Mixtape Stories

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we invite old friend Andrew Cheuvront aka Frame Wright Workshop to make a playlist of songs from Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game soundtracks. We talk about our 20+ year friendship that bonded over punk music and video games, the fundamental elements of skate punk vs pop punk, what the Tony Hawk video games meant to us as people who can't skate, and much...

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we have ASMR Artist and Twitch Streamer Jordan aka Barely Average Jo. She made a playlist of songs that give the kinds of tingles that are similar to the sensations one would get from ASMR. We talk about "musical edging" with Pink Floyd, the concept of time and sleep in relation to music, how the Third Eye Blind self-titled album is the epitome of 90s roc...

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we have Gage, Noel and Andrew from the band Like Ghosts on to talk about a playlist of songs they've covered. With 3/4s of the band present, we discuss their evolution as a band through songs they've covered over the past decade, why they decided to cover these songs, how they were signed, meeting and performing with Ryan Cabrera, how one of their covers...

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we have my brother Andy Casarez, who spent the bulk of his 20s under the nickname PreGame Andy because of how he used to PreGame for parties. We talk about what makes a good pregame song vs what is just a good drinking song, the thin line between pregame songs and guys being dudes songs, and share stories from our 20s that helped shape the people we are t...

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we have my wife Shawn Gessay to make a playlist of songs by Disney Pop Stars. We specifically look at pop stars whose career started on the Disney Channel. We discuss the exploitation that some of these young stars went through, how many tried to redefine themselves with more adult music,  how some are seeing a resurgence thanks to Tiktok trends, a brief...

On this week's episode of Mixtape Stories, we invited World Bench Press Champion Jamie Fisher on to make a playlist of songs that soundtrack her lifts. Part workout playlist, part hype up playlist, Jamie guides us through the female artists that help her elevate her lifts. We talk about music that empowers women, what it's like to be a woman in a male-driven sport, how female artists reinvent them...

On our first episode of Season 2, we invited local scene queen Itzel O to make a mixtape of some of her favorite Indie Sleaze songs. We talk about trying to define indie sleaze, millennial cringe, the heyday of rappers embracing indie rock, fried pickles, American Apparel, and so much more. Listen as we discuss each of the Indie Sleaze songs Itzel picked: 1. "Walking on a Dream" by Empire of the S...

On our final episode of season 1, we invited Cody Mauser of the bands Freund and Rich Hands to make a mixtape of some of his favorite Christmas songs. We talk about what makes a good Christmas song, why we think there aren't as many original Christmas songs, why some people hate Christmas songs, the Christmas song he just wrote and released, and much more. Listen as we discuss each of the Christma...

On our latest episode, we invite mortician Gabby Sanchez to talk about the songs she'd like played at her funeral. Check it out as we talk about the different vibes of funeral playlists, how to get by emotionally in a job that revolves around death, spirituality, how Sade has no haters, the most common funeral songs and how a funeral playlist serves as the closing credits to somebody's life. Liste...

On our latest episode, we invite filmmaker/writer/musician Bryan Powell to make a mixtape of songs from some of his favorite movie trailers. We talk about the campification of Limp Bizkit, what's the best way to go about picking a song for a trailer, the many lives of "All Star" by Smash Mouth, discovering music through trailers and encounter some minor Ted-nical difficulties. Listen as we discuss...

On our latest episode, Nerd Rock Josh returns to talk Wrestler Entrance Themes. We discuss the concept of pavlov's bells and how the WWE started utilizing them in the 80s and 90s, the genius of WWE composer Jim Johnston, what entrance music we would use if we were wrestlers and much more! Listen as we discuss each of the wrestler themes below and why Josh wanted to include them on this mixtape: 1....

On our latest episode, we invited Nerd Rock Josh to make a mixtape of his favorite movie montage songs from the 1980s. We discuss the significance of Rocky IV as a staple for 80s montages, the career trajectory of EG Daily, owning movie soundtracks, and much more.  Listen as we discuss each of the movies/tracks below and why Josh wanted to include them on this mixtape: 1. ”Mind Over Matter” by EG...

On our latest episode, we invited Bridgette Norris-Sanchez and Bobby Rivas from the band Honey Bunny. The couple started Honey Bunny six months after they started dating and have been making a name for themselves in the San Antonio music scene. They created a mixtape of bands made up of couples. We talk about what it's like to collaborate with a romantic partner, how they feed off of each other's...

On our latest episode, we invited lead singer of local punk band Lloronas, Amanda Vega, to make a mixtape of songs that embody the energy of Fuck the Patriarchy. We talk about writing songs to share a message vs writing songs to share an emotion, what it means to be a woman in a punk rock band, how female musicians have transcended genre and how the upcoming generation of musicians are showing tha...

On our latest episode, we invited local restaurant owner and PR specialist Luis Vazquez to make a mixtape of essential emo songs. We talk a lot about the seriousness (or lackthereof) of most emo music, Warped Tour, ska, growing up in the heyday of third wave emo culture and most importantly how songs can instill important memories. Listen as we discuss each of the tracks below and why Luis wanted...

On our latest episode, we invited performance artist, podcaster and Degrassi superfan Wayne Holtz to make a mixtape of songs that were used as episode titles of Degrassi. We talk about mom rock, poptimism, the use of music in TV show soundtracks and growing up to the music of the 2000s. Listen as we discuss each of the episodes/tracks below and why Wayne wanted to include them on this mixtape: 1....

For our first episode, we invited singer/songwriter Octavio Gonzalez from bands Westbound Departure, Fader Friend and his most recent project SleepSlow to make us a mixtape of five of his favorite album openers. We discuss what makes a good first album track, what inspires songwriting, and what happens when listeners start to notice influences in your music you didn't realize were there. Listen as...