The Reckless Musecast

In this episode, Ben is joined by musician and TRM friend Anthony Caulkins to chat about how RFK Jr. is the anti-fascist candidate; Zora Neal Hurston and Black Nationalism; an adequate prison sentences for Daddy Fauci; and whether we need to bring back insane asylums. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.i...

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about J.J. McCullough's video on middle class irony cults (which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/yBEGRBSF1EY ), and author Elizabeth Gilbert caving into the mob by canceling her book set in Russia. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ -...

In this episode, Ben and Joe chat with returning guest Alma Cook about her creative songwriting process, what life is like for a musician in a small town, general thoughts about what's going on in the culture, and more. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://m...

In this episode, Ben and Joe chat about the differences between political art and propaganda; the differences between the political art of the past and the present, and more. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Facebook: https://www....

In this episode, Ben and Joe chat about how identity politics has invaded the recent writers strike; and Heather Mac Donald's Spiked article "The cancellation of classical music." Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Fac...

In this episode, Ben and Joe chat about the ongoing African Queens controversy; how the writers strike has gone woke; Tom Hanks' pushback against the editing of classic literature; and more. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Fa...

In this episode, Ben and Joe chat about the ongoing African Queens race-swapping controversy; Richard Dreyfuss' (mostly) correct thoughts on the Academy Awards' diversity & inclusion quotas; the recent uproar over Twister Sister's Dee Snider and KISS' Paul Stanley's opinions on transgenderism; and more. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twi...

In this episode, Ben is joined by musician and TRM friend Anthony Caulkins to read and discuss Mussolini, as well as fascism and how it plays out in U.S.A. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenDAl...

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about the race-swapping controversy around the Cleopatra Netflix series, the live-action remake of Disney's Peter Pan & Wendy, Quentin Tarantino's thoughts on failure, and more. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://m...

In this episode, Joe chats with recording artist, essayist, composer Cecil Charles about how to embrace relaxation and get over self-consciousness as a musician, the creative process, navigating the craziness of the times as an artist, belief in a higher power or purpose, and more. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram:...

In this episode, Ben and Joe are joined by Alexander von Sternberg of the History Impossible podcast to talk about how the Black Death and its parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic; how history continually rhymes with itself; the lunacy of politics and culture; and more. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www...

In this episode, Ben and Joe chat about the controversy around Michelangelo's "David"; Amazon's decision to scrap an audience ranking system after data revealed audiences were put off by “queer stories” and themes; the recent decision to do away with half-species characters in Dungeons & Dragons; how Anita Sarkeesian's DEI initiatives have blown up in her face, and more....

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about the pointless controversy around Harry Potter author J.K Rowling, the recent trend of burning books, and more. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenDAlessio...

In this episode, Ben and Joe chat about the history of sex in film, the evolving definitions of "obscene," and more. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenDAlessioWriting/ Follow Joe Garz...

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about the rise of ChatGPT, its effect on the writing world, and how it could force writers to become better. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenDAlessioWriting/...

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about their (now outdated) predictions of the Oscars, the nominations that were overrated, and more. Check out Ben's review of The Fabelmans here: https://medium.com/the-reckless-muse/bens-pocket-movie-reviews-list-3-9272560fbfa0 Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.in...

In this episode, Judson Vereen returns to talk about his latest work, his creative process, "elite" artists vs. real artists, and more. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenDAlessioWriting/ Follow Joe...

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about the unjust firing of Erika López Prater from Hamline University, the "blueface" controversy of Avatar: The Way of Water, the censorship of Roald Dahl's books, and David Cronenberg's Crimes of the Future.  Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessi...

In this episode, Ben and Joe discuss Quentin Tarantino's book Cinema Speculation, as well as what made 1970s cinema so damn cool. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenDAlessioWriting/ Follow Joe Garza...

In this episode, singer and songwriter Kay Clarity returns to the podcast to discuss her evolution as a musical artist, the importance of believing in a higher power as an artist, how politics is corrupting the arts, and more.  Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: http...

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about this year's Oscar nominations and how they're still not diverse enough for the woke, despite being very diverse.  Follow Ben D'Alessio:  - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/B...

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about Jacob Mchangama's book, Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media; the battle for free speech throughout history; and why it's so important to preserve free speech today.  "...truth can be arrived at only through the untrammeled contest between and among competing opinions, in which as many viewpoints as possible are given a fair and equal he...

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about the Great American Family controversy and the rise of conservative platforms; and how the Golden Globes aren't "diverse" or "inclusive" enough.  Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium.com/@bendalessio17 - Facebook: h...

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about the Twitter controversy around Lex Fridman's reading list and Stanford University's "Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative." Plus, Ben almost gets into a fight with Australians. Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendalessio/ - Medium: https://medium...

In this episode, Ben and Joe talk about Jennifer Lawrence's thoughts on action movie heroines, James Cameron's allergy to testosterone, Kirk Cameron not being allowed to speak at libraries, and punk band the Slaves' decision to change their name.  Follow Ben D'Alessio: - Website: https://www.bendalessio.com/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/El__Ben - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendale...