Back On The Grind

Pepe Bandit

A podcast for people who found meaning the hard way, where we explore life, music, and the stories that bring us closer. I’m Pepe Bandit: DIY label owner, coffee roaster, Jungian coach, and folk punk felon. I’ve spent my life in the folk punk and DIY underground, and I’ve spent time in prison. Now I sit down with musicians, artists, and people rebuilding their lives for honest, unpolished conversations about what we’ve lost, what we’ve learned, and what we’re still working out. Expect interviews and personal stories on folkpunk, prison, addiction and recovery, spirituality, Jungian psychology, relationships, and personal authority: taking responsibility for your own life. Some past guests include Lomes of Pigeon Pit, Pat (The Bunny) of Friends In Real Life, April of Apes Of The State, Ceschi of Codefendants, The Taxpayers and Jeffrey Lewis. There’s no reason to do this alone. We can learn from each other, survive our failures, and celebrate the wins when we put in the work. New episodes the 1st and 15th of every month. Stay Free, Pepe Bandit Support the show and get bonus episodes & extended conversations: https://patreon.com/BackontheGrind Have a question or a topic you’d like me to cover? Ask about something you heard in an episode, something you’re dealing with in your own life, or anything you want to know about me. I read every email and answer as many as I can on the show. Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.com Sign up for the newsletter: https://PepeBandit.com Follow along on Instagram: https://instagram.com/backonthegrindpod Get coffee roasted by your host: https://StayFreeCoffee.com DRINK COFFEE & STAY FREE! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    Art, Nature & the Friends Who Shape Us w/ Michael Crigler #83

    Michael Crigler is an artist behind much of the artwork for DIY Bandits, Back On The Grind Records, Stay Free Coffee and other projects I worked on. He's also a longtime, dear friend and mentor. We start with how a conversation about album art turned into a friendship, including a phone call back when I was angry at the world and he offered another way to look at it. From there we get into what it means to choose compassion over rage, how that shaped my time in prison, and how he approaches creative work: trust, mistakes, nature, and the balance of order and chaos. We also get into the artwork for the Pat The Bunny and Ceschi friendship LP and the Looms / Trash Boat And The Ambush 7", wild places, slowing down, and the rules we use when things fall apart. The song at the end is 'One Of Us - Freaks,1932' by Trash Boat And The Ambush Signup for my news letter. One email a month or less about upcoming records, building a punk club, music suggestions and other fun things I share https://pepeba.kit.com/newsletter Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods (there’s a join for FREE option) patreon.com/BackontheGrind Connect with Michael Crigler instagram.com/michaelcriglerart/ Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe) StayFreeCoffee.com Back On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch: backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music Follow the podcast on Instagram instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram Reach out...Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all) ***Word of mouth really matters for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :) Stay Free, Pepe Bandit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Art, Nature & the Friends Who Shape Us w/ Michael Crigler #83
  2. Oct 21 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode - Friendships After Sobriety w/ Early of Recovery Demystified

    A short bonus episode in the middle of the friendship series. Early is an addiction recovery coach and host of the Recovery Demystified podcast, they speak directly to anyone questioning their relationship to substances and wondering what social life looks like beyond the bar. They acknowledge how lonely and painful that stretch can be, then share three tips for building a sober social life! Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods (there’s a join for FREE option) patreon.com/BackontheGrind Connect with Recovery Demystified / Early recoverydemystified.com/secular-addiction-recovery-coaching/instagram.com/recoverydemystified/ Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe) StayFreeCoffee.com Back On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch: backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music Follow the podcast on Instagram instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram Reach out...Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all) ***Word of mouth really matters for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :) Stay Free, Pepe Bandit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Bonus Episode - Friendships After Sobriety w/ Early of Recovery Demystified
  3. Oct 15

    Understanding Friendship Pt.1 w/ Folk Punk Dad & Pepe Bandit #82

    In this conversation, Pepe Bandit and Folk Punk Dad explore the multifaceted nature of friendship, discussing its importance, the challenges of making friends, and the dynamics that evolve over time. They delve into the impact of school environments on friendship formation, the role of alcohol in social interactions, and the need for a clearer understanding of what constitutes a friendship. The discussion highlights the emotional support and trust inherent in friendships, while also acknowledging the complexities and nuances that can arise throughout different life stages. Hear about themes such as trust, vulnerability, and the importance of acquaintances. They discuss how friendships evolve from companionship to deeper connections, the significance of social interactions in adult life, and the effort required to build lasting relationships. The dialogue emphasizes the value of shared interests and community in fostering friendships, while also reflecting on personal experiences of moving and integrating into new social circles. The song at the end is Don't Worry About It by Mutiny Amongst Friends...you can get the full album free at diybandits.bandcamp.com/album/broken-home-sing-alongs Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods • patreon.com/BackontheGrind Connect with Folk Punk Dad: instagram.com/folkpunkdad/linktr.ee/folkpunkdad Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe) StayFreeCoffee.com Back On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch: backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music Follow the podcast on Instagram instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram Reach out...Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all) ***Word of mouth really matters for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :) Stay Free, Pepe Bandit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Oct 1

    Running, Magic, DIY Music & Coffee Roasting w/ John Cozz #81

    Pepe Bandit sits down with fellow coffee roaster and DIY lifer John Cozz of Cozz Coffee for a wide-ranging conversation on running, magic, and lessons learned. They trace parallel paths through coffee roasting and DIY music — Pat the Bunny, Jeffrey Lewis — and the value of just knocking on doors or sending the email to make things happen. John talks about growing up with a magician father and how that shaped his creative instincts, while Pepe shares his own story of going for his first-ever run on the morning he was sentenced to prison. The back half gets into the real mechanics of building a small coffee roastery — cash flow, the 80/20 rule, moving too fast — then Pepe shares a high-stakes history in the marijuana trade that led to prison in the first place, including cartel members and a genuinely hair-raising run-in with a cop in the California mountains. Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods (there’s even a FREE option) patreon.com/BackontheGrind Connect with Cozz coffee: instagram.com/cozzcoffee/cozzcoffeeroasting.com/patreon.com/BackontheGrind/posts/john-cozz-on-152903606?l=zh-CN (this is the full episode with John on Patreon) Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe) StayFreeCoffee.com Back On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch: backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music Follow the podcast on Instagram instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram Reach out...Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all) ***Word of mouth really matters for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :) Stay Free, Pepe Bandit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Sep 17 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode: Jesse Sendejas (Days N' Days / Escape From the Zoo) On 1 Year Sober & New Solo Music!!!

    To honor Jesse's one year of sobriety today, I invited him on the pod for a quick bonus episode. We talk about what this milestone means to him and some new comforts he gained as a result. Jesse's also been writing new solo music — and he's teaming up with Back On The Grind Records to bring it to vinyl. We close the episode out with a track from the upcoming album. Send some love to Jesse for making it this far. This community thrives the more we take care of each other ❤️ Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods (you can join for FREE) patreon.com/BackontheGrind Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe) StayFreeCoffee.com Back On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch: backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music Follow the podcast on Instagram instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram Reach out...Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all) ***Word of mouth really matters for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :) Stay Free, Pepe Bandit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Sep 15

    Going On Your First DIY Tour w/ Tape And Tears #80

    Tape and Tears join Pepe Bandit to talk about their first DIY tour & everything that comes with learning it on the fly, from forgetting to count merch money until they were nearly out of gas, to the venues that never mentioned how or when they'd get paid. They dig into the community that carried them through it, from bands like Swamp Rats letting them crash on couches & jamming Mischief Brew songs in the living room, to the mentorship or generosity of Mike Wilson (from Harley Poe) & other people from the folk punk scene at large. The conversation opens into the origins of the band itself — Gilliana's mental health crisis while studying abroad in Berlin, the queer folk punk community there that pulled her back toward the music, & how "Tape and Tears" became both a band name & a way of holding pain & progress together. They close with practical tour wisdom (pack a cooler, eat before you're hangry) & a shared belief that showing up with heart matters more than sounding polished. Support the podcast to get bonus episodes & goods (there’s a join for FREE option) • patreon.com/BackontheGrind Connect with Tape And Tears: instagram.com/tapeandtearstapeandtears.bandcamp.com/musictapeandtears.com/ Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe) StayFreeCoffee.com Back On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch: backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music Follow the podcast on Instagram instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram Reach out...Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all) ***Word of mouth really matters for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :) Stay Free, Pepe Bandit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Sep 1

    The Tragedy Of The Commons w/ Ruen #79

    In this episode, Pepe Bandit talks with members of the band Ruen. They start with fire — how a century of replacing Portugal's natural forests with pine and eucalyptus monoculture has made wildfire season a recurring catastrophe across southern Europe — then dig into the punk, DIY, & squat subcultures of Portugal & the Netherlands. The rest of the episode is dedicated to their new concept album, The Tragedy of the Commons. You'll hear samples of songs as they explore land rights, enclosure &, resistance — including the present-day fight against lithium mining in Boticas — along with the influence of books like When the Wolves Howl & Re-Enchanting the World. Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods (there's a join for FREE option) •patreon.com/BackontheGrind Connect with Ruen: instagram.com/weare_ruen weareruen.bandcamp.com/music Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe) StayFreeCoffee.com Back On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch: backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music Follow the podcast on Instagram instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram Reach out...Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all) ***Word of mouth really matters for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :) Stay Free, Pepe Bandit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Aug 15

    Jimmy of The Looms Reflects on the Pigeon Pit Episode (personal authority, DIY shows, spirituality & much more) #78

    Jimmy of The Looms joins Pepe to revisit personal authority, DIY shows, and spirituality from the earlier Lomes of Pigeon Pit episode. From there, they open into new territory: including how the things that upset us most in others are often things we haven't dealt with ourselves, the pull toward revenge instead of actually improving things, why anarchism might work at the level of a house show but strains under mass civilization, Jimmy's own path through Buddhism and monastery life, and a back-and-forth on Spinoza's determinism and what's left of a person once every external identity is stripped away. Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods •patreon.com/BackontheGrind connect with The Looms: instagram.com/theloomsband/thelooms.band/thelooms.bandcamp.com/music Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe) StayFreeCoffee.com Back On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch: backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music Follow the podcast on Instagram instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram Reach out...Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.comLeave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all) ***Word of mouth really matters for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong: Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :) Stay Free, Pepe Bandit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

A podcast for people who found meaning the hard way, where we explore life, music, and the stories that bring us closer. I’m Pepe Bandit: DIY label owner, coffee roaster, Jungian coach, and folk punk felon. I’ve spent my life in the folk punk and DIY underground, and I’ve spent time in prison. Now I sit down with musicians, artists, and people rebuilding their lives for honest, unpolished conversations about what we’ve lost, what we’ve learned, and what we’re still working out. Expect interviews and personal stories on folkpunk, prison, addiction and recovery, spirituality, Jungian psychology, relationships, and personal authority: taking responsibility for your own life. Some past guests include Lomes of Pigeon Pit, Pat (The Bunny) of Friends In Real Life, April of Apes Of The State, Ceschi of Codefendants, The Taxpayers and Jeffrey Lewis. There’s no reason to do this alone. We can learn from each other, survive our failures, and celebrate the wins when we put in the work. New episodes the 1st and 15th of every month. Stay Free, Pepe Bandit Support the show and get bonus episodes & extended conversations: https://patreon.com/BackontheGrind Have a question or a topic you’d like me to cover? Ask about something you heard in an episode, something you’re dealing with in your own life, or anything you want to know about me. I read every email and answer as many as I can on the show. Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.com Sign up for the newsletter: https://PepeBandit.com Follow along on Instagram: https://instagram.com/backonthegrindpod Get coffee roasted by your host: https://StayFreeCoffee.com DRINK COFFEE & STAY FREE! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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