Loud! Fast! Philly!

Joseph A. Gervasi interviews illustrator and writer Greg Pizzoli. Greg is the author of several acclaimed books for children including: The Watermelon Seed (winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award), Templeton Gets His Wish, Tricky Vic, Number One Sam, Good Night Owl, and The Quest For Z. His books are published by Viking Children’s Books (a division of Penguin) and Disney Hyperion. Greg also comes from punk, which has influenced his work in many ways. Greg finds himself in a unique position: writing books that are read and loved by scores of children around the world. With the attention comes a responsibility, though he deftly avoids using his work to moralize to his readers. Greg speaks at schools about forty times a year and uses his ability to communicate with the kids without condescension to encourage creativity. We talk about Greg’s early influences in music and books and how those works shaped him into the writer he is today. Perhaps most crucially, we talk about spreading empathy in dark times. Greg is in a unique position to be able to communicate to the kids who are the future, and what he says about them (and, I’d add, what he helps to foster in them) is an encouraging sign that we’re all looking for and rejoice in seeing. Some seeds one swallows — inadvertently or with intention — when young grow into trees of great and lasting beauty.

Greg Pizzoli’s website

Photos by Karen Kirchhoff

Joseph A. Gervasi interviews Josie DiCarlo of Barnet Fair, Mike Ski of True Hand Society, Shannon Roche of Crust Vegan Bakery, Mike Barone of Grindcore House, and Rob Jahn and JP Flexner of Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company. This was a panel discussion held at the Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company in Croydon, PA upon their invitation. The discussion was about punks who own and operate businesses. Despite being a terribly noise environment thanks to many individuals present not for the event but to drink and eating loudly amongst themselves, the discussion was still fascinating and well worth your time in listening. While full apologies are issued due to the sound, you’ll still find a thoughtful discussion of how each respective business came to be, what the interviewees brought to their business to make it unique, how the businesses reflect the ethics of punk, operating with a conscience under capitalism, dealing with the city/state and all the regulations that come with running a legit business, the toll making and sustaining a dream project takes on one’s life, and a great deal more. Many thanks go out to the Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company for making this event happen and helping to bring together these inspiring business owning punks. They also make excellent beer.