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 !...
Nov 29, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 200
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. For an archive of all our episodes and reviews, check out our official website . As a reminder, the next episode will be our last episode of the podcast. We're starting a contempo...
Nov 15, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 199
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 ....
Nov 01, 2021•52 min•Ep. 198
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 car...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 197
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 talk...
Oct 04, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 196
This week on Talking to Ghosts podcast we have Kate Bingaman-Burt , who is an illustator, 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 ...
Sep 20, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 195
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 mor...
Sep 06, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 194
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: Mobile Suite Gundam: The Origin / Char's Counterattack/ Hathaway Dragon's Quest Builders 2 Lingua Ignota's " Sinner Get Ready" Michael Reviewed: Hante.'s " Morning Tsunami " youryoungbody's " eXcess " Racoon City's " For Nobody, Nowhere " Talking to Ghost...
Aug 23, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 193
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 ...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 192
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. For an archive of all our episodes and reviews, check out our official...
Jul 26, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 191
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...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 190
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....
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 189
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 produce...
Jun 14, 2021•40 min•Ep. 188
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, a...
May 31, 2021•57 min•Ep. 187
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 ...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 186
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 af...
May 03, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 185
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 T win 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 b...
Apr 19, 2021•59 min•Ep. 184
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 . Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller. For more episodes and reviews, check out www.talkingtoghosts.com...
Apr 05, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 183
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 i...
Mar 22, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 182
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 ...
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 181
This week on the Talking to Ghosts Podcast we talk about the new Miranda July film Kajillionaire and the 2006 book Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity by David Lynch. This is a spoiler-filled discussion of both topics, which we recommend that you read/watch before listening if you are sensitive to spoilers. Also in this episode: I follow up up with Wes about 2021 Global Game Jam and the latest review on our site for Holy Fawn's Death Spells . Talking to Ghosts is pro...
Feb 22, 2021•58 min•Ep. 180
This week on the Talking to Ghosts Podcast we talk with Portland Institute for Contemporary Art curators Roya Amirsoleymani and Kristan Kennedy about challenging the exclusivity of art history to frame the artist’s now in their own words, the concept of the “unstitution,” and how working in any authentic way with Indigenous artists or staff means being open to new ways of working and hearing criticism. This was a great conversation that covered way too many topics to put in the description, but ...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 179
This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we talk with mixed media artist and educator Jaleesa Johnston . We saw Jaleesa's work as part of the 2020 Time Based Arts Festival and were very excited to talk to her about "rise x fall (work in progress ii)," how being an arts educator has influenced her art, and the nature of critique. Jaleesa's new work, and portfolio, is best found on her official website . Mentioned in this episode: Paper Monuments I Like Your Work (artists, curators, and critics ...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 178
This week on Talking to Ghosts podcast we have performance and conceptual artist Maximiliano to talk about their collaborative work " rise x fall (work in progress ii)", which we saw as part of the TBA:20 festival. We talk about the veil as a fluid object to represent self, Nat Turner Project , and how casual art work can be subversive. Maxx's latest work, "Androids in the Tower," zine and performance trailer can be found on Maximiliano's website or Instagram. Recently on the site Wes reviewed D...
Jan 11, 2021•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 177
This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we have filmmaker and visual artist Rubén García Marrufo . We saw Rubén's collaborative piece "rise x fall (work in progress ii)" as part of the TBA:20 Festival this summer and were excited to talk to them about art, film, and all kinds of upcoming work. For all of Rubén's links, check out their Flowpage . Talking to Ghosts is recorded and produced by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller. For an archive of all our episodes and Reviews, check out our Official...
Dec 28, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 176
This week on the podcast we have comics illustrator and author Liana Kangas . We talked about her Industry Fridays interviews , the value of mentorship, and she breaks down self publishing a comic vs. working on creator-owned projects. The best place to find all of Liana’s work is on her official website . Trve Cvlt Comic is funded, but you can still sign up for the mailing list to get updates on retail copies when they become available. You can support Liana’s work and get cool behind the scene...
Dec 14, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 175
This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we chat with Picogram about their upcoming game Garden Story! Picogram is the solo developer, which was a fascinating look at pixel art, how to tell stories about communities, and what cozy games consider when thinking about the place of violence in a story. You can find more information about Garden Story on the Official Website or, if you’re looking for more work from Picogram, check out picogram.co Talking to Ghosts is recorded and produced by Michae...
Nov 30, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 174
This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we talked with Demian Dinéyazhi' about their recent performance at PICA’s Time-Based Arts Festival , having to adjust to performing during the pandemic and forest fires over the summer, and how punk energy exists in indigenous, Black, and brown communities. Demian is the founder and director of R.I.S.E , which creates space for indigenous artists and poets. “At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic. Talking to Ghost...
Nov 16, 2020•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 173
This week on the podcast we have author and artist Tatiana Ryckman ! We talked about her new novel's hotline launch event, the depression after releasing a new work, and starting a band during the pandemic. " The Ancestry of Objects " is out now on Deep Vellum. You can still grab her novella "I Don't Think Of You (Until I Do)" from Future Tense Books . For more writing and works, please visit Tatiana's website. Also! Reviews are back! Check out the first written review we've done in a long time ...
Nov 02, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 172
This week on the podcast we have Heldáy de la Cruz who is an artist and illustrator working in the undocumented and queer communities in Portland, Oregon. We talked about working during COVID and how filming projects have changed, his participation in a new PICA exhibit by Carlos Motta called "We Got Each Other's Backs." The best place to find Heldáy's work is on his Instagram . “At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic. Talking to Ghosts is produced and rec...
Oct 19, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 171
