100 Words Or Less: The Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

Jacob Bannon from Converge Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Episode 700 of the podcast welcomes Jacob Bannon, vocalist of Converge, for a reflective, era-by-era conversation about one of the most influential bands to emerge from the hardcore underground.

Rather than retracing the usual talking points, Jacob walks through the band’s history record by record, beginning with their early Massachusetts hardcore roots and moving through releases like 'Petitioning the Empty Sky', 'When Forever Comes Crashing', the volatile bridge of 'The Poacher Diaries', and the seismic impact of 'Jane Doe', all the way into the band’s modern era.

Along the way we talk about the cultural footprint of the band—from the influence of the hardcore shirts Jacob has worn on stage over the years, to how those small visual signals have pointed younger fans toward entire corners of the underground. We also dig into “Hateverge” lore, documenting Converge’s famously chaotic Hatebreed cover set in the early 2000's.

Jacob also shares insight into the band’s new Converge record, how the group continues to challenge itself creatively decades into its existence, and what it means to still be evolving after more than thirty years.

A deep dive with one of hardcore’s most thoughtful artists, celebrating 700 episodes of the show and the legacy—and future—of Converge.

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Michael Bingham from Spiritual Cramp Mar 04, 2026

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On this episode, we sit down with Michael Bingham, frontperson of Spiritual Cramp and former member of Creative Adult, to dig into the unlikely path that shaped him. We talk about growing up in San Francisco, cutting his teeth in Creative Adult, and how stepping into the spotlight with Spiritual Cramp forced him to rethink what it means to be the center of attention. Michael opens up about the tension between wanting to disappear into the background and suddenly becoming the focal point of a band that’s impossible to ignore.

From chasing catharsis onstage to questioning what “meaning” even looks like in punk, he reflects on the identity shifts, self-doubt, humor, and honesty that fuel his writing. It’s a conversation about growth, discomfort, and finding purpose in the noise — both literal and internal.

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Jack Shirley from The Atomic Garden & Comadre Feb 25, 2026

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On this episode, we sit down with producer, engineer, and musician Jack Shirley for a deep dive into the craft and philosophy behind his work. We talk about why live recording remains such a powerful and underrated way to capture raw emotion, energy, and musical chemistry—and how Jack has built a career around preserving that human feel in a world obsessed with perfection. We also explore the role that pop punk and the broader Northern California scene played in shaping his taste, his work ethic, and his sense of community. Along the way, Jack highlights some of the Nor Cal gems—bands, venues, moments, and scene staples—that left their mark on him and continue to influence the records he makes today.

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Frank Bach from Monk Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we sit down with Frank Bach of the band Monk to explore how a life shaped in Southern Ontario forged his lens on punk, creativity, and work. Frank walks us through his early years in the Ontario DIY ecosystem, discovering punk not just as sound but as art—a design language, a worldview, and a way to build meaning. We talk about Monk’s evolution, its visual and emotional identity, and how those instincts later guided him into the corporate design world. From the tension and overlap between underground ethics and professional structure, to making space for creativity in a system built for efficiency, Frank reflects on the through-lines that tie it all together. This is a conversation about place, purpose, punk, and the strange harmony between making art and making a living.

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Tyler Watamanuk, writer for GQ and author of “Bigger Than Fashion” Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

This week on the show, we sit down with writer and journalist Tyler Watamanuk—a voice at the crossroads of fashion, music, and culture. You’ve read his work at GQ, where he’s spent years breaking down the way style intersects with identity, subculture, and the everyday choices we make about the clothes on our backs. But before he was writing about menswear and global fashion houses, Tyler was deeply embedded in the hardcore scene, even playing shows with bands like The Ghost Inside, where his personal connection to the culture took shape long before he stepped into a newsroom.

We dive into the intersection of fashion and hardcore, how the aesthetics and ethos of the scene shaped Tyler’s eye as a journalist, and the unexpected ways those roots prepared him for his career covering everything from luxury brands to underground designers. Tyler also talks about the journey to publishing his new book, Bigger Than Fashion: How “Streetwear” Conquered Culture, a sweeping look at how a once-niche movement grew into the defining visual language of the past 40 years.

From DIY ethics to runway influence, from band tees to archival grails, and from playing stages with The Ghost Inside to reporting at GQ, this conversation traces the through-line of a life spent observing—and participating in—the cultures that ultimately changed the world.

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Mikayla Mayhew from Blackwater Holylight Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the podcast, we interview Mikayla Mayhew, guitarist for the Portland heavy-psych band Blackwater Holylight. Mikayla shares her story of growing up in a small town with limited access to a music scene, discovering guitar through Guitar Hero, and developing the playing style that eventually led her to join Blackwater Holylight in 2018.

We dive into her early influences, how heavy music and classic rock shaped her musical identity, and how her move from small-town life into a thriving creative community changed her trajectory. Mikayla offers insight into the band’s songwriting process, dual-guitar chemistry, and the evolution of Blackwater Holylight’s sound across their releases.

Listeners will hear about her personal and musical growth, the challenges and breakthroughs that shaped her as a guitarist, and what it’s like contributing to one of the most dynamic modern psych-doom bands. Whether you’re a fan of Blackwater Holylight, interested in the journey from beginner guitarist to touring musician, or searching for stories about artists who came from small towns and built a life in music, this episode has something for you.

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Tyler Washington from Excide and Foreign Hands Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

This week on the pod: Tyler Washington of Excide and Foreign Hands. We get into growing up in the South Carolina hardcore scene, being shaped as much by left-of-center, “weirdo” music as by traditional heavy stuff, and how all of that informed the way he found his place in bands and in the community. We also unpack the origin of his longtime nickname “Wallaby" (which isn't connected to a kangaroo).

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Dave Collis from Slow Mass Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we sit down with Dave from Chicago’s Slow Mass to trace the band’s path from early DIY roots to becoming one of the city’s most quietly adventurous heavy bands. We talk about growing up in the Chicago scene, how projects like School of Rock shaped his relationship to music and community, and the long arc of Slow Mass finding its own voice—balancing melody, noise, and emotional weight in a way that feels both intimate and expansive.

Dave also gets into the idea of “reclaiming sleep music,” using atmosphere and dynamics not just for aggression but for comfort, reflection, and late-night listening, and how that mindset has influenced the band’s writing and recording. Along the way, we dive into some great scene history, including the story of booking Ethel Cain’s very first show and what it was like to witness an artist at the very beginning of what would become something massive.

Slow Mass, formed in Chicago in the mid-2010s, have built a reputation through a run of releases that blur the lines between post-hardcore, noise rock, and melodic indie, anchored by deeply personal songwriting and a strong sense of place. This conversation is about the band’s history, Dave’s own journey through music, and how community, patience, and evolution have shaped everything they’ve made.

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The Best of the Rest w/ Riley Breckenridge (Thrice) Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

This week we kick off a new annual tradition with The Best of the Rest, joined by Riley Breckenridge (Thrice, Less Art). Riley drops by to talk through the records that just barely missed our Top 10 cut this year—the heartbreakers, the growers, and the albums that lived in heavy rotation even if they didn’t make the final list. Along the way we touch on his life in and out of bands, how his listening habits have evolved, and what makes certain records linger long after the year ends. Consider this the start of a yearly ritual: rounding out the list, giving the near-misses their flowers, and closing the book on another year in music.

Best Of The Rest

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Will Anderson from Hotline TNT Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

This week we’re joined by Will Anderson, songwriter, guitarist, and driving force behind Hotline TNT. Will traces his path from the Midwest DIY circuit to building one of the most emotionally direct guitar bands of the last decade, including a surreal early moment where a young Justin Vernon was his camp counselor—long before Bon Iver became a household name. We talk about creative whiplash: jumping from obscurity to wider attention, from solo control to full-band collaboration, and how that shift reshaped his relationship to music. Will also reflects on how songs risk becoming cultural wallpaper in the streaming era—and why loud guitars, intention, and community still matter.

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