EduPunx Podcast

Latest Episodes:

36X: Matt & Craig talk about God & Sufjan Stevens Apr 07, 2018

Show notes

Matthew Politoski and I had a lot to talk about when we met up for our conversation - and we even had a built in amount of time to discuss one of our favorite artists, Sufjan Stevens. However, we didn't know how much we would discuss it and/or that it would also encompass a powerful conversation on faith that hasn't happened on this podcast just yet. Many educational moments on this extra segment of the podcast, and I hope you enjoy it! You get to hear more Sufjan Stevens in the background as we continued spinning Sufjan throughout the conversation.

MUSIC NOTES:
- In this episode, you heard the song, "Lord of Pain," from the new Animal Flag album, "Void Ripper," which drops on April 13!
- Visit Animal Flag's bandcamp to stream some of the singles, and/or to preorder the album.
- You can also visit Flower Girl Records to get a vinyl, CD, or cassette copy of the album as well!

FOLLOW, RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!
- Any love on the iTunes app helps! CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ITUNES STORE!
- Don't forget, Android users - we are now on the Google Play Store!!
- We're also FINALLY on Stitcher, so head over there if that's your preferred platform!
- Follow along on Instagram and Twitter @eduPUNXpod!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I'll see you next week!

36: Matthew Politoski (Animal Flag) & Music Education Apr 04, 2018

Show notes

Matthew Politoski started Animal Flag as a solo project many moons ago and over the years, it has become a band that is a force to be reckoned with. Politoski also comes from a pretty musical family, which is how he learned to make music - and now he works as a music educator, supporting kids and young adults of varying levels of knowledge learn how to be better musicians and ensembles/bands. We get into what he's learned along the way en route to finding out a number of fantastic musical connections - because the world is truly a tiny place.

On April 13, Animal Flag releases its new album, "Void Ripper," through Flower Girl Records and Triple Crown Records - an album that allowed Politoski to explore a number of topics that helped him process existence, faith, and the intersections therein. "Void Ripper" is a stunning rock album that is as raw as it is beautiful and elegant. Make sure you check it out when it drops!

Also, Matthew and I certainly got onto a number of tangents that were certainly related to the conversation - yet, one such tangent deserved it's own bonus episode, which you will hear this weekend! So stick around for that!

MUSIC NOTES:
- In this episode, you heard tunes from the new Animal Flag album, "Void Ripper," and album that drops on April 13! Visit Animal Flag's bandcamp to stream some of the singles, and/or to preorder the album.
- You can also visit Flower Girl Records to get a vinyl, CD, or cassette copy of the album as well!
- This episode featured elements from the songs, "Void Ripper," "Fair," and "Candace."
- Matthew also recently released a solo instrumental/drone album called, "8 Emanations," from which you heard the songs, "4 Ocen," and "Shame," respectively.
- All of the proceeds from Matthew's solo record will be donated to BARCC. They are an incredible organization that provide free, confidential support and services to survivors of sexual violence in the Greater Boston area. Learn more at www.barcc.org.

As always, you can CHECK OUT THE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

ADVERTISING NOTES:
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so I want to share information about RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) and the national Sexual Assault Hotline.
- RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org & rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
- The National Sexual Assault Hotline is a safe, confidential service. When you call the hotline, only the first six numbers of the phone number are used to route the call, and your complete phone number is never stored in our system. Most states do have laws that require local staff to contact authorities in certain situations, like if there is a child or vulnerable adult who is in danger.
- Visit RAINN.org for more information!

- And make sure you follow Jaclyn's project over at inbetweenspins.com - we just posted a new episode of the podcast element of the project, so give that a listen!
- Follow In Between Spins on Twitter and Instagram to check out all of the goodies she's gonna share with the world! And check out her YouTube channel!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I'll see you this weekend when we post the XTRA episode from this conversation!

In Between Spins 003 - Reunions Mar 31, 2018

Show notes

We're back with a new episode of the eduPUNX & In Between Spins mashup episodes where we just talk about music and the stuff we're listening to lately! This week we discuss a bunch of recent reunions that have happened, as well as differentiating between comebacks and reunions - whether they're for the music or the money, and how we, as fans, respond to bands taking breaks. There's a lot to cover in this episode, and we do so in a very loose and fun manner!

And eventually, Katy Hamm joins us to weigh in on their most influential comeback - Fall Out Boy. You also get to hear Jaclyn and Katy pick on me for having a butt-rock phase.

In this episode, you get to hear the following tunes - please support the bands and get some new tunes in your ears!

- "Real Thing," Turnstile
- "Sagan, Indiana," Camp Cope
- "Tea-Soaked Letter," Anna Burch
- "Waiting for You," Hurry
- "Next of Kin," Lucy Dacus
- "Show You a Body," Haley Heynderickx
- "My Instincts are the Enemy," American Football
- "Blood on the Sand," Thrice
- "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark," Fall Out Boy
- "Sugar for the Pill," Slowdive

As always, you can CHECK OUT THE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

Make sure you follow Jaclyn's project over at inbetweenspins.com - and follow on Twitter and Instagram to check out all of the goodies she's gonna share with the world! And check out her YouTube channel!

Thanks so much for tuning in and we will be back on Wednesday with a new episode!

35: Survival Ain't Pretty (LIVE from Raritan Valley Community College) Mar 28, 2018

Show notes

This is a special episode of the podcast because it features a talk/performance that I gave at Raritan Valley Community College in Somerville/Bridgewater, New Jersey last week! The talk is called, "Survival Ain't Pretty," and it's a talk that I've delivered a few times now, and I love doing it because it allows me to include my music and my poetry throughout the talk of me describing my life as someone who has lived with, survived, and struggled with ADHD, addiction, and mental illness.

There is a lot covered in this talk, and I know it might feel like a lot to take in, but after having done this podcast for over 9 months now, I felt it was time to truly let folks in on who I am as a person, especially at such a pivotal moment in my life and my exploration of mental health support services. Being vulnerable like this isn't easy, but it's something I've become quite accustom to over the years.

If you like this talk that I deliver, please feel free to reach out with your thoughts, and if you'd like to book me to speak on your campus - please use my website (visit my Public Speaking page) or email me at CraigBidiman@gmail.com. I also cover the topics of sexual health, sexual assault prevention/consent, and leadership/authenticity.

And if you're interested in seeing some video from this talk, here is a link to me performing, "Sit Still."
HUGE thanks to Rarian Valley Community College for asking me to do this talk and to Raritan Valley Radio for providing the audio from this talk and for being super helpful and supportive!

Reminder: This episode was bumped up due to technical difficulties with this week's In Between Spins episode, which will post this weekend, so stay tuned!

MUSIC NOTES:
- You get to hear tunes from my EP, "Farewell," as well as live recordings of me performing the song, "Taking its Toll," from my 2013 EP, "With Foreign Lips and Strange Tongues," AND a new song that's yet to be officially released, "Full of Fear."
- I also perform two spoken word pieces on this episode - one is called, "Bastard Son," and is also on the "Farewell" EP, the other is a brand new piece called, "Sit Still."
- If you like what you heard, please visit anotherpoormusician.bandcamp.com!
- Don't forget! You can use the promo code EDUPUNX over at Spartan Records to get 20% off your next purchase through their site!

As always, you can CHECK OUT THE NEW SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

ADVERTISING NOTES:
- This week, I shared information about the National Suicide Prevention lifeline. The holidays can be difficult for many people for many different reasons and sometimes it can feel like too much - so please know that you have an outlet in case you need someone to speak with when you aren't feeling great.
- Call 1-800-279-TALK (8255) if you need some support.
- And feel free to reach out to us on social or via email if you need someone to talk with as well! we're here for you - we love you.

Thanks so much for tuning in and I'll see you this weekend when we post the new episode of In Between Spins!

34: Sheridan Allen (Punk Talks) & Mental Health Advocacy in the Scene Mar 21, 2018

Show notes

Sheridan Allen is the founder and director of Punk Talks, which is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting folks in the music industry with free mental health services. Sheridan currently hails from Philadelphia and is a trained therapist, social worker, and all-around great human being.

Punk Talks aims to provide free mental health assistance to bands, industry professionals, and fans while also educating and raising awareness of mental health and self-care. Punk Talks just officially became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, so we get into that process, as well as what Sheridan has learned over the last three years of running the organization. This conversation is full of advocating for mental health support and community building, we both share out personal experiences with mental illness and survival - and share a number of ideas for how you can find support and help your friends as well.

MUSIC NOTES:
- This week you heard tunes from the new self-titled album from Honey and Salt, which is due out on Spartan Records on April 6!
- Spartan Records is offering 20% off you next purchase through their webstore at SpartanRecords.com - just enter the promo code: EDUPUNX at checkout and it'll be added to your order!
- I played the songs, "A Nihilist Takes up Knitting," and "Simple Errors" during this episode, and if you liked what you heard from Honey and Saly, definitely check out the album when it drops in a couple weeks!

As always, you can CHECK OUT THE NEW SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

ADVERTISING NOTES:
- This week we featured Punk Talks, which just celebrated its third year of existence, and in that time, it has toured around the country to spread its message while gaining the support of bands and industry professionals in the community for the positive impact it has had on mental health awareness in emo, punk, and DIY.
- It has been endorsed and supported by bands such as Modern Baseball, Turnover, You Blew It, Free Throw, Somos, Spraynard, Dikembe, and many others.
- Make sure to visit PunkTalks.org for more information!
- You don't have to be sad to make great music.

- I also plugged the Art of Survival, my nonprofit that makes pieces of art for trauma survivors. As we enter April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we hope to share a new set of stories from survivors so that we can continue to create a community of healing. Visit artissurvival.com/share-your-story if you'd like to share a story with us!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I'll see you next week!

Up the punx!
Let's get to work.

- CRAIG.

33: Dane Erbach (Table-Turned) & Teaching as Performance Mar 14, 2018

Show notes

Dane Erbach has been a high school teacher in the suburbs of Chicago for over a decade. He's also the owner of Table-Turned, which is a vinyl subscription service that allows folks to pick a genre of their choice, and each month they receive a new record in the mail! Dane has a huge heart for music and for his students, which you get to hear throughout this episode, which is full of stories and insight to his busy life - balancing full-time work as an educator, father, husband, and record label owner/vinyl subscription owner.

Dane and I sort of feel like kindred spirits at times throughout the conversation, as our ethics and interests align very well - so well that this conversation could have easily ran double in length. We get into what it's like being an ultra authentic educator and what that looks like in terms of being an accessible resource for our students, and how we bring a lot of ourselves into our work. And how when we get home, we take out the remaining energy we have on our creative efforts.

MUSIC NOTES:
- This week, I featured tunes from the new Man Mountain album, "Infinity Mirror," which comes out THIS FRIDAY through Spartan Records. Man Mountain is a fantastic post rock instrumental band from Detroit, and I've been looking forward to a full-length from them for a while now!
- You got to hear the song, "Memory Trace," which is off the new album, and if you like what you heard, head over to Spartan Records right now and snag yourself a digital copy, a CD, or one of the few remaining vinyl copies they have left!
- I also played bits of the song, "Lucerna," throughout the episode, which is the second track on the band's 3-track EP, "To Call Each Thing By Its Right Name," which came out in 2013.

As always, you can CHECK OUT THE NEW SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

ADVERTISING NOTE:
- This week we hyped Dane's vinyl subscription service, Table Turned!
- Table-Turned is a DIY record-of-the-month club. Subscribers select from two genre options and receive a record each month for that genre, including some “classics” as well as albums they may have missed.
- Table-Turned was recently featured in Paste magazine AND in The Hype Magazine!
- Right now, folks can subscribe for either the Post-Hardcore genre option or the Shoegaze genre option $160 for an entire year. You will eventually be able to subscribe month-to-month for $15 a month. RESERVE YOUR COPIES NOW - TONIGHT is your last chance to make this happen! After tonight, the rate goes up to $175 for the year, which is still a great price!
- To learn more and/or to start your subscription, visit Table-Turned.com!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I'll see you next week!

32X: Julien Baker & Running as Self-Care Mar 10, 2018

Show notes

Julien Baker and I got off on a tangent about self-care, running, and how we view running as a form of self-care, so I wanted to share this bit of our conversation as a special episode outside of the chat that was posted earlier in the week!

On this extra episode, I play a throwback track from Julien's first album, "Sprained Ankle," it's the title track and was one of the first to get me into her tunes! It's also apropos because of the lyric, "Marathon runner, my ankles are sprained."

Again, if you're interested in snagging her first album, visit 6131 Records to pick up a copy of it! And her new album, "Turn Out the Lights," is available through Matador Records.

See you all again on Wednesday!

32: Julien Baker & Music as Recovery Mar 07, 2018

Show notes

Julien Baker is one of the brightest up-and-coming performers in music today. And long before she was selling out theatres all over the world, and opening for the likes of Iron and Wine, Jason Isbell, and Paramore, she was gigging in basements, VFW halls, and living rooms. Julien's DIY roots are one of the main reasons I wanted to chat with her.

This is an expansive chat that covers a variety of topics from mental health to recovery, to the political landscape and the education system. Julien is one of the most brilliant young minds in the world today, so it was incredibly fun to pick her brain in such a relaxed and genuine manner.

MUSIC NOTES:
- You get to hear tunes from Julien's new album, "Turn Out the Lights," which was released in October through Matador Records. You can still snag physical copies through their store!
- I share snippets of her songs, "Hurt Less," "Turn Out the Lights," and "Appointments."
- During Jaclyn's ad, you also get to hear some of Julien's song, "Brittle Boned," from her debut LP, "Sprained Ankle," the roots of which is chronicled in this conversation. You can also snag a copy of that album through 6131 Records!

ADVERTISING NOTES:
- Today's episode is selfishly sponsored by our own nonprofit, The Art of Survival! You can check out more about what we do for survivors of trauma, by visiting www.artissurvival.com.
- We are back after taking a few months off from sharing stories and we are excited to continue sharing powerful and important experiences from people all over the world.
- So if you, or someone you know, has a story of survival to share with us, and would like to receive a free piece of art from us, reach out and let us know!

- This episode is also sponsored by In Between Spins, which is the new femme and nonbinary music project of our friend, Jaclyn O'Connell!
- In Between Spins launches tomorrow (March 8) on International Women's Day! So make sure you follow her work over at inbetweenspins.com - and follow on Twitter and Instagram to check out all of the goodies she's gonna share with the world!

VINYL GIVEAWAY RULES:
- Who doesn't love a nice giveaway?! Well, here is our FIRST!
- If you want to win a vinyl copy of the new S. Carey album, "Hundred Acres," AND the new Hovvdy album, "Cranberry," please share this image on your Twitter and/or Instagram accounts! Make sure to follow @AllstonPudding, @eduPUNXPod, and @inbetweenspins to make sure you get entered to win!

- You have until March 9th at 8pm EST to enter the giveaway - at which point, we will contact a winner and arrange shipment! Enter on both Twitter and Instagram to double your chances - and please help us spread the word!

Thanks so much for tuning in and we will be back later this week with an EXTRA episode with Julien!

In Between Spins 002 - Favorite New Releases & More! Feb 28, 2018

Show notes

This is the second episode of In Between Spins - the monthly new music portion of the eduPUNX Podcast! If you remember from January, it's a collaboration with my friend Jaclyn O'Connell - who is launching her project, In Between Spins VERY SOON! Read below for more information!

This week, we welcomed our friend, Christine Varialle, the editor-in-chief of Allston Pudding, to the podcast to discuss our current favorite albums of 2018 - we know, we know, the year is still very fresh, but there have been plenty of great releases so far! AND we discuss some of the albums that are yet to be released this year and speculate on some that may or may not come our way this year.

You get to learn A LOT about us and our interests on this episode, and there is no shortage of exciting new music that some of us weren't even aware of before recording this episode. But some are now in constant rotation for us - and we hope they will be for you!

Songs you hear in this episode:
- “Caution,” Tiny Moving Parts
- “Yr Throat,” Jeff Rosenstock
- “Lillies,” bedbug
- “Rorschach,” Typhoon
- “Speaking Of Ghosts,” POLIÇA and s t a r g a z e
- “I Eat Salads Now,” Sidney Gish
- “In the Sun,” Hovvdy
- “Pirouette,” Jay Som
- “Charisma,” Pianos Become the Teeth
- “Fool’s Gold,” S. Carey

You can hear some of these songs AND MORE on our collaborative Spotify playlist, by CLICKING HERE!

IN BETWEEN SPINS NEWS:
As Jaclyn explains in the podcast, her new project, In Between Spins, will launch on March 8th - International Women's Day. Jaclyn has put in a lot of work to create some fresh content for femmes and nonbinary folks in the music industry and fandom. She's creating a new space for people to share their love of music and we're so excited for it to debut next week!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I'll see you next week!

Up the punx!
Let's get to work.

- CRAIG.

31: Chris Rosonina & Supporting Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Feb 21, 2018

Show notes

Chris Rosonina is a photographer, vinyl collector, and support staff for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). In this episode, we question Chris about his work, how he supports folks with ID, and what it looks like to change career paths when you've found a different calling in life.

If you're in the Eastern Mass - Providence area, you've likely seen Chris at a gig taking pictures and rocking out - so we hope you get to learn more about him as a person, as a music lover, and as professional who works with a very misunderstood and stigmatized identity group.

Make sure to give Chris a follow on Instagram @__sea.roses__!

MUSIC NOTES:
- In this episode, you got to hear tunes from the new Motel Art EP, "Continental Breakfast," which is a sick post-hardcore act from Haverhill, Mass. I just played a gig with them over the weekend and I really loved their style and performance and I'm excited to share their tunes with you!
- You get to hear the songs, "My Body" and "Better Off Leaving" during this episode and if you like what you hear, please check out the rest of their EP over at MotelArtband.bandcamp.com.

As always, you can CHECK OUT THE NEW SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

ADVERTISING NOTES:
- This week we hyped up Half Access - which is the nonprofit founded by our eighth guest, Cassie Wilson. Half Access was started with the purpose of amassing as much venue accessibility information as possible to inform venues across the country and the world about how to better construct and renovate spaces to accommodate the needs of disabled music goers.
- Visit HalfAccess.org/contact to reach out to Cassie and volunteer your time to supporting the cause of making music venues for inclusive and accessible so that our communities can truly thrive.

FOLLOW, RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!
- Any love on the iTunes app helps! CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ITUNES STORE!
- Don't forget, Android users - we are now on the Google Play Store!!

- Follow along on Instagram and Twitter @eduPUNXpod!

Thanks so much for tuning in and I'll see you next week!

Up the punx!
Let's get to work.