100 Words Or Less: The Podcast

Ray Harkins
  • 4.8 (436)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

Host Ray Harkins dives deep with creators of independent culture from musicians, artists and other interesting people to find out what inspires them, how they came to be and many other unexpected places.

  1. 9h ago

    Ladd Mitchell from Park

    Before Springfield, Illinois had much of a scene to speak of, Ladd Mitchell was already building one, first with Park, then Tiger Tank, logging years on the road during the golden run of early-2000s midwest emo. We talk about joining Park mid-formation and becoming the one constant across four lineups, chasing a deal all the way to a small Santa Barbara label, and what a yearlong nonstop tour actually does to a band. We also get into the breakup, the return, and how the same restlessness that wrote songs on tour eventually turned into his first novel. This one's about staying creative no matter what circumstance you're handed: van breakdowns, lineup changes, or a blank page twenty years later. Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil Greed Apple Music Spotify  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order.  Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEVERSLEEP (for a limited time only) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Ladd Mitchell from Park

  2. Aug 5

    Adam Rubenstein from Chamberlain and Solo Work

    Adam Rubenstein has been making music since he was a teenager in Indianapolis, when he and his bandmates formed Split Lip on Christmas Day, 1989. Drawing early influence from Burn, Youth of Today, and Endpoint, the band became a cornerstone of the Midwestern hardcore scene. They released records on Doghouse before most of them could drive, and landing a track on the landmark 1996 Anti-Matter compilation alongside Quicksand, Farside, Snapcase, Strife, Lifetime, and Mouthpiece which was and is a document of everything that mattered in that moment. By 1995, Split Lip became Chamberlain, and the band pivoted toward a rootsier, more expansive sound that would go on to influence a generation of bands from Dashboard Confessional to Rise Against to The Gaslight Anthem. After Chamberlain went on hiatus in 2000, Rubenstein built a parallel career as a film composer, scoring acclaimed documentaries including Night School, 9-Man, Kid Danny, By Sidney Lumet, and Medora. After more than two decades in New York, Rubenstein made the decision to leave the city and relocate to Ohio — a move that became the emotional backbone of his new album Firebreak, his first solo record in a decade. We talk about where it all started, what it meant to be on that Anti-Matter comp, the long road from hardcore basements to film scoring, and what it looks like to start over when you've already built something. Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil Greed Apple Music Spotify  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order.  Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEVERSLEEP (for a limited time only) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Adam Rubenstein from Chamberlain and Solo Work

  3. Jul 29

    Kevin Hart from Public Opinion

    Kevin Hart has been yelling in hardcore bands since he was a teenager, but Public Opinion is something different, louder in some ways, quieter in others. His dad was a DJ, which means music was never just background noise growing up. These days Kevin processes the hard stuff through songs instead of burdening the people around him, and it shows as Painted On Smile is one of the most genuinely self-reflective punk records in recent memory. Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil Greed Apple Music Spotify  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order.  Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWVINYL (for a limited time only) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Kevin Hart from Public Opinion

  4. Jul 22

    Rich Gaccione from Providence Vegan Deli

    Rich Gaccione built Providence Vegan Deli into something rare; a business that functions less like a restaurant and more like a community hub, where free sandwiches go to anyone who needs one, touring bands eat for nothing, and the line between customer and neighbor gets blurry fast. We talk about how that philosophy took shape, the hardcore and punk roots that inform everything he does, and the seitan operation that started it all. We also get into his time touring with My Chemical Romance and the sandwich on his menu that is his most popular one. Come for the food, stay for the conversation. Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil Greed Apple Music Spotify  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order.  Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWVINYL (for a limited time only) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Rich Gaccione from Providence Vegan Deli

  5. Jul 15

    Anthony Lemus from Stateside

    This week I sit down with Anthony Lemus, the voice behind Southern California's Stateside. What started as a warehouse job friendship and a shared love of 2000s emo has turned into one of the more exciting bands to emerge from the current hardcore-adjacent scene — and Lemus is the emotional engine at the center of it. We get into how growing up in Southern California's hardcore world shaped him, the deeply personal lyrics behind Where You Found Me, and what it actually feels like when the band that started it all asks you to open for them. It's a conversation about where music comes from, what it costs you, and the surreal moment when your heroes treat you like a peer. Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil Greed Apple Music Spotify  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order.  Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWVINYL (for a limited time only) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Anthony Lemus from Stateside

  6. Jul 8

    Chad Green from Frozen Soul

    On this episode, I welcome Chad Green from Frozen Soul to the show. We trace his path from growing up around the Texas heavy music community to finding his place in death metal, building Frozen Soul from the ground up, and watching the band become one of the genre's biggest modern success stories. We also dig into the influence of the Texas hardcore scene on his outlook, the confidence it takes to trust your creative instincts when the spotlight gets bigger, and the story behind Chad drawing the now-iconic Frozen Soul logo himself. It's a conversation about believing in your vision, staying authentic as opportunities grow, and why a strong identity can be just as important as the music itself. Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil Greed Apple Music Spotify  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order.  Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWVINYL (for a limited time only) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Chad Green from Frozen Soul

  7. Jul 1

    Jack Murray from 156/Silence

    Jack Murray, vocalist of 156/Silence, joins the podcast to discuss the road that brought the band to where they are today. From coming up in the Pittsburgh heavy music scene to navigating years of uncertainty, Jack reflects on the relationships, community, and DIY spirit that helped shape both the band and his perspective. The conversation also dives into the moments when it seemed like 156/Silence might not continue, what kept him from walking away, and why persistence has ultimately been one of the band's greatest strengths. Along the way, Jack shares stories from the road, lessons learned through years of growth, and why staying committed to your vision can pay off in ways you never expect. Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil Greed Apple Music Spotify  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order.  Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code NEWVINYL (for a limited time only) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Jack Murray from 156/Silence

  8. Jun 24

    Jeremy Walker from Fire In The Mountains Fest

    This week I sit down with Jeremy Walker, co-founder of Fire in the Mountains, for a conversation that goes far beyond festival promotion. Jeremy reflects on the winding path that led him from a life rooted in Vermont to building one of the most unique experiences in heavy music in which a gathering where community, culture, and the natural world carry as much weight as the bands on stage. The discussion explores the evolution of Fire in the Mountains, the mission behind the Firekeeper Alliance, and the responsibility of creating spaces that foster connection, stewardship, and cultural understanding. Jeremy also shares how his relationship with music, wilderness, and community has evolved over the years, and what continues to drive his work today. We also discuss how the Neurosis reunion got pulled together as well. A thoughtful conversation about purpose, place, and building something bigger than yourself. Weekly Recommendation Playlist brought to you by Evil Greed Apple Music Spotify  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube Rockabilia sells you officially licensed Merch from ALL your favorite bands (and your Dad's favorite band, your siblings etc...). Use the promo code 100WORDSORLESS for 10% off your order.  Get 10% off your Evil Greed order by using the code TIMETOSAVE (for a limited time only) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Jeremy Walker from Fire In The Mountains Fest
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4.8
out of 5
436 Ratings

About

Host Ray Harkins dives deep with creators of independent culture from musicians, artists and other interesting people to find out what inspires them, how they came to be and many other unexpected places.

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