1000 w/ Ron Placone

Jill Stein is a doctor, environmentalist, activist and prominent member of the Green Party USA. She’s run for office in the past and she’s running for President this year, 2024. I first met her during my time working on the Jimmy Dore Show and I’ve interviewed her in different capacities over the years. Given the nature of 1000, this may be our last interview together.

Mike Figueredo is the creator of the popular YouTube show and podcast, the Humanist Report. We dwell in a similar indie online media space and we’ve always gotten along because we have some things in common - both big on digital rights, both former academics, and we’re around the same age. As the years went by, personalities would clash and at various times Mike and I were kinda in the middle of v...

Variety D is a comedian and disability rights activist. She’s the first black disabled comedian in Britain. I met her in Edinburgh, I go into more detail in the interview, but basically, her energy was infectious. Have you ever met someone and thought, “I want to be friends with this person.”? It was that kinda energy. We go a little long here. Sometimes comics tend to riff with each other, especi...

John Nichols is a labor journalist, Nation contributor and author. We talk the history of the media reform movement past to present, the state of labor and of course, the 2024 election.

Chris Fafalios is a musician, podcaster, producer and more. Growing up, I followed Chris’ band, Punchline. They’re an excellent pop/punk band still going strong to this day. Chris is the producer of one of my favorite podcasts, "Chris Demakes a Podcast" hosted by Chris Demakes of Less Than Jake. We talk about it and get a pretty cool origin story, we also dive into all of Chris’ other pr...

Do you know what Biospheric Restoration is? Basically, we have the ability to develop forests at a very rapid rate, such an effort could help us mitigate climate change. Ronan Taylor is an in-the-field activist who has worked in numerous fields within natural sciences, and organizations including the Smithsonean Institution and TED. He explains Biospheric Restoration and other climate related conc...

Episode 016. Charlie Wiener. Charlie Wiener is a musician, author, and, this is how I met him: Charlie Wiener is a road comic, a badge he wore with pride for many years. Charlie decided to retire from Stand-up, and his reasoning is incredibly interesting and insightful. Lastly, one day many years ago in Rhode Island, Charlie gave me some life advice I’ve always tried to carry with me since. I thin...

Anthony Rankin is a musician, songwriter and producer. He's one of the hardest working people I know. Also, he’s one of my closest and oldest friends, we’ve been friends since we were 5-years-old. He helped me through the toughest time I’ve ever had in my life.

Kermet Apio is a comedian and a musician specializing in traditional Hawaiian music. His specials on Dry Bar Comedy have garnered millions of views. He’s based in Seattle and when I started comedy there Kermet was a big mentor to me and still is. He sets a model example of how to be both on and off stage. I’ve known Kermet for over a decade now and I still have not met a single person who has a ba...

Ever wondered how to have a career in the Renaissance Faire circuit? Ever been thorough a tough breakup? Todd Hibbeler is a Renaissance Faire professional. He’s crafted an amazing career for himself from a performer to a franchised food vendor, and it all started with a broken toilet. Also, Todd’s a good friend of mine, and he helped me through the toughest breakup I’ve ever had.

Andy Iwancio is a comedian, creative and DJ. She’s taken those niches and woven a beautiful creative quilt for herself. Her debut full-length, “Better Living Through Feministry”, comes out this Friday, December 8, 2023 on Kill Rock Stars. Andy and I started comedy together in Seattle, and she was one of the first friends I made in the scene. 

Lach is an Edinburgh-via-NYC-based musician, radio host and author. Regina Spektor. The Moldy Peaches. Beck. Hamell On Trial. Soft Black. All of those artists have one music scene in common. The New York later Lower East Side Anti-Folk scene that Lach is the main architect of. We talk about the building of that scene as well as his newest creative endeavor. Lach recently wrote and published a youn...

Gabriel Rockhill is an academic, author, organizer and activist. He is the Founding Director of the Critical Theory Workshop which operates both in the US and in France. He’s one of the few radical academics out there in the US, and an incredibly brilliant guy to talk to.

Ever thought about leaving the United States? This episode is for you. Artsy Marxist and their partner left the United States for Mexico, and they share their story. Artsy Marxist is an incredible artist and activist who teaches art and livestreams art sessions on YouTube and Twitch. We talk politics, what lead Artsy Marxist to communism, revolution, religion, and of course, art. 

Jess Silk is a singer/songwriter out of the UK. She’s one of my favorite up-and-coming acts and I’m not alone there. In just a few short years she’s gained a loyal and growing following. And it’s obvious she’s just getting started. We talk about US/UK politics, black cats, and the legendary Italian anti-fascist hymn, Bella Ciao. Her music can be found at jesssilk.bandcamp.com

Martin Barre is best known as the guitarist in the legendary classic rock band, Jethro Tull. One of my favorite bands. Martin and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull parted ways awhile ago and Martin’s current project is the Martin Barre Band. We talk about his new(er) band, the split between he and Ian, some behind the scenes takes on some of Tull's legendary recordings and more!

Margaret Kimberley is an author, journalist and activist. She is the Editor and Senior Columnist for Black Agenda Report, a news and commentary outlet from the Black Left. I've followed Margaret's work awhile now and this interview I get to know more about her history. Also, we talk about the Cornel West campaign, the upcoming Presidential Election and the ongoing crisis in Israel/Palestin...

Jello Biafra is a musician, spoken word artist, comedian, Green Party member and owner of Alternative Tentacles. He was the founder and singer of the Dead Kennedys. We cover a ton of ground, from his mayoral and Presidential campaigns, to Tipper Gore's war on music, to the police raiding his house. Buckle in, this one's a hell of a ride.

Cory Doctorow is a blogger, science-fiction writer, activist, creative and tech policy expert. He's invented his own lane and has mastered it. He's worked with the EFF, a leading digital rights organization, for over 20 years, and founded one of the largest blogs in the US, Boing Boing.

Stephanie Blum is a psychologist turned comedian. She started in New York City, moved to LA, had to deal with the heartbreaking deception that comes along with show business and so much more. She'll be headlining the first comedy show at the Grand Annex in San Pedro. *Note: This episode was recorded before the WGA strike agreement was reached, just FYI during the AI portion.

Celeste Lecesne is an LGBTQ performer, filmmaker and activist. They helped find not one, but two non-profits for LGBTQ youth: The Trevor Project and The Future Perfect Project. We talk the Edinburgh Fringe where I saw Celeste's show, Poof, Radical Faeries, the work of the Trevor Project and Future Perfect Project, and the overall state of affairs, like ya do!

Beans On Toast is a singer/songwriter out of the UK. He is one of my favorite singer/songwriters working today. We talk fracking in Sherwood forest, UK/US politics, Jim Morrison, what it means to be happy, and of course, music. Check out his tour dates at BeansOnToastMusic.com

1000. A comedian goes on a quest to interview 1000 different people who have piqued his interest in some way.