1000 w/ Ron Placone

Thomas Frank is a political analyst and writer. He wrote the book “Listen, Liberal”, a thorough but fair dissection of the failures of the Democratic Establishment and in particular, the Obama Administration. He also wrote “The People, No”, which provides a factual analysis on what populism actually is. In the contemporary political landscape we’re living in, he’s one of the most important thinkers out there.

I try not to be too topical with this show, as that’s not the theme, but we recorded this a week after Donald Trump’s 2024 victory. Whether you’re listening the day it drops, or years from now, I hope it’s a solid snapshot of where we are, or were.

Dennis Jagard is a musician and sound engineer. He is the singer, songwriter, and one of the principle members of the legendary skate punk band, Ten Foot Pole. I grew up listening to Ten Foot Pole. One of their songs in particular is one of my favorite songs in the world. Dennis and I get to talk about that. I tell him why the song means what it does to me and my interpretation of it, and he gives some insider insight of the writing of the song. This is what 1000 is all about!

Danny McDermott is a producer, actor, comic, and filmmaker. His latest effort, Party Panda - The Birth of a Serial Killer, is tearing it up in the indie horror world and continues to grow in popularity. Want to know what it really means to get movies produced in Hollywood? This episode’s for you. Spooky Season continues!

Anastasia Washington is an actor, comedian and Scream Queen. She is an institution in the Indie Horror Comedy world. She’s appeared in tons of movies you’ve seen and she’s carved her own niche that, while most at home in indie horror, is versatile enough for anything.

Samantha Hale is a comedian, writer, producer, and most importantly, she’s a horror-comedy institution. She produces the show, Horror Nerd, which combines Horror Movies, stand-up, storytelling, and cinema nostalgia into one incredible show that’s generating a buzz in LA and now, nationally. It’s officially spooky season! 

Voting in a US Election soon? This episode’s for you. Greg Palast is an investigator, reporter and filmmaker. He’s worked for the Guardian and covered the Election Integrity beat in the US for 25 years. His newest work, Vigilantes Inc., is about the type of voter suppression to expect in 2024.

James Fauntleroy, also known as Jay Befaunt, is a show host and member of the YouTube Network and activist org, Revolutionary Blackout Network. I’ve collaborated with Jay many times in the past, both on his show, my show and different panels. I never knew much about him. Who was the man beyond the online presence? All I can say is buckle in, he has a heck of a story. Please welcome to the show, Jay Befaunt.

Kaytlin Bailey is a comedian, performer, former sex worker, and she is the executive director and founder of the Non-Profit, Old Pros Online, an organization dedicated to the decriminalization of sex work. We've both incorporated policy passions into our creative endeavors, her with sex work and me with Digital Rights. Those two issues cross pollinate a good bit. I’ve known her since we were both starting out in comedy, and have been following her new chapter for awhile now.

Zeynab Day is a campaigner, activist and journalist. She’s also a mom and an entrepreneur. She’s lived many lives and overcome many obstacles. We’ve crossed paths in similar circles and seen experiments succeed and fail. We reflect on that and more. Also, given some circumstances in my personal life, there’s a beautiful coincidence to the timing of this episode. 

Josh Spector is a marketing expert who helps businesses get more clients from their content. He runs the For the Interested newsletter and he has a podcast called I Want To Know. Josh’s blogs and advice changed my life. It's hard to imagine where I would be if it weren't for Josh's blogs and advice. I explain how.

Sabrina Salvati, aka Sabby Sabs, is a YouTube commentator, journalist and activist. She is part of the indie media space that I used to be heavily involved in, but now keep at arm’s length. Though my overall take on the scene is not a positive one, I still think there are diamonds in the rough. We talk about all of that and more.

Joy Damiani is a musician, veteran, and anti-war activist. She has had quite a life. To escape a religious cult, she joined the military and got sent off to Iraq. Upon seeing the true nature of US foreign policy, when she returned she became involved in anti-war protests and actions, and she’s written some amazing songs, too. Buckle in, this story is quite the ride.

Darrin Bradbury is a singer/songwriter turned activist turned singer/songwriter/activist. He’s based in East Nashville. I first saw him when I was still living in Nashville and I became an instant fan. 

Darrin’s star was starting to rise, and then one day, he walked away from all of it. He quit music. He left the industry and eventually found his way into mutual aid work which led to the creation of the Beat, TN, which provides, among other things, homeless outreach. This is his story. We find out why he ended a chapter and started a new one. As someone who also closed a chapter and started a new one, I could relate to a ton of what he had to say.

Italophiles Rejoice! Valentina Martelli is an Italian journalist, entrepreneur and innovator. And that’s barely scratching the surface of everything she does. She’s a brilliant mind, has a work ethic second to none and on top of that she’s a genuine and kind person. I met her through a mutual acquaintance via my neighborhood of San Pedro. I’m honored to call her a colleague and a friend, and for the first time, I learn her story.

Michael Blaha is an Entertainment Attorney, Performer and Fringe Producer. I met him because of that last thing. Michael loves Fringe Festivals and has made it a large focus in his life. He’s a nomad. He’s an example of living a creative life on your own terms, which I’m always a fan of.

Andrew Frank is a comedian and performer based in Seattle, WA. They’re Queer, Pansexual and use They/Them pronouns. They grew up in a fundamentalist Christian household. Their dad was a fundamentalist Minister. We talk about the journey, the joy of Fringe Festivals and Andrew’s newest show, where they satirize an Evangelical Minister.

Marco Di Pinto is an Italian comedian and producer. He is among the main players in bringing Italian and English speaking stand-up comedy to Italy on a larger scale than it ever has been. I met Marco in Edinburgh at the 2023 Fringe Festival. He’s a creative pioneer, he’s like the Black Flag for stand-up in Italy. Not only is this extremely cool but there’s a personal element for me. Years ago, I had the opportunity to move to Italy. I passed it up, because I knew I really wanted to pursue Stand-up and that just wouldn’t be possible there. Well, some years have gone by. The world is different than it was and so am I.

Tuesday Thomas is an actress, performer, comedian and filmmaker. Her documentary, The Trash Goes Out On Tuesday, is out now. It’s about her life growing up Transgender in the 70s. I met Tuesday some years ago in the comedy scene here in LA, I interviewed her in the past for a show I used to have. She’s had a wild life. Also, we both made our first movies recently, which is quite a process, so we had a ton to talk about.

Mike Park is a musician, activist, and record label operator. He runs the legendary ska/punk label, Asian Man Records. I’m not fluent in the entirety of Asian Man’s catalog, but Mike Park has put out some of my favorite albums, period. He’s also one of the best examples out there of what it really means to be DIY and do things on your own terms. It’s been an inspiration to me for, literally, most of my life at this point.

Margaret Killjoy is an author, podcaster and musician. She has brilliant insights especially on the topics of Anarchy and History. Her video series, Live Like The World Is Dying, details her experiences living off-grid. It’s informative, insightful, brutally honest, and, when appropriate, hilarious. I’ve been a fan of hers for a few years now and was stoked to finally get to talk to her.

Goat vs. Fish is arguably the most cerebral, conceptual comedic artist in Los Angeles, maybe anywhere. Goat vs. Fish asks one question: Are you Goat or are you Fish? Is this an act? A philosophy? A way of life? Maybe all of the above. We talk about it. We also talk about their infamous appearance on Kill Tony and how Goat vs. Fish got kicked out of a Renaissance Festival. Please welcome to the show, Goat vs. Fish.

Paul Strickland is a Storyteller. Actually, he is many things. He's a comic, producer, actor, puppeteer... but at the end of the day, more than anything, he’s a storyteller. Paul and I first met many years ago on the road comedy circuit, and since then Paul has morphed his career from stand-up into storytelling. As a storyteller, he’s performed at Fringe Festivals, Arts Festivals, Libraries and some of the most prestigious storytelling venues domestically and around the world.

Nancy Woo is a poet, activist and community arts advocate. She’s based right across the bridge from me, in Long Beach, California. She incorporates social themes and climate change in her work, and she builds community through the arts. It’s inspiring and for many, myself included, a source of hope.

Kennedy Cooper is one of my favorite Twitter accounts. They’re insightful, thoughtful and hilarious. We’ve ran in the same lefty online circles for some years now and are finally collaborating. This interview turns more into a conversation, about the state of the left in the US, where we find hope and how we can do better.

Hamell On Trial is a one man rock ’n’ roll institution. Mainly a musician but part storyteller, part poet, part comedian, Hamell On Trial live is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s beautiful, chaotic and, like many special things, it’s not for everyone. I’ve known Hamell for nearly 20 years now and there’s a ton he shared in this interview alone I had no clue about. He opened for the Clash! Any way, buckle in for a hell of a story and a little bit of two guys who’ve known each other a long time talking some music and politics as is bound to happen. Also, as 1000 is likely to be my last project in the podcast world, Hamell will likely be the only person in the world to do every iteration of a podcast and/or radio show that I’ve ever had.

For tickets for June 8 in Idyllwild or info on the June 18 house show with Hamell: ronplacone.com !

Stavros Batras is an actor and comedian. He’s been in some movies, he’s done presitgious stand-up shows and he’s represented by one of the top agencies in the world. And he did all of this while being based in Greece. He’s an example of how if you have the determination, the work ethic, and the perseverance you can to amazing things even if your circumstances may not be ideal. Stavros lives, at least for now, a long way from Hollywood, but he didn’t let that stop him from pursuing his Hollywood dreams. And he continues to succeed. He proves that having a Hollywood career outside of Hollywood, while difficult, isn’t impossible.

Nicole Laurenne is a Muscian and Songwriter. Also, she was a lawyer. Her newest band is called the Darts. My wife and I saw them years ago in Highland Park and became instant fans. We saw them again recently in our neighborhood, San Pedro, and they tore the roof off the place. Killer garage rock, a little bit of punk and psychedelic and a fantastic stage show. I didn’t know much about Nicole other than I really dig her band and her songs, little did I know her story’s incredible. She’s lived multiple lives, she has a law degree, she worked as a judge, she’s a mom, she’s played music most of her life in multiple genres including jazz piano, and she’s a cancer survivor. She’s an inspiration to anybody wanting to lead a creative life or even just a fulfilling life.

Paul Gilmartin is a comedian, show host and mental health advocate. He hosts the podcast the Mental Illness Happy Hour which is one of my favorites and has helped a ton of people. Myself included. I guested on Paul’s show and talked about my struggles with anger, it’s still one of the only platforms where I’ve opened up about that part of my life. Trigger warning: This episode goes deep. Paul discusses his past trauma and life struggles that have lead to him to where he is today. Last but not least and how I first met him, Paul has a faux-right-wing satirical character called Richard Martin, which pre-dates Stephen Colbert’s character from the Colbert Report.

Also, Nicole gets her question answered.

Katie Love is an author and comedian. Also, she escaped a cult, at least that’s how she looks at it. For the record, I do as well. This episode concerns the Jehovah Witnesses, and how Katie Love eventually walked away from the Religion, after being indoctrinated into it at age 9. She also suffered abuse, and disclaimer, while we don’t go into as much detail as her book we do talk about it. 

Chris Lee is an author and historian. I’ve always been interested in the connection between politics in football aka soccer especially in Italy. It came up some in Episode 27 with Attila the Stockbroker. Well, I decided why not talk to someone who wrote a book on the topic. Chris Lee, among other things, is other of The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism. He dives into that history not just in Italy but other countries as well. This episode is almost more like a history lesson than an interview, and I mean that in a good way.

Tim Parks is an author, novelist and academic. One niche of his: He writes about moving and living in Italy as somebody from a different country. I’ve read several of his books on that topic as well as a book he wrote about overcoming a very severe illness. 

Wanna be a writer? This episode’s for you. Chris Silber is a writer. He’s had movies and television shows produced all over the world. One time, I was chatting with Chris, he had a series launching in the UK, a movie launching in Italy, and he was developing a series in the US. He did all of this from his house in Nashville. His more recent projects include Sam a Saxon on Disney Plus and a children’s book based on how he helped his daughter deal with the death of her mom and Chris’s late wife. In life, you meet people and you think, "I want their job", Chris is one of those people for me.

Jerry Rocha is a comedian and a damn good one. I met Jerry in 2015, right before I moved to LA. We became friends and like most LA comics didn’t stay in touch all that great, just how it goes especially out here. Recently, I saw a clip of Jerry’s online and while it was a hilarious joke it contained some not great news: Jerry had stage 4 cancer. 

Francesco Il Mercante is an Italian musician and busker who has performed all over the world. He has built a one-man band assemble that allows him to do percussion and play guitar and at times harmonica, simultaneously. The entire thing is mobile, and he can carry it in a backpack. Due to his unique talent, he’s gone viral on YouTube multiple times. His version of Bitter Sweet Symphony' I prefer over the original. Also, I’ve mentioned in the past that I have two favorite versions of the anti-fascist song, 'Bella Ciao'. One is by Jess Silk (Episode 8), and the other is by Francesco. His cover of Bella Ciao is how I found him. We talk about it.

Attila the Stockbroker is a poet, a punk troubadour, a musician, a force. He started in the UK punk scene in the early 80s. Throughout this interview, he recalls being heckled by nazis in the early 80s, seeing Black Flag’s first London show, his role in organizing his local progressive football club...If you like punk rock, left-wing politics, you’re not gonna want to miss a minute of this. When I was in Edinburgh in 2023, sadly Attila and I had shows at the exact same time, but he had one deviation in his schedule so I was able to catch his show. We hung out and had a beer after, it was a pretty amazing experience.

If you grew up with Rugrats like me you're gonna love this! Melanie Chartoff is an actor, voice over artist, and author. I first met Melanie when we were on a show together for the Funny Times, a syndicated newspaper we’re both a part of, she writes a column for them and they carry Lucy & Ron, the comic I write. Melanie did a reading, her prose were incredible and she crushed. Among her extensive list of credits, she voiced Dee Dee Pickles in the Rugrats cartoon. That show was a huge deal, especially for Millennials like me. We grew up with that show and years later different memes and segments have circulated because many of the messages in that show went over our heads when we were kids, and as adults we appreciate it even more.

Gigi Sohn is an attorney and public advocate. She’s served on the FCC in the past, and when she was nominated by Joe Biden many of us were thrilled. She’s been a leader, especially when it comes to issues like Net Neutrality, for many years. A right-wing smear campaign followed her nomination, and after three hearings, each more absurd than the last, she had to withdraw. It’s tragic she’s not currently at the FCC, the good news though, she has a new project that dare I say is pretty exciting. Tech policy wonks, rejoice!

Afeni is an activist, organizer and abolitionist. I’ve followed her stuff online for awhile and I’ve interviewed her in different capacities over the years. She’s part of a movement of community engagement, dominated by people in their 20s, that I find pretty admirable and dare I say, hopeful. You’re definitely gonna hear some ideas that challenge the norms, that’s part of 1000.

Russ Rankin is the singer of the legendary punk band, Good Riddance. He’s also a hockey scout and a writer. Russ and I have some big pillars in common: Punk rock, hockey, and lefty politics. Russ is a member of the Green Party USA. It’s worth mentioning: This episode was recorded in December of 2023. At the time, I was registered as No Party Preference. I am now registered as a member of the Green Party. This conversation with Russ inspired that decision.

Jill Stein is a doctor, environmentalist, activist and prominent member of the Green Party USA. She’s run for office in the past and she’s running for President this year, 2024. I first met her during my time working on the Jimmy Dore Show and I’ve interviewed her in different capacities over the years. Given the nature of 1000, this may be our last interview together.

Mike Figueredo is the creator of the popular YouTube show and podcast, the Humanist Report. We dwell in a similar indie online media space and we’ve always gotten along because we have some things in common - both big on digital rights, both former academics, and we’re around the same age. As the years went by, personalities would clash and at various times Mike and I were kinda in the middle of various online feuds. We always stayed cool with each other, but we never really addressed any of it until now.

Variety D is a comedian and disability rights activist. She’s the first black disabled comedian in Britain. I met her in Edinburgh, I go into more detail in the interview, but basically, her energy was infectious. Have you ever met someone and thought, “I want to be friends with this person.”? It was that kinda energy. We go a little long here. Sometimes comics tend to riff with each other, especially when they have something like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in common.

John Nichols is a labor journalist, Nation contributor and author. We talk the history of the media reform movement past to present, the state of labor and of course, the 2024 election.

Chris Fafalios is a musician, podcaster, producer and more. Growing up, I followed Chris’ band, Punchline. They’re an excellent pop/punk band still going strong to this day. Chris is the producer of one of my favorite podcasts, "Chris Demakes a Podcast" hosted by Chris Demakes of Less Than Jake. We talk about it and get a pretty cool origin story, we also dive into all of Chris’ other projects and of course, we talk music.

Do you know what Biospheric Restoration is? Basically, we have the ability to develop forests at a very rapid rate, such an effort could help us mitigate climate change. Ronan Taylor is an in-the-field activist who has worked in numerous fields within natural sciences, and organizations including the Smithsonean Institution and TED. He explains Biospheric Restoration and other climate related concepts in an easy-to-understand manner, though at times in this interview you’ll find me doing my best to keep up. It’s a shame I feel the need to give this disclaimer, but given the hyper-hostile online times we’re living in, this conversation is not an endorsement of one method or solution as being superior to any other one, and this conversation is for entertainment purposes only.Buckle in, this is an info-packed episode! 

Episode 016. Charlie Wiener. Charlie Wiener is a musician, author, and, this is how I met him: Charlie Wiener is a road comic, a badge he wore with pride for many years. Charlie decided to retire from Stand-up, and his reasoning is incredibly interesting and insightful. Lastly, one day many years ago in Rhode Island, Charlie gave me some life advice I’ve always tried to carry with me since. I think that when you hear it it’ll make sense why he’s the perfect episode to start the new year. Please welcome to the show, Charlie Wiener.

Anthony Rankin is a musician, songwriter and producer. He's one of the hardest working people I know. Also, he’s one of my closest and oldest friends, we’ve been friends since we were 5-years-old. He helped me through the toughest time I’ve ever had in my life.

Kermet Apio is a comedian and a musician specializing in traditional Hawaiian music. His specials on Dry Bar Comedy have garnered millions of views. He’s based in Seattle and when I started comedy there Kermet was a big mentor to me and still is. He sets a model example of how to be both on and off stage. I’ve known Kermet for over a decade now and I still have not met a single person who has a bad thing to say about the guy and I doubt I ever will, that’s the kind of guy he is. He also has the best Mitch Hedberg story I’ve ever heard.

Ever wondered how to have a career in the Renaissance Faire circuit? Ever been thorough a tough breakup? Todd Hibbeler is a Renaissance Faire professional. He’s crafted an amazing career for himself from a performer to a franchised food vendor, and it all started with a broken toilet. Also, Todd’s a good friend of mine, and he helped me through the toughest breakup I’ve ever had.

Andy Iwancio is a comedian, creative and DJ. She’s taken those niches and woven a beautiful creative quilt for herself. Her debut full-length, “Better Living Through Feministry”, comes out this Friday, December 8, 2023 on Kill Rock Stars. Andy and I started comedy together in Seattle, and she was one of the first friends I made in the scene.