What the Folk

For this joint, we’re joined by anthropologist and filmmaker Marty Otañez to dive into under-discussed labor issues in cannabis, using digital storytelling to disrupt academia, and how anthropology can inform public policy. There’s a lot of hope in this episode, as well as lots of drug discourse, which is truly our favorite type of discourse. Afterward, Joy and Sarah discuss the shouldn’t-be-that-surprising revelations about Facebook, ponder whether algorithms have sentience yet, and generally do an awesome job navigating the English language.

FOLLOW MARTY:
Twitter @otanezm
twitter.com/otanezm

GETTING HIGH ON ANTHROPOLOGY
fsandgreen.org/

NALOXONE CHAMPIONS
clas.ucdenver.edu/anthropology/naloxone-champions

CANNABIS WORKERS’ UNION
www.ufcw.org/who-we-represent/cannabis/

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
The Women of Weed
maryjanesfilm.com/

Breaking the Grass Ceiling: Women, Weed & Business
bookshop.org/books/breaking-the…ness/9781541096592

FEATURED MUSIC: “In a Major Key” by Joy Damiani (released under Emily Yates)

We’re baaaaack! Our couple weeks off turned into three months but what is time during the apocalypse anyway? For our triumphant return to your earholes we are joined by Crash Barbosa, a recording artist and activist based out of L.A. We dive into his horrifying, politically motivated arrest story, mental health activism, unlearning systematic oppression from the inside, and why you should always call authority figures by their first names. Afterward, Joy and Sarah discuss their respective breaks, look back at 9/11 and Occupy Wall Street, and pay tribute to Norm Macdonald by discussing the right-on class politics of “Dirty Work.” Note to self: you won’t want to miss this episode!

FOLLOW CRASH @ crashbarbosa on Twitter and Instagram

FEATURED MUSIC: “Activism” and “Solidarity” by Crash Barbosa

carla bergman, co-author, with Nick Montgomery, of Joyful Militancy, joins us for this episode. We dive into the writing process of this inspiring, must-read book, as well as how we resist our own radically rigid tendencies, why joy and melancholy often skip hand-in-hand, and why we should let the youth lead us. We hope you leave this convo with a full cup since we certainly did! Afterward, Joy and Sarah talk about revolution as a way of being and how to break out of our self-imposed cages.

We’re taking a vacation break but will be back with more Folkery in July! Thanks for putting up with all our puns and made-up words for a whole year (wow!!), we love you!

JOYFUL MILITANCY
joyfulmilitancy.com/

FOLLOW CARLA
joyfulthreadsproductions.com/
@ joyfulcarla on the socials

FEATURED MUSIC: “I’ve Always Loved the Monsters” by Time, Maudlin Magpie & A Thousand Vows, and “Love Yourself” by Joy Damiani (released under Emily Yates), courtesy of the artists.

Why do all the research and rhetoric around drug use focus on the small percentage of problematic users, leaving the vast majority of drug users out of the conversation? Why are we so shitty at talking about pleasure in America? Why don’t more people take their cats camping? Dr. Ingrid Walker is here to help us tackle these questions, as we explore drugs, pleasure, trauma, menopause, and bad portrayals of getting high in popular culture. After the interview, Joy and Sarah talk about sex for a hot minute.

Note: We would like to apologize to rock n roll for its exclusion from this episode.

FOLLOW INGRID
ingridkwalker.com/

Ingrid’s Ted Talk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p4zw4_qgUw

High: Drugs, Desire, and a Nation of Users
bookshop.org/books/high-drugs-d…sers/9780295742328

FEATURED MUSIC: “Dreaming Awake” and “The Waking World” by Lola Darling, and “miseraine” by Lauren Flynn, courtesy of the artists.

LOLA DARLING
lolajeandarling.bandcamp.com/album/dream-queen

www.instagram.com/lolajeandoesart/?hl=en

LAUREN FLYNN
www.laurenflynnwastaken.com/

laurenflynn.bandcamp.com/album/outside-one-girl

Tarot! Cats! Comedy! Material vs cultural approaches to politics! Horror stories of the weirdest Warren stans! This conversation with the fabulous Kate Willett has it all. High witch vibes all around. Afterward, Sarah and Joy touch on Terence McKenna, white feminism, Palestine, and BDSM as they go down the leftist stoner chick rabbit holes you’ve come to know and love from this podcast.

FOLLOW KATE

Kate’s article referenced in the interview

Our guest this episode is the well-traveled, well-spoken and unapologetically outspoken musician Mark Rubin. From co-founding the influential Americana trickster band The Bad Livers to being a leader in the contemporary klezmer scene, Mark’s storied career strands weave together perfectly in this latest release, The Triumph of Assimilation. We talk about the new album, his experiences as a Southern Jew, the intersectional fascism reboot, cultural appropriation do-nots, and Yiddish songwriter/poet Mordechai Gebirtig. 

Featured music is “It’s Burning,” “A Day of Revenge“,”Royal Street Shuffle” and, just in time for Revenge of the 5th, “The Dark Side Has Doughnuts,” by Mark Rubin, courtesy of the artist. 

FOLLOW MARK AND PR-EORDER HIS NEW ALBUM

LEARN MORE ABOUT MORDECHAI GEBIRTIG

At Home with Mordechai Gebirtig

“Our Town is Burning” and “A Beam of Sunlight”

Mordechai Gebirtig Memorial (note: link is to English translated page)

Wiki Page

…and, finally, here’s that whole thing about the color blue Sarah and Joy were talking about in the post-interview segment.

We’re back to the folking interviews with this joyful frolic featuring Katy Frame and Marie Cecile Anderson, aka musical comedy duo Reformed Whores! We talk about our respective pandemic life changes, how to lean into fear, visions for a future artistic utopia, and the intensely triggering power of poop. Afterwards, Sarah and Joy reflect further on more metaphorical shit, such as cyclical time and Sarah’s recent conscious uncoupling with her long-term partner. 

Featured music is “Girls Poop Too,” “Birth Control,” and “Drunk Dial” by Reformed Whores, courtesy of the artist. 

FOLLOW REFORMED WHORES

Part deux of our monster M*A*S*H-athon conversation starts by tackling gender issues in the show and ends up with an imagined future for Hawkeye that involves hanging out with Timothy Leary and becoming an anti-war activist. In between, we cover sexism in the military, Freudian psychology, and nerd out about the show’s groundbreaking use of creative narrative devices. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of anti-imperialism chat too!

Music for this episode is covers of “Suicide is Painless” (Johnny Mandel/Michael Altman) and “You’re the Enemy” by Emily Yates (available for stream/download here)

READING RECS

Korean Americans urge Biden to officially end the 70-year Korean War

M*A*S*H’ Finale, 35 Years Later: Untold Stories of One of TV’s Most Important Shows

30 Surprising Facts About ‘M*A*S*H

Why the Real Hawkeye Pierce Hates M*A*S*H

Color Photos from Actual M*A*S*H Units

Korean War History Site

Uncovering the Hidden History of the Korean War (Jacobin)

The Korean War: Forgotten, Unknown and Unfinished (Truthout)

Attention all personnel, we’re doing something a little different for the next two episodes. In early January, Sarah was sucked into the antiwar brilliance of ‘70s T.V. comedy M*A*S*H — and inspired Joy to come along for the binge-watching ride. Fresh off being emotionally devastated by the famous final episode, Sarah and Joy sit down to tackle the big questions: How, in the ever-living fuck, was this unapologetically anti-imperialist show so insanely popular in America? And why, in 2021, are we STILL not heeding its overtly anti-war message? This conversation also provides insight into Joy’s deployment experience and (potentially) illuminates some of Sarah’s questionable decisions. Stay tuned for part two next week!

Featuring covers of “Suicide is Painless” (Johnny Mandel/Michael Altman) and “I Bombed Korea” (Cake) performed by Joy Damiani.

READING RECS

Korean Americans urge Biden to officially end the 70-year Korean War

M*A*S*H’ Finale, 35 Years Later: Untold Stories of One of TV’s Most Important Shows

30 Surprising Facts About ‘M*A*S*H

Why the Real Hawkeye Pierce Hates M*A*S*H

Color Photos from Actual M*A*S*H Units

Korean War History Site

Uncovering the Hidden History of the Korean War (Jacobin)

The Korean War: Forgotten, Unknown and Unfinished (Truthout)

The endearingly profane anti-folk pioneer and artistic rabble-rouser Ed Hamell, aka Hamell on Trial, joins us for this one, and helps us make a large announcement that we’re excited to share with you! We were able to squeeze in almost two hours of his tour stories (featuring the likes of fellow anti-folk legends Ani DiFranco and Kimya Dawson), shared Syracuse roots, and good-natured political debate, so settle in and get ready to spend some quality time with this truly wholesome anti-folkery. Later in the show, we get into WTF is anti-folk, anyway, and note the looming 18th anniversary of the Iraq War.

Featured songs are “Values,” “Social Distancing,” and “Gonna” by Hamell on Trial, courtesy of the artist.

Follow Hamell On Trial
Instagram @hamelltv