Missing Words Podcast

Follow Justin Brannan on Twitter to keep up with his latest news and happenings. Thank you to Bill Shouldis for producing this episode.

Thanks for listening and please subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or however you listen to podcasts.

Hosted by Matt Pullman. Produced by Bill Shouldis.

For episode 8 and for this incredibly important day for America, we are happy to present our chat with Mayor Ted Terry.

You might recognize him as the “hipster mayor” from Queer Eye, where he got his “resistance beard” shaved off (a surprising misstep by JVN to cut it off btw) by the Fab 5.

Ted is the mayor of Clarkston, Georgia - the most ethically diverse square mile in America. He is leading the charge in making his town a welcoming and compassionate environment for all - regardless of religious beliefs, skin color, or sexual orientation.

In our chat, we discussed what his Queer Eye moment did for raising awareness to the town, his thoughts on the rise of Stacey Abrams, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the Blue Wave, how we can get millennials to vote, his fight for the decriminalization of marijuana, and so much more.

Check it out below!

Thank you so much to Ted Terry for taking time out of his super busy schedule to chat with us. Be sure to follow him on Twitter.

As mentioned in the episode, one way you can support Clarkston is by donating to their non-profit community center.

Here is a great article that discusses Clarkston and how immigrants have found solace and refuge in Clarkston. Here is the article and stats from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute we reference in the episode as well.

Seriously, if you are reading this and haven’t voted in the midterms today, leave your desk / apt / couch right now and go V O T E. Here is a link to find out where you need to go to vote. Also, Vote411 is a great resource for finding out who is on your ballot.

This is such a scary and overwhelming time in so many ways and regardless of what happens or happened in these midterms and we think it’s important to make sure we are supplying funding and donations to organizations out there doing incredible work, like the International Rescue Committee, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, the ACLU, and so many more.

As always, thank you to Bill Shouldis for producing this episode.

Thanks for listening and please subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Google Play, or however you listen to podcasts.

Welcome to episode 7 of Missing Words! In this episode, we sat down with writer and journalist Jessica Hopper. 

Over the years, Hopper’s work has appeared in outlets like Spin Magazine, Pitchfork, Punk Planet, GQ, and so many more.  A compilation of her writing and journalism - titled The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic - was released in 2015. Hopper’s latest work is her first memoir - Night Moves, which is now available!

We discussed how the memoir came together, what keeps her in Chicago, the grittiness of the Midwest, the parallels between the early 2000s and now, and much more.

Check it out below!

Thank you so much to Jessica for taking the time to speak with us. You can keep up with all the latest news and events at her official website and Twitter.

The book Jessica references in this episode is The Folded Clock: A Diary by Heidi Julavits. Highly recommended!

Also, here is a link to Chicago Tribune’s article about the Trump Tower and their EPA violations in regards to the Chicago River and pollution (also mentioned in this episode).

Thank you to our friend Justin Conway for providing the music for this episode. Thanks as always to Bill Shouldis for producing.

Thanks for listening and please subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Google Play, or however you listen to podcasts.

And we’re back! Episode 6 of Missing Words features a conversation with director Michael Grodner.

Grodner is the director of the film, The Icarus Line Must Die. The movie follows the lead singer of defunct LA-based post-hardcore band The Icarus Line, Joe Cardamone. Inspired by New York’s late 70s No Wave avant-garde scene, the film showcases Cardamone’s day-to-day existence and struggles in the blistering and oppressive heat of Los Angeles. Even if you aren’t a fan of the band, Joe’s story is universally relatable. At times, it feels like you are watching a documentary but the movie is based on real-life experiences and features appearances from some of Cardamone’s closest friends - Annie Hardy of Giant Drag, Ariel Pink, Keith Morris, and many more.

In the episode, we discussed the process of capturing the natural chemistry between non-actors, documenting the complexities of Los Angeles, and much more.

Check it out below!

The Icarus Line Must Die is now available on most streaming services and there are some select screenings happening across the US. For more info, check out the movie’s official website. You can view the trailer below as well.

For more music from The Icarus Line, check out their Bandcamp.


Thank you to Karen at K.O. PR for setting up the interview and thanks to Bill Shouldis for producing this episode.


Episode 7 of Missing Words will feature an interview with author and journalist Jessica Hopper.

Thanks for listening and please subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Google Play, or however you listen to podcasts.

In the fifth episode of Missing Words, we sat down with famed photographer Glen E. Friedman

Friedman has created some of the most iconic music, pop culture, and skateboarding photography since the mid-seventies. 

His highly referenced books Fuck You Heroes, Fuck You Too, The Idealist, and My Rules showcased and presented worlds that were not being given the spotlight at that time. From Tony Alva to Stacy Peralta; Black Flag to Minor Threat; Bad Brains to Fugazi; Beastie Boys to Public Enemy; and Run-DMC to LL Cool J. His work has only become more influential over time and his style is often replicated but never truly duplicated. 

We discussed how to get and process the news in the midst of a non-stop media blitz during Trump and the dangers of fighting political allies. Also, the tactics and unspoken rules of taking photos at concerts, his life in CA and NYC, and much more.

Check out episode 5 below. 

Here is just a peek at some of Glen's incredible work. 

I want to thank Glen Friedman for taking the time to speak with me on the phone. Be sure to check out his blog and follow him on Instagram and you can pick up his work and get news about his latest projects with Burning Flags Press.

I want to thank Dischord Records for allowing us to use the music in this episode. 

Thanks to Bill Shouldis for producing this episode. 

Thanks for listening and please subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Google Play, or however you listen to podcasts.

In episode 4, we sat down with the esteemed and extraordinary Vivien Goldman. Vivien is a writer, author, musician, professor, activist, DJ, and the list goes on and on. 

She has been involved with so many different scenes and movements over the past five decades. She made music with John Lydon and Keith Levene of Public Image Ltd, Viv Albertine and Ari Up of the Slits, The Raincoats’ Vicky Aspinall, among many others. You can hear the reggae and post-punk influences in her timeless songs. She was Bob Marley's first publicist and she has written books about him as well, along with books about Kid Creole. She is known as the "Punk Professor" and is an adjunct instructor at the Clive Davis Institute at NYU. Unstoppable is truly an understatement when it comes to her. 

Our conversation could have lasted for at least four hours because there were so many topics I wanted to cover but the focus on this interview centered around more topical matters - including staying active and busy in the face of daunting political news and events, her solidarity with the #MeToo movement, separating art from the artist, and much more. 

Check out episode four below!

Check out her website to stay up-to-date on everything she is up to now. Also, be sure to follow her on Twitter. 

Pick up her incredible collection of songs Resolutionary Songs (Songs 1979-1982) from Staubgold Records. You can stream the album below as well. 

Thanks for listening and please subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Google Play, or however you listen to podcasts.

Photo Credit:  Jason Hamacher - Lost Origin Productions

Episode three of Missing Words is here for your listening pleasure!

In this episode, we sat down with artist Kosmo Vinyl. Kosmo made a name from himself managing Ian Dury & the Blockheads and The Clash during the late 70s and 80s. 

After moving away from music, KV moved on to art, organizing a variety of shows, including recently the amazing Cisco Kid vs Donald Trump series.

We talked about the inspiration for using Jose Luis Salinas' Cisco Kid character to combat the Trump administration, living in NYC for 30 years and raising a family in the city, how his political beliefs were formed, and debating what Joe Strummer would have said about these truly crazy times. 

Check out the episode below:

You can read the full transcript of our interview with Kosmo over on our blog page. 

Here are a few of our favorites from the Cisco Kid vs Donald Trump series as well. Be sure to follow Kosmo on IG.

Thanks for listening and please subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Google Play, or however you listen to podcasts.

Welcome to episode 2 of Missing Words! In this episode, we sat down with Lauren Denitzio of the band Worriers. 

In this episode, we sat down with Lauren Denitzio of the band Worriers. In this episode, we discuss making music during Trump, meeting allies on the road, and allowing yourself to be cynical yet positive through artistic expressions. 

Listen below!

Worriers' new album Survival Pop is out this week on Side One Dummy records. Personally speaking, I think it's Lauren's best work yet. You can listen to their song "Future Me" a little further down. 

You can also check out the full transcript of our interview here. 

As mentioned in this episode, please consider donating to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and NAACP Legal Defense Fund. And of course, the ACLU could always use your support in these troubling times. 

Also, with the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico, please also consider donating to United For Puerto Rico. 

Thanks for listening and please subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Google Play, or however you listen to podcasts.

Welcome to the very first episode of MISSING WORDS.

In our premiere episode, we discuss the relationship between nostalgia, reunions, and coming back to artistic creations after quite some time during these not-so-optimistic times. 

Why exactly do certain records get dismissed by one generation only to find a whole new one appreciating it for different reasons? Why do we want bands to come back so we can experience something we may have missed being a part of?

These are pretty impossible questions but we figured we should sit down and talk about it with someone very familiar with it all.  

Episode 1 features Jawbreaker singer/guitarist Blake Schwarzenbach. Jawbreaker attracted a devoted fanbase in the late 80s/early 90s punk scene.  After years of rumors, Jawbreaker announced a couple months back they would be playing their first show in 21 years at Riot Fest in Chicago. 

Check out episode 1 with Blake below. Please subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Google Play, or however you listen to podcasts.

The full transcript of our interview with Blake is available here. 

Further research:

Check out the band's official website.

Be sure to check out the website and trailer for the upcoming documentary about the band, Don't Break Down. 

Pitchfork's comprehensive oral history of Jawbreaker. 

Listen to their records and buy them from their site or your local indie record store.