15 episodes

ON THE IMPOSSIBLE POD is a thirteen episode song-by-song breakdown of the instant classic punk album "On The Impossible Past" by The Menzingers. We're digging into the recurring themes, the unsung melodies and the visceral emotional responses that only a Menzingers song can evoke.

Hosted by Cheska Colombo/various friendzingers and produced by Angry Papa Entertainment Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/otipod/support

On The Impossible Pod Cheska Colombo

    • Music
    • 4.9 • 15 Ratings

ON THE IMPOSSIBLE POD is a thirteen episode song-by-song breakdown of the instant classic punk album "On The Impossible Past" by The Menzingers. We're digging into the recurring themes, the unsung melodies and the visceral emotional responses that only a Menzingers song can evoke.

Hosted by Cheska Colombo/various friendzingers and produced by Angry Papa Entertainment Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/otipod/support

    #14: SUNDAY MORNING w/ Neil Hilborn

    #14: SUNDAY MORNING w/ Neil Hilborn

    We’re back, baby! At least, for one episode to hold you over until the world gets back to normal. In our first episode of a very loosely structured Season 2, we discuss SUNDAY MORNING with poet Neil Hilborn. From lyrical brotherly love to different takes on hypothetical depressive episodes, Neil and Cheska dig into each and every lyric of this earlier Menzos track and the mental health/companionship journey it takes us through. Come for the wild conjecture about electric skies, and stay for Neil’s list of the 3 worst areas to drive through in the US.

    Find Neil's amazing work, his books, and information on his writing workshop at neilhilborn.com, and follow him @neilicorn on Twitter/Instagram. Additionally, here's my favorite of his poems. 

    ----------------

    ON THE IMPOSSIBLE POD is a song-by-song breakdown of the many bangers from Scranton, PA punk band, The Menzingers. We're digging into the recurring themes, the unsung melodies and the visceral emotional responses that only a Menzingers song can evoke.

    Hosted by Cheska Colombo/various friendzingers and produced by Angry Papa Entertainment

    Audio recording, production, editing and artwork by Cheska Colombo of Angry Papa Entertainment

    Check out Cheska’s other podcast Aint Scene Nothing Yet

    All external song information derived from the lyrics themselves, Genius.com, Reddit AMAs and various interviews. Opinions stated on this podcast are those of the host and guests and may not necessarily represent those of the songwriters, as this is a fan analysis.

    Podcast cover photo taken/modeled by Bobbi Van Etten
    Episode cover photo of Lake Ariel by Brandon Finnegan

    Theme music by Ryan Heenan

    Want more podcasts? We recommend James Crowley's Infinite Playlist


    ---

    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/otipod/support

    • 1 hr 14 min
    #13: FREEDOM BRIDGE w/ Jason Yablon

    #13: FREEDOM BRIDGE w/ Jason Yablon

    TW: Episode contains mentions of suicide, drug abuse, PTSD and the police (just because they’re mentioned in the song - it should be known this is a strictly ACAB podcast and if you don't like it, bye)

    Rounding out our exploration of the On The Impossible Past album, we finally come to Freedom Bridge. Jason Yablon (of album-themed ice cream Cathartic Confections fame) visited the studio in December 2019 to chat with Cheska about the various characters this song highlights, connections to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (or a lack thereof), and how this track follows a popular songwriting style from the 60s. One of the heavier conversations we’ve had on the show, we’re talking about capitalism (again) and what it’s like to see the people around you fall victim to circumstance.

    This wraps up the 13 songs on On The Impossible Past - and once the smoke of COVID-19 clears, we will have plenty of new episodes spanning the Menzingers entire catalogue. Stick with us, listen back to all 13 episodes, and hang in there, friends.

    I’d be remiss if I didn’t recognise the contentious times we’re putting this episode out during. BLACK LIVES MATTER. BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER. Please consider donating to or supporting the following organizations/individuals in need in whatever way you can:

    Philly Bail Fund
    Morris Home (GoFundme)
    Lakay Nou (CashApp: $wrevoluntionary) "More than 50 Philadelphians experiencing homelessness — supported by volunteers and donations — have formed an encampment on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to call on the city to provide low-income housing and improve treatment of the homeless. More Info.


    ------------------------------------------------------

    Audio recording, production, editing and artwork by Cheska Colombo of Angry Papa Entertainment

    Check out Cheska’s other podcast Aint Scene Nothing Yet

    All external song information derived from the lyrics themselves, Genius.com, Reddit AMAs and various interviews. Opinions stated on this podcast are those of the host and guests and may not necessarily represent those of the songwriters, as this is a fan analysis.

    Podcast cover photo taken/modeled by Bobbi Van Etten
    Episode art photo of Freedom Bridge taken by Brandon Finnegan

    Theme music by Ryan Heenan

    Want more podcasts? We recommend James Crowley's Infinite Playlist


    ---

    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/otipod/support

    • 1 hr 20 min
    #12: I CAN'T SEEM TO TELL w/ Craig Shay

    #12: I CAN'T SEEM TO TELL w/ Craig Shay

    From the irresistible count-in to the unique song structure and slow build to the song’s climax - I Can’t Seem To Tell is undeniably killer. Craig Shay (Cold Wrecks/Answering Machine/funny on Twitter) joins Cheska to talk about the song’s earlier iteration and how it influenced the final product, early and often forgotten bangers,  which Menzingers songs should/should not  be reimagined as R&B songs and how every Menzingers fan is 38. Period.
    Craig’s band Cold Wrecks has new music coming soon and gets to play the same cruise as The Menzingers & more at Booze Cruise Festival in Hamburg this summer. Listen to Answering Machine’s new song Cherry Coke now or I will catch you in the CVS parking lot (I like this song a lot).
    _________________________________
    Audio recording, production, editing and artwork by Cheska Colombo of Angry Papa Entertainment
    Check out Cheska’s other podcast Aint Scene Nothing Yet
    All external song information derived from the lyrics themselves, Genius.com, Reddit AMAs and various interviews. Opinions stated on this podcast are those of the host and guests and may not necessarily represent those of the songwriters, as this is a fan analysis.
    Podcast cover photo taken/modeled by Bobbi Van Etten
    Theme music by Ryan Heenan
    Want more podcasts? We recommend James Crowley's Infinite Playlist



    ---

    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/otipod/support

    • 1 hr
    #11: CASEY w/ Mike Yabs & Ari Kattowski

    #11: CASEY w/ Mike Yabs & Ari Kattowski

    If you’ve ever gotten drunk before doing the dishes, we have some stuff to talk about. Discussing Casey, best friends Mike Yabs and Ari Kattowski crack open a few cold ones and chat with Cheska about eerie life parallels between the song and reality, misheard lyrics, and general punk tomfoolery. Also, they unanimously agree that The Menzingers should write a Christmas song.

    Mike runs A Few Good Records - a label focused on releasing various charity compilations and making cassettes. Ari is an amazing artist who contributes her talents to A Few Good Records’ compilation art amongst other things. Her most remarkable achievement is stealing the handle @MikeYabs during the recording of this episode.

    _______________________________________________________

    Audio recording, production, editing and artwork by Cheska Colombo of Angry Papa Entertainment

    Check out Cheska’s other podcast Aint Scene Nothing Yet

    All external song information derived from the lyrics themselves, Genius.com, Reddit AMAs and various interviews. Opinions stated on this podcast are those of the host and guests and may not necessarily represent those of the songwriters, as this is a fan analysis.

    Podcast cover photo taken/modeled by Bobbi Van Etten
    Episode art photo taken by Ari

    Theme music by Ryan Heenan

    Want more podcasts? We recommend James Crowley's Infinite Playlist


    ---

    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/otipod/support

    • 1 hr 2 min
    #10: NICE THINGS w/ Cecilia Kellogg

    #10: NICE THINGS w/ Cecilia Kellogg

    Put on your anti-capitalist pants everyone, it’s time to talk about Nice Things. Cecilia Kellogg and Cheska chat about this song’s overt political and economical themes as well as how they relate to the American Dream - or lack thereof. If you’re as fed up with the current state of the country as well as they are - welcome, and listen up. Also featuring: Cheska’s first exposure to the Nice Things music video, tales of Menzingers shows in cafeterias, and some Hello Exile talk.

    ------------------------------------------

    Audio recording, production, editing and artwork by Cheska Colombo of Angry Papa Entertainment

    Check out Cheska’s other podcast Aint Scene Nothing Yet

    All external song information derived from the lyrics themselves, Genius.com, Reddit AMAs and various interviews. Opinions stated on this podcast are those of the host and guests and may not necessarily represent those of the songwriters, as this is a fan analysis.

    Podcast cover photo taken/modeled by Bobbi Van Etten

    Theme music by Ryan Heenan

    Want more podcasts? We recommend James Crowley's Infinite Playlist




    ---

    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/otipod/support

    • 1 hr 17 min
    #9: ON THE IMPOSSIBLE PAST w/ Ryan Simmons

    #9: ON THE IMPOSSIBLE PAST w/ Ryan Simmons

    Listen up prose boys, we’re talking title track today. Cheska is joined by her new unofficial podcast publicist and that guy in all the barricade shots: Ryan Simmons.  We discuss the song On The Impossible Past’s encapsulation of an album full of themes, driving away from your troubles, and the familyhood that a Menzingers show can bring to one’s life.

    _____________

    Audio recording, production, editing and artwork by Cheska Colombo of Angry Papa Entertainment

    Check out Cheska’s other podcast Aint Scene Nothing Yet

    All external song information derived from the lyrics themselves, Genius.com, Reddit AMAs and various interviews. Opinions stated on this podcast are those of the host and guests and may not necessarily represent those of the songwriters, as this is a fan analysis.

    Podcast cover photo taken/modeled by Bobbi Van Etten
    Episode art photo of Sawmill Rd. taken by Brandon Finnegan

    Theme music by Ryan Heenan

    **Want more podcasts? We recommend James Crowley's Infinite Playlist


    ---

    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/otipod/support

    • 1 hr 15 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
15 Ratings

15 Ratings

jdweigs ,

Can I get this in an IV?

Glad to have stumbled upon this pod (thanks, The Skinny with Mike and Adam!). Awesome to hear deep dives into each track on this stellar record! I love the personal anecdotes too. Just really awesome. Thanks for doing it. On a greedy and getting ahead of myself note... please tell me track by track of After the Party will follow!

GabbyVice ,

Awesome in-depth analysis with fun commentary

OTIP is not only a deep dive of one of the greatest bands of contemporary punk rock, but its also fun and witty conversation between people passionate about music in general.

The Menzingers are such an important band in modern music and On The Impossible Past holds some of their strongest work to date — this podcast covers the album from start to finish while feeling like you’re having a conversation with old friends. Highly recommend!

Top Podcasts In Music

The Joe Budden Podcast
The Joe Budden Network
Dissect
The Ringer
The Story of Classical
Apple Music
Drink Champs
Interval Presents
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Andrew Hickey
R&B Money
The Black Effect and iHeartPodcasts