A Fresh Face in Hell with Jonathan Evison

We're all a little vain and self-involved at times, does that make us narcissists? Today’s guest, therapist and writer Vanessa Reiser, posits that although we may all be guilty of manipulation and self-aggrandizing, most of us are not, clinically speaking, narcissists. In today's episode Vanessa breaks down the telltale signs of a proper malignant narcissist. We discuss the crossover of sociopaths and psychopaths with their common need to dominate others. We talk about how a narcissist will bide their time before revealing their toxic traits (four months, to be exact). And you'll be surprised to hear that Vanessa doesn't think Donald Trump is a narcissist. This is a really fun conversation about some dark shit — enjoy!
Narcissistic Abuse:  https://www.amazon.com/Narcissistic-Abuse-Therapists-Identifying-Manipulative/dp/0306833174
linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison

This month, Hachette Publishing cancelled distribution of their book Shy Girl after it was reported by The New York Times that large portions of the text had been created by AI. When the author originally self-published the novel, it garnered rave reviews with 4,900 ratings on Goodreads and an average of 3.52 stars. Eventually, readers started to notice the tell-tale signs of AI slop: repetitive phrasing, confusing metaphors, and maybe more than a few - em dashes. This poses some difficult questions for publishing. Are authors necessary? Is a 4,900 Goodreads rating good enough for readers? I dive into these troubled waters with my friend Bruce Barcott. Bruce is a journalist, editor, and founder of The AI Humanist.
The AI Humanist:  https://ai-humanist.beehiiv.com/
linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison

Excited to talk to my old friend, Roger "Buzz" Osborne, King Buzzo, or as I like to call him, Buzz Melvin. Buzz is the founder and front man of the seminal punk band The Melvins. As the punk sound of the late '70s evolved into '80s hardcore, the tempo accelerated aggressively. The Melvins, inspired by Black Sabbath, decided instead to slow things down. This unique combination of hardcore and metal became the precursor for what became known as grunge. We talk about those early days and how The Melvins set the table for so many successful bands that followed. We talk about Buzz's love of golf — he's never shot over 100! Buzz is another notorious contrarian (we're on a roll) and a prankster, so expect some spicy takes.
Metropolis Documentary / Seed & Spark https://seedandspark.com/fund/metropolis#story
linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison

Thrilled to talk to one of my punk rock heroes today, Exene Cervenka. In 1977 Exene, along with John Doe, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake, formed the seminal LA punk band X. We talk about those early days and how her music evolved over the years with collaborators like Dave Alvin, Mojo Nixon, and Ray Manzarek. We also talk about how art and punk overlapped in the '70s and how that time taught her to follow her passions in art, songwriting, and writing. An incredible portrait of a life dedicated to creativity. Exene is still a contrarian, but she is also so charming and funny.
Metropolis Seed & Spark:  https://seedandspark.com/fund/metropolis?fbclid=IwY2xjawQew1pleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETE2SFZoa3hqamFVRUJBOUw1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHihOvtV0-ITXULawbnqhFSv5PGHdCGW1haB7M_zCIcOaZrH1bBxJ-mBWDEVN_aem_H0PejDjqxU4CoUSuu-J2tw#story
linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison

Today I talk with a musician I have mad respect for--Built to Spill frontman Doug Martsch. I’ve seen Built to Spill a bunch of times, along with another one of his bands, Treepeople. Doug and I rap about the origins of BTS and Treepeople, along with the two Bretts—Netson and Nelson. We discuss the musical influences that helped shape his signature sound, while I profess a love of Boise’s annual Treefort festival, which I liken to SXSW thirty-five years ago. We talk about the scene of artists that came from Idaho, including Caustic Resin, The French Tips, Dirt Fisherman, and Braided Waves. Doug is such a humble, soft-spoken, down-to-earth dude, it’s hard to believe he’s a rock star.
linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/freshfacepods.evison