Detoxicity: By Men, About Men, For Everyone

Kevin Devine is a prolific independent singer/songwriter with something like two dozen combined studio albums, live albums and EPs. He records solo, with his band (called the Goddamn Band) and as a member of Bad Books with Manchester Orchestra's Andy Hull. Kevin came up through the punk and hardcore scene in New York City, where he was born and currently makes his home. 
 
During this episode, Kevin discusses growing up in Staten Island (historically New York City's most conservative borough) with a cop as a father, but being given the freedom to explore his own beliefs. We talk a little bit of NYC evolution and gentrification, discuss Kevin's idols Kurt Cobain and Elliott Smith and their relationships with masculinity, chop it up about activism, socialism, and various other "ism"s, and try to figure out how all of this relates to his continuing personal evolution.
 

Jesse Stanford, like many of the guests on Detoxicity, does many things. By day, he's a junior high school teacher. By night, he's a creative, making music under the name Lesser Sparrow. He's also a brand new dad. You'll find out how he juggles those things during our conversation. You'll also find out how he has moved past his suburban upbringing to learn more about the world, how he's moving past his own sensitive temperament to listen to helpful criticism and become a better person, and how he moves past his own self-doubt to make music. A lot of forward motion here! Listen in to what Jesse has to say.

When this episode's guest was introduced to me a decade or so ago as "Juggalo Bob", I had reservations. Those reservations said more about my own preconceived notions than it did about anything in regards to Bob Lugowe. We all contain multitudes, and Bob is not only a proud member of the Insane Clown Posse fan club, but he's a music industry executive, a label owner and marketer, he's a brain trauma survivor, and he's someone who appears to have completely grasped the concept of personal evolution. From hard partier to spiritually awakened work in progress, I'm proud to welcome Bob to the Detoxicity podcast, and I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Tanner Hinds is a comic and musician based in Cincinnati, OH. He hosts and produces the Heavy Head podcast, an episodic adventure through mental illness. This conversation covers topics including how Tanner realized and got help for his own depression-related issues, attempting to find a self-care regimen, finding strength in solitude, how art turns him into a better (or at least more outgoing) version of himself, and why depression and bisexuality might not be the best topics to approach a stand-up routine with in certain parts of the country. 

 I have had a lot of musicians as guests on this show. I've had a lot of mental health professionals on this show. But here's a first--a professional musician who is also a licensed therapist! I got to know William Fitzsimmons through Staying in Tune, a web series i host with the mental health charity Sound Mind Live. We got along so well, and William's story was so interesting, that I had to extend our conversation and get him to chat for Detoxicity. 
 
William is a sensitive soul who's still struggling a bit with some of those old masculine tropes. Over the next hour or so, you'll find out how he made his way through childhood bullying, being a child of divorce who has himself been divorced twice, and how much he loves his then fiancee--now wife. Even though it was just the second time William and I conversed-we got along like old buddies. I hope you feel the humor and warmth in this conversation.

This episode of Detoxicity brings back three former guests; relationship/sexuality experts Dylan Thomas, Kevin Patterson and Ryan Bentham. All three men are versed in traditional and non-traditional relationships; romantic, platonic, monogamous, polyamorous, etc. This discussion further explores their individual and ongoing journeys through love, partnership, sex and exploration.
 
Topics covered include parenthood, jealousy and letting go, queerness and self-definition, and many more. It's an open, honest discussion that travels a lot of ground in just an hour. 

Adam Weiner is the face and the main voice behind Low Cut Connie, a rock and roll band that's gained fans as diverse as Barack Obama and Elton John. In the last year and change, Adam's fame has grown thanks to his web series Tough Cookies. Created during the pandemic, it has gained a new legion of fans and has hosted guests including members of Sly & The Family Stone, Darlene Love and Joan Osborne. An album called "Tough Cookies: The Best of the Quarantine Broadcasts" was released last month.
 
In our interview, Adam talks about being invested in his "art bubble", the music, film and books that keep him going. We also talk about the differences between his stage persona and his private demeanor, we pay tribute to the greatness of Prince Rogers Nelson, and Adam tells us all that he learned beginning his performing career in New York City's gay piano bars.

A few episodes ago, in the name of changing things up a bit, I went from being the interviewer to being the interviewee, and the show got some of the best feedback we've gotten so far. So, because I have no shame in flogging a dead horse, I'm subjecting myself to the interview process once again. This time, my interviewer is Dr. Michael Friedman, who was the guest on the very first episode of Detoxicity a bit over a year ago.
 
Dr. Mike is a practicing psychiatrist who also hosts a podcast called Hardcore Humanism in which he has interviewed many of my favorite musicians about mental health. We talk about how masculinity has been challenged over the years through athletics, and I discuss my own competitive nature and how I feel it's been a blessing and a curse. We also go in depth about outsider syndrome and privilege, and how folks go down the path of self-awareness...or not. If you ever wanted to know what a therapy session of mine sounds like--only with the therapist being an actual friend of mine- here's me and Dr. Mike.