The endearingly profane anti-folk pioneer and artistic rabble-rouser Ed Hamell, aka Hamell on Trial, joins us for this one, and helps us make a large announcement that we’re excited to share with you! We were able to squeeze in almost two hours of his tour stories (featuring the likes of fellow anti-folk legends Ani DiFranco and Kimya Dawson), shared Syracuse roots, and good-natured political debate, so settle in and get ready to spend some quality time with this truly wholesome anti-folkery. Later in the show, we get into WTF is anti-folk, anyway, and note the looming 18th anniversary of the Iraq War. 

Featured songs are “Values,” “Social Distancing,” and “Gonna” by Hamell on Trial, courtesy of the artist.


Follow Hamell On Trial: https://www.hamellontrial.org/home
Instagram (for Hamell’s art): @hamelltv

Episode 22: What the Anti-Folk with Ed Hamell

Attention all personnel, we’re doing something a little different for the next two episodes. In early January, Sarah was sucked into the antiwar brilliance of ‘70s T.V. comedy M*A*S*H -- and inspired Joy to come along for the binge-watching ride. Fresh off being emotionally devastated by the famous final episode, Sarah and Joy sit down to tackle the big questions: How, in the ever-living fuck, was this unapologetically anti-imperialist show so insanely popular in America? And why, in 2021, are we STILL not heeding its overtly anti-war message? This conversation also provides insight into Joy’s deployment experience and (potentially) illuminates some of Sarah’s questionable decisions. Stay tuned for part two!

Featuring covers of “Suicide is Painless” (Johnny Mandel/Michael Altman) and “I Bombed Korea” (Cake) performed by Joy Damiani. 

READING RECS

Korean Americans urge Biden to officially end the 70-year Korean War
https://www.nknews.org/2021/03/korean-americans-urge-biden-to-officially-end-the-70-year-korean-war

M*A*S*H' Finale, 35 Years Later: Untold Stories of One of TV's Most Important Shows
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/mash-oral-history-untold-stories-one-tvs-important-shows-1086322

30 Surprising Facts About ‘M*A*S*H
https://www.history101.com/30-surprising-facts-about-mash/

Why the Real Hawkeye Pierce Hates M*A*S*H
https://www.history.com/news/why-the-real-life-hawkeye-pierce-hated-mash

Color Photos from Actual M*A*S*H Units
https://www.considerable.com/entertainment/retronaut/the-real-mash/

Korean War History Site
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/chapters/


Uncovering the Hidden History of the Korean War (Jacobin)
https://jacobinmag.com/2020/06/korean-war-seventieth-anniversary-north-korea-south

The Korean War: Forgotten, Unknown and Unfinished (Truthout)
https://truthout.org/articles/the-korean-war-forgotten-unknown-and-unfinished/

Episode 23: Millennials Meet M*A*S*H (Part One)

Part deux of our monster M*A*S*H-athon conversation starts by tackling gender issues in the show and ends up with an imagined future for Hawkeye that involves hanging out with Timothy Leary and becoming an anti-war activist. In between, we cover sexism in the military, Freudian psychology, and nerd out about the show’s groundbreaking use of creative narrative devices. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of anti-imperialism chat too! 

Music for this episode is covers of “Suicide is Painless” (Johnny Mandel/Michael Altman) and “You’re the Enemy” by Emily Yates (available for stream/download at https://warriorsongs.org/track/1564039/you-re-the-enemy)

READING RECS

Korean Americans urge Biden to officially end the 70-year Korean War
https://www.nknews.org/2021/03/korean-americans-urge-biden-to-officially-end-the-70-year-korean-war

M*A*S*H' Finale, 35 Years Later: Untold Stories of One of TV's Most Important Shows
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/mash-oral-history-untold-stories-one-tvs-important-shows-1086322

30 Surprising Facts About ‘M*A*S*H
https://www.history101.com/30-surprising-facts-about-mash/

Why the Real Hawkeye Pierce Hates M*A*S*H
https://www.history.com/news/why-the-real-life-hawkeye-pierce-hated-mash

Color Photos from Actual M*A*S*H Units
https://www.considerable.com/entertainment/retronaut/the-real-mash/

Korean War History Site
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/chapters/


Uncovering the Hidden History of the Korean War (Jacobin)
https://jacobinmag.com/2020/06/korean-war-seventieth-anniversary-north-korea-south

The Korean War: Forgotten, Unknown and Unfinished (Truthout)
https://truthout.org/articles/the-korean-war-forgotten-unknown-and-unfinished/

Episode 24: Millennials Meet M*A*S*H Part Two

We’re back to the folking interviews with this joyful frolic featuring Katy Frame and Marie Cecile Anderson, aka musical comedy duo Reformed Whores! We talk about our respective pandemic life changes, how to lean into fear, visions for a future artistic utopia, and the intensely triggering power of poop. Afterwards, Sarah and Joy reflect further on more metaphorical shit, such as cyclical time and Sarah’s recent conscious uncoupling with her long-term partner. 

Featured music is “Girls Poop Too,” “Birth Control,” and “Drunk Dial” by Reformed Whores, courtesy of the artist. 

https://www.reformedwhores.com/

Episode 25: Lean Into The Fear with Reformed Whores

Our guest on this episode is the well-traveled, well-spoken, and unapologetically outspoken musician Mark Rubin. From co-founding the influential Americana trickster band The Bad Livers to being a leader in the contemporary klezmer scene, Mark’s storied career strands weave together perfectly in this latest release, The Triumph of Assimilation. We talk about the new album, his experiences as a Southern Jew, the intersectional fascism reboot, cultural appropriation do-nots, and Yiddish songwriter/poet Mordechai Gebirtig. 

Featured music is “It’s Burning,” “A Day of Revenge“,”Royal Street Shuffle” and, just in time for Revenge of the 5th, “The Dark Side Has Doughnuts,” by Mark Rubin, courtesy of the artist. 

FOLLOW MARK AND PRE-ORDER HIS NEW ALBUM
https://www.jewofoklahoma.com/

LEARN MORE ABOUT MORDECHAI GEBIRTIG

At Home with Mordechai Gebirtig
https://ingeveb.org/texts-and-translations/at-home-with-mordecai-gebirtig

"Our Town is Burning" and "A Beam of Sunlight"
https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/language-literature-culture/yiddish-translation/our-town-burning-and-beam-sunlight

Mordechai Gebirtig Memorial (link is to English translated page from original Polish)
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pl&u=https://mordechaj-gebirtig.pl/&prev=search&pto=aue

Wiki Page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordechai_Gebirtig

P.S. SARAH AND JOY WERE REMEMBERING THAT THING ABOUT THE COLOR BLUE CORRECTLY! 
https://www.iflscience.com/brain/when-did-humans-start-see-color-blue/

Episode 26: Playing in Parables with Mark Rubin

Tarot! Cats! Comedy! Material vs cultural approaches to politics! Horror stories of the weirdest Warren stans! This conversation with the fabulous Kate Willett has it all. High witch vibes all around. Afterward, Sarah and Joy touch on Terence McKenna, white feminism, Palestine, and BDSM as they go down the leftist stoner chick rabbit holes you’ve come to know and love from this podcast. 

FOLLOW KATE
https://katewillett.com/

Kate’s article referenced in the interview
https://www.elle.com/life-love/a30551979/bernie-sanders-medicare-for-all/

Episode 27: Big Wand Energy with Kate Willett

Why do all the research and rhetoric around drug use focus on the small percentage of problematic users, leaving the vast majority of drug users out of the conversation? Why are we so shitty at talking about pleasure in America? Why don’t more people take their cats camping? Dr. Ingrid Walker is here to help us tackle these questions, as we explore drugs, pleasure, trauma, menopause, and bad portrayals of getting high in popular culture. After the interview, Joy and Sarah talk about sex for a hot minute. 

Note: We would like to apologize to rock n roll for its exclusion from this episode. 


FOLLOW INGRID 
https://ingridkwalker.com/

Ingrid’s Ted Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p4zw4_qgUw

High: Drugs, Desire, and a Nation of Users
https://bookshop.org/books/high-drugs-desire-and-a-nation-of-users/9780295742328


FEATURED MUSIC: “Dreaming Awake” and “The Waking World” by Lola Darling, and “miseraine” by Lauren Flynn, courtesy of the artists. 

LOLA DARLING
https://lolajeandarling.bandcamp.com/album/dream-queen

https://www.instagram.com/lolajeandoesart/?hl=en

LAUREN FLYNN
https://www.laurenflynnwastaken.com/

https://laurenflynn.bandcamp.com/album/outside-one-girl

Episode 28: Pleasure is Medicine with Dr. Ingrid Walker

carla bergman, co-author, with Nick Montgomery, of Joyful Militancy, joins us for this episode. We dive into the writing process of this inspiring, must-read book, as well as how we resist our own radically rigid tendencies, why joy and melancholy often skip hand-in-hand, and why we should let the youth lead us. We hope you leave this convo with a full cup since we certainly did! Afterward, Joy and Sarah talk about revolution as a way of being and how to break out of our self-imposed cages.

We’re taking a vacation break but will be back with more Folkery in July! Thanks for putting up with all our puns and made-up words for a whole year (wow!!), we love you! 

JOYFUL MILITANCY
https://joyfulmilitancy.com/

FOLLOW CARLA
http://joyfulthreadsproductions.com/
@ joyfulcarla on the socials


FEATURED MUSIC: “I’ve Always Loved the Monsters” by Time, Maudlin Magpie & A Thousand Vows, and “Love Yourself” by Joy Damiani (released under Emily Yates), courtesy of the artists. 

CHECK OUT OUR FEATURED ARTISTS
https://thisistime.bandcamp.com/album/nighthawks-at-mccoys
http://joydamiani.com/

Episode 29: Relearning Joy with carla bergman

We’re baaaaack! Our couple weeks off turned into three months but what is time during the apocalypse anyway? For our triumphant return to your earholes we are joined by Crash Barbosa, a recording artist and activist based out of L.A. We dive into his horrifying, politically motivated arrest story, mental health activism, unlearning systematic oppression from the inside, and why you should always call authority figures by their first names. Afterward, Joy and Sarah discuss their respective breaks, look back at 9/11 and Occupy Wall Street, and pay tribute to Norm Macdonald by discussing the right-on class politics of “Dirty Work.” Note to self: you won’t want to miss this episode! 

FOLLOW CRASH @ crashbarbosa on Twitter and Instagram

FEATURED MUSIC: “Activism” and “Solidarity” by Crash Barbosa

Episode 30: Unlearning Patriarchy with Crash Barbosa

For this joint, we're joined by anthropologist and filmmaker Marty Otañez to dive into under-discussed labor issues in cannabis, using digital storytelling to disrupt academia, and how anthropology can inform public policy. There’s a lot of hope in this episode, as well as lots of drug discourse, which is truly our favorite type of discourse. Afterward, Joy and Sarah discuss the shouldn’t-be-that-surprising revelations about Facebook, ponder whether algorithms have sentience yet, and generally do an awesome job navigating the English language.

FOLLOW MARTY:
Twitter  @otanezm
https://twitter.com/otanezm

GETTING HIGH ON ANTHROPOLOGY
https://fsandgreen.org/

NALOXONE CHAMPIONS
https://clas.ucdenver.edu/anthropology/naloxone-champions

CANNABIS WORKERS’ UNION
https://www.ufcw.org/who-we-represent/cannabis/

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
The Women of Weed
https://maryjanesfilm.com/

Breaking the Grass Ceiling: Women, Weed & Business
https://bookshop.org/books/breaking-the-grass-ceiling-women-weed-business/9781541096592

FEATURED MUSIC: “In a Major Key” by Joy Damiani (released under Emily Yates)

Episode 31: Tell Your Own Adventure with Marty Otañez

The fabulous Lola Jean Darling returns for this episode! We go on a journey through the NOLA mutual aid response post-Hurricane Ida, discuss why adaptability is better than planning, consider how to turn anxiety into art — and even find time to casually side-eye René Descartes. Extra laughs and extra realness abound in this one. Afterward, Joy and Sarah dive into their shared fed-up-ness with the vaccine discourse and their shared loathing of comic sans font, while wrestling with various issues of human nuance. If you stay till the end, you will be rewarded with some questionable Canadian accents too! 

FOLLOW LOLA
Insta: @lolajeandoesart
Bandcamp: lolajeandarling.bandcamp.com

NOLA MUTUAL AID 
Lex Lindell: Venmo @Lex-lex *indicate mutual aid*
Bayou Disaster Kitchen: Venmo @SusiQ-Beck *indicate disaster kitchen*
Lola & Onishona: Venmo/Cash App @theloladarling, PayPal: theloladarling@gmail.com *indicate Lola or Ona*

FEATURED MUSIC: “Waves” and “The Years” by Lola Jean Darling, courtesy of the artist

Episode 32: Gratitude In Action with Lola Jean Darling

This episode features the incredible, and incredibly real, Jenny Pacanowski, founder/director of Women Veterans Empowered and Thriving, in a conversation that explores moving beyond organizations that serve as trauma-swaps, the challenge of incorporating ritual into collective spaces, and much more. After singing the praises of Jenny’s ever-evolving, holistic approach to community-building, Joy and Sarah discuss art as a container for complex reality, the facade of “apolitical” organizations, and preferable ways to acknowledge vets on Veterans Day -- featuring appearances by some basic Howard Zinn quotes and, as per usual, weird accents.

Featured poetry is “Combat Dick” by Jenny Pacanowski. Featured music is “Try Not to Be a Dick” and “Smoke Break” by Joy Damiani (released under Emily Yates).

FOLLOW JENNY
https://www.womenveteransempowered.org/
https://www.jennywarriorpoet.com/

Episode 33: Beyond Surviving with Jenny Pacanowksi

As part of our extended Veteran’s Day of Our Discontent celebration (er, we’ll call it that, sure), Joy sits down with fellow writer, musician, and veteran Rosa del Duca to discuss the various strategies they have both undertaken to unfuck their minds from the Army’s fuckery. As a conscientious objector, Rosa’s journey through the star spangled unlearning is an especially enlightening and inspiring one. Stay tuned after the convo to discover the reason for Sarah’s mysterious absence, hear the gals try some “light banter” (goes about as well as you’d expect), and come up with a million dollar Kickstarter idea. Well, technically, Frank Herbert came up with the actual idea in Dune but we came up with the idea to crowdfund it -- and, no, it’s not the spice melange. But, if anyone has the spice hookup, hit us up.

Featured songs are: “Orion,” “Painting the Roses Red,” and “White Lies” by Hunters, courtesy of the artist. 

FOLLOW ROSA (and buy her book!)
https://www.rosadelduca.com/

Episode 34: Conscience over Contract with Rosa del Duca

The power of vulnerability and going with the flow are at the top of the conversation menu with guest Samantha Hart, author of a new memoir, Blind Pony: As True A Story As I Can Tell, about her unconventional journey from traumatized teenage runaway to creative force in the Hollywood music and film industry. Sam shares her thoughts on independent marketing, self-publishing, and disrupting the book industry, and Joy and Sarah follow up with a healthy discussion about intuition, the 100th Monkey, and whether life is a paradox, or we are just high. Listen to the end for a sneak peek of Joy’s new single!

FOLLOW SAMANTHA and buy her book at
www.samanthahart.net

FEATURED MUSIC: “It’s All Right (To Not Be Okay)” by Joy Damiani

Episode 35: Freedom in the Flow with Samantha Hart

Happy holidays What the Folk Fam! Our gift to you – not sure you asked for it, but you shall receive – is a whole hour of Sarah and Joy’s stoney shenanigans! Joy has a new single and accompanying video, “It’s All Right to Not Be Okay,” dropping on December 21st. We dive into the therapeutic and combat-sport inspirations for the song and vid, as well as the challenges of trying to get your work noticed as an independent solo artist in the algorithm wilderness. This mini-interview is sandwiched with talk of Assange, abortion rights, creating utopia, and Sarah’s rather embarrassing amount of basic Matrix references. Wishing a safe and cozy holiday season to all, whatever you may or may not be celebrating.

FOLLOW JOY AND GET THE PRE-SAVE LINK FOR THE NEW SINGLE
https://joydamiani.com/
IG: @joydamianimusic 
FB: facebook.com/trynottobeadick

Featured music by Joy Damiani:
“Please Don’t F With Me (This Xmas)”:
https://joydamiani.bandcamp.com/track/please-dont-f-with-me-this-xmas 

“(No Such Thing As) Bad Words”:
https://joydamiani.bandcamp.com/track/no-such-thing-as-bad-words

Episode 36:  Oh Holy F--k! A What the Folk Holiday Duo Spectacular

How do we enter into dialogue across differences, especially in a world where we are actively discouraged to do so by the powers that be? That question is not only at the heart of Corey Nathan’s work on his podcast Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other, but also a principle we put into practice during this episode. Corey and your folking hosts come from different (at times, vastly different) perspectives but we navigate thorny subjects such as religion, democracy, and cancel culture without losing our shared goal of unfucking the world – or our senses of humor. This episode is praxis-y af, y’all! Afterwards, Joy and Sarah dive further into the ideas of dialogue, curiosity, and building shared spaces in our “this AND that” reality.

We would like to wish our What the Folk fam a safe and, hopefully, joyous New Year. Or at least a year where the silver linings stay in view. Onwards to 2022!

Featured music is “It’s All Right to Not Be Okay” and “Brains in Meat Suits”  by Joy Damiani.

FOLLOW COREY’S PODCAST
Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other
@TPandRPod on all the socials
https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/Yedrl1sr7igl

Episode 37: Curiosity Cures Conflict with Corey Nathan

We’re baaaack! Again! Thank you, dear listeners, for being understanding about our (sometimes variable) apocalypse release schedule. We are rewarding your patience with a fantastic episode featuring Nicole Foerster, an advocate for psilocybin mushrooms as a treatment for cluster headaches, a mental health professional, and a proponent for the full decriminalization of entheogenic plants and fungi. In this episode, we talk about their work as director of Decriminalize Nature Colorado which recently submitted a ballot proposal to decriminalize entheogens in the 2022 Colorado statewide election, why decriminalization offers a more intentional and just model for psychedelic access, and the emerging models for holistically supporting mental health. Afterward, Joy and Sarah wander through strange metaphors as they reflect on these strangely psychedelic times in the Society of the Spectacle. 

GET INVOLVED
Decriminalize Nature Colorado
https://www.facebook.com/decrimnaturecolorado/

Insta: @decrimnaturecolorado
https://www.instagram.com/decrimnaturecolorado/?hl=en

Decriminalize Nature (national)
https://decriminalizenature.org/

FEATURED MUSIC
“All the Same” by FaceKiss 
https://facekiss.bandcamp.com/

“Hey Moon” and “Peter Pan” by Ray Diess 
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2k9ZPxMCH5vm2E7KHBwmfD
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ray-diess/1553592537

RECOMMENDED READING AND RESOURCES
Your Healing is Killing Me
https://bookshop.org/books/your-healing-is-killing-me/9780991418398

Our Right to Drugs
https://bookshop.org/books/our-right-to-drugs-the-case-for-a-free-market/9780815603337

The Book of Woe: The DSM and the Unmaking of Psychiatry
https://bookshop.org/books/the-book-of-woe-the-dsm-and-the-unmaking-of-psychiatry-9798200063345/9798200063345

Psychiatric Survivors
https://www.psychiatricsurvivors.net/

Mad in America 
https://www.madinamerica.com/

Students for Sensible Drug Policy
https://ssdp.org/

SPORE: Society for Psychedelic Outreach, Reform, and Education 
https://www.thespore.org/

Unlimited Sciences
https://unlimitedsciences.org/

Episode 38: Decriminalizing Nature with Nicole Foerster

The fabulous Lauren Flynn returns to the pod! We talk about the inspiration for her awesome new band, Buried Blonde, trust and intuition in the creative process, why artists are essential workers and grappling with death at the Cheesecake Factory. Afterwards, Joy and Sarah discuss the lessons they have learned during the pandemic, Colonel Bruce Hampton, and how to have a non-monogamous relationship with yourself. 

Featured music is “Like a Scar” and “Perfect Machine” by Buried Blonde, and “Good Riddance Fake Bitches” by Joy Damiani, courtesy of the artists.

FOLLOW BURIED BLONDE
https://www.buriedblonde.com/

Episode 39: Cheesecake or Death with Lauren Flynn

Russian history scholar and political scientist Michael Iasilli joins us to discuss, what else, the war in Ukraine. Besides giving us a fascinating tour through Russian and Ukrainian history, Iasilli also has a lot to say about avoiding xenophobia against Russians during this time. Naturally, your hosts and Michael got along swimmingly because we all agree that we have much more in common with the regular people in other countries than we do with our respective governments. Afterward, Joy and Sarah riff on the idea of finding common ground, living in a world of multiple truths, and discuss the latest infuriating developments in the Assange extradition case. 

Featured music is “Soul Creature,” “Staircase,” and “Scary Days” by Michael Anthonia

FOLLOW MICHAEL’S WORK
https://www.maiasilli.com/

MICHAEL’S MUSIC
Instagram: Michaelanthonia_music 
Facebook: @realmichaelanthonia 
Spotify: 
https://open.spotify.com/artist/14D2f50WgDvuTLVEVzOAhk?si=X1iwTHp_TTWUiIWgOkp9gg
 
FURTHER READING
 
In reference to the data on Russian citizens’ displeasure with Putin’s war: see “FBK” (a sociological survey in Russia:
https://navalny.com/p/6615/?fbclid=IwAR3h2PzC3w1X2or27-6WjXg_WgGNNwZg2OihGpfYm27otGwvaWskQFhmUik

On racism in Ukraine refugee policy
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/black-ukraine-refugees-racism-discrimination-russian-invasion/

HISTORY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
 
The Affirmative Action Empire: Nations and Nationalism in the Soviet Union by Terry Martin

Red Nations: The Nationalities Experience in and after the USSR by Jeremy Smith

Russia in Flames by Laura Engelstein
 
Red Famine: Stalin’s War in Ukraine by Anne Applebaum

Episode 40: Recognizing our Shared Humanity with Michael Iasilli

Hello, What the Folk fam, we’ve missed you! We’ve had a lot of reasons we’ve been away but one majorly exciting reason is that JOY WROTE A BOOK! What’s also exciting is that friend of the pod Samantha Hart is joining us again for this episode to help illuminate the 14-year writing journey behind If You Ain’t Cheatin’ You Ain’t Trying – as well as Sarah’s English major-y opinionating on art, political messaging, and, of course, M*A*S*H.

Featured music is “If You Ain’t Cheatin’ You Ain’t Trying” and “Yellow Ribbon” by Joy Damiani (released under Emily Yates)


SUPPORT JOY’S KICKSTARTER
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joydamiani/if-you-aint-cheatin-you-aint-tryin-a-military-memoir/community

PREORDER JOY’S BOOK
Coming soon!

FOLLOW JOY
http://joydamiani.com/

Episode 41: OMG Joy Wrote a Book! with Samantha Hart

We've missed you, What the Folk fam! We took a hiatus to get our respective and collective shit together, and now here we are, back and weirder than ever. In this, our 42nd episode, we cover – well, Life, the Universe, and Everything. Since it led us to discuss relationships, political corruption, the patriarchy, and cats – just to name a few hot topics – Joy's theory is that the Ultimate Question is "how's your apocalypse going?"

Plus! Hear Sarah's original poem, "Bad Timing," and Joy's songs "Love Yourself!" and "Happy Ever After" – all inspired by the endlessly exciting and complicated theme of Love, during this Valentine's week.

Featured music:
"Love Yourself!" and "Happy Ever After" by Joy Damiani
https://joydamiani.bandcamp.com/track/love-yourself-feat-jules-indelicato
https://joydamiani.bandcamp.com/track/happy-ever-after

References:
https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/i-was-embarrassed-humiliated-reporter-says-of-east-palestine-arrest/
https://www.newsweek.com/ohio-train-derailment-could-become-full-blown-ecological-crisis-1781148

Episode 42: Where the Folk Have We Been?! with Sarah and Joy

On this episode, our guest is Stephanie Atkinson, an Army veteran and war resister who now works with nonprofits Veterans for Peace and Courage to Resist to bring the truth about military recruitment to heavily-recruited high school students. Besides sharing her inspiring personal story, we discuss everything from military “feminism” to our favorite dystopian fashion (spoiler alert: Blade Runner ftw).

Featured music on this episode is “If You Ain’t Cheatin’ You Ain’t Tryin’” and “Just A Little Cog” by Joy Damiani

GET INVOLVED

Veterans for Peace
https://www.veteransforpeace.org/

Courage to Resist
https://couragetoresist.org/

Truth in Recruitment
https://truthinrecruitment.org/

READ STEPHANIE’S WRITING
https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2011/proud-deserter


LEARN MORE
Shoshana Jackson
https://www.msnbc.com/podcast/shoshana-johnson-was-america-s-first-black-female-prisoner-war-n1283841

Jessica Lynch
https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/20/us/jessica-lynch-where-is-she-now/index.html

Lynndie England 
https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/news/a170/lynndie-england-1/


Book: Bananas, Beaches, and Bases by Cynthia Enloe
https://bookshop.org/p/books/bananas-beaches-and-bases-making-feminist-sense-of-international-politics-cynthia-enloe/6561808?ean=9780520279995

Episode 43: Resisting the War Machine with Stephanie Atkinson

On this episode of What the Folk, our guest is Michael McPhearson, the executive director of online news publication the South Seattle Emerald, the former executive director of Veterans for Peace, and a longtime activist for racial and social justice within and outside of the US. This interview covers empathy as a radical act, the challenges of fostering solidarity across differences, and the necessity of localized independent media. Afterwards, Joy and Sarah reflect on their own solidarity and communication challenges, as well as how freaking tired they are because who isn’t these days. Treat yo’self to a nap, dear listeners – after you listen to this episode.


Featured music on this episode is “I Don’t Know Much About Star Wars” by Joy Damiani

GET INVOLVED
Veterans for Peace
https://www.veteransforpeace.org/

South Seattle Emerald
https://southseattleemerald.com/category/news/

FOLLOW MICHAEL
Michael’s Medium
https://mtmcphearson.medium.com/

MTM Daily
https://mtmdaily.com/

Michael’s Twitter
https://twitter.com/MTMcPhearson

Episode 44: Peace is Not the Absence of War with Michael McPhearson

We've missed you, What the Folk fam! On this episode, instead of having a guest, we decided to take the chance to catch up with each other on life, the universe, and everything. We discuss dealing with personal disappointment and tragedy, and keeping a healthy perspective in the face of the ongoing climate apocalypse. And of course, new music! This one features a fun and timely tune by Ned and Wendy the Band, which we are sure you will love as much as we do. 

Ned and Wendy the Band:
nedandwendytheband.com

“Vulnerable” music video: https://youtu.be/rPkSSdZNV3E

Episode 45: Apocalypse, Still

Episode Four: Dancing on the Ruins with Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson

We sit down with the awesome Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, Co-Executive Director of the legendary Highlander Center, for an inspiring and motivating talk about movement building, solidarity economics, liberation practices and real deal education. This interview had us practicing our dance moves to shimmy on the ruins of the old world, so you don’t want to miss it if you’re needing some fuel for your fire. Then Emily gives a post-PDX protest report, and she and Sarah discuss ways to “get in where you fit in” to support M4BL. 

P.S. We’d suggest a What the Folk drinking game where you take a shot every time Sarah says the word “consciousness” -- but that would likely render you unconscious.


THE HIGHLANDER CENTER
https://www.highlandercenter.org/

MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES
https://m4bl.org/

GUEST BIO
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson is a 33 year old, Affrilachian (Black Appalachian), working class woman, born and raised in Southeast Tennessee. She is the Co-Executive Director of the Highlander Research & Education Center in New Market, TN. She has served as president of the Black Affairs Association at East Tennessee State University and the Rho Upsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is a long-time activist working around issues of mountaintop removal mining, and environmental racism in central and southern Appalachia, and has served on the National Council of the Student Environmental Action Coalition. She is an active participant in the Movement for Black Lives and is on the governance council of the Southern Movement Assembly. You can follow Ash on Twitter @hendersonaw0604

MUSIC
Featured music: 2019 performances of “If You Want a Revolution" and “Don't Know Much About Star Wars” by our own Emily Yates. You can check out the videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkHVqdjgqN4&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ny6AWs7_kU&feature=youtu.be

DONATE TO GROUPS IN PORTLAND
PDX Protest Bail Fund
https://www.gofundme.com/f/pdx-protest-bail-fund

Black Portland Youth Movement
https://www.gofundme.com/f/21o0at70w0?utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link-tip

Rosehip Medics
http://www.rosehipmedics.org/donate/

Episode 4: Dancing on the Ruins with Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson

Happy Episode 10 of What the Folk! We’re joined by the fabulous and multi-talented Lola Darling for a conversation about how art can heal and how to live your life as an act of resistance. We also get a preview of her new musical oracle project! From Lola’s struggle to claim her own identity to Covid on the reservations, from Kerrville Folk Festival to Mardi Gras, this episode is an emotionally honest and eye-opening journey. 

Featured music is "Breath," "Nothing," and "Daughter" by Lola Darling, courtesy of the artist. 

Episode Image credit: Amy Jo Wisehart https://www.amyjowisehart.com/

SUPPORT LOLA’S NEWLY LAUNCHED PATREON:
www.patreon.com/LolaArts

LOLA’S MUSIC:
https://www.bandlab.com/lolaohoyochitto
https://greatbiglilloladarling.bandcamp.com/releases

GUEST BIO
Lola Darling is an indigenous woman (Chahta-Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians) from the Pearl River Reservation. She currently lives in Bulbancha (New Orleans, LA) creating art in different mediums.

Episode 10: Be Your Own Oracle with Lola Darling

On this episode we are joined by Dr. Tracy Ferrell from CU Boulder. We discuss the challenges and opportunities around labor organizing in academia, the campus experience under Covid, and her research around immigration and medical marijuana patients. We also talk about the power of stories to inspire empathy and break down borders. After the interview, Emily envisions a self-sustaining system and Sarah attempts to quote Ram Dass and Jason Molina with questionable accuracy. Oh yeah, and I guess there was an election or something? Soooo we hope you enjoy profanity. 

UNITED CAMPUS WORKERS COLORADO
https://www.ucwcolorado.org/

DR. FERRELL’S BOOK
https://toplightbooks.com/product/migrating-for-medical-marijuana/

Featured songs are “Bastille” and “Riverboat” by The Red Tack, and "The System Isn't Broken" by our own Emily Yates, courtesy of the artists. 

CHECK OUT THE RED TACK
https://www.facebook.com/TedTheRedTack/

GUEST BIO: 
Tracy Ferrell, Ph.D., is on the faculty of the program for writing and rhetoric at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her research and teaching interests include Latin American literature and culture, Mexico and U.S. border issues, immigration, and drug policy/the drug war. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Episode 13: Building Unions & Busting Borders with Dr. Tracy Ferrell

The lovely and hilarious Baruch Porras-Hernadez is in the house with big sparkly Aquarius energy. We talk about his journey from actor to performance poet and comedian, healing familial toxic masculinity, and how to joyfully make a living as an artist. We also get some pointers on Zoom theater as we hear about how he staged his solo show, “Love in the Time of Piñatas,” in his bedroom. And there’s a special sneak peak at the team of Queer Latinx superheroes that will be coming soon to save the world! And if that’s not enough excitement and intrigue for you, stick around for Sarah and Emily’s thoughts on pandemic braining and how, er, hopeful (?) they are now that good ole Uncle Joe is for realsies the prez. 

KEEP UP with BARUCH 
https://baruchporrashernandez.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @ baruchisonfire
Instagram: baruchporrashernandez

Featured poems are “The Trees, They Hate the Birds the Most” and “Oh the Places You Will Go, Fearing for Your Life, While People Do Drugs” by Baruch Porras-Hernadez, courtesy of the artist. 

GUEST BIO
Baruch Porras-Hernandez is a writer, performer, organizer, professional MC/Host, curator, stand up comedian, and the author of the chapbooks “I Miss You, Delicate” and “Lovers of the Deep Fried Circle” both with Sibling Rivalry Press. He had the honor of touring with the legendary Sister Spit Queer poetry tour in 2019, is a is a two-time winner of Literary Death Match, a regular host of literary shows for KQED, and was named a Writer to Watch in 2016 by 7×7 Magazine. His poetry can be found with Write Bloody Publishing, The Tusk, Foglifter, Assaracus and many more. He has been an artist in residence at The Ground Floor at Berkeley Rep, a Lambda Literary Fellow in Poetry, and Playwriting. He’s been featured in shows with The Rumpus, Writers with Drinks, has performed several times with Radar Productions, LitQuake, and Quiet Lightning. His solo show “Love in the Time of Piñatas” got a clapping man from the SF Chronicle and was performed to sold-out houses at Epic Party Theatre in December of 2019. He is the head organizer of ¿Donde Esta Mi Gente? a Latinx literary performance series, he is an immigrant originally from Mexico, and is currently the lead artist in a multidisciplinary project that will create new Queer Latino Superheroes with MACLA, which stands for Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana in San Jose. He lives in San Francisco.

Episode 14: Superheroes and Glitterature with Baruch Porras-Hernandez

We deep dive with Dr. Serena Chopra, a multitalented and multifaceted teacher and artist. Join us for a fascinating and thought-provoking conversation about the different approaches to time, what we mean when we describe something as “queer,” turning our personal trauma into collective defense, and the role of mysticism in creating what comes next. It’s not just about examining the structures we live in, we also have to turn those structures on their heads to approach them differently. We hope you leave this conversation with the same sky-eyed perspective we did. Afterwards, Sarah is all jazzed up on Aquarius vibes and Emily talks about energy, because we’re both kind of hippies. 

Featured poem is “Seduction After the Great Plains” by Dr. Serena Chopra. Featured music is “Love Yourself” and “The Only Point” by our own Emily Yates - a preview of her about-to-drop new album, Notes to Self and Others. All tracks appear courtesy of the artists. 


GUEST BIO

Dr. Serena Chopra
https://www.serenachopra.com/

Dr. Serena Chopra is a teacher, writer, dancer, filmmaker, soundscape designer and a visual and performance artist. She has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Denver, an MFA from the University of Colorado at Boulder and was a Kundiman Fellow, a 2011-2013 Redline artist in Residence, a 2016-2017 Fulbright Scholar (Bangalore, India), and received a month-long artist residency at Understudy Denver for September 2020. She has two books, This Human (Coconut Books 2013) and Ic (Horse Less Press 2017), as well as two films, Dogana/Chapti (2018, winner of ArtHyve’s Archives as Muse Film grant, Official Selection at Frameline43, Oregon Documentary Film Festival, Seattle Queer Film Festival, Nahia Film Festival and Cinema Diverse) and Mother Ghosting (2018). She is an 8-year company member with Evolving Doors Dance and was recently a featured artist in Harper’s Bazaar (India) as well as in the Denver Westword’s “100 Colorado Creatives.” She has recent publications in Foglifter, Sink and Matters of Feminist Practice (Belladonna). Serena is Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Seattle University.

EMILY DICKINSON POEM READ IN EPISODE
“The Brain is Wider Than the Sky” https://www.bartleby.com/113/1126.html

BOOKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE

Cruising Utopia: The Then and There of Queer Futurity by José Esteban Muñoz
https://bookshop.org/books/cruising-utopia-the-then-and-there-of-queer-futurity/9781479874569

The Undercommons: Fugitive Planning & Black Study by Stefano Harney & Fred Moten 
https://bookshop.org/books/the-undercommons-fugitive-planning-black-study/9781570272677

A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia by Gilles Deleuze
https://bookshop.org/books/a-thousand-plateaus-capitalism-and-schizophrenia/9780816614028

Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others by Sarah Ahmed
https://bookshop.org/books/queer-phenomenology-orientations-objects-others-9780822339144/9780822339144

Les Guerilleres by Monique Wittig 
https://bookshop.org/books/les-guerilleres/9780252074820

The Portable Kristeva by Julia Kristeva
https://bookshop.org/books/the-portable-kristeva/9780231126298

Occasional Work and Seven Walks from the Office for Soft Architecture by Lisa Robertson
https://bookshop.org/books/occasional-work-and-seven-walks-from-the-office-for-soft-architecture-third-edition-revised/9781552452325

Your Healing Is Killing Me by Virginia Grise
https://bookshop.org/books/your-healing-is-killing-me/9780991418398

Ideal Suggestions: Essays in Divinatory Poetics by Selah Saterstrom
https://bookshop.org/books/ideal-suggestions-essays-in-divinatory-poetics/9780996922913

Episode 16: Queering the Age of Aquarius with Dr. Serena Chopra

We’re joined by Carla Gover, a musician, dancer and activist whose work is informed by her deep Appalachian roots. We talk about breaking regional stereotypes, building connections across different communities, the wealth extraction that underlies Eastern Kentucky’s problems, and the importance of learning “granny skills,” especially during the pandemic. Afterwards, Sarah and the artist-soon-to-be-formerly-known as Emily discuss liberal snobbery towards the South, the Texas freeze, and get a preview of one of your What the Folk hosts' new moniker! We also give a shout out to our What the Folk Fam, as we have now officially dubbed thee, our lovely listeners. 


Featured music is “I'm a Snowflake” and “Dangerous Women” by Carla Gover, courtesy of the artists

Follow Carla https://carlagover.com/home

TEXAS MUTUAL AID DIRECTORY
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rdMnbzYxfXFrG1DefGqN3R1zu_lan2fml2bEYRpMcRQ/edit?fbclid=IwAR3xlYn52Aqfe2VsKYWOIi7x7fzaNzWEhB_QzYHxE_N1in6EzTTgSL4kxNk

Episode 21:  Elder Up with Carla Gover

These are revelationary times, there are folks out there doing the real work, and these two affable weirdos want to talk to all of them. Join writer/librarian Sarah Baranauskas and singer/songwriter Joy Damiani* as they sit down for uncensored conversations with artists, organizers, educators and a glimmering array of visionaries. If you’re seeking deeper understanding, insight, and maybe even a medicinal dose of hope with your apocalypse, accompanied by a soundtrack of indie music, this might be What the Folk you’re looking for. 

*formerly known as Emily Yates

Popular tracks by What the Folk