Riff Tacos Podcast

Solo episode | I talk about leaving Ohio in my 20s to chase film and music in LA, and the unpredictable path of jobs and creative projects that led me to freelancing and podcasting—my first acting gig, meeting Ben Affleck, that one horror movie I was in, and a new project in the works with Mike Ilich (Robinson, ThunderRider). If you're enjoying the podcast, please hit that follow button, leave a r...

Destroyer Destroyer is back with their new EP 'VOID' and their first show in 17 years—June 28 at The Sanctuary in OKC. Corey Ray and Noah Taylor join me to talk about the reunion, the band's early years, and what it's like writing new material as a four piece. If you're enjoying the podcast, please hit that follow button and leave a rating. I'd love to hear from you. Episod...

Kyle Medina is the vocalist of Florida deathcore powerhouse Bodysnatcher. In this episode, we talk about his recent performance with Float Face Down for their reunion show, how he got started doing vocals, the origins of Bodysnatcher, and the 10-year anniversary re-release of their debut EP Abandonment. If you're enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating and hit the follow button. Episode li...

Chad Fjerstad is a musician, author, and adult film actor. He’s played bass in Dead To Fall, Nehemiah, and The Primals, and currently performs in K’mono, Ass Life, and More Ephemerol. For the past 16 years, he’s worked in adult film, recently winning Best Actor at the 2025 AVN Awards. Chad is the author of two books, including the audiobook 'Warship', which he narrates himself. While ficti...

Mike Ilich was the vocalist for both Robinson and ThunderRider. In this episode, we discuss how he got started as a vocalist, dive deeper into Robinson’s history, and talk about how ThunderRider was formed in the wake of FASSW and Robinson disbanding. We also kick around the idea of starting a new project together! If you're enjoying the podcast, please hit the like button, leave a comment, an...

John Kempainen is the former lead guitarist for The Black Dahlia Murder from 2002-2008 playing on the albums Unhallowed, Miasma, and Nocturnal. We get into the early BDM days, writing process, gear, touring and why John decided to leave the band. If you're enjoying the show, please hit the follow button and leave a rating! Episode links: https://www.instagram.com/john_kempainen Trevor Tribute...

Jon Hunt is the vocalist of Chicago metalcore pioneers Dead To Fall. Our bands came up together and ended around the same time in 2008, so we share a lot of history. In this episode, we talk touring chaos, Jon’s move to Spain, getting blacklisted from Furnace Fest, writing heavy music, and teaching kids how to shred. We swap road stories, dig into creative struggles, and look ahead at the future o...

Dennis Lee is the front man and screaming vocalist for post-hardcore/screamo band Alesana—a staple in the early 2000's/Myspace era who continue to kill it to this day. In this episode we cover: ​ How Dennis’s background in visual art accidentally led him to fronting a band ​ The formation of Alesana ​ The full story behind the Annabel Trilogy ​ Hilarious tour stories and fan interactions Catch...

Greg Larimer is my longtime friend and former bandmate in Robinson. He currently plays guitar in Constant Hell and tattoos at Dying Breed Tattoo in Pittsburgh. Keep an eye out for Constant Hell's new record coming later this year, and catch them on the road this July. If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a rating and give me a follow so you don't miss future episodes! Episode links: h...

Jackal Twins are a three-piece band from New England who describe their music as "psychedelic noisy tunes for the hopeless romantic." Their debut full-length record, Cuzco, is out now on all streaming platforms — a heavy, beautiful, and chaotic journey where every detail has been carefully crafted, from the soundscape to the lyrics to the visuals. Cuzco was recorded and mixed at the legendary GodC...

Heidi Weber is the drummer of dreamy LA post-punk band Mirror of Venus (A La Carte Records) and Manager of Editorial Production at Apple Music, where she leads the live stream events team. We go way back—high school friends and college roommates! In this episode, we reminisce about our Ohio roots, her early tours in Europe at age 12, and the path that led her to playing in one of LA’s most compell...

Kevin Boutot was the drummer for  The Acacia Strain  from 2005 to 2023. We met in 2006 on my first tour with From A Second Story Window. In this episode, Kevin talks about his early days of learning to play the drums by following in his father's footsteps, his time on the road and in the studio, and what made him decide to leave the band suddenly. Great conversation and great dude! *Correction fro...

Joe Sudrovic is one of my long time best friends, my bandmate in From A Second Story Window and the owner of Gorilla Joe Printing in Youngstown, OH. If you need merch for your band or business, hit him up! If you're enjoying the podcast, please give the show a follow and leave a rating. Episode links: https://www.instagram.com/joeyvomits https://www.instagram.com/gorillajoeprinting https://www.ins...

Allee Futterer grew up in SoCal’s hardcore and metal scene, now she’s touring with Chappell Roan and making music as All Made Up. Turns out she had a From A Second Story Window CD back in the day—so I had to invite her on Riff Tacos. Listen to her debut record "Tell Me What It's Like Up There"—streaming everywhere. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow and leave a rating. Episode links: ht...

Ando San is a solo artist who pioneered the subgenre "proghop" combining progressive metal/rock guitar with hip hop vocals and beats. His new EP OH KAY is out now on all streaming platforms. Watch the music video for "Big Dawg" Episode links: https://www.instagram.com/ando__san https://www.tiktok.com/@ando__san https://www.youtube.com/andosan69 If you're enjoying the podcast, please like follow th...

Robbie Smith is the vocalist for experimental rock band Heavy Heavy Low Low and an independent filmmaker. The band has released 2 new singles/music videos leading up to the release of their new record Pain Olympics on 4/20/25. Check out Robbie's movie Grieve on YouTube, Amazon, Tubi, and more. His new film I Don't Like It Here premieres March 29 at Unnamed Footage Fest in San Francisco. https://un...

In this impromptu solo episode recorded from my car on the drive home from my band's show in Columbus, Ohio, I reflect on how music can shift the course of your life and the sacrifices we make to chase our dreams. I also dive into my thought process and approach to songwriting. If you're enjoying my content, please follow the show and leave a rating! Sign up for the Riff Tacos email list, and join...

One of my childhood best friends and bandmate in From A Second Story Window, Nick Huffman, joins me for a deep dive into our history—growing up together, playing in multiple bands over the years, and reflecting on what the FASSW reunion truly meant to us. If you are enjoying the show please give me a follow, like the episode, leave a rating! Episode links: Follow Nick on Instagram Follow From A Se...

Rich Lombardi, vocalist of mathcore legends The Sawtooth Grin, joins me to dive into the band's origins, their chaotic sound, and the influences that shaped them. We also break down their failed reunion, how it ultimately led to the release of Good in 2022, and the long-awaited completion of Jabberwocky in 2024. Episode links: https://instagram.com/the.sawtoothgrin Follow Paul: https://youtube.com...

Jake Schultz, former bassist of Norma Jean and Whores, dives into early Norma Jean history, shares some epic stories from the road, and talks about what he’s been up to since stepping back from the touring lifestyle. Episode links: https://instagram.com/caskettcreations Follow Paul: https://instagram.com/paulmisko https://tiktok.com/paulmisko https://x.com/paulmisko

Nik Velleca is the founder of Wax Vessel, a record label dedicated to high-quality, small-run, one-time-only vinyl presses crafted for collectors. Focused on metal, hardcore, and grindcore from the early 2000s, Wax Vessel has given a second life to many releases of the era—including two of my own bands, Robinson and From A Second Story Window. We break down his vision for the label and what makes...

Dan DeFonce has been booking bands for 19 years and is a full-time agent with The Kirby Organization. In this episode, he shares how he went from musician to booking agent, what he looks for in a band, and how the industry has evolved over the years. Episode links: instagram.com/danfonce instagram.com/rosiethedoggofficial https://tkoco.com/ Follow Paul: ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠X⁠

Guy Kozowyk is the front man for Massachusetts-based metal band The Red Chord and the founder of record label Black Market Activities who's roster included Backstabbers Inc., Deadwater Drowning, Found Dead Hanging, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, Animosity, From A Second Story Window, Ed Gein and more. We talk about his journey to becoming a vocalist, the early days of The Red Chord, the str...

Shane Cashman was the frontman of the New York-based experimental metal band Mabus and is the author of Joyless Kingdom and The Fucking Lunatic. He is the host of the Inverted World Live podcast and a journalist for Timcast News, where he’s profiled figures like Kanye West and Alex Jones while investigating true crime, lost history, and the paranormal. Follow Paul on: Instagram YouTube TikTok X

Since my teenage years, I’ve experienced sleep paralysis and the chilling sensation of a 'demon' presence at night once or twice per year. In this episode, I share my personal sleep paralysis experiences, some stupid but fun theories, and some insights about how creative minds may be more prone to sleep paralysis, depression, and other conditions. I will be following up on this topic in another ep...