Detoxicity: By Men, About Men, For Everyone

DetoxPod 47 : Joel Frieders

A previous guest described himself as a connector, and I consider myself someone who values the connections that can randomly come as you walk through the world. My connection to this episode's guest, Joel Frieders, comes from my friend Jonny Boucher, who I interviewed a few episodes ago. Like Jonny, Joel is connected to the charity Hope for the Day and is a tireless advocate for mental health. Like many of our other guests, Joel is a multi-hyphenate. He's a "recovering musician". He used to be a beekeeper. He runs a pharmacy. He's an alderman! Yes, folks, I've got my first actual elected official on Detoxicity.
 
Over the course of our conversation, which will almost definitely be continued at some point, Joel and I talk about a variety of things, including but not limited to the topics I've mentioned previously. You'll hear about everything from how social media taught him to be a more honest version of himself to the very quick and very frank birds and the bees talk he gave his teenage son. On a more serious note, you'll hear about what led him to mental health work. 
 
 

DetoxPod 46: Varghese Chacko

My guest for this episode is Varghese Chacko, who is a partner in the organization NYC Nightlife United, whose aim is to provide relief to BIPOC-led venues in the New York City area during the COVID-19 crisis. In our interview, Varghese and I discuss his Indian-American heritage and what diversity means to him. We also discuss how he's staying afloat during stay-at-home orders, his recent recommitment to sobriety and exercise in light of turning forty, and the love and value he has for his homies.

DetoxPod45: Cornell Verdeja-Woodson

My guest for this episode is Cornell Verdeja-Woodson. Cornell is the director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the meditation app Headspace. He is also the founder of Brave Trainings, a company that provides a starting point for corporations and organizations to discuss diversity and equity through authentic dialogue and intentional action. Diversity and equity form the bedrock of our discussion; in light of summer 2020's national reckoning with race relations it has become a hot topic for corporations. Cornell discusses how he came to be involved with this work and what it means to him, especially as an intersectional minority. We also talk about Cornell's upbringing in Camden New Jersey, the value of practicing gratitude, acknowledging mentors, and being a newlywed.

DetoxPod Episode 44: Kenny Roby

Singer/songwriter Kenny Roby has spent upwards of three decades as a working musician. His most recent album, The Reservoir, was released in August of 2020. In this episode, Kenny talks to me (Mike) about the many side hustles he's had to undertake as a professional musician and why being a musician (as an actual job) is highly undervalued. He talks marriage, divorce and raising two young men; the things he's learned as a dad and the things his sons have learned through him. He also talks about various forms of personal upheaval, giving oneself grace, and dealing with addiction and suicidal ideation. 

DetoxPod43: Joe Kwaczala

Joe Kwaczala is a comedian and actor from the Pittsburgh area, currently based in Los Angeles. He also hosts the podcast Who Cares About The Rock Hall? and in 2019, was given his own half-hour Comedy Central stand-up special. Joe and I connected on a noisy New York City evening to talk about staying creative (and busy) during a pandemic. We also laugh about the difficulty of pronouncing Joe's last name, discuss stage fright, bond over our mutual love for Crowded House, and on a more serious note, talk about how Joe's current relationship has improved his communication skills. 

DetoxPod42: Jim Shearer

Jim Shearer is currently the host of the "Jim Shearer Show" and "70s 80s 90s Now" on SiriusXM, and you might know him from his previous stints as a VJ on MTV and VH-1. Jim pops up on the Detoxicity podcast to discuss what it felt like to achieve his teenage goal to be a media personality and how that's affected everything he's tried to do since. We also get a look at Jim's conservative, Christian upbringing and how that shapes his worldview to this day. A squeaky-clean entertainment biz survivor? A happy go lucky guy who shares his honest views about racism. A guy who teaches his kids about social justice via the WWE? Jim is a complicated man, and he chats about all of it in this episode.

DetoxPod41: Kurtis Powers

Kurtis Powers is, like many of our guests, a renaissance man. He is the co-founder of The Face Radio NYC, an independent radio station broadcasting all over the world (in addition to being one of the station's on-air personalities). He is also a partner and creative director at Analogy, a creative consultancy that focuses on culture and lifestyle. Kurtis sees himself as a connector, and clearly has an enthusiasm for people that's evident throughout this podcast episode. 
Kurtis and Mike Joseph chat about the value of connection; having relationships that are sincere and not just based on transactions. They also discuss how Kurtis's worldview has been shaped by growing up without a father, how he navigated through the punk/hardcore scene as a kid, and how he learned how to pivot when the best laid plans didn't go exactly the way he wanted them to. 

DetoxPod 40: Alex Marko (Satellite Mode)

Alex Marko is a producer and musician who comprises 1/2 of the duo Satellite Mode. As an independent musician, Alex has a lot to say about the appreciation of music and the balance between art and commerce. He also talks to Mike Joseph about approaching his career with a business background, managing his neuroses with therapy, and attempting to find a ray of light during the tough times we're in currently. As an addendum, check out a video featuring both members of Satellite Mode chatting with Mike about race relations in light of the national uprising earlier this year.