Detoxicity: By Men, About Men, For Everyone

Chris Maestro is the owner and founder of the iconic bar Bierwax . Located in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, this bar marries two of Chris's loves: craft beer and vinyl. In our discussion, Chris discussed what motivated him to open this space and how he's managed to survive in a very competitive landscape (in a very expensive city to own a business) for almost a decade. This chat also c...

Jesse originally appeared way back in episode 106, almost four years ago. A lot has happened since that time, and Jesse takes us through the changes that have occurred in his life recently. We talk about his pivot away from education and into the mental health space, we talk about why white guys can be so incredibly awkward (he speaks from a place of knowledge!), and we discuss everything from par...

In this episode, I have a great chat with music industry legend Tom DeSavia. Tom is a longtime A&R executive, a podcaster, an activist and an author. He co-wrote the book Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk with John Doe. Tom and I sit down to talk about coming of age in the music industry, what's changed and what hasn't. We talk about how the last few years have found him...

So, Greg and I have known one another for over two decades. We met as members of the Epinions music writing community and have maintained a steady friendship ever since. Weirdly (or maybe not weirdly?) for knowing one another for such a long time, this podcast recording marks one of the first times we've actually had a voice-to-voice conversation. Is this the future? I dunno. I guess it's a little...

Thomas Acox was the last person I interviewed before I decided to take some time off and recalibrate. When I felt comfortable recording episodes again, I listened to our previous conversation and decided to invite Thomas back for a full refresh. The two of us have known one another for well over a decade, so we bring a fair amount of history into our conversation. It covers the rediscovery of Thom...

Erik Jensen is an actor, director, producer and artist originally from rural Minnesota, now based in Brooklyn. He's acted in a lengthy list of shows, films and plays over the course of his career, and Brooklyn, Minnesota (which he co-wrote and co-directed alongside his wife, Jessica Blank) will receive a theatrical release later this year. Read an amazing article about the creation of this film he...

A quick explanation for why there's been no new episodes for several months. After taking some time to reflect, I am looking forward to bringing the Detoxicity podcast back.

The first time I interviewed Chris was four years ago! He and his bandmate in Wax Owls, Gerry Hirschfeld, stopped by in Episode 51 . Well, some time has passed, hasn't it? Chris and I reconnected earlier this summer for a wide-ranging, lengthy conversation (I feel like it's been a while since the last episode, so this one is a little long to make up for it!) in which we discuss everything from wha...

I'm excited to bring you the latest episode of Detoxpod-featuring my chat with musician and journalist Shawn Setaro . Shawn is a journalist who currently works for Complex as a court reporter. He authored a book on the Tekashi Six Nine case, and most recently covered the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial. Shawn helps me unpack some of my disillusionment with hip-hop in recent years, but in addition to play...

In this episode, Singer-songwriter YawnyBlew joins me for a powerful conversation about music, identity, and resilience. From his roots to his evolution as a queer R&B artist, Yawny opens up about authenticity, mental health, and navigating an industry that hasn’t always embraced him. A heartfelt discussion about love, healing, and making space for the next generation.

I'm super happy to sit down with Sam Gellerstein--sousaphonist, songwriter, and founding member of the Philadelphia-based band Snacktime. What began as a humble food-and-music event has exploded into one of Philly’s most exciting musical collectives, fusing energy, activism, and community. Sam opens up about the band’s origin story, from pandemic-era street performances to sold-out tours with acts...

I’m so happy to welcome Rodney McCoy AKA Daddy Rod back to the podcast for a second chat.  Our conversation is wide-ranging, intimate, and expands upon several topics that we touching on in our initial conversation, including themes of Black masculinity, sexuality, gentrification and nostalgia, HIV and STI stigma, and aging in the queer community. What does it mean to accept vulnerability and “sof...

My life changed when I went to work for Craig Chapman in March of 1996. Over the last three decades, Craig has not only been my boss, he's been my mentor, my champion and my friend. And I'm just one of many young people he's mentored over the course of his life. I'm grateful to have him on my show to touch on everything from his beginnings in radio to branching out into entrepreneurship (he's been...

Well, folks--we made it to 200 episodes. Holy crap! First off, I'm incredibly grateful to you. Thanks for listening and providing constructive criticism. Feedback is part of what keeps me going, and I don't take the fact that you put DTP in your regular pod rotation lightly. If this is your first listen-welcome! I hope you enjoy and go back and listen to some older episodes! Second, thanks to ever...

I'm very happy to welcome my friend Ty McKinnie back to the show. Listen to his first appearance here . Originally from Atlanta, Ty works in the music industry as a creative as well as an executive. He released his album Tyrie last year, and I highly recommend it! It's Black Music Month and Pride Month, and Ty stands proudly at the intersection. We talk about how his queerness informs the music he...

Backline.ca re is an organization that aims to provide mental health resources for humans in the music industry, and they have done great things since emerging in 2019. One of the people at the helm of that change is their clinical director, Ari Jacobson. In our chat, Ari takes us through his origin story; we talk about how he joined Backline and go through the circuitous route that led to him bec...

Earlier this year, I interviewed Tyson Allred , the co-founder of Dad Bods and Beards. I've been impressed with DBAB's mission since I found out about them on Instagram through their creative, heartwarming and often funny Reels. Logan is the other half of Dad Bods and Beards, and our chat covers quite a bit of ground: from his bipolar diagnosis and the cop that saved his life to his ongoing fitnes...

I recorded this interview with Greg Burmeister back in October. Because of everything that happened at the beginning of November (you know what I'm talking about), I put this one on the shelf for a while before coming back to it and remembering how good a conversation it was. Greg co-hosts the podcast " Talking Schmidt" , which I was lucky enough to appear on last fall. He is also the second (at l...

Hope you are doing as well as can be given current times. Remember, we are stronger together! Community remains of utmost importance! I'm excited to bring you my conversation with Tom Gentry. Tom is not only a treasured friend, but he's a counselor specializing in addiction. He's also a passionate advocate for progressive masculinity, which makes him a perfect fit for Detoxpod! Tom and I chat abou...

Hi Friends! Happy to bring you the latest episode, starring Rodney McCoy AKA Daddy Rod. Rod's appearance (I'm pretty sure) marks the first instance of a romantic couple appearing in back to back episodes, as he is the partner of 2x DetoxPod guest Damon Jacobs. Like Damon, Rodney is an activist for sexual health. But he has a story all his own. Rod and I connect over our shared Brooklyn upbringing,...

I'm happy to welcome my friend Damon Jacobs BACK to the show, on a less-than-ten-episode turnaround. Damon is an NYC-based therapist who also hosts a great podcast called Tub Talks , and has been on the frontline of queer advocacy and STI (specifically HIV) awareness for years. Damon and I reconnect to talk about life in the new American presidential administration, and how to keep your wits about...

I'm super excited to bring you this conversation with Tyson Allred. Tyson is the founder of Copper John's, a natural men's grooming and beard care brand. He is also half of the team that makes up Dad Bods and Beards (hey, I have both of those!), which is a community and podcast centered around positive portrayals of masculinity and the acknowledgment of the work it takes to overcome some of the mo...

I'm happy to welcome my friend John Hill back to the podcast. He originally appeared on Episode 128 , which was released in December 2022. That feels like a fucking lifetime ago. At any rate, it was good to catch up for the pod. John and I chat about a lot of things; including his bodybuilding journey, the current political climate (and dealing with a conservative parent), navigating popular cultu...

In this episode of Detoxicity, I welcome Rob Cohen back to the pod for a crossover episode. Rob first appeared in Episode 153, at which time Rob was promoting his podcast Two Bi Guys  and his book Bisexual Married Men. The main impetus behind us recording together again was to discuss our recent experiences with alternative therapies, including ketamine and ayahuasca, and how these experiences rel...

Hi Folks, Marco is a group organizer for the polyamorous/non monogamous community here in Brooklyn. This is how he and I met. Digging a little deeper, Marco is now underway in a new and interesting career, as a surrogate partner. What is a surrogate partner, you ask? Well...listen to the episode to find out. You can also get a little more info about what Marco does  here . I've been fortunate enou...