A Fresh Face in Hell with Jonathan Evison
A Fresh Face in Hell with Jonathan Evison is an hour-long, conversation-based podcast. Each episode features guests from diverse fields such as writers, musicians, athletes, actors, philosophers, and scientists. The discussions blend humor with thoughtful exploration of various subjects. Hosted by bestselling author Jonathan Evison.
Episodes
Geoff Gibson (@geographybygeoff) - Your City is Doomed
I recently came across the YouTube channel @geographybygeoff where today's guest, Geoff Gibson, dives into every manner of geographical wonder. Today, Geoff and I discuss his new book, Badlands: The Geography of Cities That Shouldn't Exist and Why They Do. We talk about cities with no water supply, cities built near a volcano, or on the verge of being swallowed by the ocean. We had a f
Austin Lim PhD - Why We Love Horror
As the father of two teenagers, I end up watching a lot of horror and science fiction films. What I find fascinating is all the different stories and techniques that filmmakers use to give the creeps. Turns out there is an actual science behind this. Austin Lim is a neuroscientist, professor, and the author of "Horror on the Brain: The Neuroscience Behind Science Fiction". In his book,
Daniel Everett - Lessons from the Amazon
In 1977, linguist and Christian missionary Daniel Everett took on the challenge of moving his family to a remote jungle region of the Amazon to study and convert a native tribe called the Pirahã. In his book, "Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle," Daniel recounts his adventures living with the Pirahã and how their concept of truth ended up pushin
Rhett Miller (Old 97's) - How to Write a Song
I'm back. The book edits are off to my editor, summer is over, and I'm ready for more high seas adventures! Today, I talk with one of my favorite songwriters, Old 97's frontman, Rhett Miller. In addition to being a rockstar, Rhett also writes short-form fiction and teaches songwriting at The New School in NYC. We dive deep into our writing processes and compare notes on the similar
Brian McVeigh - When the Gods Fell Silent
As we’re currently discussing the Illiad and the Odyssey, I thought it was an opportune moment to revisit my conversation with Brian McVeigh about Julian Jaynes’ theory on the origins of consciousness. Jaynes believed that early humans lacked coordination between the two hemispheres of their brain. Consequently, they didn’t possess a sense of self, operating on a kind of autopilot. They would hear
Dr. Amit Garg - Let's Talk About Cancer
Do you ever want to ask your doctor a cancer question but you get the feeling they're trying to rush you out the door? You ever come across a fatty lipoma and then spend hours looking up the life expectancy for wrist cancer? Does your algorithm bombard you with symptom warnings and ads for body scans and supplements? Do you ever wonder why we don't have a cure after decades of fun runs,
Alex Cox - Alex Cox and Oliver Stone Walk into a Bar
Alex Cox directed Repo Man fresh out of UCLA film school in the summer of 1983. As is the case with most cult classics, it took years before it found its audience. Turns out the soundtrack was a hit before the film. What followed over the next few years was a string of films, Sid & Nancy, Straight To Hell, and Walker, that established Alex Cox as a filmmaker who embodied the punk rock ethos of
Andrew Hessel - The Bio Punk
If you're ever feeling depressed about our troubled times, go talk to a bio futurist to get some perspective. From plastic-eating microbes to CAR T-cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, we're on the brink of a bio-revolution. Today's guest, Andrew Hessel, is a pioneer in synthetic biology, microbiologist, geneticist, inventor, entrepreneur, and world-class optimist. Andrew's id
Mark Arm - Don't Call Him a Rock Star
Today I talk with Mudhoney's frontman, Sub Pop warehouse manager, and old friend, Mark Arm, or as we like to call him… The Wizard. We talk about Mark's Pomeranians, his early musical influences, and, despite his aversion to nostalgia, some fond memories of the good ol' days. We talk about Mark's relationship to his status in the pantheon of punk rock icons - call him a rock sta
Lachi - The Day I Woke Up Blind
Lachi is an American singer / songwriter, record producer, media personality, author, and disability culture advocate. She is legally blind and neurodivergent, but don't call her differently abled, she doesn't play that. As her book title says, Lachi proudly identifies as a blind woman. She is confident, fiercely independent and wildly creative. Lachi is also full of grace and gratitude
Kim Thayil - Ultramega Guitar God
Before grunge had a name, Kim Thayil was helping invent it. As the founding guitarist of Soundgarden, he spent four decades building one of rock's most singular sounds. Today we talk about those early Seattle days, and the punk and metal collisions that became the Seattle sound. He opens up about the brotherhood he built with Chris Cornell, Matt Cameron, Ben Shepherd, and Hiro Yamamoto — and
Jasper Craven - God Forgives, Brothers Don't
Today I talk with journalist and author, Jasper Craven about his book, God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood. Jasper explores how military culture has come to define American values. From the Graham Platner's sordid past to cage matches at the White House we talk about our culture of violence and how the lasting traumas of w
Benoit Denizet-Lewis - You've Changed
As a novelist, I firmly believe that the defining characteristic of a remarkable character lies in their capacity for transformation, whether it be for the better or the worse, as a direct consequence of their choices. In his book, “You’ve Changed,” author and journalist Benoit Denizet-Lewis delves into the very essence of self-transformation. Through a series of case studies, Benoit explores our
Ann Larson - Cleanup on Aisle Five
Do you love hearing me rant about late-stage capitalism and the struggles of the American working class? Well, grab your hammer and sickle, comrade, I have an episode for you! Today, I talk with journalist Ann Larson about her experience of working as a checkout clerk at a supermarket in Utah. Ann's book "Cleanup on Aisle Five“ dives deep into supermarkets and how they operate, from the
Danny O'neil - More Grudges
In an effort to get some of our older episodes up on YouTube we've decided to revisit the episode on Grudges with my friend, journalist and radio host, Danny O'neil. Danny has a newsletter called Grudgery.com where he explores famous grudges, as well as some of his own. This episode was intended to be light fun fare but ended up being a little more therapeutic than expected. We dig in de
Nancy Barile - Catholic Girl Interrupted
I've spent a fair bit of time talking about early 80's hardcore on the West Coast. In past episodes, we've covered Seattle, San Diego, and Los Angeles, but today we head east. Nancy Barile's memoir "I'm Not Holding Your Coat" is about her experience in the 80's punk scenes of Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, DC, and Boston. As a disaffected Catholic scho
Stacy Carlson - Escape from Mount St. Helens
Friday, May 16th, 1980, author and nature enthusiast, Stacy Carlson, attended a school camping trip just 35 miles from Mount St. Helens. She was just 5 years old and had no idea that she was camping at the base of an active volcano. Sunday morning, they woke up and got ready to head out for a hike when suddenly the world turned upside down. Stacy and I talk about her harrowing experience as their
Andrea Suarez - Seattle's Fentanyl Crisis
Andrea Suarez, founder of "We Heart Seattle", claims that Seattle doesn't have a homeless problem, it has a serious fentanyl problem. Why is this an important distinction? For Andrea, it comes down to where we, and our elected officials, decide to focus our resources. Will more affordable housing slow the rampant theft, sex trafficking, and overdoses that plague Seattle? Does low-ba
Isolde Raftery - Adults in the Room: Sexual Abuse at Garfield High School
Recently, several people recommended to me a limited series podcast called Adults in the Room, which deals with a series of sexual abuse allegations at Garfield High School in Seattle in late 90s. The story, told largely by show's creator, Isolde Rafferty, the managing editor at KUOW and a former reporter at the New York Times, follows a young Isolde as she and a friend, students at Garfield
Steve Turner - Superfuzz Revisited
In the summer of 2024, we recorded our first Fresh Face interview with Steve Turner, the trailblazing guitarist of Mudhoney. We initially planned on being an audio-only podcast, but we quickly realized that America prefers to watch people talk, so we started the YouTube channel. We wanted to re-release some of the early episodes that didn't get the video treatment on the channel, so we'r
Francis Weller - The Sacred Work of Grief
Francis Weller is a retired psychotherapist and renowned author of "The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief". Francis believes that grief and gratitude are inseparable, and that our capacity to feel loss is proportional to our capacity to love. Believing that communal grieving is essential for genuine healing, Francis hosts weekend retreats in Northern Ca
Eric D. Johnson - I Heart Fruit Bats
If I were tasked with creating a soundtrack for the Evison family, Eric D. Johnson would definetly be featured. My kids would know the lyrics already from repeated listens. From Bonnie Light Horseman to The Shins to Fruit Bats, Eric has amassed a discography of indie folk-pop amazingness that few could rival. Eric has also created scores for films such as Wild, Our Idiot Brother, and Spivak. A Chi
Vanessa Reiser, LCSW - Are You a Narcissist?
We're all a little vain and self-involved at times, does that make us narcissists? Today’s guest, therapist and writer Vanessa Reiser, posits that although we may all be guilty of manipulation and self-aggrandizing, most of us are not, clinically speaking, narcissists. In today's episode Vanessa breaks down the telltale signs of a proper malignant narcissist. We discuss the crossover of
Bruce Barcott - AI in Publishing: The Shy Girl Scandal
This month, Hachette Publishing cancelled distribution of their book Shy Girl after it was reported by The New York Times that large portions of the text had been created by AI. When the author originally self-published the novel, it garnered rave reviews with 4,900 ratings on Goodreads and an average of 3.52 stars. Eventually, readers started to notice the tell-tale signs of AI slop: repetitive p
Buzz Osborne - All Hail King Buzzo
Excited to talk to my old friend, Roger "Buzz" Osborne, King Buzzo, or as I like to call him, Buzz Melvin. Buzz is the founder and front man of the seminal punk band The Melvins. As the punk sound of the late '70s evolved into '80s hardcore, the tempo accelerated aggressively. The Melvins, inspired by Black Sabbath, decided instead to slow things down. This unique combination o
Exene Cervenka - The First Lady of Punk Rock
Thrilled to talk to one of my punk rock heroes today, Exene Cervenka. In 1977 Exene, along with John Doe, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake, formed the seminal LA punk band X. We talk about those early days and how her music evolved over the years with collaborators like Dave Alvin, Mojo Nixon, and Ray Manzarek. We also talk about how art and punk overlapped in the '70s and how that time taught
Doug Martsch - The Built to Spill Story
Today I talk with a musician I have mad respect for--Built to Spill frontman Doug Martsch. I’ve seen Built to Spill a bunch of times, along with another one of his bands, Treepeople. Doug and I rap about the origins of BTS and Treepeople, along with the two Bretts—Netson and Nelson. We discuss the musical influences that helped shape his signature sound, while I profess a love of Boise’s annual Tr
Noah Giansiracusa - Escape the Matrix with Math
Noah Giansiracusa is a professional mathematician who has figured out how to use his super powers to hack into the algorithms that rule our lives. From social media to credit scores to online shopping, Noah encourages his devotees to understand how math is used to manipulate you at every point of decision-making in modern life. Remember saying in school, "When am I ever going to use this?&quo
D.J. Marco Collins - 100,000 Watts of Marco
Marco Collins is a seminal figure in both the San Diego and Seattle alt-rock music scenes of the '80s and '90s. As a radio DJ, Marco was instrumental in introducing new artists to eager listeners at 91X (San Diego) and later at KNDD, The End (Seattle). Many bands, like NIN, The Pixies, and the Cocteau Twins, only got airplay because Marco fought with his stations to play them. He leaked
Stephen Grant - Tales of an Appalachian Mailman
If you like hearing stories from Gen X postal workers, you have come to the right podcast. Today I talk with my second mail carrier, Stephen Grant. At the beginning of the pandemic Stephen lost his job as a strategist for a Manhattan ad agency. He decided to return to his family home in West Virginia where he took a job as a mail carrier. Stephen wrote a book about his experiences called "Mai
David Sax - The Sublime Virtues of an Analog Life
When I get called a boomer, it’s usually because I’m trying to explain to someone much younger why collecting vinyl records and making mixtapes is so satisfying. A Spotify playlist may be more efficient and time-saving, but what do you lose in the digital process? Organic discovery that’s not based on an algorithm. Record store curation (High Fidelity, anyone?). Listening to a whole album while re
Tim Mays - Tim Maze Presents
Tim Mays has been promoting shows and owning clubs in San Diego for 47 years. His most famous club, The Casbah, is celebrating 37 years in business this year. Tim talks with me about the early, often violent, days of the San Diego punk scene. We also talk about the early '90s when San Diego was thought to be "the next Seattle," with bands like Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt,
Craig Lancaster - How to Be a High Plains Drifter
Craig Lancaster is a prolific author, playwright, and journalist who wrote the award-winning "600 Hours of Edward," as well as its sequels "Edward Adrift" and "The Summer Sun." Tired of the publishing game, Craig has decided to hang it all up and become a nomad. He sold his belongings, rented his house out, bought an RV, and has now charted a path across America. My g
Michael-Shawn Dugar - Mission Over Bullshit: The Seattle Seahawks Story
OK, I'm a homer for the Hawks, I'm a 12. One of my favorite Seahawks analysts is the co-host of the Man2Man podcast, Mike Dugar. Mike recently published a book on the Seahawks called "The Franchise - Seattle Seahawks: A Curated History of the Legion of Boom Era." Today we talk about how our Seahawks have evolved over the last 15 years, as well as some highlights along the way,
Nathan Vass - The View from Nathan's Bus
Excited to be returning for our second calendar year of the podcast! After a couple of weeks of quiet contemplation, I've decided that we need to ramp up our optimism mission. Today, I talk with bus driver, author, and filmmaker Nathan Vass about his 18 years of driving the No. 7 Metro bus through some of the toughest neighborhoods in Seattle. Nathan is unique in that he approaches his job wi
Victor M. Sweeney - An Artist of Dead Human Flesh
Victor M. Sweeney splits his time between raising four children, running a small town funeral home, writing books and being the most famous mortician on the internet. Victor hosts a podcast called Death And as well as highly entertaining YouTube channel where he answers, with immense patience, questions on all things death. He took time today to answer some of my questions, from the poignant . . d
Matt Richtel - Surviving Adolescence
A couple of years ago I came across an article in the New York Times titled "Inside the Adolescence Mental Health Care Crisis" written by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Matt Richtel. The piece was an amazing exploration of the mental health landscape for teenagers and parents in modern times. When Matt came out with his new book, "How We Grow Up: Understanding Adolescence"
Kevin Hazzard - Stories from the Ambulance
Kevin Hazzard's 2016 book, "A Thousand Naked Strangers", was described to me as "Kitchen Confidential" for paramedics. An insider's account of one of the hardest, most traumatic jobs in America, an EMT. We dive into the world of first responders to hear some harrowing stories of heroism, resilience, and outright horror. Kevin talks in depth about how paramedics cope m
Larry Reid - The Godfather of the Seattle Underground
Larry Reid is curator by trade and Seattle icon by reputation. He co-founding Rosco Louie gallery in Seattle’s Pioneer Square in 1978. He has since served as director of Graven Image gallery and the Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA), and as a curator for Experience Music Project (EMP). He currently works as the curator of Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery. Today we talk about Larry's ori
Lee McIntyre - How to Talk to a Science Denier
Today marks our 52nd episode! I couldn’t be happier to round out year one with our guest, Lee McIntyre. Lee is a philosopher by training, a research fellow at Boston University, and a lifetime member of Clare Hall, Cambridge. In this episode, we discuss how to reason with people who believe in theories that make zero sense—from flat earth and the hollow moon to faked moon landings, 5G towers, vacc
Jane Borden - America is a Cult
Ever wonder why there are so many cults in American history? From religious cults to success cults to wellness cults—we’re lousy with them. Author Jane Borden argues that this is no surprise when you consider that the Pilgrims and Puritans were both doomsday cults. With metaphorical red yarn, she lays out a compelling argument that throughout our history, we keep returning to our culty origins. Fr
Mario Livio & Jack Szostak - The Quest for Cosmic Life
Every few months I like to run some fun ideas I see on YouTube by a couple of renowned scientists who then puzzle over me like a talking chimpanzee. This week I talk with author and astrophysicist Mario Livio and Nobel Prize-winning biologist Jack Szostak about their book Is Earth Exceptional: The Quest for Cosmic Life. We discuss the possibility of life in the universe and what that might look li
Thomas Kohnstamm - Supersonic Man
Today I sit down with author Thomas Kohnstamm to talk about his wild ride from grocery store deli worker to grad student, Lonely Planet travel writer, and now celebrated novelist. In the early 2000s, Thomas made global headlines after an Australian tabloid twisted an interview claiming that he'd written about places he'd never visited. While what he’d said about the truth of travel writi
Ruth Whippman - Boy Trouble
Raising a teenage boy today is not easy. Young men face intense pressure to navigate conflicting models of masculinity. They're told that a real man should strive, win and dominate but one misstep could lead to being cancelled online without recourse. For many teenager boys, isolation feels safer than engagement with the world. Today I talk with author Ruth Whippman about what it means to rai
Bryan Roper - Cruise Ship Confidential
Get ready for a good laugh. Today I talk with my friend, beta reader, piano man - Bryan Roper. Bryan spent years sailing the seas as a piano bar entertainer on all manor of cruise ships. From bargain savers to billionaire yachts, from blues cruises to nude cruises he's seen it all. For 18 consecutive months Bryan tickled the ivories and sang the American songbook for thousands of drunken fant
Rob Morrow - Paging Dr. Fleischman
When I was living in Los Angeles in 1993-94, I was homesick for the Pacific Northwest. I missed my friends, I missed the rain, and the small-town charms of the Olympic Peninsula. One thing got me through: reruns of Northern Exposure, which reminded me of home. The show was filmed in the town of Roslyn, just over the mountains from Seattle. The whole vibe of the show just hit me in my comfort zone,
Jess Walter "So Far Gone"
Jess Walter is one of my favorite modern authors. I love his voice, his sense of humor and the way his characters stick with me long after I finish one of his books. Today we discuss his new novel, "So Far Gone." The story follows our reclusive hero, Rhys Kinnick, as he engages a Christian Nationalist militia to recover his kidnapped grandchildren from his conspiracy addled son-in-law, S
Stone Gossard - Death, Taxes & Pearl Jam
Today I talk with legendary rock guitarist, Stone Gossard. Stone's distinct guitar sound has become synonymous with what we understand as the other Seattle sound of the '90s. On one hand, there were the more chaotic, big fuzzy guitar sounds from Steve Turner, Kurt Cobain, and Kim Thayil, and then on the other, there was Stone's rock/glam-influenced power chords that defined Mother L
Jim Lampley - The Sweet Science
I'm a big fan of boxing. As a novelist I can't think of a sport that lends itself more to dramatic storytelling. Today I'm thrilled to talk "The Sweet Science" with one of my all time heroes, sportscaster Jim Lampley. Jim was the voice of HBO World Championship Boxing for over 30 years. We discuss the upcoming Canelo v. Crawford fight as well as some of the highlights from
Officer Bill - Smells Like Bacon
I was at a book signing a week or two ago when a tall, handsome fellow named Bill approached me to say that he was a fan of the podcast. It turns out Bill was a recently retired police sergeant from the Lynnwood PD. Remembering how much everyone loved the Nurse Lexi episode, I asked him if he'd be interested in telling us what it's like to be a cop. I asked him if I could call the episod
Christoph Paul - So, You Want to Get Your Novel Published?
Today I talk with indie publisher, Christoph Paul of Clash Books. We discuss the publishing process—from acquisition, to editorial, to marketing and publicity, to distribution, to the retail bookshelf, revealing step-by-step how the sausage is made, and highlighting some of the differences between corporate and indie publishing, and even self-publishing. We also discuss some of the challenges the
Chad Channing - My Favorite Nirvana Drummer
Nirvana, like Spinal Tap, went through a lot of drummers. Dave Grohl was the 7th, Dan Peters (Mudhoney) was the 6th and the 5th, my favorite, was Chad Channing. Although Chad missed the "Nevermind" rocket ride, he was with the band when it recorded the seminal grunge classic "Bleach." I talk to Chad about our early punk days on the Kitsap Peninsula, how the boys from Aberdeen f
Kim Hunt - @slaythegop
Today I'm excited to talk with one of the leading voices in battling online misinformation and graft - Kim Hunt. Kim is a whip smart Zoomer who is ambitious and full of integrity (the kind that only a journalism degree will give you). Kim's weapon of choice is the "response video" in which she creates TikTok and Reels that counters popular political influencers, like Charlie Ki
Pete Droge - Pistol Packing Pete is Back!
On any weekend in the early '90s, almost every music venue in Seattle was a mess of flannel, long hair, and distorted reverb. But if that wasn't your mood, you could always find one or two boot-scooting bar bands like Kitchen Radio, Lazy Susan, and Ramadillo blowing the roof off some dirty little bar. Out of that small alt-country sub-scene arose one of my favorite singer / songwriters (
Augustine Sedgewick - Fatherhood
I love fatherhood - I love what it has shaped me into as a person. It has given me reserves of love and patience I didn't know were possible. Being a father fills me with anxiety, but at the same time, my endless gratitude calms me. This makes me wonder why fatherhood is so rewarding for some and so difficult for others. In his book "Fatherhood: A History of Love and Power," Augusti
Elisabeth Rosenthal - An American Sickness
Today I talk with Doctor and NY Times Journalist, Elisabeth Rosenthal about her seminal book An American Sickness. Why does an arthritis injection cost $19K in one hospital and $90k in another? Why does the same insurance company pay both prices without push back? Our healthcare system is a funhouse of twisted logic that only makes sense when seen through the prism of unregulated profiteering. Dr.
Steve Backus - Carve or Starve
I'm back in the saddle today with another old friend - world-renowned chainsaw sculptor Steve Backus. Steve has been creating bears, whales, eagles, gnomes, and mermaids from massive pieces of wood for over 40 years. He organizes and judges sculpting competitions internationally and has appeared on the show "Saw Dogs".I talk with Steve about his two memoirs, "You've Got to
Jamie Ford & Jen Soriano - Generational Trauma . . . Revisited
Today's episode is hosted by New York Times bestselling author, and Fresh Face alum, Jamie Ford. Don't worry, Jonathan will be back next week! In Episode 7, Jonathan invited Jamie on to discuss his book "The Many Daughters of Afong Moy," which focused on inherited trauma passed down through seven generations of Chinese women. In today's conversation, Jamie talks with autho
Cassidy Krug - Life After the Olympics
Jonathan has gone fishing. Stepping in as his substitute this week is his good friend Danny O'Neil, who you may remember from the Grudges episode. Danny sits down with national champion and Olympic diver Cassidy Krug to discuss her book "Resurface: A Guide to Navigating Life's Biggest Transitions". Cassidy opens up about her time competing at the highest levels of diving. She d
Willy Vlautin - Write Me a Love Song Where Nobody Gets Decapitated
Jonathan speaks with his old friend and great American fiction writer, Willy Vlautin. Willy is the author of seven novels, including his most recent, The Horse, which helped earn him the 2025 Joyce Carol Oates Prize. Three of his books have been adapted into films, including Night Always Comes, The Motel Life and Lean on Pete. In addition to his writing, Willy is a musician and songwriter—first wi
Peter Blackstock - No Depression: Roots Music & Culture
Today I talk with famed music journalist Peter Blackstock about his time discovering and reviewing bands in Austin, Nashville, North Carolina, and Seattle. Together with his partner Grant Alden, Peter launched the roots music magazine, No Depression. What started as an AOL discussion group on "Alternative Country," No Depression (named after an Uncle Tupelo song) helped define a new genr
Dalton Conley - Nature & Nurture
Turns out the idea of nature vs. nurture is an overly simplistic way of describing how our genes correlate with our environments. For 150 years, scientists, sociologists, theologians, politicians, and philosophers have argued over this binary idea of determinism. My guest today, Professor Dalton Conley, writes that the answer is more like nature & nurture. In his book "The Social Genome,&
Charles Peterson's Nirvana
Today I talk with an old friend from the halcyon days of grunge, photographer Charles Peterson. Charles is known for capturing some of the most iconic B&W shots of that era, many of which were used by Sub Pop for album cover art including, Soundgarden's Screaming Life EP and Ultramega OK as well as Mudhoney's Superfuzz Bigmuff. Charles was also instrumental in capturing the meteoric
Marc Hartzman - The UFO Episode
Today I open the X-Files with author Marc Hartzman. We dive into all things extraterrestrial, from outer space to the outer limits. We discuss shaved monkeys, frozen brains, and interdimensional beings. We explore the idea of visitations to ancient Egypt, as well as the possibility of an alien Atlantis. We discuss remote viewing (ESP) and my dream about Keanu Reeves being my boss at a bookstore. S
Chris Wilcha - Keeping the Dream Alive
I speak with filmmaker Chris Wilcha about the themes of his new film, "Flipside." In the film, Chris tells his career story beginning as a young, idealistic filmmaker who sets out to become a documentarian but finds himself later in life as a commercial director with hard drives full of unfinished films. Ironically, many of the films are about artists and characters with unrealized dream
Emily M. Bender & Alex Hanna - The AI Con
To follow up last week's conversation on the robot hordes I talk with authors and podcasters, Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna about AI hype. The two argue in their new book The AI Con, that there is nothing intelligent about machine learning and that the technology is nothing more than "souped-up autocomplete." They discuss the ways in which we, as humans, have been duped into thinki
Allison Pugh - The Last Human Job
AI and data analytics have created some miraculous efficiencies over the last couple of years. AI helps me stay organized and assists with research and interview prep. Sometimes, you just need a mindless automaton. That said, when it comes time to buy my groceries, I want to talk to a clerk. I want my hair cut by my barber, Chuck—the same guy I’ve been going to for the last 50 years. I need that h
Jim Thomsen - "There's Always Work at the Post Office"
I recently read a New York Times article titled "The Gen X Career Meltdown," which discussed how GenXers are aging out of the workforce early due to technology and the collapse of the creative industries. It reminded me of an old friend, journalist and literary editor, Jim Thomsen. Jim writes on Substack about the bittersweet journey of chasing his dream job for most of his professional
JW Ocker - How to Start a Cult
Author JW Ocker is a man who has devoted himself to the study and research of bizarre cultural phenomena. In his book Cult Following: the Extreme Sects that Capture our Imagination - And Take Over our Lives, he sets his sights on cults. This week on A Fresh Face in Hell, JW joins me to discuss cults, their origins, belief systems, paradigms, recruitment techniques, and their sometimes fiery ends.
Danny Bland - Rock n' Roll Road Warrior
Today we hear stories from the road with rock n' roll tour manager Danny Bland. After decades of playing in bands like Cat Butt, Best Kissers in the World, and The Dwarves, Danny used his experience to become a legendary tour manager. From Dave Alvin, Willie Nelson, John Doe to the Blasters and the Supersuckers, Danny operates as a referee, therapist, and coach to many road-weary rockstars. H
Nurse Lexi - Stories from the Emergency Room
When doing research for my novels, I often consult historians, scholars, and professionals to create more nuanced profiles for my characters. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with some truly fascinating people in incredible careers. Today, I want to tap into that by bringing on one of my favorites—a talented ER nurse named Lexi. Having spent many hours in emergency rooms myself,
Kevin Davies - CRISPR for Dummies
Been going down a CRISPR rabbit hole lately and wanted to talk to someone that is up to date on the world's most powerful gene editing technology. Kevin Davies is an Oxford trained science journalist and the author of Editing Humanity: The CRISPR Revolution and the New Era of Genome Editing. CRISPR is an enzyme that is found in bacteria that scientists have repurposed to surgically replace pi
Dr. Arik Kershenbaum - Why Animals Talk
Humans are not the only species who have devised complex languages. How do their languages differ from ours? What can we learn from their languages? Do Spanish dogs understand Japanese dogs? How can our own knowledge of animal language help us in the realm of Xenolinguistics, and the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life? Today I rap with Cambridge zoologist Dr. Arik Kershenbaum about anima
Ellen Vora, MD - The Anatomy of Anxiety
Today, I speak with Ellen Vora, MD, about understanding, treating, and living with anxiety—a condition she thoroughly explores in her book The Anatomy of Anxiety. Ellen and I discussed some of my experiences with anxiety over the past few years. We explore some practical tools to manage the nervous system, from lifestyle changes to therapy, and even spirituality. While it’s not quite a free ther
Claire Dederer - Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma
Today, I speak with an old friend, Claire Dederer, about her seminal book, Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma. We ask the question: Is it possible to appreciate an artist's work if the artist's behavior is monstrous? Is the work of artists like Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Prince, and Alice Munro better understood if we have a greater awareness of the complexities of their lives, or is there
Jeff Ament - The Origins of Pearl Jam
Today, I have a conversation with my old friend Jeff Ament. We discussed his incredible rock 'n' roll journey—from the Seattle hardcore scene of the '80s to the rise of '90s Grunge, and eventually becoming the rock star bassist of Pearl Jam. Jeff is like the "Lucy" of Grunge, with stints in three of Seattle's most influential bands: Green River, Mother Love Bone,
Rita Omokha - Resist!
Today I speak with journalist and author Rita Omokha about her new book, Resist. We discuss how young Black activists like Ella Baker, Barbara Johns, and Johnetta Elzie have shaped our understanding of the power of organized action—not just in the Civil Rights Movement but in all forms of political protest. As we face the remainder of Trump's presidency (1424 days, 02 hours, and 50 minutes),
Carl Zimmer - Germs!!
Renowned NY Times science columnist, Carl Zimmer, talks with me about his new book, Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe. We talk about the air we breathe, the gazillions of microbes, bacteria, fungus and viruses that float effortlessly around us daily. From the oceans depths to our nostrils we take in all manner of life, most of it harmless but some of it nightmarish. No one expla
Warren Etheredge - Comedies
I thought we could all use something a little lighthearted this week — a welcome distraction from the constant news cycle. So today, I’m catching up with my old friend Warren Etheredge. Warren is a producer, author, playwright, festival programmer, and public speaker. He's deeply involved in the annual Seattle International Film Festival and teaches film studies at Cornish College and the Uni
Steve Almond - Against Football
My friend and NY Times bestselling author, podcast contributor, teacher, and political activist, Steve Almond, joins me to discuss his seminal book Against Football. We dive deep into our toxic love affair with the gridiron, exploring its narrative strengths, subtle complexities, and its unique ability to unite people. At the same time, we weigh these against the darker side of the sport—nationali
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