What the Folk

What the Folk

These are revelationary times, there are folks out there doing the real work, and these two affable weirdos want to talk to all of them. Join writer/librarian Sarah Baranauskas and singer/songwriter Joy Damiani* as they sit down for uncensored conversations with artists, organizers, educators and a glimmering array of visionaries. If you’re seeking deeper understanding, insight, and maybe even a medicinal dose of hope with your apocalypse, accompanied by a soundtrack of indie music, this might be What the Folk you’re looking for. *formerly known as Emily Yates

  1. Episode 45: Apocalypse, Still

    07/21/2023

    Episode 45: Apocalypse, Still

    We've missed you, What the Folk fam! On this episode, instead of having a guest, we decided to take the chance to catch up with each other on life, the universe, and everything. We discuss dealing with personal disappointment and tragedy, and keeping a healthy perspective in the face of the ongoing climate apocalypse. And of course, new music! This one features a fun and timely tune by Ned and Wendy the Band, which we are sure you will love as much as we do. Ned and Wendy the Band: nedandwendytheband.com “Vulnerable” music video: https://youtu.be/rPkSSdZNV3E

    33 min
  2. Episode 44: Peace is Not the Absence of War with Michael McPhearson

    03/18/2023

    Episode 44: Peace is Not the Absence of War with Michael McPhearson

    On this episode of What the Folk, our guest is Michael McPhearson, the executive director of online news publication the South Seattle Emerald, the former executive director of Veterans for Peace, and a longtime activist for racial and social justice within and outside of the US. This interview covers empathy as a radical act, the challenges of fostering solidarity across differences, and the necessity of localized independent media. Afterwards, Joy and Sarah reflect on their own solidarity and communication challenges, as well as how freaking tired they are because who isn’t these days. Treat yo’self to a nap, dear listeners – after you listen to this episode. Featured music on this episode is “I Don’t Know Much About Star Wars” by Joy Damiani GET INVOLVED Veterans for Peace https://www.veteransforpeace.org/ South Seattle Emerald https://southseattleemerald.com/category/news/ FOLLOW MICHAEL Michael’s Medium https://mtmcphearson.medium.com/ MTM Daily https://mtmdaily.com/ Michael’s Twitter https://twitter.com/MTMcPhearson

    1h 47m
  3. Episode 43: Resisting the War Machine with Stephanie Atkinson

    03/04/2023

    Episode 43: Resisting the War Machine with Stephanie Atkinson

    On this episode, our guest is Stephanie Atkinson, an Army veteran and war resister who now works with nonprofits Veterans for Peace and Courage to Resist to bring the truth about military recruitment to heavily-recruited high school students. Besides sharing her inspiring personal story, we discuss everything from military “feminism” to our favorite dystopian fashion (spoiler alert: Blade Runner ftw). Featured music on this episode is “If You Ain’t Cheatin’ You Ain’t Tryin’” and “Just A Little Cog” by Joy Damiani GET INVOLVED Veterans for Peace https://www.veteransforpeace.org/ Courage to Resist https://couragetoresist.org/ Truth in Recruitment https://truthinrecruitment.org/ READ STEPHANIE’S WRITING https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2011/proud-deserter LEARN MORE Shoshana Jackson https://www.msnbc.com/podcast/shoshana-johnson-was-america-s-first-black-female-prisoner-war-n1283841 Jessica Lynch https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/20/us/jessica-lynch-where-is-she-now/index.html Lynndie England https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/news/a170/lynndie-england-1/ Book: Bananas, Beaches, and Bases by Cynthia Enloe https://bookshop.org/p/books/bananas-beaches-and-bases-making-feminist-sense-of-international-politics-cynthia-enloe/6561808?ean=9780520279995

    1h 59m
  4. Episode 42: Where the Folk Have We Been?! with Sarah and Joy

    02/17/2023

    Episode 42: Where the Folk Have We Been?! with Sarah and Joy

    We've missed you, What the Folk fam! We took a hiatus to get our respective and collective shit together, and now here we are, back and weirder than ever. In this, our 42nd episode, we cover – well, Life, the Universe, and Everything. Since it led us to discuss relationships, political corruption, the patriarchy, and cats – just to name a few hot topics – Joy's theory is that the Ultimate Question is "how's your apocalypse going?" Plus! Hear Sarah's original poem, "Bad Timing," and Joy's songs "Love Yourself!" and "Happy Ever After" – all inspired by the endlessly exciting and complicated theme of Love, during this Valentine's week. Featured music: "Love Yourself!" and "Happy Ever After" by Joy Damiani https://joydamiani.bandcamp.com/track/love-yourself-feat-jules-indelicato https://joydamiani.bandcamp.com/track/happy-ever-after References: https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/i-was-embarrassed-humiliated-reporter-says-of-east-palestine-arrest/ https://www.newsweek.com/ohio-train-derailment-could-become-full-blown-ecological-crisis-1781148

    1h 15m
  5. Episode 41: OMG Joy Wrote a Book! with Samantha Hart

    05/20/2022

    Episode 41: OMG Joy Wrote a Book! with Samantha Hart

    Hello, What the Folk fam, we’ve missed you! We’ve had a lot of reasons we’ve been away but one majorly exciting reason is that JOY WROTE A BOOK! What’s also exciting is that friend of the pod Samantha Hart is joining us again for this episode to help illuminate the 14-year writing journey behind If You Ain’t Cheatin’ You Ain’t Trying – as well as Sarah’s English major-y opinionating on art, political messaging, and, of course, M*A*S*H. Featured music is “If You Ain’t Cheatin’ You Ain’t Trying” and “Yellow Ribbon” by Joy Damiani (released under Emily Yates) SUPPORT JOY’S KICKSTARTER https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joydamiani/if-you-aint-cheatin-you-aint-tryin-a-military-memoir/community PREORDER JOY’S BOOK Coming soon! FOLLOW JOY http://joydamiani.com/

    1 hr
  6. Episode 40: Recognizing our Shared Humanity with Michael Iasilli

    03/19/2022

    Episode 40: Recognizing our Shared Humanity with Michael Iasilli

    Russian history scholar and political scientist Michael Iasilli joins us to discuss, what else, the war in Ukraine. Besides giving us a fascinating tour through Russian and Ukrainian history, Iasilli also has a lot to say about avoiding xenophobia against Russians during this time. Naturally, your hosts and Michael got along swimmingly because we all agree that we have much more in common with the regular people in other countries than we do with our respective governments. Afterward, Joy and Sarah riff on the idea of finding common ground, living in a world of multiple truths, and discuss the latest infuriating developments in the Assange extradition case. Featured music is “Soul Creature,” “Staircase,” and “Scary Days” by Michael Anthonia FOLLOW MICHAEL’S WORK https://www.maiasilli.com/ MICHAEL’S MUSIC Instagram: Michaelanthonia_music Facebook: @realmichaelanthonia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/14D2f50WgDvuTLVEVzOAhk?si=X1iwTHp_TTWUiIWgOkp9gg FURTHER READING In reference to the data on Russian citizens’ displeasure with Putin’s war: see “FBK” (a sociological survey in Russia: https://navalny.com/p/6615/?fbclid=IwAR3h2PzC3w1X2or27-6WjXg_WgGNNwZg2OihGpfYm27otGwvaWskQFhmUik On racism in Ukraine refugee policy https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/black-ukraine-refugees-racism-discrimination-russian-invasion/ HISTORY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS The Affirmative Action Empire: Nations and Nationalism in the Soviet Union by Terry Martin Red Nations: The Nationalities Experience in and after the USSR by Jeremy Smith Russia in Flames by Laura Engelstein Red Famine: Stalin’s War in Ukraine by Anne Applebaum

    1h 30m
  7. Episode 39: Cheesecake or Death with Lauren Flynn

    03/04/2022

    Episode 39: Cheesecake or Death with Lauren Flynn

    The fabulous Lauren Flynn returns to the pod! We talk about the inspiration for her awesome new band, Buried Blonde, trust and intuition in the creative process, why artists are essential workers and grappling with death at the Cheesecake Factory. Afterwards, Joy and Sarah discuss the lessons they have learned during the pandemic, Colonel Bruce Hampton, and how to have a non-monogamous relationship with yourself. Featured music is “Like a Scar” and “Perfect Machine” by Buried Blonde, and “Good Riddance Fake Bitches” by Joy Damiani, courtesy of the artists. FOLLOW BURIED BLONDE https://www.buriedblonde.com/

    1h 23m
  8. Episode 38: Decriminalizing Nature with Nicole Foerster

    02/16/2022

    Episode 38: Decriminalizing Nature with Nicole Foerster

    We’re baaaack! Again! Thank you, dear listeners, for being understanding about our (sometimes variable) apocalypse release schedule. We are rewarding your patience with a fantastic episode featuring Nicole Foerster, an advocate for psilocybin mushrooms as a treatment for cluster headaches, a mental health professional, and a proponent for the full decriminalization of entheogenic plants and fungi. In this episode, we talk about their work as director of Decriminalize Nature Colorado which recently submitted a ballot proposal to decriminalize entheogens in the 2022 Colorado statewide election, why decriminalization offers a more intentional and just model for psychedelic access, and the emerging models for holistically supporting mental health. Afterward, Joy and Sarah wander through strange metaphors as they reflect on these strangely psychedelic times in the Society of the Spectacle. GET INVOLVED Decriminalize Nature Colorado https://www.facebook.com/decrimnaturecolorado/ Insta: @decrimnaturecolorado https://www.instagram.com/decrimnaturecolorado/?hl=en Decriminalize Nature (national) https://decriminalizenature.org/ FEATURED MUSIC “All the Same” by FaceKiss https://facekiss.bandcamp.com/ “Hey Moon” and “Peter Pan” by Ray Diess https://open.spotify.com/artist/2k9ZPxMCH5vm2E7KHBwmfD https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ray-diess/1553592537 RECOMMENDED READING AND RESOURCES Your Healing is Killing Me https://bookshop.org/books/your-healing-is-killing-me/9780991418398 Our Right to Drugs https://bookshop.org/books/our-right-to-drugs-the-case-for-a-free-market/9780815603337 The Book of Woe: The DSM and the Unmaking of Psychiatry https://bookshop.org/books/the-book-of-woe-the-dsm-and-the-unmaking-of-psychiatry-9798200063345/9798200063345 Psychiatric Survivors https://www.psychiatricsurvivors.net/ Mad in America https://www.madinamerica.com/ Students for Sensible Drug Policy https://ssdp.org/ SPORE: Society for Psychedelic Outreach, Reform, and Education https://www.thespore.org/ Unlimited Sciences https://unlimitedsciences.org/

    1h 21m
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

These are revelationary times, there are folks out there doing the real work, and these two affable weirdos want to talk to all of them. Join writer/librarian Sarah Baranauskas and singer/songwriter Joy Damiani* as they sit down for uncensored conversations with artists, organizers, educators and a glimmering array of visionaries. If you’re seeking deeper understanding, insight, and maybe even a medicinal dose of hope with your apocalypse, accompanied by a soundtrack of indie music, this might be What the Folk you’re looking for. *formerly known as Emily Yates

Information

  • Creator
    What the Folk
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2023
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    What the Folk