PopCurse

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Channel • 4 Shows

Music Interviews

Music Interviews

Updated Weekly
Religion & Spirituality

Religion & Spirituality

Updated 07/31/2024
Mental Health

Mental Health

Updated 11/14/2019
Music Interviews

Music Interviews

Updated Weekly

05/25/2020

Dustin Kensrue (Thrice)

THRICE frontman Dustin Kensrue on his journey with life's big questions; his personal evolution; the relationship (or lack thereof) between Thrice and the so-called Christian Music genre; how toxic mismanagement caused the dissolution of the church where he served as worship leader; inerrancy in scripture; theologian Peter Enns, Alfred North Whitehead and process theology; transitioning from interviewee to interviewer; and his podcast, Carry The Fire. Keep up with Dustin on Twitter and check out his podcast, Carry The Fire. For background on the Mars Hill Church controversy we touch on in this episode, here's an in-depth piece in the Seattle Times. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, Speak N' Destroy, and Hoosier Illusion.

05/25/2020

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1h 45m
02/23/2023

Corey Taylor (Slipknot)

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor on why Master of Puppets is “a perfect heavy metal album”; watching the late Joey Jordison fill-in for Lars; the Black Album; and his contribution to The Metallica Blacklist project. “Metallica is our Led Zeppelin, Beatles, and Black Sabbath all rolled into one.” Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

02/23/2023

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1h 6m
06/29/2023

Ben Umanov (MetalSucks)

"Why isn't there a metal site that talks about metal the way people actually talk about it?" The MetalSucks co-founder, formerly known as "Vince Neilstein," tells the origin story behind the opinionated news site. There's also an in-depth discussion about "The Metallica Economy": how the kickoff of a new Metallica album/touring cycle is the digital wave that lifts all of the metal websites. (In 2022, Ben and his fellow cofounder, Matthew "Axl Rosenberg" Goldenberg, sold MetalSucks to The Orchard, a subsidiary of Sony Music, and left their co-Editor-In-Chief positions.) Speak N' Destroy podcast theme by Scott Mellinger. Visit the Speak N' Destroy website and socials HERE. Part of the PopCurse podcast network.

06/29/2023

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1h 14m
03/22/2018

Ihsahn (Emperor)

EMPEROR is almost without equal in the black metal music scene. As frontman for the legendary Norwegian band and an accomplished solo artist, Ihsahn is uniquely qualified to speak with authority about the subculture. He talks about the evolution of his personal philosophy; the importance of meaning, purpose, and confrontation in art; Friedrich Nietzche; and much more. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, Speak N' Destroy, and Hoosier Illusion.

03/22/2018

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1h 5m
10/19/2017

Ryan Clark (Demon Hunter)

DEMON HUNTER frontman and Grammy nominated designer Ryan Clark talks about growing up the son of a pastor; the obstacles and misconceptions that come with the phrase "Christian music"; creative inspiration; artistic credibility; his health scare and subsequent lifestyle changes; Western food and medicine; and much more. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Check out other PopCurse network podcasts: PopCurse, No Prize From God, and Hoosier Illusion.

10/19/2017

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1h 17m
05/18/2020

John Kevill & Carlos Cruz (Warbringer)

WARBRINGER vocalist John Kevill and drummer Carlos Cruz join Speak N’ Destroy for our 50th (!) episode. The duo share a dense knowledge and passion for the genre and dive in here on the chemistry, serendipity, and near scientific structure that makes Metallica and bands like Slayer, Bathory, and Kreator, so great. It's a deep conversation about art vs. craft; the accidental brilliance born of limited resources; plus, the stories about how each of them discovered and became involved in heavy music in the first place. We rank the first five Metallica albums and talk about all of the ways Warbringer has drawn inspiration from Metallica as the Neo-thrash survivors have created six well-received albums, including their latest, Weapons of Tomorrow. Carlos is the former drummer for the band Hexen, filled in for his friends in Power Trip, and replaced the late Nick Menza in OHM, the instrumental rock/jazz fusion trio led by Chris Poland, the lead guitar player on the first two Megadeth albums. Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

05/18/2020

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2h 3m
10/13/2021

BLACK VEIL BRIDES The PhantomCast - Episode 02

The second episode in a special podcast series, The PhantomCast is the exclusive behind-the-scenes story of the brand new album from BLACK VEIL BRIDES, The Phantom Tomorrow. Andy Biersack, Jinxx, Jake Pitts, Christian Coma, and Lonny Eagleton tell Ryan J. Downey about the dark period preceding this new era, and the creative and personal rebirth happening right now. Throughout the series, they're joined by people from behind-the-scenes, as well, including their longtime manager (and Ozzy Osbourne bassist) Blasko and Sumerian Records staffers. Presented by PopCurse. Keep up with Black Veil Brides. Keep up with Ryan J. Downey.

10/13/2021

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57 min
04/10/2019

Frank Bello (Anthrax) & David Ellefson (Megadeth)

ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE. Frank Bello (ANTHRAX) and David Ellefson (MEGADETH) live from the Musicians Institute, part of the MI Conversation Series presented by Loudwire and Ultimate Classic Rock. In this wide ranging conversation with Ryan J. Downey and the audience Q&A that followed, the two Big 4 bassists talk about their band together, Altitudes & Attitudes, meeting for the first time while on tour in their respective bands, and the early days of thrash. Frankie does the best impression of Gene and Paul from KISS ever, both guys remember Alice In Chains opening for the first US "Clash of the Titans," David talks about the influence of original Metallica bassist Ron McGovney, and both men share thoughtful reflections on the late Cliff Burton. Keep up with the podcast at Speak N' Destroy dot com and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Keep up with Ryan J. Downey at Ryan J Downey dot com and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

04/10/2019

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1h 12m
05/17/2021

Otrebor (Botanist)

BOTANIST is a post-black metal band from San Francisco founded on the principle of "worship of the Natural world." A distorted hammered dulcimer stands in for guitars in Botanist, with drums free from editing in order to capture Otrebor at the "edge" of his ability. Otrebor channels an alter-ego with a romantic vision of a world overtaken by plant life, free from human interference. In a 2011 profile, NPR wrote, "You'd think... creepy, hammered-dulcimer black metal would get stale, but [Botanist] is surprisingly dynamic and hypnotic. The hammered dulcimer rings out and cuts like a blast-beated piano pounding paradiddles in some kind of black-metal drumline." Check out BOTANIST here. Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God, Ryan J. Downey, and check out Downey's other podcasts: PopCurse (Musicians Talking Movies) and Speak N' Destroy (Interviews About Metallica).

05/17/2021

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58 min
04/20/2023

Haela Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix (Liturgy)

Haela Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix's band, Liturgy, is a platform for both fine art and theology, delivered in waves of transcendental black metal possessed by the spirit of classical music and the energetic urgency of punk and indie rock. An unapologetic Christian with a love of the Orthodox Church and a spiritual practice many believers would deem decidedly unorthodox, Hunt-Hendrix is a boundlessly talented, thoughtful, and moving artist and performer. As she says in this episode: "The band is called Liturgy. The point of the performances is to be a mass. Liturgy is a structured form of collective worship and that's the intention. When we play the music, I'm reading it as a holy experience." Discover Liturgy's music here. Delve further into her work and theology on Substack and YouTube. Follow No-Prize From God, Ryan J. Downey, and check out Downey's other podcasts: PopCurse (Musicians Talking Movies) and Speak N' Destroy (Interviews About Metallica). Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast.

04/20/2023

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1h 7m

Ryan J. Downey (Billboard, MTV, The Hollywood Reporter) hosts the FIRST podcast featuring interviews about Metallica.

5.0 (194)

MUSIC INTERVIEWS

POPCURSE, the podcast, where Musicians Talk Movies. NO-PRIZE FROM GOD, conversations with creative people about belief, unbelief, and everything between. SPEAK N' DESTROY, the first METALLICA podcast, featuring interviews about the greatest metal band ever. Created by longtime journalist Ryan J. Downey (MTV, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard). PopCurse, because pop culture is a blessing... and a curse.

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Top Shows

Dustin Kensrue (Thrice)

Corey Taylor (Slipknot)

Ben Umanov (MetalSucks)

Ihsahn (Emperor)

Ryan Clark (Demon Hunter)

John Kevill & Carlos Cruz (Warbringer)

BLACK VEIL BRIDES The PhantomCast - Episode 02

Frank Bello (Anthrax) & David Ellefson (Megadeth)

Otrebor (Botanist)

Haela Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix (Liturgy)

Subscribe for BONUS episodes & early access!

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