Conversation ex Nihilo

Eric Beser is the program director for The Jewish Film Project, an organization that supports Jewish artists in their endeavors to tell bold and innovative stories. 
Eric joins Billy via Zoom to talk about the founding of the organization, his father's role in the dropping of the atomic bombs, Eric's son's work with the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the struggles over which narratives to share when developing a project and much more.  

Rage of the Age is a podcast about politics, religion, economics and history with a conservative bend and it's  hosted by Philip Sharp. Philip joins Billy via Zoom to talk U.S. history, federalism, socialism v. capitalism (a love story), those slave owning founding fathers of ours, and the importance of educators in a young person's life. It's a spirited talk that will make you want to participate no matter what way you politically lean.   

Empress is a musician, dancer, singer and actress. She danced for the San Francisco Ballet and joins Billy via Zoom to talk about her experiences as a performer. In addition to telling her story and how she fell in love with music and dance, she speaks of: The notorious ill treatment of ballet dancers, Black Swan, her own experiences with the diet and heavy regimen of a professional ballerina, the making of her first EP We Own This Crown as well as her desire to empower listeners to take control of their lives and become the empresses/emperors of their own realms.
Check out her work here

Jason LaFarge runs Seizures Palace Recording in Brooklyn, New York. He is also the bassist in Pants Exploder.  He joins Billy via Zoom to talk about his Georgia roots, playing with Pineal Ventana, his work with SWANS and Michael Gira. Billy and Jason reminisce about brick and mortar music stores and ponder what is lost when they go away. They also go into what it is about the atmosphere that helps make a good record. Jason works out of the famous BC Studios, which has captured Billy's imagination in ways few run down canning factories have and Jason is quite indulgent in telling Billy more about the enchantment of this iconic music recording institution. 

Dreams of a Middle-Aged Man is the first solo album by Finnish musician Mauri Dark. Mauri blends influences such as Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen to craft an album of personal reflection. The album comes on the heals of his mother's death and the separation ration from his long-time girlfriend but also basks in the hope of a new marriage and child. Mauri joins Billy from Turku, Finland via Zoom to talk about the making of the album, the essence of Finnish culture and humor, touring through Europe, the impact of WWII on his family and their mutual reverence for the rock music of the 90's.
Check out the video for the title song "Dreams of a Middle-Aged Man" here. 

Paul Kahan is a historian and the author of the books Eastern State Penitentiary: A History, The Bank War: Andrew Jackson, Nicholas Biddle and the Fight for American Finance and Amiable Scoundrel: Simon Cameron, Lincoln's Scandalous Secretary of War among others. He joins Billy via Zoom to talk about the history of one of America's earliest and most notorious prisons, the fascinating aspects (believe it or not) of President James Buchanan and the magic of Pennsylvania. It's a spirited conversation with lots of good ol' American history. It's healthy for brains of all ages and weights.   

Katherine is the host of A Few Bad Apples Podcast a podcast that spotlights the crimes of police officers with an eye toward research and neutrality concerning the subject. Katherine is also an educator. She has a doctorate in education and she teaches English in Hawaii. She returns to Convo ex Nihilo via Zoom to talk to Billy about the unexpected opportunities that have been presented to her as a result of her podcast, her experiences in higher education obtaining her doctorate, and her current experiences teaching in a public school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course there is some talk and opinion exchanging on the topic of police reform.  

Regina Hanson is the author of the books Sexual Intellectual Female and Racism: The Real Reason I Left the South. She has a B.A, in American history with a minor in women's studies, she has an M.A. in American studies. Originally from Lawrenceville, Georgia she currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, from where she speaks to Billy via Zoom about her experiences growing up in the south, her discovery that she has autism relatively late in life and how it has effected her life and work. They talk about the driving factors behind her writing her first two books and the major conclusions that she has reached after completing them. They also talk about her current project a book about black entertainers in 20th century America. 
It's a conversation about racism, sexuality, music, and starting fresh. 
 

Kalonica McQuesten is a writer, graphic designer, artist and a Jill of all trades. She is a third-generation San Francisco Bay Area resident and she joins Billy via Zoom to talk about her fabled family history, her great-grandfather came to the Yukon territory to sell supplies to minors during the gold rush. Kalonica discusses the changes to the lifestyle of San Francisco residents during the city's various booms and busts and they also delve a little into the movie Tombstone, the work of David Graeber and the worst parts of their previous jobs.   

Diana Mucci is an actress, playwright, former English teacher and sales executive as well as the founder of Back of the Yards Entertainment.

Diana joins Billy via Zoom to talk about her native Chicago, her short story SPIT and how childhood expectorations made her a stronger person. She also speaks about her heritage, being born of Haitian and Puerto Rican parents, her early struggles being marginalized as a student who couldn't understand English, her transition from education into cyber security, writing plays, David Mamet and many other topics of cultural significance.