In our debut episode, we talk with our long time friend & artistic collaborator, Jaime J. Soto. Jaime is a musician, dancer, performance artist & radio show host based in Tucson, AZ. We ask Jaime about making friends as an adult, coming out as a teen, living in Tucson, AZ and being a slut. Jaime also shares a secret surprise with us at the end of this conversation that neither of us were ready for.

Episode 1 - Jaime J Soto

Episode 4 of The Best Friends Podcast we chat with the amazing brother & sister creatives, Jim and Karen Tozzi. The Tozzis tell us what it was like growing up in a small, working class town outside of Boston, where their shared love of T.V. helped spawn their weird sense of humor - which ultimately led to artistic endeavors in puppetry, music, and for Jim, an animation career in television. We also chat about how much social media plays a part in artistic connection for folks now. Heads up: this episode was recorded during a really bad storm in N.Y. over the summer, so some of Jim’s audio cuts in and out - but it just makes it all the more fun!

Episode 4 - Jim & Karen Tozzi

In today’s episode we chat with visual and performance artist, Dorian Wood. Dorian talks about their relationship with music in a steaming world. They also discuss with us how magic living in a fat and non-binary body can be. We also finally get to hear Ryan’s Jonathan Davis impression.

Episode 5 - Dorian Wood

In today’s episode we chat with Joey & Felici of MILAGROS. We ask about how they started up & dish on our mutual love of New Orleans. We also talk a lot about T.V. & what the future holds for MILAGROS, maybe even a collaboration in the future!

Episode 6 - Milagros

In the final episode of our first season of The Best Friends Podcast, we talk with D.I.Y. comedian Chris Gethard. We talk with Chris about being a new dad, punk & failing in life. We also bond over our shared hatred of Scottsdale, AZ bro-culture.

Episode 7 - Chris Gethard

In our Season 2 debut episode we chat with our dear friend Jose Gonzales! Jose has been a staple in the Phoenix improv and arts scene for decades, helping run The Torch Theatre as well playing host for events like “Vinyl Voices”. We touch on everything from our local pirate radio, to Del Close, to making bad art on purpose. We also spend time dissecting “cancel culture” and separating the art from the artist. Jose has been an influential character in both our lives from quite some time, so it was really an honor for us to sit down and pick their brain.

Episode 8 - Jose Gonzales

In Episode 9 of The Best Friends Podcast, we talk with musician and author, Aaron Carnes. At the beginning of the pandemic, Aaron released his book “In Defense of Ska” which subsequently became a weekly podcast, co-hosted with his best bud Adam Davis. We dive deep with Aaron on his long list of bands (most of which aren’t ska), touring, and some of his favorite mis-genre’d ska bands. We also chat it up about some of the weirder Christian bands that we all loved. Ryan and I also try and get Aaron to tell us what he doesn’t like about ska... but he doesn’t back down from defending it.

Episode 9 - Aaron Carnes

TW: Religious Trauma // Episode 10 of The Best Friends Podcast is a heavy conversation with artist Tyler Jacobs. Tyler is an accomplished artist and musician and has grown up in a family of creatives, spending years helping develop the children’s television series “Yo Gabba Gabba”. In our chat, Tyler lays out for us what it’s been like coming out as queer while being raised in the L.D.S. religion; to now leaving the church and becoming Instagram famous in the Bear community. This episode is deeply personal, and we are honored that Tyler felt comfortable to be so vulnerable with us. *Please note, this episode cut off near the end, as our conversation with Tyler continued for almost another hour after the tape stopped. We felt very fortunate to continue talking with Tyler and making those lasting connections*

Episode 10 - Tyler Jacobs

Episode 11 - Jer

Episode 12 features one of our all time favorite artist/musician/puppeteer - Panacea Theriac a.k.a. Miss Pussycat! Sadly we had a few technical difficulties and some of our conversation was lost but we still had a LOT to talk about! Miss Pussycat tells us about her time here in AZ working at Arcosanti, being a part of ‘titRex - a miniature Mardi Gras parade, and what it’s like being a traveling artist, making friends all over the world! We also spend a chunk of time geeking out on how much we love Miss Pussycat and how she ended up on our radar. Quintron also makes an appearance and to his dismay, Miss Pussycat shares their love story with us!

Check out Quintron & Miss Pussycat on bandcamp - quintron10.bandcamp.com

Episode 12 - Miss Pussycat

Episode 13 of TBFP found us chatting with the multifaceted artist Shoog. You may know Shoog's photographic work from their popular Instagram account ( @shooglet ) but they dabble in several different mediums - all of which celebrate the fat body. We chat with Shoog about their homestead in Florida, which has become a beautiful oasis for their friends & artists and the dynamics of both being cancelled & having a platform. We also chat about the vulnerability of Shoog’s subjects when working with them - most of their work are stunning nudes. And of course we couldn’t miss out talking about our fave mutual friends - Milagros.

Episode 13 - Shoog

From the performance art duo of Ryan + Emily, #thebfpodcast episodes are cassette taped conversations with folks who’ve inspired & impacted our lives.

Episode 1 - Jaime J Soto

The Best Friends Podcast

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