The Keep It Posi Podcast: Recent Episodes
Keep It Posi
A podcast talking with other individuals about music, their careers, and staying positive.
New episode out every other Monday beginning January 2022!
The guest for episode 105 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Kristin Peak. Kristin and I met when we both worked at KROQ. We met in early 2016 and clicked pretty fast after we learned that we liked a lot of the same bands. Kristin currently works at ByteDance, which is the parent company of TikTok and in this conversation, we talked about how she ended up working at KROQ, lessons she has learned throughout her career, how family influenced her music taste, 311, grad school, and a whole lot more. This was a fun chat with a great friend!
This month, The Posi Spotlight is focused on the Writers Guild Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve and promote the history and craft of writing for the screen. Established in 1966, the Writers Guild Foundation was founded by a group of prominent Writers Guild members to raise money so that writers from other countries and small organizations could attend the International Writers Guild conference held in Los Angeles that year. The Writers Guild Foundation has served the screenwriting community through its prolific library and archives, educational events, and community-building outreach programs. To learn more or make a donation to the Writers Guild Foundation, you can visit wgfoundation.org.
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The guest for episode 104 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Becky Kovach. Becky is a publicist at Big Picture Media. Big Picture Media has worked with some of my favorite bands and most likely with some of your favorite bands. Current and past clients include The Offspring, 311, Thrice, Sum 41, Silverstein, Tiny Stills, Sundressed, and a whole lot more. In this episode, Becky and I talked about her job and how she got into doing music publicity, how she learned about Yellowcard at a young age, the successes and challenges of music publicity, Bayside, and a whole lot more. To learn more about Big Picture Media, you can go to bigpicturemediaonline.com.
This month, The Posi Spotlight is focused on To Write Love On Her Arms, a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. To Write Love On Her Arms exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery. Founder, Jamie Tworkowski, didn’t set out to start a nonprofit organization. All he wanted to do was help a friend, who was struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts. He wrote about the five days he spent with her before she entered a treatment center, and he sold T-shirts to help cover the cost. When she entered treatment, he posted the story on MySpace to give it a home. The name of the story was “To Write Love on Her Arms”. To learn more or make a donation to To Write Love On Her Arms, you can visit twloha.com.
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The guests for episode 103 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Matty McDonald and Kean Bartelman of Protect Your Heart, an L.A. pop punk band with breakdowns. The band released an album last year titled (re)introduction. In this episode, the guys and I talked about the album, the band’s history, their eclectic musical influences, the DIY ethos of promoting your art, and more. This was a really fun conversation! To stream (re)introduction, you can go to pyh.band.
This month, The Posi Spotlight is focused on World Health Partnerships, a nonprofit organization committed to providing medical care and mental health education to allow people in underserved countries the foundation for improved physical, mental, and spiritual lives. World Health Partnerships has been able to hold mobile medical clinics, provide education, provide ultrasounds, and screen for surgeries. World Health Partnerships was actually started by Matty of Protect Your Heart, so if you can help by learning more or making a donation, you can visit worldhealthpartnerships.com.
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The guest for episode 102 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Lizzie Killian. During the day, Lizzie runs her company, FIFTYcc doing PR for the gaming industry and music industry. During her free time, Lizzie can be found writing music or playing a punk rock show as she is the person behind Teens In Trouble. Last year, Teens In Trouble released their self-titled EP via Asian Man Records. In this episode, Lizzie and I talked about the EP, how she got involved in PR within the gaming and music industries, soundtracks, and just life in general. The Teens In Trouble self-titled EP is available for purchase at teensintrouble.bandcamp.com.
This month, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Doctors Without Borders, a nonprofit that delivers emergency medical aid to people in crisis, with humanitarian projects in more than 70 countries. Doctors Without Borders offers medical humanitarian assistance to people based solely on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation. Doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers are often among the first on the scene when people’s lives are upended by conflict, disease outbreaks, or natural or human-made disasters. To learn more or make a donation to Doctors Without Borders, you can visit doctorswithoutborders.org.
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The guest for episode 101 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is June Martinez. June is a Merchandise Account Manager. June and I worked at KROQ, but we never really got to work together because we worked in different departments. In this episode, we talked about the diverse music taste she was introduced to as a kid, how she got her start in the music industry, and more.
This month, The Posi Spotlight is focused on City of Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people with cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. Their team of more than 11,000 includes researchers, associates, scientists, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, graduate students, fundraising specialists, marketing professionals, volunteers, and support staff. They’re all united by a desire to find cures and save lives. To learn more or make a donation to City of Hope, you can visit cityofhope.org.
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The guest for episode 100 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Rob Froese of Friend Club Records. Friend Club Records was launched in 2020 and in this episode we talked about the label, how he got into music, Jimmy Eat World, and more. After you give this episode a listen, I urge you to give the Friend Club roster a listen. You can start by checking out friendclubrecords.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Hope For The Day, a nonprofit movement empowering the conversation on proactive suicide prevention and mental health education. 700,000 suicides are reported each year with many more going unreported. In the US alone, over 130 individuals complete suicide on a daily basis. Through outreach, education, and action, Hope For The Day can equip people with the right tools to be proactive in their communities! Proactive prevention is about creating an environment that doesn’t wait for someone to reach a point of crisis to address their mental health. In doing proactive prevention, individuals step up to take action and facilitate the conversation on mental health in their spaces. To learn more or make a donation to Hope For The Day, you can visit hftd.org.
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The guest for episode 99 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Ray Harkins. During the day, Ray works at iHeartMedia. Outside of iHeart, Ray is the host of ‘100 Words or Less: The Podcast’ and also sings in melodic hardcore band, Taken. In this episode, we talked about the jobs he has had throughout his career, the podcast, his band, growing up in Southern California, and so much more! This was a really fun one and one of my favorite episodes to date.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on PETA. PETA was founded in 1980 and is dedicated to establishing and defending the rights of all animals. PETA entities have more than 9 million members and supporters globally. PETA works through public education, investigative newsgathering and reporting, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns. To learn more or make a donation to PETA, you can visit peta.org.
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The guest for episode 98 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Camiches, a band from Mexico City that have gone on to create and describe their style under the Feeling Core sound. Earlier this year, Camiches released their self-titled EP via Wiretap Records. In this episode, we talked about the EP, being Latino in the punk rock scene, blink-182, The Cure, Audio Karate, and more! This one was a lot of fun and it's in SPANISH! If you don’t speak Spanish and decide to not give the episode a listen, I still encourage you to give Camiches a listen! You can purchase their music at camichesmx.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Adopta.MX. Adopta.MX is an animal rescue service based out of Mexico City. The rescue service is dedicated to helping out dogs and cats who are homeless or are abused. To learn more or make a donation to Adopta.MX, you can visit their Instagram at @adopta.mx.
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The guest for episode 97 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Jon Hernandez of punk band, Timeshares. Earlier this year, the band released an album titled, 'Limb'via Wiretap Records and Bearded Punk Records. In this episode, we talked about the album and what it means to him, wrestling, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, The Offspring, and so much more! This one was such a blast. You can purchase 'Limb' at timeshares.bandcamp.com, wiretaprecords.com, or beardedpunk.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Girls Rock Philly,a youth-centered music organization dedicated to building an intergenerational community of girls, women, and trans and gender-expansive people. Through the practice of fearless expression, artistic experimentation, and collaboration, Girls Rock Philly builds the confidence and leadership skills needed to transform the community. The staff, volunteers, and participants foster a joyful culture of creativity, critical thinking, and collective care in order to build a more safe and equitable world. To learn more or make a donation to Girls Rock Philly, you can visit girlsrockphilly.org.
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The guest for episode 96 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Gabe Mayeshiro. Gabe plays bass in L.A. punk band, HOLYFANGS. He is a former member of Spanish Love Songs. In this episode we talked about how he started playing in HOLYFANGS, Spanish Love Songs history, Craiglist, Green Day, parenting, and so much more. This one was a blast and I definitely learned some band history. 'HOLYFANGS: I' is available for purchase at holyfangsband.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Just Us 4 Youth, a nonprofit organization that mentors youth to be better students, better people, and better leaders. Their vision is to positively impact a culture, a community, and a region by providing an innovative and holistic approach to quality mentoring for urban youth and their communities around the world. To learn more or make a donation to Just Us 4 Youth, you can visit ju4y.org.
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The guest for episode 95 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Courtney E. Smith. Courtney is an Editor for Eater Dallas and the host of 'Songs In The Key of Death' Podcast. In this conversation, we talked about her work, how she ended up working at MTV, The Shins, Death Cab For Cutie, Sub Pop Records, and so much more. This one was a blast and I think you’ll learn a cool thing or two! To keep up with Courtney online, you can follow her at @courtneyesmith on Twitter.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Noise For Now, a national initiative that enables artists and entertainers to connect with and financially support grassroots organizations that work in the field of reproductive justice. Noise For Nowis the link between touring musicians, progressive promoters, athletes, artists and local reproductive rights organizations in cities across the country. By organizing benefit events and campaigns, Noise For Nowprovides opportunities for artists and entertainers to use their talent to raise money and send a message that reproductive rights are human rights. To learn more or make a donation to Noise For Now, you can visit noisefornow.org.
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The guest for episode 94 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Taylin Wills of the alternative band, Least. In this episode, Taylin and I talked about the band’s new music, their City & Colour cover that was part of the Vagrant Records Tribute Compilation released by Wiretap Records and Friend Club Records, playing music at an early age, Underoath, and more. To check out more of Least’s music, you can head on over to leastisaband.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), a nonprofit that works to prevent, treat, and cure anxiety disorders and depression. ADAA improves the quality of life for those who suffer through evidence-based educational resources, professional practice, and scientific research. ADAA brings together mental health professionals who lend their time and expertise to improve patient care by promoting the implementation of best practices and treatments across disciplines through continuing education and training and accelerating dissemination of research into practice. To learn more or make a donation to ADAA, you can visit adaa.org.
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The guest for episode 93 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Zac Djamoos. During the day, Zac is a teacher, but outside of his day job, he is an Editor at The Alternative. In this conversation, we talked about his role at The Alternative, the music scene, compilations, Armor For Sleep, Bamboozle, and so much more. This one was an absolute blast! To check out The Alternative, you can go to getalternative.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (or ASPCA). ASPCA was the first humane society to be established in North America and is one of the largest in the world, today. ASPCA was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. The ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. To learn more or make a donation to ASPCA, you can visit aspca.org.
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The guest for episode 92 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Kevin Day. Kevin was the guest for episode 58 and if this is your first time learning about Kevin, he does a number of things. Kevin runs Part-Time PR for alternative, punk, and indie artists. He also sings and plays music in Graduation Speech and Aspiga. Earlier this year, Kevin released a new Graduation Speech EP titled 'Controlled Burn'. In this conversation, we talked about the new EP, playing shows again, Karate (the band), and more! If you like what you hear, you can buy the EP and merch over at graduationspeech.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on the New Jersey Abortion Access Fund, a volunteer-run organization that provides financial assistance to those seeking safe, legal abortions. They partner with providers and social service agencies in New Jersey to help people access the quality care they need and deserve. They recognize the many obstacles that people face in gaining and maintaining control of their reproductive rights and believe that access to abortion is a vital part of reproductive justice. NJAAF provides grants to help cover the cost of an abortion or related services. To learn more or make a donation to NJAAF, you can visit njaaf.org.
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The guests for episode 91 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Field, Scott, and Cameron of Fencer, a rock band from L.A. In this episode, we talked about the music they’ve been working on, how they ended up playing shows with Badflower, CD players, Green Day, and more. This one was a blast! To keep up with Fencer online, you can search @fencerband on all platforms.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Life Rolls On, a nonprofit organization that was founded by 2x world champion quadriplegic surfer, Jesse Billauer. Life Rolls On is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living with various disabilities. Believing that adaptive surfing and skating could inspire infinite possibilities beyond any disability, Life Rolls On began as a splash into the unknown on September 11, 2001; achieved 501c3 nonprofit status in 2002; and now touches the lives of hundreds of thousands. To learn more or make a donation to Life Rolls On, you can visit liferollson.org.
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The guest for episode 90 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Austin Cooper, lead singer and guitarist of No Lungs, an alternative rock band out of Arizona. In this episode, we talked about touring, LA venues, playing in the school band and orchestra, Bright Eyes, and more. The band's latest album, 'What You Didn't Want to Happen Is Happening Right Now' is available for purchase at nolungs.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on The Brigid Alliance, a referral-based service that provides travel, food, lodging, child care, and other logistical support for people seeking reproductive access. The Brigid Alliance prioritizes clients beyond 15 weeks of pregnancy for whom it’s generally more expensive and harder to find a provider near home. They are part of an ecosystem of support organizations that is propping up reproductive access in the country in an increasingly hostile environment. To learn more or make a donation to The Brigid Alliance, you can visit brigidalliance.org.
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The guest for episode 89 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Richard Lamas, lead singer and guitarist of Rundown Kreeps, an L.A. ska punk band that is currently signed to My Grito. We talked about a lot including growing up in L.A. and being introduced to a range of artists, Limewire, burned CDs, Social Distortion, and more. This one was a lot of fun. To keep up with the band, you can head on over to rundownkreeps.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on The Sidewalk Project, a project based arts and public health organization that exists to create community and wellness for those who live outdoors. Through various mediums, including art, music, film, and public health,The Sidewalk Projectaims to be socially active and to empower houseless communities around the world. They are not trained social workers or therapists. They are artists who believe embracing the beauty of life is the way to enrich experience despite circumstance. To learn more or make a donation to The Sidewalk Project, you can visit thesidewalkproject.org.
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The guest for episode 88 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Art Barrios, lead singer and guitarist of Audio Karate, a punk rock band out of Rosemead, California. Additionally, Art also sings and plays guitar in Indian School and is the guitarist for Sweet & Tender Hooligans, a Smiths/Morrissey tribute band. In this episode, Art and I talk about the band’s latest release, '¡MALO!', how the vinyl pressing for 'Space Camp' led to a reunion, working with Bill Stevenson, the band’s first tour, and so much more! If you’re a fan of Audio Karate, I hope you learn something from this conversation because I sure did. To order '¡MALO!' on vinyl, you can do so at audiokaratestore.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on The Downtown Women’s Center. Founded in 1978, The Downtown Women’s Center envisions a Los Angeles with every woman housed and on a path to personal stability. Its mission is to end homelessness for women in greater Los Angeles through housing, wellness, employment, and advocacy. After its launch, The Downtown Women’s Center was the first:
- Permanent supportive housing provider for women in the U.S.
- Critical Time Intervention provider in the Western U.S.
- Health clinic exclusively serving women in the Skid Row community (and we remain the only one today).
- Drop-in Day Center exclusively serving homeless women in the city of Los Angeles (and we remain the only one today).
To learn more or make a donation to The Downtown Women’s Center, you can visit downtownwomenscenter.org.
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The guest for episode 87 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Avery Okamura, Kevin Worden, and James Allen of the punk rock trio, One Armed Joey! Late last month, the band released their new album, 'Happiness, To Me', via Sell The Heart Records! In this episode, the band and I talked about the album, how they all became friends through music in middle school, Green Day, and more! If you’re a fan of MXPX, Green Day, and/or Allister, you must give One Armed Joey a listen! If you like what you hear, please head on over to selltheheartrecords.bandcamp.com to purchase 'Happiness, To Me'.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Thorn. Thorn was founded in 2012 by Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore when they learned about the issue of child sex trafficking from a documentary highlighting what was happening to children in Cambodia. They describe it as this moment where you learn something about the world that you can’t un-know. As they started learning more, they realized that it is just as prolific of a problem in the United States as it is overseas. The technology exists to help kids, but simply isn’t being used. Thorn builds powerful products, leads new programs, maintains essential resources, and develops awareness campaigns to attack the issue from all sides. Technology must be part of the solution. To learn more or make a donation to Thorn, you can visit thorn.org.
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The guest for episode 86 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Danielle “Chip” Lehman. Chip is a producer for NHL Podcasts at The Athletic. Chip and I met during our day jobs at KROQ, where she was part of the Kevin & Bean Morning Show for a number of years. We talked about a lot! We talked about The Offspring, her time at KROQ, the Anaheim Ducks, PUP, how her experience at KROQ has helped her in her current job, and more! This one was a blast!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Everytown For Gun Safety Support Fund. Every day, more than 110 people in the United States are killed with guns. The Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund is the education, research, and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country. Everytown builds awareness about the complexities of gun violence in America so that every person—policymakers, volunteers, cultural influencers, business leaders, and more—can learn about the issues and become part of the solutions. To learn more or make a donation to Everytown For Gun Safety Support Fund, you can visit everytownsupportfund.org.
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The guest for episode 85 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Gil Rodriguez of alternative punk rock band, Ghost In The Willow. Earlier this year, the band released an EP titled I WAS ONCE A CHARMING MAN. In this episode, Gil and I talked about the EP, Pearl Jam, The Replacements, and more! This was a fun one! To purchase the EP, you can head on over to ghostinthewillow.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Tranquility Trail, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to rescue, shelter, rehabilitate, and find a forever home for every animal that finds its way to them. Tranquility Trail specializes in the care of senior and special needs rabbits. The organization relies on donations, fundraising programs, and their retail pet supply store to support the sanctuary. Every donation they receive ensures that their programs serve those animals that are lost, abused, neglected, or unwanted in the community. To learn more or make a donation to Tranquility Trail, you can visit tranquilitytrail.org.
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The guest for episode 84 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Mathias Nylenna of Norway based and indie/power pop band, Onsloow. Earlier this year, the band released their self-titled album and it is awesome. In this episode, Mathias and I talked about the album, Green Day, Morrissey, and more! This was a fun one and I urge you to listen to Onsloow after you’re done listening to this episode. You can head on over to friendclubrecords.com to purchase the album on vinyl. To buy the digital version, you can go to onsloow.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Bring Change To Life. The mission of Bring Change To Mind is to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness. Bring Change To Mind creates multimedia campaigns, curates storytelling movements, and develops youth programs to encourage a diverse cultural conversation around mental health. To learn more or make a donation to Bring Change To Mind, you can visit bringchange2mind.org.
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The guest for episode 83 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Wes Hoffman. Wes is a singer/songwriter and the frontman of punk rock act, Wes Hoffman and Friends. Earlier this year, they released an EP titled REWRITE THE STORY. In this episode, we talked about the new EP, MxPx, The Beatles, and more! This was a fun one. To listen to REWRITE THE STORYand purchase music from Wes, please head on over to weshoffman.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Punk Rock Saves Lives. Punk Rock Saves Lives is a catalyst at events for the punk rock community to start focusing on health concerns, equal rights, human rights, and more. One of the keystones of the music community, especially punk rock, is the ethos of taking care of one another. By championing this ethos through various campaigns hand-chosen by the artists, Punk Rock Saves Lives elevates their messages of hope, activism, and change to affect positive change and drive awareness. To learn more or make a donation to Punk Rock Saves Lives, you can visit punkrocksaveslives.org.
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The guest for episode 82 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Chris Broach and you may know him as guitarist and singer for indie/emo band, Braid. His other bands include The Firebird Band, L’Spaerow, and most recently, SNST. In early 2020, SNST released an album titledIT'S HARD TO BE LOVED BY YOU. In 2020, Chris also got the news that he had been diagnosed with cancer. In this episode, we talked about his battle, Gared of Planes Mistaken For Stars (who was also diagnosed at the same time), the SNST album, the music industry, and more. I do have to warn you that there are some things discussed that could be heavy for some listeners as he talked about his battle. It was an honor to speak with Chris about everything we talked about. To keep up with Chris and his projects, you can head on over to chrisbroach.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Fight Colorectal Cancer, the leading patient-empowerment and advocacy organization in the United States. Fight Colorectal Cancer provides balanced and objective information on colon and rectal cancer research, treatment, and policy. They are relentless champions of hope, focused on funding promising, high-impact research endeavors, while equipping advocates to influence legislation and policy for the collective good. To learn more or make a donation to Fight Colorectal Cancer, you can visit fightcolorectalcancer.org.
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The guest for episode 81 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Kelly Barber, who fronts Wave Break, an alternative band from the East Coast. Last year, Wave Break released an EP titled PUZZLE PIECES. In this episode, Kelly and I talked about the EP, Jimmy Eat World, Avril Lavigne, and more! If you like what you’re hearing, please head on over to wavebreak.bandcamp.com and purchase the music.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on The Alzheimer's Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to leading the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. As the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research, the Association is committed to advancing vital research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure. To learn more or make a donation to The Alzheimer's Association, you can visit alz.org.
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The guest for episode 80 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Josh Ravin, vocalist of San Diego band, Doc Hammer. Influenced by bands such as AC/DC, The Bronx, and Rocket From The Crypt, the band released an EP last October titled FINAL FORM. In this episode, Josh and I talked about the new music, the first CD and tape he ever bought, Every Time I Die, and more! To keep up with Doc Hammer, you can check them out and follow them on social media:
- facebook.com/dochammerband
- instagram.com/doc_hammer
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Namastray, a nonprofit cat rescue based in San Diego. Namastray’s mission is to remove cats and kittens out of shelters and into forever homes. The rescue was started by Tori, who is certified in yin yoga, and Lora, who is a yoga instructor and sound healer. Their vision is to create a mindful approach to cat adoption. They pop up in San Diego with yoga classes and combine their practice as an interactive event with their fosters. To learn more about Namastray, you can head on over to instagram.com/namastraysd.
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The guest for episode 79 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Tony Bucci of indie rock band, Broken Field Runner. In this conversation, we talked about the new music the band is working on, the new EP they’re about to release titled RUNNER, how staying home sick from school one day led him to playing music, Jimmy Eat World, and more. This one was a blast! To pre-order RUNNER, you can head on over to jetsam-flotsam.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on L.A. Mission. L.A. Mission breaks the cycle of homelessness and poverty, by stabilizing people in a safe and spiritual environment, connecting them to solutions, and walking with them on their journey. L.A. Mission seeks to help those who have become addicted to understand their addictions, to expect physical healing, and to live in ways that are healthy to soul, mind, and body. To fulfill this vision, L.A. Mission provides, gives, utilizes, supports, advocates, teaches, creates, empowers, and aspires. To learn more or make a donation to L.A. Mission, you can visit linkstage.com/thelamission or losangelesmission.org.
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The guest for episode 78 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Sarah Cano. Sarah currently works at Live Nation and has been an employee there since early 2020. Unfortunately, things changed for her like it did for a lot of people due to Covid. In this conversation, we talked about her job, how she started playing music at a young age, Hilary Duff, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and more. This one was a blast!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Save The Music Foundation. Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help students, schools, and communities reach their full potential through the power of making music. As one of the leading music foundations in the United States, Save The Music Foundation supports partner communities by donating instruments and music technology, providing support services for teachers, and advocating for music education. To learn more or make a donation toSave The Music Foundation, you can visit savethemusic.org.
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The guest for episode 77 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Andy Pohl. Andy is active in the music scene and stays busy running Sell The Heart Records, hosting Question The Answers Podcast, and playing in the punk rock band, Tsunami Bomb. I had the chance to talk with Andy last month and in this conversation, we talked about how he started the label and the podcast, how he ended up joining Tsunami Bomb, the grunge scene, and more. This one was a blast! You can check out Andy’s projects at the following links:
- selltheheartrecords.bandcamp.com
- instagram.com/qtapodcast
- instagram.com/tsunamibombofficial
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on West Oakland Punks With Lunch. West Oakland Punks With Lunch is a non-profit organization that began when a couple of punks came together to make lunches for their unhoused neighbors in West Oakland in 2015. Volunteers are dedicated to providing life-saving services, along with harm reduction resources to underserved and marginalized individuals. They also empower and provide a safe space for individuals to make informed decisions regarding their own lives. To learn more or make a donation to West Oakland Punks With Lunch, you can visit punkswithlunch.org.
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The guest for episode 76 (and the first one of 2022) of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Jeff Berman of Divided Heaven and The Berman Hour Podcast. Jeff stopped by the podcast early on and made an appearance in episode 20. This time, we talked about his upcoming album and who worked on it, family life, how he started podcasting during Covid, and more! This was a fun one and it was awesome to have been able to have Jeff back on! Divided Heaven’s upcoming album, OBLIVION, is available for pre-order at dividedheaven.com and will be out February 4th!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood ensures all people have access to the care and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures. Founded in 1916, Planned Parenthood is a trusted health care provider, educator, and advocate in the U.S. as well as a strong partner to health and rights organizations around the world. Each year, Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people. To learn more or make a donation to Planned Parenthood, you can visit plannedparenthood.org.
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The guest for episode 75 (and last episode of the year) of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Matt Caskitt of Matt Caskitt & The Breaks, a punk rock band out of Southern California. Earlier this year, the band released their debut album, WELCOME HOME. In this conversation, we talked about the album, how he started playing drums and singing, the grunge era, his first concert ever, and more.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Defenders of Wildlife. Defenders of Wildlifeis dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. Defenders of Wildlifeprotect and restore imperiled species throughout North America by transforming policies and institutions and by promoting innovative solutions. Defenders of Wildlifeenvisions a future where diverse wildlife populations in North America are secure and thriving, sustained by a network of healthy lands and waters. To learn more or make a donation to Defenders of Wildlife, you can visit defenders.org.
(UPDATE ABOUT THE PODCAST: Effective Monday, January 10th, instead of releasing an episode every week, there will be a new episode every other week, starting the week of January 10th. There will be a total of 25 episodes in 2022 and the episodes will now be released on Mondays instead of Wednesdays. More info about this change in the episode).
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The guest for episode 74 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Eric Urbach of States of Nature, a post-hardcore/rock band out of Northern California. Last month, the band digitally released SONGS TO SWAY, which is made up of EPs and some new songs. In October, I got to talk with Eric about the release, how music shaped him early on in his life, Metallica, and tons more. SONGS TO SWAY is out now digitally and available for pre-order on vinyl via:
- selltheheartrecords.bandcamp.com
- engineerrecords.com
- statesofnature.bandcamp.com
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Rogers & Rosewater, a charity organization that brings hot homemade meals to those facing homelessness and hunger in the streets of Oakland every Wednesday night. TheRogers & Rosewater mission is to feed as many people as they can. The world we live in can be harsh and cruel to people-especially those who are experiencing homelessness. And all they want to be is the kindness in it - one meal at a time. To learn more or make a donation to Rogers & Rosewater, you can visit rogersandrosewater.org.
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The guest for episode 73 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Mike Terry of The Jukebox Romantics, a punk band out of New York. The Jukebox Romantics have a new EP coming out later this month titled FIRES FORMING. In this conversation, Mike and I talked about the EP, FEST, The Postal Service, and lots more. Just a heads up, when we talked about FEST, the conversation took place in mid-October, so it was prior to this year’s FEST. To order FIRES FORMING, digitally or on vinyl, you can head over to thejukeboxromantics.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center.Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center is focused on organizing, educating, and building a community. Newburgh LGBTQ+ Centerprovides LGBTQ+ cultural competency training to not-for-profits, educators, government agencies, and the general public. They also provide education to deepen the knowledge of our intersecting communities. To learn more or make a donation to Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center, you can visit newburghlgbtqcenter.org.
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The guest for episode 72 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Kendra Sheetz. Kendra does a number of things in the music scene. She is the founder of The Bad Copy, a music website. She also does PR for bands via Type-A Promo. Earlier this year, Kendra started Enough., a podcast where her and her co-host aim to shine light into the darkened corners of the music industry while discussing the ways to improve the community when it comes to sexual abuse and assault. In this conversation, we talked about how she started The Bad Copy, Type-A Promo, Enough, and tons more. Disclaimer: Some parts of the episode could be triggering and heavy.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. To learn more or make a donation to RAINN, you can visit rainn.org.
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The guest for episode 71 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Caitlin Edwards of Bumsy and the Moochers, a ska/punk band out of Chicago. Caitlin also runs the annual Punk The Burbs Fest. In addition to being in a band and running a festival, Caitlin has solo stuff of her own and is a music therapist during the day. In this conversation, we talked about her band and the new music they’re releasing, Punk The Burbs Fest, her job as a music therapist, Avril Lavigne, Vanessa Carlton, and more! I really enjoyed this one and also learned a lot about Music Therapy. I hope you do too.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on The ALS Association,the only national nonprofit organization fighting ALS on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. To learn more or make a donation to The ALS Association, you can visit als.org.
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The guest for episode 70 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Mike Liorti of Summer Years, an alternative rock band from San Diego, California. Additionally, Mike has his solo project, Rosedale, and he is also the host of State Of My Art Podcast. I first learned about Summer Years because earlier this year, the band released a single titled “This Light”. In this episode, Mike and I talked about the song, how Summer Years came about, how he ended up moving to the States from Canada, Tom Delonge, and so much more. Summer Years is getting ready to release their EP! You can follow them on Instagram with the handle, @summeryearsrock.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on The Battle Buddy Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping combat veterans transition back to civilian life while living with the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other combat related disabilities. The Battle Buddy Foundationhelps provide service dogs to disabled veterans of all eras suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and physical limitations, at no cost to the veteran. Additionally, The Battle Buddy Foundation builds a community of peer support for veterans and their families through programs, events, and social media.To learn more or make a donation to The Battle Buddy Foundation, you can visit tbbf.org.
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The guest for episode 69 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is John Gamble of Still Bones, an indie rock/shoegaze outfit out of Baltimore, Maryland. Earlier this year, Still Bones released DOPEFUL, their debut album. In this conversation, John and I talked about the album, making and releasing music during the COVID era, CDs, Michelle Branch, and more. DOPEFUL is out now and available for purchase at stillbones.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on We The Protestorsis a national organization focused on ending racism and police violence in the United States. One of their projects is Campaign Zero, which encourages policymakers to focus on solutions with the strongest evidence of effectiveness at reducing police violence. Funds donated to Campaign Zero support the analysis of policing practices across the country, research to identify effective solutions to end police violence, technical assistance to organizers leading police accountability campaigns, and the development of model legislation and advocacy to end police violence nationwide. To learn more or make a donation to We The Protestors, you can visit wetheprotesters.org. To learn more or make a donation for the Campaign Zero project, you can visit campaignzero.org.
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The guest for episode 68 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Ryan Sizemore of The Camel City Blackouts, a punk rock band out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Earlier this year, the band released two EPs, 13 and WILD CARD. In this conversation, Ryan and I talked about the EPs, Rancid, blink-182, The Cure, and more! 13 and WILD CARD are out now!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on The Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation, a nonprofit organization that exists to improve the lives of cats and dogs while strengthening the human-animal bond. The Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation is a highly recognized animal rescue in the greater Winston-Salem area that provides foster care, medical services, and adoption to homeless, abandoned, surrendered, and sick animals. To learn more or make a donation to The Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation, you can visit aarfws.org.
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The guest for episode 67 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is James Christopher of Kitner, an emo rock band out of Boston. Earlier this month, the band released their debut album, SHAKE THE SPINS,via Relief Map Records.In this conversation, James and I talked about the band’s album, the Dawson’s Creek themed music video they did for their song “Junebug”, how Kitner was formed, Nirvana, and more. This one was a fun one! SHAKE THE SPINSis out now and available for purchase at kitner.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused onAIDS Action Committee, New England’s largest provider of services to people living with HIV/AIDS and populations at risk of infection. In 2013, AIDS Action Committeebecame a part of Fenway Health, which works to make life healthier for the people in neighborhoods, the LGBT community, people living with HIV/AIDS, and the broader population. To learn more or make a donation to AIDS Action Committee, you can visit aac.org.
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The guest for episode 66 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Dylyn Durante, of the alternative rock band, UgLi. Earlier this year, the band self-released their debut album titled FUCK. In this conversation, Dylyn and I talked about the band’s debut album, how her dad introduced her to music, Prince, and more! FUCK is now available everywhere to stream and for purchase at mybandisugli.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on The Okra Project,a collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever they can reach them. The Okra Project is committed to radically support and uplift the Black Trans community. To learn more or make a donation to The Okra Project, you can visit theokraproject.com.
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The guests for episode 65 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Will and Colin,of New York punk band, Neckscars! Earlier this year, Neckscars released their debut album, DON'T PANIC, via Sell The Heart Records. In this conversation, the guys and I talked about the album, the first album they ever bought, The Cranberries, their dream show, and more! This one was a blast! If you're a fan of Hot Water Music, you will like these guys. DON'T PANICis available NOWI
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Shatterproof, a nonprofit dedicated to ending the addiction crisis in the U.S. There are a number of things the nonprofit is doing to end the crisis. Shatterproof is transforming the healthcare system so the 22 million people suffering from addiction in America can have access to quality treatment. Shatterproof is focusing on ending the stigma surrounding addiction. Shatterproof supports millions of people by advocating for lifesaving policy changes, providing educational resources and tools, and hosting national events that build community among those impacted by addiction. To learn more or make a donation to Shatterproof, you can visit shatterproof.org
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The guest for episode 64 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Jeff Dean, who sings and plays guitar in Heavy Seas, a shoegaze/rock band out of Chicago. Earlier this year, Heavy Seas released their debut album, EVERYTHING BREAKSvia Sell The Heart Records, Rad Girlfriend Records, and Little Rocket Records. In this conversation, we talked about the album, how he started playing guitar, the Styx concert he went to, learning about bands while growing up in the era that he did, and more. This one was a blast! EVERYTHING BREAKS is out everywhere now!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Red Door Animal Shelter, a nonprofit, no-kill shelter committed to helping animals in need. Their primary focus is on cats, dogs and rabbits – the three most popular pets in the United States. They also rescue the occasional stray pet duck or backyard chicken. Red Door Animal Shelter provides a cageless environment for the animals, giving them the closest-to-a-home experience that a shelter can provide. To learn more or make a donation to Red Door Animal Shelter, you can visit reddoorshelter.org.
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The guest for episode 63 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Michael Kelly, who has a solo project known as Buckley’s Angel and he just released an EP back in August titled PINNACLE ROOM. While Buckley’s Angel is more of an indie-pop solo project, Michael also plays guitar in punk band, Matt Caskitt & The Breaks. In this conversation, we talked about the new EP, how he decided to do a solo project, Rancid, and so much more. This one was such a blast! To purchase a limited lathe cut edition of PINNACLE ROOM, you can head over to paperstreetcuts.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved. Every year, LAFLA provides free, high-quality legal services to more than 100,000 people living in poverty across Greater Los Angeles. Their priorities are: supporting families, preserving quality, affordable housing, maintaining economic stability, promoting safety, security, and health, serving populations with special vulnerabilities, and protecting human and civil rights. To learn more or make a donation to Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, you can visit lafla.org.
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The guest for episode 62 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Jamie Otfinoski of punk rock band, American Thrills. The band released an EP earlier this year titled OLD THINGS. In this conversation, we talked about the music the band has released this year, the band’s history, Hot Rod Circuit, Green Day, Jimmy Eat World, and more. To purchase OLD THINGS, you can head over to americanthrills.bandcamp.com
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on American Diabetes Association,a nonprofit with a mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. ADA leads the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fights for those affected by diabetes by:
- Funding research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes.
- Delivering services to hundreds of communities.
- Providing objective and credible information.
- Giving a voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes.
To learn more or make a donation to American Diabetes Association, you can visit diabetes.org.
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The guests for episode 61 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Anthony Santiago, James Domke, and Patrick Williams of Three Cheers Too Late, a pop punk band from New Jersey. They have a new EP coming out next month! In this conversation, we talked about the new music they’ve been working on, playing shows again, CDs, Britney, ringtones, and more. The Acoustic Sessions EP will be out on October 15th! You can purchase their music over at threecheerstoolate.bandcamp.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Wise Animal Rescue, a nonprofit organization in New Jersey dedicated to the well-being of dogs of all breeds. They are a network of caring people with a grassroots approach working towards a world where no dog is neglected, abused, or homeless. Wise rescues dogs of all ages and breeds from unsafe environments as well as those who are abandoned or surrendered. To learn more or make a donation to Wise Animal Rescue, you can visit wiseanimalrescue.org.
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The guests for episode 60 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Ciaran O’Reilly and Dan Rucker of The Petty Saints, a folk and punk rock band out of San Diego. The band released their first full length titled LONG WAY HOME earlier this summer via Dark Horse Coffee Records. The album is awesome! In this conversation, we talked about the new album, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Oasis, Queen, and more! LONG WAY HOME is available everywhere now!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on San Diego Humane Society, an open-admission shelter that is creating a more humane world by inspiring compassion and advancing the welfare of animals and people. Their lifesaving safety net has helped San Diego become the largest city in the U.S. to keep healthy and treatable shelter animals from being euthanized. San Diego Humane Societyprovides animal services for 14 cities within San Diego County. To learn more or make a donation to San Diego Humane Society, you can visit sdhumane.org.
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The guest for episode 59 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Blue Jenkins who sings and plays glockenspiel, keys, and percussion in Lakes, an indie rock band out of the U.K. Lakes recently released their album, START AGAIN, via Know Hope Records in the U.S., Big Scary Monsters in the U.K., and Friend Of Mine Records in Japan. In this conversation, Blue and I talked about the new album, how she joined Lakes after their formation, Radiohead, La Dispute, and more. START AGAIN, is out now and you can purchase it over at ourbandlakes.bandcamp.com!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on The Listening Place, a nonprofit with an award winning team of volunteers who offer free, confidential, and ongoing face-to-face listening, by appointment, to people who feel that life is no longer worth living. The Listening Place was conceived in 2015 and set up in 2016 in London, by a group of volunteers with a great deal of experience in supporting the suicidal. They had recognized that there is little ongoing face-to-face support available for many people with chronic suicidal feelings, and that some of this support can be given by well trained and professionally supervised volunteers. To learn more or make a donation to The Listening Place, you can visit listeningplace.org.uk.
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The guest for episode 58 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Kevin Day who runs Part-Time PR for alternative, punk, and indie artists. He also sings and plays music in Graduation Speech and Aspiga. Earlier this year, Kevin released an EP titled PRIVATE ANXIETIES through Graduation Speech, which is his solo project. In this conversation, we talked about the new EP, how he ended up doing PR for bands, CDs, going to shows in Philly, and more. Graduation Speech's PRIVATE ANXIETIES EP is out now via Jetsam Flotsam!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Perkins Center for the Arts, a nonprofit that strives to enrich lives, inspire learning, collaboration, interdisciplinary and intercultural experiences through the arts with programs and services which include a conservatory of music, visual and performing arts classes, exhibitions, concerts, artist-led school residency programs, a scholarship and fee-based camp for urban and suburban youth, folk life center, and community enrichment projects throughout South Jersey. To learn more or make a donation to Perkins Center for the Arts, you can visit perkinsarts.org.
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The guests for episode 57 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Corey Hugo (vocals/guitar), Jess Greaves (guitar), Chris Hunter (drums), and Max Graham (bass) of the emo/post-hardcore band, winterforever. Earlier this year, they released their debut full-length titled LÆVITAS and it rules. Honestly, when you’re done listening to this episode, please go listen to the album. In this conversation, the guys and I talked about the new album, their dream show, blink-182, Thrice, The Cure, the 405 freeway, and more! LÆVITAS is streaming everywhere now!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on RAICES, a nonprofit organization that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees. With legal services, social programs, bond assistance, and an advocacy team focused on changing the narrative around immigration in this country, RAICES is operating on the national frontlines of the fight for immigration rights. To learn more or make a donation to RAICES, you can visit raicestexas.org.
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The guests for episode 56 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Ben Shumaker, Kevin McCord, and Seth Richardson of alternative rock band, We Demand Parachutes. They recently released a single titled “Lost Her Mind” featuring Olivia Castriota and while they don’t have an EP or album out, they have continuously released music since the band was formed in 2019. In this conversation, the guys and I talked about the new music, the history of the band, the first album they ever bought, and more!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Touring Professionals Alliance, a nonprofit that was started by a group of like-minded Tour and Production Managers who joined together to find ways to help touring families as they struggle with unprecedented financial and emotional hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. TPA brings together those who run the day-to-day of the live music touring business with the goal of finding solutions to help out the industry, particularly crews and vendors. TPA is currently working on a list of various things to continue to help those in need as live events are making a comeback. To learn more or make a donation to Touring Professionals Alliance, you can visit touringprofessionals.com.
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The guest for episode 55 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Mari Fong. Mari is a music journalist and life coach for musicians. Mari is also the host of CHECK YOUR HEAD, a podcast where musicians share their stories and experts share their solutions for mental health and wellness. In this conversation, Mari and I talked about the podcast, how she became a life coach, mental health, her journalism career (including the time she interviewed Fred Armisen), and tons more. I do have to warn you, parts of the conversation could be heavy for some listeners. If you’re someone who is interested in learning more about mental health for a loved one or for yourself, please visit checkyourheadpodcast.com. There are so many resources listed there and it’s a great place to start.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. Sweet Relief Musicians Fund has aided people suffering from a wide range of conditions including spinal cord injury, cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, mental illness and psychological disorders, and more. To learn more or make a donation to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, you can visit sweetrelief.org.
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The guests for episode 54 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Chris Veinot and Fabien Rivenet of Toronto-based punk band, Talk Show Host. In June, the band released their first full-length album, MID-CENTURY MODERN via Wiretap Records in the U.S. and Disconnect/Disconnect in the U.K. In this conversation, the guys and I talked about their new album, Peter Gabriel, Bad Religion, Against Me!, and tons more. To purchase MID-CENTURY MODERN, you can visit talkshowhost.ca!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Toronto Cat Rescue, a nonprofit with a mission to rescue and find homes for abandoned, sick or injured cats from situations of abuse and neglect. Part of the mission is to also make Toronto a city where every adoptable cat knows what it means to be loved. By acting with integrity and accountability, Toronto Cat Rescue hopes to one day make Toronto a place where organizations like them are no longer needed. To learn more or make a donation to Toronto Cat Rescue, you can visit torontocatrescue.ca.
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The guest for episode 53 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Jameson Ketchum, who is an author and music journalist. He has a new book coming out this Friday, July 16th. "Namedropping: Seeking Creative Truth Through Trendy Altruism and Punk Rock"is that book. It’s part memoir and part self-help. In this conversation, Jameson and I talked about his book, his experiences in the music industry, Tooth & Nail Records, MxPx, Dashboard Confessional, and more. To order and for more information about Jameson's new book, you can visit rhetaskewpublishing.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on HeartSupport, a nonprofit organization that was started by Jake of metalcore band, August Burns Red. Every year, HeartSupport helps men and women brave their wounds, find purpose, and discover healing. HeartSupport does this by creating a legacy of life-transformation and by freeing these men and women from suicide, addiction, abuse, and mental health issues. The nonprofit empowers them with the realization they are loved unconditionally and supported by a community that believes in them. To learn more or make a donation to HeartSupport, you can visit heartsupport.com.
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The guests for episode 52 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Randy, Jay, and Tarif of Careful, Brother. Randy has played music with both Tarif and Jay in separate bands. Tarif and Randy play together in Get Married. Jay and Randy play together in a band called Rove. You may remember Randy from episodes 15 and 21 when he was previously on to talk about Get Married and The Moore Family Band. This time around, the conversation was mainly focused on Careful, Brother, which is a project that the guys started last year. Earlier this year, Careful, Brother released a song called “A Thousand Weeks”, a song about tour. Some people may draw a comparison to Crosby, Stills, and Nash. The song is awesome and you can stream it everywhere now!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on 924 Gilman a DIY, nonprofit venue for music, art, and community events in Berkeley, California. 924 Gilman has been around since 1986 and continues to run as an all-ages, volunteer-run, drug, and alcohol-free safe space. Some of our favorite bands that have played at Gilman include Green Day, Bad Religion, Rancid, and The Offspring. Gilman has no “owner”, no co-owner, and no money coming in from anywhere except the front door, fundraising, and donations. To learn more or make a donation to 924 Gilman, you can visit 924gilman.org.
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The guests for episode 51 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Ben and Andy of pop punk band, Loose Ends. The band is getting ready to release Tell God You Were Framed, their debut EP, that will be out later this summer. In this conversation, we talked about their upcoming EP, how they’ve been influenced by different genres, Yellowcard, Deftones, and tons more!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Su Casa, a non-profit organization dedicated to the philosophy that every individual has the right to live free from violence or the threat of violence. Their mission is to empower individuals and families to live free from domestic abuse and build partnerships with communities to end domestic violence. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to Su Casa, you can visit sucasadv.org.
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POSI EARLY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO THE KEEP IT POSI PODCAST! To help celebrate, the guest for episode 50 is my 10th grade English teacher, Mr. Raphael Rodriguez. The reason I asked him if he would hop on for episode 50 is because he was my mentor in high school and if you listened to episode one, that’s when I had my mentor in the music industry, on the podcast. I felt it made sense to have another mentor as a guest on the eve of the podcast turning one year old! To make a long story short, there was a club at school that Mr. Rodriguez sponsored when I was in high school. The Beatles and Music Club. I think that club was the beginning of what officially led me to pursue a career in the music/radio industry. In this conversation, Mr. Rodriguez and I talked about the club that started everything, teaching during the Covid era, the reason why there was a specific album that ended up being the first CD he ever bought even though tapes cost less, buying concert tickets at The Wherehouse, how and why he became a teacher, and so much more. Thank you to all that have been part of the podcast journey during the last year! The support means a lot!!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on DonorsChoose, a nonprofit organization that has been supporting teachers and students since 2000. DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education by funding books, art supplies, and class trips. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to DonorsChoose, you can visit donorschoose.org.
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The guests for episode 49 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Travis Smith (guitar/vocals) and Andrew Wupper (bass/vocals) of Texas punk rock band, Steadfast HTX. Last summer, the band released their debut full length, TRANSMITTERS. In this conversation, we talked about their album, the band’s history, Black Sabbath, Warped Tour, staying posi, and more. I had such a blast talking to these guys. TRANSMITTERS is out NOW and for a limited time, you can get 5 bucks off the album when you use the code, POSI, if you purchase it at their BANDCAMP (steadfasthtx.bandcamp.com).
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Animal Rescue Crusaders of Texas, a non-profit, all-volunteer animal rescue and adoption organization based in Plano, Texas. They save animals from local shelters, rescue abandoned animals, and take in owner surrenders to the extent that their resources allow. Additionally, Animal Rescue Crusaders of Texas actively promote animal welfare and the prevention of cruelty to animals. They also educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to Animal Rescue Crusaders of Texas, you can visit arcrescuetx.org.
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The guests for episode 48 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Shane Ward (guitar) and Nick Creary-Scher (drums) of Sacramento post-hardcore band, Enso Anima. The band recently released an EP titled CARDINAL WINDS. In this conversation, we talked about their new EP, Shakira, their dream show, staying posi, and more!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which is a legal organization fighting for racial justice. Through litigation and advocacy, LDF seeks structural changes to achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans. LDF also defends the gains and protections won over the past 80 years of civil rights struggle and works to improve the quality and diversity of judicial and executive appointments. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, you can visit naacpldf.org.
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The guest for episode 47 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Peter Duff. Peter is a musician, producer, and audio engineer based in Sacramento, California. He recently released his first solo single, "The To-Do List". In this conversation, we talked about that single, how he started playing music, his favorite part of his job, and more. "The To-Do List" is streaming everywhere now! You can also visit his website, peterduffmusic.com.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on MusiCares. MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts. MusiCares focuses on giving to the music community in three key areas: mental health & addiction recovery services, health services, and human services. MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to MusiCares, you can visit musicares.org.
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The guests for episode 46 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Andy Diaz and Nick Dolan of the emo/punk trio, Safety. Earlier this year, the band released their EP, GREETINGS FROM THE SUNSHINE STATE. In this conversation, we talked about their new EP, the band’s history, The Lawrence Arms, Green Day, FEST, and more. GREETINGS FROM THE SUNSHINE STATE is out now via Jetsam-Flotsam and it is awesome!!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on American Foundation For Suicide Prevention. American Foundation For Suicide Prevention is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education, and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.American Foundation For Suicide Prevention creates a culture that’s smart about mental health by engaging in:
- Funding scientific research.
- Educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention.
- Advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention.
- Supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide.
If you would like to learn more or make a donation to American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, you can visit afsp.org.
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The guest for episode 45 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Jamie Rocha. Jamie and I met through the music scene in L.A. She works with punk and ska bands as social media manager and tour manager, which she hopes to get back to as soon as tours resume. In this conversation, we talked about how her love for ska was born, how her parents influenced her eclectic taste in music, how she got involved in the music scene, and more.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Native Justice Coalition. In 2019, they launched the MMIWG2S Program. The MMIWG2S abbreviation stands for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People. This program addresses ongoing violence and continued genocide that affects Native women, girls, and Two-Spirits across the US and Canada. In May 2019, a 1,200 page report from Canada was released on the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). It includes over 230 recommendations and concluded that the murder and disappearance of Indigenous women and girls is an ongoing genocide. The Native Justice Coalition is starting with this first step to create awareness in our communities. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to the Native Justice Coalition, you can visit nativejustice.org.
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The guests for episode 44 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Brian McShea and Zach Boucher of the pop-punk/emo band, Good Terms. Currently residing in L.A., the band released their debut album titled TURNING POINT, just last month. In this conversation, we talked about their move to California, the themes on the new album, their musical journey as individuals and as a band, UnderOath, Dave Grohl, and so much more. Spoiler alert: their music is awesome. TURNING POINT is available everywhere now!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on an important issue. What happened last summer, hit home for a lot of people. Racial justice is something that is still being talked about and will continue to be talked about until people see the changes they’re asking for. Blacklivesmatters.carrd.co became a popular link with resources on how people can help out the black community and get involved in the movement. One of the nonprofit organizations listed on the site is Advancement Project. Advancement Project is a next generation, multi-racial civil rights nonprofit organization. Rooted in the human rights struggles for equality and justice, Advancement Project exists to fulfill America’s promise of a caring, inclusive, and just democracy. Advancement Project envisions a future where people of color are free – where they can thrive, be safe, and exercise power. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to Advancement Project, you can visit advancementproject.org.
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The guest for episode 43 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is AJ Peacox. AJ and I go all the way back to 2012. AJ has played in several bands, which include, but are not limited to Sundressed, Weatherbox, Crasher, and Tiny Stills, just to name a few. His latest project is Glow & The Dark. This past Friday, Glow & The Dark released the GLOW & THE DARK EP and it is awesome. In this conversation, AJ and I talked about the music he’s been working on, his introduction to punk and emo, his marching band days during high school and college, that first concert experience, mental health, and so much more. GLOW & THE DARK EP is available now via Dark Hourse Coffee Records!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Nai Conservation. Nai Conservation is a group of young professionals from diverse backgrounds working on research and education projects to conserve tapir populations and their habitat in Costa Rica. Tapirs are close relatives to rhinos and are similar in shape to pigs with a short nose trunk. Utilizing the expertise of each of its members, Nai Conservation works on research and conservation programs to generate scientific information, empower local communities, educate, and create public awareness around the tapir to ensure its long term survival. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to Nai Conservation, you can visit naiconservation.org.
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The guest for episode 42 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Ricky Schmidt. Ricky is in San Diego bands Hey, Chels and Western Settings. He also has solo stuff of his own. In this conversation, Ricky and I talked about all the music he’s working on, the first albums he owned, the Beach Boys, and more. You can purchase a copy of a limited stereo lathe cut record with Ricky’s latest single, "Miss You" via paperstreetcuts.com!
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Stop Street Harassment. Stop Street Harassment is a nonprofit organization dedicated to documenting and ending gender-based street harassment worldwide. SSH believes that street harassment impedes gender equality and must be taken seriously. Because street harassment is often seen as an invisible problem and it is dismissed as being a “minor annoyance”, a “joke”, or the fault of the harassed person, the primary focus of SSH is to document the problem and demonstrate why it’s a human rights violation that must be addressed. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to Stop Street Harassment, you can visit stopstreetharassment.org.
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The guest for episode 41 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Eddie Alvarado. Eddie is one of the lip sync artists for South Park, where he has been at for the last 10 years. Prior to moving into his current role, Eddie worked in radio at The World Famous KROQ. In this conversation, Eddie and I talked about his career, his favorite events he worked while in radio, Coachella, and more.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Pasadena Humane. Pasadena Humane provides animal care and services for homeless and owned animals in the Greater Los Angeles Area. For more than 117 years, Pasadena Humane has promoted compassion and care for all animals through lifesaving programs and services to the community that support the human-animal bond and keep pets healthy and safe. In the last five years, Pasadena Humane has adopted progressive sheltering practices focused on increasing adoptions, saving the lives of more animals, and helping guardians keep their pets. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to Pasadena Humane, you can visit pasadenahumane.org.
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In this special episode of The Keep It Posi Podcast, we celebrate the Queen of Tejano Music, Selena. Selena Quintanilla Perez was born on April 16, 1971 in Corpus Christi, Texas. She would be turning 50 today. She was the youngest child of three. Not only was Selena a musician, but she was a fashion designer, businesswoman, spokesperson, and actress. Throughout her career, she broke barriers. One thing we learned in the Selena biopic is that women were not successful in the Tejano music scene, but she found a way to succeed. She went on to create her own boutique, won a Grammy, and sold out arenas. Selena is the queen of DIY. While she did practice her dancing, she really didn’t have a choreography. She also designed and made her outfits as well as the band’s when they all wore the same attire. For this special episode, I spent some time remembering and talking to friends on what Selena means to them to celebrate what would’ve been her 50th birthday.
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The guest for episode 40 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Michael Paul Escanuelas. I’ve known Michael for a few years now and during this time, I’ve seen him perform with most of his bands. He currently has two musical projects: Estoy Listo, an electric indie project he started during quarantine and Nobody But You, an indie rock project he started with friends a few years ago. In this conversation, Michael and I talked about his musical journey as a performer, Drive-Thru Records, The Academy Is…, PureVolume, Limp Bizkit, and so much more.
This week, The Posi Spotlight is focused on Downtown Dog Rescue, an all volunteer run nonprofit organization that believes in second chances for both dogs and people. Downtown Dog Rescue rescues dogs and provides services for low income pet owners in underserved communities in L.A. County. Throughout its existence, Downtown Dog Rescue has helped pay for spay/neuter surgeries, has found fosters or forever homes for thousands of dogs, and has provided meals for not just animals, but also their humans. These are just some of the things they do. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to Downtown Dog Rescue, you can visit downtowndogrescue.org.
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The guest for episode 39 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Mike Cubillos, who is the owner of Earshot Media, a music publicity company he started in 1997. He has worked in music for even longer than that. Over the years, Mike has worked with bands such as All Time Low, Avenged Sevenfold, The All-American Rejects and has also worked campaigns for festivals such as the Vans Warped Tour, Taste of Chaos, and It’s Not Dead Fest. Earshot is still going strong and the current client roster includes Reel Big Fish, Spartan Records, Wiretap Records, Check Your Head Podcast, Half Past Two, and Demons, just to name a few. In this conversation, Mike tells the story of how he started his own company, how he knew he wanted to work in music, the importance of building relationships, his long working relationship with ska punk legends, Reel Big Fish, and a whole lot more.
The Posi Spotlight is a new thing kicking off on the podcast this week in which every week, a nonprofit organization doing something positive to contribute to our society will be talked about. Stand Up For Pits is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of pitbull “type” dogs through live events, funds, education, and advocacy. Stand Up For Pits was founded by actress and comedian, Rebecca Corry, in September 2013. She continues to use her platform to fight for pups and continue to raise awareness. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to Stand Up For Pits, you can visit standupforpits.us.
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The guests for episode 38 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Chris and Cameron, two members of Brave New World, a post-hardcore rock band out of Florida. Chris sings and Cameron plays drums. In this conversation, we talked about their new EP titled BLOSSOM, their introduction to music, their eclectic dream festival lineup that they would love to be a part of, and more. Brave New World’s’ latest EP, BLOSSOM, is available everywhere now! Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 37 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is a punk rock trio out of Southern California. Taken Days is formed by Corey, Brent, and Landon. Corey plays bass and sings, Brent plays guitar and also sings, and Landon plays drums. The band recently released their new album, EVERY SECOND. It rules! In this conversation, we talked about the making of their new album, the band’s history, playing music at an early age, Pennywise, Nirvana, Blink-182, Thrice, and a whole lot more. EVERY SECOND is out now via Wiretap Records. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 36 of The Keep It Posi Podcast isMike Henneberger. Mike is a writer, director, producer, and best-selling author of ROCK BOTTOM AT THE RENAISSANCE: AN EMO KID’S JOURNEY THROUGH FALLING IN AND OUT OF LOVE IN AND WITH NEW YORK CITY. This was such an awesome read and in this conversation, Mike and I talked about his book and the songs behind it, mental health, his career, and more. I do have to warn you though, there is some talk about suicide and depression. Mike's book is available for sale now at abergerjoint.com. The audio book is also available for pre-order. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 35 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is my friend, Jesse. Jesse plays bass in Decent Criminal, a rock band from California. I don’t remember how Jesse and I met exactly, but it was definitely at a show. In this conversation, we talked about the band’s newest EP, how he started playing music, the first gig he went to, Oasis, and more. Decent Criminal’s DC EP is out now on Sell The Heart Records. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 34 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is my friend, Laura. The guest for this week’s episode is my friend, Laura. Laura currently has a musical project called, Her Name Is Vengeance. In this conversation, Laura and I talked about her project, her upbringing and why she decided to move to the States, working in live music, and more. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 33 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is my friend, Carina. Carina is the host of The Birth and Stuff Podcast, a podcast where people share their experiences with pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and more. She is also the Regional Human Resources Manager at Entercom, the owner of stations such as The World Famous KROQ, K-Earth 101, AMP Radio, and more. In this conversation, we talked about why she started the podcast, radio events that she got to work when she was in radio promotions, Miley Cyrus, and lots more. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 32 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Brendan, who sings and plays guitar in Mercy Music, a punk band out of Las Vegas. The first time I saw Mercy Music was in September 2018 in Fullerton, California at the Wiretap Records anniversary show. In this conversation, Brendan and I talked about the band’s new album, his introduction to music, Green Day, and more. Mercy Music's NOTHING IN THE DARK is available everywhere now!Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 31 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Elijah Newman. Elijah has a solo project, Elijah Newman & The Side Effects, where he sings and plays guitar. He also plays guitar in Wolves & Wolves & Wolves & Wolves. If you recall episode 19, I spoke with Brian of Wolvesx4, who sings and plays guitar in the band. This time around, I spoke with Elijah. Elijah and I met back in September 2017 at a Wiretap Records anniversary show when the label turned 3. In this conversation, we talked about his solo project and Wolvesx4, Metallica, the independent music scene, FEST, Thrice, and more. FREE BORN EP by Elijah Newman & The Side Effects is out now via Wiretap Records! AN THOLOGY is a collection of songs from 7", splits, and singles that was just released by Wolvesx4. It's available to stream everywhere. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 30 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Carla Jara. Carla is a photographer and videographer in Southern California. She has photographed acts such as The Jonas Brothers, 311, Taylor Swift, Lights, and Zedd, just to name a few. In this conversation, Carla and I talked about her love for pop punk, EDM, and 90s pop, how she ended up doing photography for some of the biggest radio stations in LA, the importance of representation, and more. If you're in need of photo or video work and live in Southern California, I highly recommend you check out Carla's work (jaycommacarla.com). Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guests for episode 29 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Alyssa and Andy, two members of Attic Salt, a punk band out of Springfield, Illinois. They both play guitar and share the mic on vocals. In this conversation, we talked about their new album, FEST, Jack’s Mannequin, MC Hammer, and more. Attic Salt's album, GET WISE,is out now via Jump Start Records. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 28 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Joe, lead singer and guitarist of emo/rock trio, Love Again, out of Texas. In this conversation, Joe and I talked about their latest EP, blink-182, Dr. Dre, boy bands, and a whole lot more. If you're a fan of Taking Back Sunday, Into it. Over it., and/or Armor For Sleep, I highly recommend this band. WHAT I LEFT BEHINDEP is out now via Wiretap Records. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 27 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Scott James, lead singer of Swedish punk rock band, Movin In Stereo. In this conversation, Scott and I talked about their latest EP, Guns N’ Roses, his upbringing, how he ended up doing lead vocals for the band even though that wasn’t the original plan, and more. Movin In Stereo's NEW BLOOD EP is out now! Also, Scott is launching a new radio show this month called Some Kinda Punk. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 26 of The Keep It Posi Podcastis Band of Silver, a pop-rock trio out of Nashville, Tennessee. Band of Silver is composed of siblings Avery (vocals), Alex (guitar), and Evan (drums). In this conversation, we talked about their new EP, how they started playing music at a young age, their dream show, and more. Band of Silver's ALWAYS EP is out now! Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guests for episode 25 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Rory O'Connell and Kealan O'Connell of Bristol To Memory, an alternative rock band out of Orange County, California. Rory and Kealan are brothers and started playing music at a young age. In this conversation, we talked about the new album they’re working on, growing up in the Orange County music scene, Drive-Thru Records, Bright Eyes, and more. Their latest album, Wake Up, is out now on Wiretap Records. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
P. S. The Keep It Posi Podcast will resume on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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The guest for episode 24 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Ariel Legaspi. Ariel is the Band Director at El Sereno Middle School in Los Angeles. My first job out of high school was at El Sereno and I was a teacher’s assistant in the music department. It was my job throughout college and during this time, I got to work for Ariel and also get to know him. However, in this conversation, there was a ton more I learned about him. Ariel and I talked about the challenges of teaching during COVID, the importance of teaching students skills and lessons they can apply later in life, his upbringing, how Michael Jackson’s THRILLER opened the doors for him musically, how Rosie O’Donnell helped him pay his way through college, and a whole lot more. This is one of the longest conversations I’ve had with someone for the podcast, but there were so many things discussed, I feel like everyone listening will take something from it. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 23 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Jacque Mendez. Jacque sings and plays keyboard in Hey, Chels, an indie pop-rock band from San Diego. If you were around in the spring and were already following Keep It Posi on social media, you may remember Hey, Chels being part of the Instagram livestream series. Jacque and I talked about the band’s new album titled EVERYTHING GOES, the 4-way charity split that Hey, Chels was a part of titled SHINE A LIGHT, how a friend and Gin Blossoms influenced the band’s name, and a whole lot more. This was a fun conversation! Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guests for episode 22 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Steve Rovery and Jerred Lazar, two members of American Television, a punk rock band from D.C. We talked about their Operation Ivy cover, the first concert they ever went to, their dream show, the good old days, and a whole lot more. This was a super fun conversation! Their latest album, WATCH IT BURN, is out now via Wiretap Records! Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guests for episode 21 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Alyssa Moore and Randy Moore, two siblings from the Moore Family Band. This was Alyssa’s first time on the podcast, but Randy is no stranger to it as he was around for episode 15. If you recall, Randy is in the band, Get Married, along with his brother, Dylan, but a few months ago, they started this new band with their younger sister. In this episode, we talked about the formation of the band, their dream tour, KISS, and more. This was a fun one! Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 20 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is my friend Jeff, who is the dude behind Divided Heaven. Divided Heaven has been his project for more than 10 years, where he sings and plays guitar. Jeff and I talked about his new song titled “They Poisoned Our Fathers”, the bands that helped shape his youth, the punk rock scene, and more. This was a fun one and was awesome hearing his story! Hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 19 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is my friend Brian, who sings and plays guitar in Wolves & Wolves & Wolves & Wolves, a punk rock act from North Carolina. Brian and I talked about a lot of things, including his upbringing, the Spice Girls, and how a Tooth & Nail Records shirt ended up being responsible for a lot of what’s happened in the second part of his life. This was a really fun conversation and a reminder that things happen for a reason. Hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guests for episode 18 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are vocalist, Brenton Harris and drummer, James Noble, who are members of the Australian alternative punk-rock band, Catholic Guilt. I had the opportunity to talk with Brenton and James in September and it was such a fun time. We talked about their new EP, This Is What Honestly Sounds Like, the first show they ever went to, a video game they created called Furrend Finder (furrendfinder.com), and so much more. Hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you for listening! This Is What Honestly Sounds Like is out now via Wiretap Records! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 17 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is my friend, Rebecca Hebrank. I met Rebecca a few years ago when we worked at CBS Radio. Rebecca currently works at Live Nation and also runs vodkanvinyl.com, a music blog she started a few years ago. We talked about how she got into music, her favorite band, the importance of having hobbies (especially during these times), Foo Fighters, and more. Hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 16 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Dylan Tayag. Dylan is the lead singer of the L.A. pop-punk band, Highland. I learned about Highland over the summer and I immediately became a fan. I knew I had to send them an invitation to come on the podcast. Dylan and I talked about Highland’s history, his upbringing, his day job where he works as a therapist, and more. Hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 15 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Randy Moore. Randy plays guitar in Get Married, a rock ‘n roll band from San Jose, California. If you recall episode 2, I spoke with Jaake, who sings and plays guitar in the band. This time around, I got to hear Randy’s version of how Get Married was formed. We also talked about his introduction to music, band life, John Mayer, and more. Hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
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The guests for episode 14 of The Keep It Posi Podcast are Lisa Nardi and Stephanie Insalaco. Lisa and Stephanie are the fundraising and creative minds behind AM Chalk. AM Chalk is a tradition that started back in 2013. It all started with sidewalk art and Lisa and Stephanie have turned it into a fundraising effort, benefiting the Dear Jack Foundation, a non-profit that was started by Andrew McMahon, lead singer and pianist of Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness, Jack’s Mannequin, and Something Corporate. The Dear Jack Foundation is dedicated to helping adolescents and young adults fight Cancer. We talked about how AM Chalk was started, how they discovered Andrew’s bands, a friend that we lost to Cancer, staying positive, and so much more. For more information about the Dear Jack Foundation, please head over to dearjackfoundation.org.
Also important for me to note that I spent a few minutes talking about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. May she rest in peace.
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The guest for episode 13 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Lyndsi Austin. Lyndsi is the lead singer of Tidal Babes, a surf pop-rock band out of L.A. I saw Tidal Babes at the beginning of the year at Programme, a skate shop in Fullerton. Little did anyone know that it would be one of the last shows anyone would play or go see. Lyndsi and I talked about her upbringing, making her way out to California, and the influence behind starting Tidal Babes. Thank you for listening to another episode of the podcast. Hope you enjoy this episode! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 12 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Warren Franklin. You may know him from Warren Franklin & The Founding Fathers or Joie De Vivre. We talked about the Instagram livestream series he kicked off earlier this year, how he got into music, and how he’s ended up being able to jam with some of his favorite musicians (e.g. Mikey Erg of The Ergs!). Thank you again for listening to another episode of The Keep It Posi Podcast! Hope you enjoy this episode! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 11 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is my friend, Iris. I met Iris a few years ago when we worked at CBS Radio. We both worked for different stations, but found out that we like a lot of the same bands. We’ve been going to shows together since. In this episode, we talked about her introduction to music, how she got into booking music and comedy acts at her college, and how that led her to be an activist. Iris is devoted to help end slavery and human trafficking. I do have to warn you, there are some things discussed in this conversation that are heavy.
For more information about human trafficking, here are links to non-profit organizations that are doing something to help eradicate it:
- a21.org
- dressember.org
- dreamcenter.org
- ourrescue.org
- thorn.org
- polarisproject.org
- itsapenalty.org
- childrescuecoalition.org
- humantraffickinghotline.org
The Keep It Posi Podcast is brought to you by Anchor.fm, the easiest way to make a podcast.
The guest for episode 10 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Armando Guido. Armando plays guitar and sings in Left Without, a post-hardcore band from California. Armando and I talked about his band, how he was introduced to music, the local music scene, and more. If you were around in the spring, you may have seen Left Without on the Posi Quaranstream on Instagram. Thank you again for listening to another episode of The Keep It Posi Podcast! Hope you enjoy this episode! Keep it posi!
The Keep It Posi Podcast is brought to you by Anchor.fm, the easiest way to make a podcast.
The guest for episode 9 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Xavier Delgado. Xavier is the vocalist and guitarist of Los Angeles post-hardcore/punk band, Corre Diablo, which is Spanish for “run devil”. Xavier and I talked about his upbringing, his current band, our mutual love for Thrice, among other things. If you've been following Keep It Posi for the last few months, you may remember Corre Diablo from the Posi Quaranstream series that took place in late April/early May. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Corre Diablo is donating all the proceeds of their music sales to Mutual Aid Network Los Angeles*, so please go buy their stuff at corrediablo.bandcamp.com. I do apologize for the sound quality of this conversation. It’s not the best, but still works :)
*Mutual Aid Network Los Angeles is a collective working together to support those most vulnerable during the COVID-19 health crisis. Their services include providing food, transportation, and help navigating social services to the Los Angeles area. You can check them out at mutualaidla.org.
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The guest for episode 8 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Tom Mullen. Tom runs washedupemo.com, a site that's been around since 2007 that's dedicated to the history of Emo. In 2011, he started The Washed Up Emo Podcast and the DJ nights in New York City. In 2017, he released Anthology of Emo: Volume 1 and recently announced the release of Volume 2. Anthology of Emo is a compilation of stories that have been told on The Washed Up Emo Podcast by bands in the scene over the years. Volume one is getting reprinted and is now available for pre-order along with volume two at anthologyofemo.com. In this conversation, Tom and I talked about the books, his career in the music industry, how he ended up working at his dream label (Equal Vision Records!), the importance of doing what you love, and so much more. Tom’s podcast was one of my influences to start this podcast so having him on was super cool! Hope you enjoy this episode! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 7 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Lindsay Manfredi. Lindsay plays bass in the two-time gold-album selling alternative rock band, Cold. The band is known for songs such as “Stupid Girl”, “Suffocate”, “A Different Kind of Pain”, and many more. Lindsay joined the band after she received a Facebook message from Scooter, the band’s lead vocalist, back in 2014. Since then, she’s been playing and writing music with them. Lindsay recently made her debut as an author with her first book titled "Unf*ckwithable: A Guide To Inspired Badassery". In this conversation, we dive into her book, Cold’s latest album, how she got into music and started jamming, and so much more. It was awesome being able to chat with her! Hope you enjoy this episode! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 6 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Chris Hudson. Chris is Director of Marketing and Branding at 5B Artist Management, where he works with bands such as Slipknot, Pennywise, Megadeth, The Bronx, Flogging Molly, and more. Outside of 5B, Chris manages New Language (check out episode 3?) and runs Lost Rockett, his latest project dedicated to radio promo. We talked about his journey and making his way into the music industry, the big things he did at The World Famous KROQ, getting into band management, and how he ended up getting his current job at 5B Artist Management. This was a long discussion, but a super fun chat! Hope you enjoy this episode! Keep it posi!
The Keep It Posi Podcast is brought to you by Anchor.fm, the easiest way to make a podcast.
The guest for episode 5 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Kelly Opdycke, a college professor currently teaching at California State University, Northridge. Prior to teaching, Kelly spent time working in the music industry. When she moved to L.A., she went back to school. We talked about her experience in the industry, why she decided to go back to school, one of our former professors, and more. A great chat that led to revisiting some awesome times. Hope you enjoy this episode! Keep it posi!
The Keep It Posi Podcast is brought to you by Anchor.fm, the easiest way to make a podcast.
The guest for episode 4 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Nick Fleming, the guitarist of Wicked Bears, a pop-punk band from Salt Lake City, Utah. We talked about how one movie got him to start playing music, his bands before Wicked Bears, and more. Another fun chat. Hope you enjoy this episode! Keep it posi!
The Keep It Posi Podcast is brought to you by Anchor.fm, the easiest way to make a podcast.
The guest for episode 3 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Matt Cohen, the bass player of New Language, an alternative rock/post-hardcore band from L.A. We talked about growing up in Orange County, the music scene, how New Language ended up touring with The Used, and locking in slots on Aftershock Festival and the last Vans Warped Tour. It was a great time catching up (done via Zoom of course) and learning something new about a good friend! Hope you enjoy this episode! Keep it posi!
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The guest for episode 2 of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Jaake Margo, the lead singer and guitarist of Get Married, a rock 'n roll band from San Jose, California. We talked about his introduction to music, the independent music scene, The Clash, and more. It was a great time chatting and learning something new about a good friend! Hope you enjoy this episode! Keep it posi!
The Keep It Posi Podcast is brought to you by Anchor.fm, the easiest way to make a podcast.
The first guest of The Keep It Posi Podcast is Rob Castellon. Rob is the owner of Wiretap Records and Client Solutions Manager at iHeart Media in Los Angeles. We talked about his label, the radio industry, and how he got into music. Hope you enjoy this episode! It was a great time catching up with a great friend and mentor! Thank you for listening! Keep it posi!
The Keep It Posi Podcast is brought to you by Anchor.fm, the easiest way to make a podcast.
Hi! Welcome to The Keep It Posi Podcast. This is episode 0: An introduction to what this podcast will be about. Hope you will join in on the journey! See you in the pit!
The Keep It Posi Podcast is brought to you by Anchor.fm, the easiest way to make a podcast.