The Days Between

Noah Abrams

In life, there's the day that you're born, there's the day that you die, and there are The Days Between. Join me as I talk to my friends, people I admire, and people I want to better understand about success, failure, happiness, and misery as well as all the other elements that make up a life well lived. Along the way, we'll look at mental, spiritual, and physical health and when life didn't go as planned, the steps they took to get themselves from A to B and beyond. The Days Between, hosted by Noah Abrams.

  1. 11/23/2025

    EP26: BARBIE HERRON CONKLING

    This week, I’m speaking with Barbie Herron Conkling. The localism of southern California’s surf breaks has become legendary, but few can claim local status more than Barbie. With a family history stretching all the way back to the early days of Venice, her relatives literally built the beach communities in which she has spent most of her life. Growing up in a home which often mirrored the wild west atmosphere that was Malibu in the 1970’s, Barbie developed a spirituality which would serve her throughout her teenage years and well into adulthood. She became a mother at a young age, giving birth to her eldest son, Lyon which she describes as ‘instant soul recognition’, and the two began a journey that was lifetimes in the making. As Barbie helped Lyon navigate a myriad of health challenges, she was forced to address her own struggle with addiction, being a single mother, and the reality of raising two other children, all while running a non-profit. While she may shrug it off as master multitasking, Barbie’s ability to gracefully navigate the challenges life has presented her, and still find time to help those less fortunate, lends a heavy dose of credence to the notion that moms really can do it all. During the course of our conversation, we discuss her dual realities, the importance of being of service, and why she can so often be found wearing a hat. It is my pleasure to present Barbie Herron Conkling on The Days Between..

    59 min
  2. 07/13/2024

    EP25: ANDY MUMMA

    This week, I’m speaking with Andy Mumma. Growing up, Andy never intended to be a small business owner, but the entrepreneurial seed was planted early and when combined with a love of cafe culture and a dash of punk rock, the result has been a series of wildly successful businesses in his adopted hometown of Nashville and beyond. Andy’s passion for music began while washing milk trucks as a teenager and quickly evolved into touring with bands while he was still in high school. Broke and in need of a change of scenery, Andy made his way to the Music City, where he landed a job as a dishwasher, and through hard work eventually became a barista. His creative instincts ever present, Andy began meticulously planning his own coffee shop and 15 years later, when the opportunity presented itself, willed it into existence. The first Barista Parlor was a labor of love taking almost a year to complete construction, as well as helping to heal a family rift that had lasted nearly a decade. 8 locations later, a tiki bar, a taco truck, and a pizza bar, Andy’s talent for creating spaces and passion for collaboration is undeniable. During the course of our conversation we discuss the Mennonite influence on his projects, dubbing punk rock from the radio, and learning to let go of where you think you should be and allowing the creative process to take you down roads you never could have imagined. It is my pleasure to present Andy Mumma on The Days Between..

    39 min
  3. 12/16/2023

    EP21: MARK MAHONEY

    This week I’m speaking with Mark Mahoney. As a tattooer, Mark needs no introduction. A pioneer of the single needle style, his work has inspired artists and set a standard for decades. An afternoon at the beach as a young boy set Mark on a path which has seen him bridge the gap between outsider and popular culture, helping to bring the art form into the mainstream. It was with the outlaw motorcycle clubs of Massachusetts where Mark would first practice his craft, saving members a trip to neighboring Rhode Island. After a short stint in art school, he found himself in New York City in the late 70’s, expanding his body of work on a clientele that included some of the most notorious musicians in history. With tattooing illegal in Manhattan, Mark made his way to The Pike in Long Beach, California where he cut his teeth and was exposed to single needle tattoos, popular with Chicano artists, but shunned by the larger tattoo community. Mark would eventually land in Los Angeles, where he set up shop on The Sunset Strip, but the journey there wasn’t without his fair share of tragedy. During the course of our conversation, we discuss kicking Charles Bukowski’s ass, the East Coast/West Coast hip-hop rivalry of the 90’s, and the Shamrock Social Club, his home for the last 22 years. The term legend gets thrown around a lot, but when it comes to Mark, it’s difficult to think of a more accurate way to describe him, save only for the word humble. It is my privilege to present Mark Mahoney on The Days Between..

    38 min
  4. 09/20/2023

    EP19: WAYNE KRAMER

    This week I’m speaking with Wayne Kramer. When it comes to lives, Wayne has lived several. As the founder of seminal rock band MC5, he began his musical career at just 16 years old. By 1967, the MC5 were serving as the house band at the Grande Ballroom and Wayne was working full time. As racial tensions reached a fever pitch around the the country and in his hometown of Detroit, he crossed paths with poet and activist John Sinclair who shared his revolutionary fervor and would become a mentor throughout his life. Shortly after the MC5 imploded, Wayne found himself in federal prison, which he documents at length in his book, The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the MC5, and My Life of Impossibilities. After serving 2 1/2 years of a 4 year sentence, Wayne headed to New York City where he remained for a decade, playing music, continuing to use drugs, and living what he describes as the same year, ten times. In the mid nineties, Wayne began a new life in Los Angeles, where he signed a recording contract and began touring only to see his efforts come crashing down as a result of what he calls, ‘an inside job’. Tired of carrying on the facade of sobriety, Wayne turned to Bob Timmons to help him take the steps toward a better life. Now 24 years sober, Wayne discusses how talent isn’t enough, why he thinks NWA picked up where MC5 left off, and his work with the C.A.P.O. Center and the non-profit Jail Guitar Doors, named after The Clash song he helped inspire. Please enjoy Wayne Kramer on The Days Between..

    1h 19m
4.3
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

In life, there's the day that you're born, there's the day that you die, and there are The Days Between. Join me as I talk to my friends, people I admire, and people I want to better understand about success, failure, happiness, and misery as well as all the other elements that make up a life well lived. Along the way, we'll look at mental, spiritual, and physical health and when life didn't go as planned, the steps they took to get themselves from A to B and beyond. The Days Between, hosted by Noah Abrams.