Podcast

Episode 200 - The Final Episode (Feat. I Die: You Die)

This week on Talking to Ghosts we welcome back our biggest supporters and friends, Alex Kennedy and Bruce Lord from I Die: You Die (and We Have A Technical podcast)!

This is the final episode of the Talking to Ghosts podcast. Thank you so much for listening and supporting us over the years. It meant a lot to us to be able to share our interviews and reviews with so many people.

We are off on a new adventure together, which you can find out more about at berm.world!

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Episode 199 - Emilly Prado

This week on the podcast we talk to author, journalist, and DJ Emilly Prado. We chat about her new book, "Funeral For Flaca," which is out now from Future Tense Books.

To find out more about Emilly's work, please visit her official website.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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As a reminder, the next episode will be our last episode of the podcast. We're starting a contemporary arts magazine called Berm in 2022. To find out more about Berm, and to get updates on it's release, check out the Berm website.

Episode 198 - Sloane Leong (again!)

This week on the podcast we talk to author and illustrator Sloane Leong about her new graphic novel Graveneye. We talked about working with Anna Bowles on the art for Graveneye, the process of pitching comics, and how to abstract a story by changing up the narrator.

Graveneye is out now from TKO Studios. You can find more of Sloane's work on her official website, or check out Salt & Honey podcast, which is now up on Youtube.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 197 - Lala Drona

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast, we have Venezuelan-American artist Lala Drona. Through painting, video, and performance art, Lala's work addresses digital spaces and the female gaze. We talked about her video The Box, how women's bodies are used as currency on the internet, and how to be patient with yourself.

There is a CONTENT WARNING for this episode - from 44:45-45:15 there is discussion of incest and rape in a conversation about feminism in France. It is brief and does not carry on through the rest of the conversation.

The best place to check out Lala's work is on her official website.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 196 - Vile Creature

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we have doom metal duo (debateably a 9-piece, actually) Vile Creature! We were excited to talk to them after the recent release of their Kitty "Paperdoll" cover for The Flenser Nu Metal compilation, which is available now for digital purchase or as part of The Flenser's Series 3 subscription.

Vile Creature is a great band with great folks. Michael was made to watch The Pagemaster film, we performed a focus group regarding the Juicy Mosh Shorts, and talked a lot about how to make time for creativity while also running a business.

For more information about Vile Creature, check out thier official website. Their newest full length, "Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!" is available via their Bandcamp.

Talking to Ghosts is recorded and produced by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 195 - Kate Bingaman-Burt

This week on Talking to Ghosts podcast we have Kate Bingaman-Burt, who is an illustrator, professor of graphic design, and zine library archivist here in Portland, Oregon. Kate founded and operates the print space Outlet, where she provides great workshops on risoprinting, zine-making, and the business of art.

We had a great time talking about transitioning to teaching virtually and how the PSU staff had to come together pretty quickly to adapt to the pandemic shutdown. We also talked about the design-world changes in Portland, Sonic Ocean Breeze, and how zines have become accessible ways for people to get their work out there!

You can find more information about all the work Kate does at Outletpdx.com

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 194 - Jaamil Olawale Kosoko

This week on the show we have Jaamil Olawale Kosoko, who is a multi-spirited Nigerian-American poet, curator, and performance artist whose work is rooted in embodied ritual practice, poetics, Black critical studies, and queer theory. We spoke to Jaamil about using the pandemic as a time to slow down, turning from the investigation of Black Suffering to Black Joy, and their upcoming projects: Syllabus For Black Love and Black Body Amnesia.

Jaamil's work is best found on their website or, for more frequent updates, his Instagram.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 193 - Review Roundup

This week on Talking to Ghosts we are knocking out a bunch of the reviews we wish we had time to write. 2021 has been a banger of a year for content so far, so we'd thought we'd spend some time going through some of our favorites.

Wes reviewed:

Michael Reviewed:

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 192 - Sigsaly (re-run)

This week on Talking to Ghosts we are re-running our 2019 interview with Vancouver techno-EBM friends Sigsaly! Since we spoke with them, they have released a single and new record both called Lasting Effects, which you can pick up on their bandcamp. We talked with Sigsaly about performing as Koban and the switch to a more minimal techno/ebm vibe, playing the community center in high school, and finding a new and exciting audience.

Talking to ghosts is recorded and produced by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 191 - Chat Pile

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we have the Oklahoma-based noise rock nu metal band Chat Pile! We talked about returning to the movie theaters, how they miss bad movie nights, and being the frat boys of The Flenser.

Chat Pile have a fantastic cover of "Roots Bloody Roots" out now and a new album on The Flenser is expected any day now :)

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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(We are aware of the sound issue on Wes' audio track, sorry for the scratchiness! We hope to resolve this issue soon)

Episode 190 - Erica Schreiner

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we talked with video artist, poet, and Marietta Magazine founder Erica Schreiner. From riot grrrl inspired introspection to the body depersonalization that comes from editing and modeling yourself for so many years, Erica takes us deep into the life of an artist living and working in New York.

Erica Schreiner's work is best found on her website. (some of it may not be safe for viewing at work).

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 189 - Nadja

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we have an interview with Aidan Baker from the doom/experimental metal band Nadja. They have a huge catalog and a nearly constant state of production, so it was great to talk to Aidan about life in Berlin, soundtrack work, books, and a 3-hour performance as the sun was coming up over a parking garage in Toronto.

Nadja's new album, Luminous Rot, is out now on Southern Lord.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 188 - Bustié (re-run)

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we are finishing out our summer break re-run episodes with Bustié! This interview was originally recorded in a cafe outside of The Liquor Store in Portland, right before Bustié played on their Birds of Paradise tour in 2019. We have fond memories of this interview and the show, and are happy to bring it back out again.

Bustié's "Birds of Paradise" can be found on their bandcamp and look out for their shows starting up again!

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller. For more episodes or direct downloads, check out our archive page.

Episode 187 - Divide And Dissolve (Re-Run)

For our second Summer Break episode we are excited to re-run our interview with the doom / experimental metal project Divide and Dissolve from February of 2019. Divide and Dissolve are one of those bands who really challenged us on our views and the way we talked about metal music. We both came away from the interview feeling like we'd just had our asses kicked in the most fantastic way.

Divide and Dissolve describe their aims as a project as “a simple one: to secure Black futures, liberation, and freedom; demand Indigenous Sovereignty; uplift people of color’s experiences; and destroy white supremacy.”

Divide and Dissolve have a new album out now called Gaslit, which you can check out on their Bandcamp.

Talking to Ghosts is recorded and produced by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 186 - Muscle & Marrow (re-run)

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we are re-running our 2016 interview with the experimental metal band Muscle & Marrow (featuring a new intro and slightly improved audio)! Although this band is no longer active, the duo have a great new pop project called So Sensitive!

Muscle & Marrow were one of our favorite projects and it was an amazing opportunity for us to interview these great folks while they were still living in Portland, OR. 

Talking to Ghosts is recorded and produced by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller. Check out our archive page for previously released podcast episodes, or the Reviews page for new reviews!

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Episode 185 - Big|Brave

This week on Talking to Ghosts we talked with Mathieu Ball from Big|Brave about their new album "VITAL," which is out now on Southern Lord. We talked about recording during the early phases of pandemic lockdown, minimalism in art and music, and sound art. 

Big|Brave is an experimental metal band from Canada and their new album is heavy and brutal. Check out more from them on Bandcamp.

**SUMMER BREAK ANNOUNCEMENT**

We will be taking a little over a month off from the show to refresh ourselves after 7 years and a hard pandemic. TTG will be re-running our next three episodes with new intros. We will still be doing brand new reviews for the site during our down time. Returning on 6/28 with a new interview!

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 184 - Xiu Xiu

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we talk to Jamie Steward from Xiu Xiu about their new record of duets called "OH NO," which is out now on Polyvinyl Records. We talked about pandemic life without near constant touring, the Xiu Xiu subscription service through bandcamp, and the Twin Peaks album

Xiu Xiu is best found on Instagram, or if you want to check out their music, check out their Bandcamp page. "OH NO" is fantastic and is out now!

Talking to Ghosts is recorded and produced by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 183 - Amulets (again!)

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast Amulets returns to talk about his new album, Blooming, which is out now on The Flenser! We talked a lot about the new album, the pandemic (of course), and the new mini documentary about Amulets, Tape Wizard by Kilian Vidourek.

Amulets' new album, Blooming, is on its second pressing from The Flenser. 

Check out our first episode with Amulets here.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 182 - Jonathan Tuite (The Flenser)

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we talk to the founder of The Flenser Jonathan Tuite about the early days of the label, what he looks for in an artist, and the future of The Flenser. 

Some artists from The Flenser who we have interviewed in the past include: Street Sects, Elizabeth Colour Wheel, and Sprain! As we mentioned in the interview, the new Amulets album is now available for pre-order! For more releases from The Flenser, check out their Bandcamp page.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 181 - PIFF 44 Coverage

This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we talk about the films we watched for the Portland International Film Festival (PIFF 44). A Rifle and A Bag and many short films are on the list for conversation, so join us as we go through some of our favorites! PIFF 44 is still happening and you can grab virtual passes here. If you are in Portland, there are some Drive-In films playing, the times of which can be found here

There is a CONTENT WARNING for this episode. During our discussion of the short film Anita we touch on the films use of sexual assault (Minute 22 - Minute 29). Please feel free to skip this section if this is an issue for you. It does not come up again in any of our other conversations.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller. 

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