Hoosier Illusion

Neal and Ryan discuss their history with the animal liberation movement. How and why they each became vegan and where they are at with it now.  Hoosier Illusion is on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Neal Taflinger is on Twitter and Facebook. Ryan J. Downey is on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Hoosier Illusion is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

Neal and Ryan talk about their respective journeys as Indiana youngsters learning about racial justice, white supremacy, and activism, through hip-hop, hardcore / punk, skinhead culture, and lots o' book-learnin'. They discuss the idea that "treason to whiteness is loyalty to humanity," as espoused by the late author and historian Noel Ignatiev, who passed away earlier this month, and the band named after his ideas, Racetraitor.  The Atlantic reported on the Circle City's history with school desegregation, explaining that "a decision more than four decades old continues to haunt Indianapolis's education system while almost everything else in the government is unified" in Racial Bias and the Crumbling of a City. Read about Leonard Peltier HERE.  Read about Mumia Abu-Jamal HERE.  Hoosier Illusion is on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Neal Taflinger is on Twitter and Facebook. Ryan J. Downey is on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Hoosier Illusion is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

Talk therapy and antidepressants have worked wonders for our two hosts, who between them boast a bunch of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, codependency, depression, and general anxiety. Listen in as Neal and Downey retrace their respective journeys into talk therapy as adults.  Hoosier Illusion is on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Neal Taflinger is on Twitter and Facebook. Ryan J. Downey is on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Hoosier Illusion is part of the PopCurse podcast network.  Music in this episode: OUTSPOKEN "Daydream" (1992).

Hoosier horror host Sammy Terry, famous film slasher Freddy Krueger, horror punk icons the Misfits, sarcastic maudlin goth metal band Type O Negative : why are we simultaneously fascinated and entertained by darkness when what we're really striving toward is the light? Neal poses the question to Halloween and horror loving Downey. Warm yourselves with the November Coming Fire of Hoosier Illusion: Season (of the witch?) II: A Nightmare on Edgewood, so named for an Indianapolis haunted house attraction, as we celebrate Halloween 2019. 

Now it's Ryan J. Downey's turn to confess all about his high school bands to Neal Taflinger. Expect to hear anecdotes about the following people and things: Suicidal Tendencies; Gwar; Cryptic Slaughter; Tony Victory; Fred Armisen; Split Lip; first kiss; straight edge; love triangle; and more. Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.

Neal was in a band. No, not that band. The band before that one. Listen in as Neal tells a relatable tale of his first foray into band practices, songwriting, and playing hardcore shows, with an unflinching look at the small victories and bigger humiliations that were part of the ride. Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.

"I tried hard to have a father / But instead, I had a dad" - Kurt Cobain  Neal took his father to therapy.  Nirvana "Serve the Servants" live on Italian TV (1994)  Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.

Legendary action star Dolph Lundgren gave a Ted Talk about trauma, addiction, human trafficking, and forgiveness.  Dolph Lundgren on Healing and Forgiveness.  The Punisher "Dirty Laundry" short film. 10 Badass Facts About Dolph Lundgren.  Ryan J. Downey interviewing Dolph Lundgren in 2012.  Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.

Losing touch in adulthood; vulnerability and vocation; social media; male fragility; Bagel Boss guy vs. Bed Intruder guy; Good Charlotte guy vs. Headbangers Ball guy; the Dukes of Hazzard; and the surprising feedback we've gotten about Hoosier Illusion's first half dozen episodes.  Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.

Ryan and Neal talk about the role anti-depressants play in their lives. Do you know what I'm sayin'? Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.

When it rains, it pours. Neal got canned the week after his trip to West Virginia. Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.

Find out why it's better to make a phone call 20 years too late than never at all.  Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.

Journey with us into the cave on Dagobah.   Presented by PopCurse. Artwork by John Rau.   Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.

The Hoosier Illusion Origin Story continues as Ryan J. Downey and Neal Taflinger take a walk through their formative years, specifically the time spent in the Broad Ripple Village, a strip of record stores, restaurants, and at least one punk rock subculture epicenter, a pre-Hot Topic indie boutique called Future Shock. Each night, the block transformed into an unlicensed carnival of sorts populated by the hardcore kids, punks, skaters, skinheads, graffiti artists, mods, ravers, goths, proto-hipsters, pseudo intellectuals, and would be revolutionaries of Indianapolis.  Presented by PopCurse.  Artwork by John Rau.   Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.

Hoosier Illusion co-host Neal Taflinger was in a band. At least that's what he says when he doesn't want to go into detail. But his co-host Ryan J. Downey asked him to - go into detail, that is - so he did and here we are.  This podcast is an ongoing conversation between two friends about who we've been, who we are, and who we want to be, stitched together with jokes about and references to hardcore punk, heavy metal, hip hop, comic books, movies and television shows that will either confuse or entertain depending on your fandom.  Presented by PopCurse. Artwork by John Rau. Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Follow Neal Taflinger on Twitter, Facebook, and Medium. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Speak N' Destroy.