), Our former teacher, now cannabis CEO (49:10), Film lightning round (54:25), Geeking out over Hitchcock's "Vertigo" (59:47), and broken media literacy (1:15:18). 

RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/NorthRSVP  

Other links: https://linktr.ee/nehs2012 

Ben Gleib is among the most accomplished comedians still rising today, and his new special is a must-see! https://youtu.be/zJbQT-ZcPLw 

Gleib has pioneered the wildly successful virtual "Nowhere Comedy Club" during Covid, hosted 210 episodes of his Emmy-nominated game show "Idiotest" (which trended on Netflix and is now on Pluto TV), continually co-hosted The Young Turks' Rebel HQ series, and was told by Larry King that he was "exactly the kind of person we need" when he ran for U.S. President in 2020. Ben Gleib has mentored countless comedians you know and love (like Bo Burnham!) and he's just a wonderfully insightful guy. Topics will be time-stamped soon. 

Follow Ben Gleib:

Hailey Schug is a piano studio founder, a licensed music educator, a bartender and my romantic/life partner. Brian Schug is her father, a bird rehab expert who creates TikTok content about animals and social issues.

We discuss driving privileges (0:40), religion and abortion (9:55), guns (19:02), teaching during school shootings (24:02), Hailey's B# (B sharp) Piano Studio (29:50), being the father of two great kids (50:52), what is a raptor? (1:09:32), wildlife rehab and education (1:13:40), being @arwentonksschug on TikTok (1:21:26), other cool animal stuff (1:29:06), brokenness around elections & divisiveness (1:34:16), term limits (1:40:20) and more. 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/UtuFbFu7iQU. 

Check out and support Hailey's studio: http://bsharperpianostudio.com 

Enjoy Brian's animal blog and videos: https://www.themischievousmustelidspresenttonkstalk.com  https://tiktok.com/@arwentonksschug 

Only my late father has impacted my creative journey more than Sam. Whether or not you've heard of Sammy Warm Hands (or his band, Dead Fucking Serious), I doubt there has been any Lane County musician more prolific AND genre-diverse in the past two decades. Gradient fans know he's taken me on tour twice, rapped on my first three projects, and engineered/exec produced my debut album, Ambition. 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/vFVHCzuGP30, and the topics are time-stamped there.

Please rate/review the podcast, and check out Sammy's website, YouTube, and Spotify(s). 

Cruzer Urameshi is a talented beatmaking musician who is beloved here in the Eugene/Springfield community. Having produced thousands of beats and made an impact from Georgia to Lane County and beyond, he has accomplished a hell of a catalogue in his mid-20s. Cruzer is also a streamer and YouTuber, always aiming to support other creators.

We discuss NBA GOAT contenders and the '04 Pistons (0:56), starting in music (7:02), Cruzer's name and iconography (15:31), crediting and compensating producers (19:56), Sampling (26:10), FL Studio and DAWs (29:52), Beat influences and producer-rappers (34:15), T.I., comedy and parody (37:06), KEPW and the radio (43:11), how music sustains life (50:04), Sonic the Hedgehog music (52:32), impact and self-ownership (58:26), how to find/connect with Cruzer (1:05:47), and repairing broken communication in society (1:07:10). 

Please rate/review the podcast, and check out Cruzer's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7KCGZPocDn2c1PuAFnMqln. 

Tim McCloud is running a historic campaign for the Republican nomination for Oregon Governor. Tim has been a father, a businessman, an early childhood educator, and the chair of a City of Albany bike and pedestrian commission. In a crowded field, I was happy to give this thoughtful fella a chance to talk Oregon issues, especially knowing how less-funded candidates can get drowned out.

We discuss child abuse in Oregon's legal system (0:38), commutation of sentences (4:15), campaign challenges and barriers (7:55), "people over party" and closed primaries (14:19), Tim's background (21:14), public narrative vs. leader's reality (26:12), policy recognizing people: Tim's critique (30:02), Student Success Act (32:31), Black Lives Matter and policing (40:33), free expression, protest tactics, automobiles (49:58), Tim's campaign tune and jazz music (1:00:01), campaign finance reform (1:04:20), reproductive rights (1:07:46) and healing Oregon's economic brokenness (1:19:43). We end with the instrumental track "Turtle Hermit" by Cruzer Urameshi, who happens to be next week's guest (1:25:22). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/r2oal5ZjA_4. 

Ballots are due in a dropbox by May 17th. 

Ayisha Elliott is a mother, non-profit founder of Kids for the Culture, and the host of the multimedia podcast "Black Girl From Eugene." On her show and all over this episode, she dishes relentlessly thoughtful opinions and nuggets of knowledge on various issues of social importance. 

We discuss the slap heard 'round the white world (0:44), understanding anti-blackness and policy (8:54), Oregon schools and teaching history (13:16), Demographics (whiteness) of Oregon (18:45), Fragility and Robbin' DiAngelo (21:34), lack of Black ownership and community in Eugene (23:56), strategies for writing your narrative (27:35), Black Girl from Eugene: the origin (33:18), separating professional and podcast vibes (37:43), entry point into her show (39:42), Ayisha's family's impact on Eugene (45:10), jazz music, Cardi B and Beyonce (52:23), greatness of Jay-Z and Rihanna (57:35), cognitive "genius" or maturity (1:00:54), who should be President? (1:04:04), Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (1:09:18), Broken: work culture and balance (1:13:10), and we end with a live performance of the unreleased song "Meal Prep" by Gradient. (1:20:19). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/-1G0txJHkls. 

Check out Ayisha's work: http://blackgirlfromeugene.org 

Jennifer Yeh is a mother, a neighborhood advocate, and one-eighth of Eugene's City Council, representing Ward 4 (Northeast Eugene/Harlow). While I've expressed critical testimony at several meetings, her thoughtful receptiveness and sincere listening skills have always been self-evident. She is also a UO graduate in English, and the co-Executive Director for the Lane County History Museum. 

We discuss not liking beer (1:55), private citizen to public official (2:51), representing Ward 4 (is it conservative?) (7:47), campaign priorities (11:52), businesses, MUPTE, Opportunity Zones (14:34), Riverfront update and Yeh's qualifications (19:25), diversity on boards and commissions (24:38), inclusion and mental health (28:17), her family and anti-Asian racism (31:07) Britney Spears, Ye, fame and bullying (34:33), children, technology and photography (39:00), two new TV shows (The Dropout, The Chair) (45:22), Eugene in 2040 and electrification (48:02), EVs, car culture and transportation (53:33), getting involved and why I dislike "Councilor" (59:43), the brokenness of addiction services (1:04:07). 

The discussion is on video in 4K at https://youtu.be/cKUbVy_iffI. 

Please follow/rate/review the podcast, and check out Jennifer's campaign website: https://electjenniferyeh.com