02 Chris Gethard - Comedian/Actor/Podcaster (Suburban NJ Punk Scene)

Killed By Desk Trailer: Have you ever wondered what the weirdos behind your favorite records are doing when they’re not losing money? Whether they are pushing pencils, tending bar or running corporations, we’re having sincere yet totally stupid conversations on how they’ve managed to make a living and advance their scams into careers (or something like it) among the squares. Have you ever wondered what the weirdos playing on your favorite record are doing when they’re not losing money playing guitar? Are they painting houses, pushing pencils or running corporations? Are they why that Buzzcocks song is playing in an AARP commercial? Welcome to the only punk podcast trending on LinkedIn that looks to find out if that kid standing on stage or in the back is a biotech millionaire, in jail or possibly both. by Killed by Desk

1 min listen

14 Drew Stone - Film Director ( Antidote / The Mighty C.O.'s ): A New York City kid goes to Boston for school and discovers the burgeoning hardcore scene, before returning to NYC and forming his own production company. The son of a filmmaker himself, Drew Stone discovered his own interest in film, using what he learned in the hardcore scene to produce music videos for various punk, metal and rap groups. Later, he went on to street biker videos to feature-length documentaries, including Who the Fuck Is That Guy? The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago, as well as films on the Boston and NYC hardcore scenes. Drew’s career is a great example of how one can not only apply the DIY and punk rock work ethic, but also use connections and relationships to tell some incredible stories. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk Link by Killed by Desk

93 min listen

10 Sarah Crews,PhD - Research Scientist - Arachnologist (Bay Area Punk Scene): Sarah Crews became a scientist through a combination of chance and pure determination. While trying to find her direction in life, spilled wine on a borrowed book led to a career studying spiders around the world. Sarah tells us how she went from an upbringing in rural Kentucky to respected scientist in her field. Even if the job means sleeping on the ground in foreign countries, flipping random rocks and chasing specimens without the luxury of grant money to keep you afloat. Sounds pretty punk rock to us. by Killed by Desk

63 min listen

02 Chris Gethard - Comedian/Actor/Podcaster (Suburban NJ Punk Scene): Can attending suburban basement shows lead to success as a professional broadcaster? Chris Gethard wasn’t in a band but he takes a very punk rock approach to his career. His Beautiful Anonymous Podcast, Career Suicide HBO Special and The Chris Gethard Show are all one-of-a-kind creations each with it’s own cult following. Chris gets into how growing up around underground music led to underground comedy and ultimately a DIY approach to more mainstream show business. We dig into aspects of his behavior that have persisted since childhood, heartbreaking revelations and just how difficult it is to make it as a professional entertainer. by Killed by Desk

77 min listen

01 Justin Brannan - NY City Councilman (Indecision / Most Precious Blood): We kick off the Killed By Desk podcast with one of our favorite examples of a punk going from respect in the scene to a respectable career. Justin Brannan is known by many NYHC fans as the guitarist for Indecision and Most Precious Blood, but his priorities took a left turn when he decided to run for New York City Council. Assuming office in 2018, Justin opens up about what it’s like to be a local politician, from keeping your constituents happy while staying true to your ideals to the best pizza in Bay Ridge, and why no one wants to play South Dakota on a Tuesday night. You can find Justin at @justinbrannan by Killed by Desk

56 min listen

05 Rev Hank Peirce - Unitarian Universalist Minister (FUs/Slapshot Roadie): Rev Hank Peirce is part of Boston hardcore history. As an iconic part of the scene’s straight-edge crew, Hank traveled the country and around the world as a roadie for iconic bands like Slapshot, Uniform Choice and Corrosion of Conformity. For over twenty years since, however, he’s served as a minister in the Unitarian Universalist church. In this episode we dive into how to hold on to values while going from the pit to the pulpit, and how current faith leaders can take a cue from the punk scene and move their community forward in both thought and action. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/killedbydesk by Killed by Desk

57 min listen

12 Spag - Senior Principal, Practice Leader of Interior Design (Two Man Advantage): Here it is - the suit and tie hardcore company man we promised in the trailer! For those who only know Spag from his years singing for hockey punk legends Two Man Advantage, however, it may be hard to even picture him in a suit and tie. During the day, however, Spag has been working for the same international architecture firm for 25 years, making other’s work-life better by designing innovative and functional office spaces in New York City. Originally enrolled in vocational high school programs, he managed to not only make it as a designer, but eventually move on to management by learning on the job. Spag is a great example of how one can find their passion outside of music yet apply the same creativity, attention to detail and execution anyone would expect from the most entertaining hockey themed hardcore band in history, For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killed by Killed by Desk

75 min listen

20 Ari Katz - Cabinet Builder / Furniture Maker ( Lifetime ): Ari always knew that his time as a full-time hardcore singer had an expiration date. After years of performing in the iconic band Lifetime, he found himself in need of a career plan. In our conversation with Ari, we talk about his first forays into building, showing up completely unprepared for a day of work, and how he turned that into an opportunity to start a small business before ultimately joining a business that creates furniture for top companies and hotels around the world. Other topics discussed include the struggles of running a business, still performing in a part-time capacity and how sometimes taking a step back in music can make you realize how much you still love it. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/co by Killed by Desk

65 min listen

03 Emily Flake - New Yorker Cartoonist (Suburban CT Punk Scene): Emily Flake is the perfect example of the “be an adult, but make it punk rock” balance that so many of us try to find as we get older and start careers and families. An accomplished artist, cartoonist, performer and author, she is currently most well-known as a regular contributor to the New Yorker. The first (and only) person to get a story about Jawbreaker into the magazine, the comic went viral in punk circles upon release for its emotion and humor. In this conversation, we try and get to the bottom of how Emily measures professional success, what she still wants to accomplish in her career, how her punk rock roots have affected her parenting style and how she sometimes wants to throw it all away to drive trains. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk by Killed by Desk

61 min listen

06 James Spooner - Tattoo Artist/ Afropunk Founder / Filmmaker / Cartoonist (Kidney Room Records / Zine ): James Spooner aka Razzle started Kidney Room zine and label in the mid-1990s, firmly planted in the ABC No Rio NYC punk scene. Without any formal training, learning about documentary filmmaking with the help of friends working at a local video store, he created the award-winning documentary AFROPUNK about the roles of African-Americans within the overwhelmingly white US punk scene. Applying his punk approach and ethics he moved on to making films, events and is now settled in Los Angeles where he pioneered vegan-friendly tattooing. In this episode we dig into the struggles a punk kid can face when trying to work with “normals”. James is a great example of defining success on one's own terms, and the ability to self-reflect and evolve over time while still staying true to the ethos of punk rock. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk by Killed by Desk

64 min listen

11 Brooks Headley - Chef/Owner, Superiority Burger ( Born Against / (Young) Pioneers / UOA ): Food was always important to Brooks Headley, even while he was drumming in bands like Born Against and Universal Order of Armageddon, but he didn’t begin a professional cooking career until later in life. Starting in Washington D.C., Brooks traveled the country both with his bands and working at restaurants, before settling in New York and finding acclaim as the executive pastry chef at Del Posto. Later, he left the ultra-expensive white tablecloth world behind to open the wildly popular Superiority Burger, which now has locations in NYC and Tokyo. We talk to Brooks about figuring out what’s important to him, how his restaurant is an extension of both himself and the ethics he learned playing in punk bands, and how to be genuine and honest - as a leader, a musician or a human being. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk by Killed by Desk

87 min listen

15 Dan Schafer - USPS Mail Carrier ( Screeching Weasel / Riverdales / Dan Vapid and the Cheats ): Dan Schafer (aka Dan Vapid) is a pop-punk icon. He started recording and touring as a teenager, but his defining musical partnership with Ben Foster and John “Jughead” Pierson began when he joined Screeching Weasel in 1988. As one of the biggest punk bands at the time, Dan made a living off of the royalties from Screeching Weasel and later the Riverdales, opening for Green Day in stadiums around the world. The lack of consistent touring led to a need for Dan to look in other areas to make ends meet, however, and he spent time as a chef in Chicago hotels before moving to rural Illinois with his wife and family, taking a job as a substitute mail carrier at the USPS. In this episode we explore the challenges of his shift from full-time musician to full-time mailman, and along the way learn a lot about the daily grind - from canines to QAnon - that most people (especially Dave) take for gran by Killed by Desk

55 min listen

04 Chicken John Rinaldi - SF Mayoral Candidate / Retired Showman (GG Allin - Letch Patrol): Description: You may know Chicken John Rinaldi for his time in the Murder Junkies with GG Allin or the NYC punk band Letch Patrol, or you may have caught his performance based on the Hieronymus Bosch painting Garden of Earthly Delights, or maybe you voted for him for mayor of San Francisco. You may have even attended his funeral home yard sale performance - the point is, we’re not quite sure what Chicken John does to make a living, but in this episode we try our damnedest to find out. Along the way he has great advice for performers, activists and writers, and really anyone putting on events or needing innovative approaches to marketing and public relations , along with some hilarious stories. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedby by Killed by Desk

60 min listen

25 John Ross Bowie - Actor/Comedian ( Egghead ): To hear John Ross Bowie tell it, his entire acting career came about as a result of trying to support his family - with maybe a little recognition as a character actor if he was lucky. From his beginnings growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, he was dissuaded from pursuing acting by his first-hand look at some of those who had pursued it as a profession. After a disastrous attempt at teaching high school English, an even worse plunge writing marketing copy while his band Egghead imploded, John began pursuing comedy and improv at UCB. In this episode, we discuss who watches the Big Bang Theory, how one secures bit parts in big movies and big parts in movies sold at car washes, the early years of the UCB theater and his newest role as a TV dad in the show Generation. Our conversation is fast-paced, hilarious and insightful, so don’t miss out. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By D by Killed by Desk

73 min listen

07 Penelope Houston - Library Technician - ( The Avengers / Solo Artist ) by Killed by Desk

65 min listen

19 Sue Werner - Database Developer ( War on Women / Shemps / Stormshadow ) ): Sue got a programming bug at a young age programming an 8 Bit monster gotten out of a relative’s trash minus a key component! After actually completing a double major in college, she actually got a job in the work she trained for. Now a database developer for John’s Hopkins Sue has figured out how to balance being in a popular punk band and keep a career going at the same time. In this episode we talk about the sort of work Sue avoids while relishing technical challenges in their place. Disclaimer: This episode was originally a short test when we were deciding on the general format and style this podcast should be, and was recorded in two parts. The result comes off much more like a late night conversation you’d have at HoJos than any semblance of serious interview, but Sue still manages to communicate her noble approach to work and genuinely has a lot of things figured out that other fledging developers by Killed by Desk

66 min listen

09 Brandon Pecoraro - Economist Joint Committee on Taxation (Madison): Brandon Percoraro found renown playing guitar in Drive-Thru records band Madison, and thought he’d make a long career out of music. When the band broke up, however, he struggled to find a backup plan. Not sure he was cut out for college, he enrolled in a single course at a local school, which led him to a career as an economist working in Congress. We try to sound smart with questions about economic theory as Brandon successfully dodges hard ball questions about which member of Congress has the best record collection. Brandon is a great example of how punk rock can prepare you for the challenges of any career, even in government. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/killedbydesk by Killed by Desk

66 min listen

23 Grant Lawrence - Pop Radio DJ ( The Smugglers ): How do you go from punk rock frontman to mainstream pop music presenter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)? Our guest this episode knows all about it. From calling into broadcasts while on tour (including a famous account of a NYC hold-up in progress) to a spot as one of the most respected hosts in Canada, Grant Lawrence took an unconventional route to his career. In our conversation, we discuss the pros and cons of being a Canadian musician (spoiler: there aren’t many cons), promoting music that you love (and a lot that you don’t), being a recording artist with Lookout Records at the height of pop-punk’s popularity, his series of memoirs and the Lookout Zoomout! livestreams that he is currently hosting and producing. Oh yeah, and some hockey and Nardwuar stories as well. Enjoy! For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter by Killed by Desk

75 min listen

17 Jon Fine - Magazine Editor / Journalist ( Bitch Magnet / Vineland / Coptic Light ): Jon formed Bitch Magnet while in college at Oberlin, and continued to play nearly constantly through his twenties and thirties. But when a moment of “what the fuck am I doing” hit him when he was nearly 40 years old, he committed himself to finding gainful employment - turning his occasional freelance writing into a full-time job in the publishing world. As he rose up the ranks in the industry, he found work at AdAge, Businessweek and as the acting Editor in Chief of Inc. magazine. In our conversation we talk about growing up in the punk/hardcore scene, finding a “real” job, writing a memoir, winning a James Beard award and continuing to play and tour on a more part-time basis as your career takes off, Jon is candid, smart and hilarious about it all. Jon has the ability to clearly communicate the experience all of our guests share and why they’re at where they’re at now. If you only listen to one Kil by Killed by Desk

84 min listen

24 Annie Saunders - Veterinarian ( This Is My Fist / Time Thieves ): As a little girl, Annie Saunders already knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. After being sidetracked by a love of labor history and graphic design, as well as being threatened by her school for fraud, she rediscovered her love of animals with a job at a dog training facility. After years of working with animals, moving to the Bay Area and back to the Midwest, Annie realized her dream by becoming a vet. In our conversation, we discuss why she can suss out B.S. from any pet owner, why cows are awesome, Amish friendships and much more. This one is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/killedbydesk by Killed by Desk

81 min listen

26 Lane Pederson - Clinical Psychologist ( Dillinger Four ): A proud community college graduate, Lane started medical school while playing drums in Minneapolis punk icons Dillinger Four. As the band vowed never to ‘reach’ too far in the pursuit of a ‘career’, Lane’s own professional path took him from a small practice to expert status in his field - with a network of clinics and training sessions with over 10,000 psychologists worldwide. Join us in trying to figure out if playing drums in a beloved punk rock band has anything to do with his achievements, and why he also felt the urge to start a custom drum business and even took on flipping real estate. Despite an incredible drive for success, we see both sides of Lane - the esteemed psychologist as well as the overgrown kid - and we may have found the epitome of the ‘doctor heal thyself’ ethos in between bouts of laughter. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk by Killed by Desk

86 min listen

08 Gentleman Jim Norton - Road Manager / Sound Manager (Crucial Youth): Gentleman Jim Norton (not to be confused with that other guy) runs live music shows in New Jersey, and has decades of experience behind the scenes working for touring bands and at live music venues. Knowledgeable and hilarious, Jim speaks humbly about his career, a detour selling insurance, and a more recent epiphany that he loves his work. Jim’s mantra of saying “yes” to the world may have come from the intro of a Butthole Surfers LP, but the overall wisdom gained from putting it to practice is universal. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/killedbydesk by Killed by Desk

93 min listen

34 Toody Cole - Entrepreneur (Dead Moon): Growing up in Portland, Kathleen Conner thought she’d become a librarian or accountant. Nicknamed Toody by her friends, it wasn’t until The Weeds’ van ran out of gas in town in the late 1960s that she met her future husband Fred Cole that she found the perfect partner in business, music and life . Over the following decades, she and Fred raised a family, owned a variety of retail businesses and made music a priority, playing around the world in The Rats, The Range Rats, Pierced Arrows and of course the legendary Dead Moon. Toody is so old school that we had to figure out a way to dial her up through Zoom, and what ensued was an inspiring talk about chasing dreams, trying to survive while homesteading in the Yukon, sharing a love of music with the young punk rockers of the Pacific Northwest and ultimately remaining DIY through the thick and thin of it all. Light a candle and settle in for an incredible conversation. For Full Length Episodes A by Killed by Desk

61 min listen

16 Melissa York - Creative Director ( The Butchies / Team Dresch / Amy Ray ): As a Creative Director for a regional energy company in North Carolina, Melissa is in charge of a team of designers that create advertising and promotional content for the utility. Moving to Durham with her band The Butchies, Melissa grew up in the NYC-area, playing drums in bands like Born Against and volunteering at ABC No Rio. We talk with her about her time at Reconstruction Records working with Bill, designing the cover for the first Born Against record and the anti-krishna flyers incident, as well as dive into her work for a large utilities company, how that meshes (and doesn’t) with her activist punk rock ideals and what it’s like to be a boss. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/killedbyd by Killed by Desk

68 min listen

32 Jason Trachtenburg - Pet Care Professional (Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players / The Pendulum Swings): Jason Trachtenburg marches to the beat of his own drummer. Through his projects, which include his band the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players (with his wife Tina and daughter Rachel) among others, his plays or other artistic endeavors, Jason has remained fully committed to his art. To make ends meet, he has owned and operated a successful dog walking and pet care business with Tina, first in Seattle and then in NYC. What we weren’t prepared for was Jason coming prepared with his OWN questions and answers, and what results is a zany conversation about work, music, creativity, the JFK assassination and the power of community and family. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com by Killed by Desk

85 min listen

21 Chris Shary - High School Drama Teacher (Descendents / ALL Artist): He may have seriously considered clown college, but Chris Shary instead ended up teaching high school drama in California, while moonlighting as an artist for many of your favorite punk rock bands, including his role as the official artist for Descendents / ALL. In our conversation we discuss his early years moving frequently and how that encouraged his art and his outgoing nature, as well as his love of cartoons, comics and punk rock - which set him on a path to his unique role in punk rock and his career as a teacher. His optimistic, genuinely inviting approach to his work and his passions is something we should all aspire to achieve. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/killedbydesk by Killed by Desk

85 min listen

18 Bobby Sullivan - Food Co-op General Manager / Author ( Soulside ): Growing up in Washington D.C. during the legendary early years of the scene, Bobby learned a lot about community and cooperation from luminaries like Ian MacKaye, H.R. from Bad Brains and his brother Mark. His first band, Lunch Meat, later morphed into the iconic Dischord band Soulside, and he found himself touring the world while learning more about politics, injustice and Rastafari. In our conversation with Bobby, we discuss his introduction to punk rock and how political activism led to his immersion in food co-ops and cooperative economics, his work with prisoners in Western North Carolina and his recent book Revolutionary Threads. Bobby’s enthusiasm for his work is infectious, and we may have bent our ‘no back in the day’ stories rule for some great anecdotes about the D.C. scene in the 80’s. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @ki by Killed by Desk

73 min listen

13 Holiday Q&A: We took questions from social media about the podcast that included debate on who we should or should not try to talk to in the future. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @killedbydesk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killedbydesk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/killedbydesk by Killed by Desk

63 min listen

33 Marc Tamo - Branding Executive (Scherzo / Enemy You / Fat Wreck Chords ): In college, Marc Tamo’s goal was to intern and ultimately get a job at Alternative Tentacles to get closer to his favorite band, Neurosis. After convincing Fat Mike to be the first intern he went on to help launch the Honest Don's, a subsidiary of Fat Wreck Chords. He later moved up to help manage Phat as the label faced the decline of the punk rock’s mainstream appeal and the rise of file-sharing services like Napster. With his career in music coming to an end, he found an opportunity in public relations and later discovered a talent for storytelling through videos for technology businesses. His ‘serious’ career hasn’t dampened his sense of humor and humanity, and our discussion demonstrates on how doing what you love isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. For Full Length Episodes And Merchandise Go To https://www.patreon.com/killedbydesk Follow: Killed By Desk Insta: @killedbydeskpodcast Twitter: @kille by Killed by Desk

69 min listen

22 Tea Krulos - Writer / Journalist (Milwaukee Punk Scene): From working at a pharmacy to bartending, Tea Krulos always showed a passion for discovering and sharing the stories of the people that he met along the way. From an early age, this was shared through zines, a blog and later in local newspapers and regional publications. A chance introduction to the world of real life superheroes pushed Tea to become a published author, leading to books about those superheroes as well as paranormal investigators, doomsday preppers and conspiracy theorists, each a fascinating look at these subcultures. In our conversation we discuss growing up in Wisconsin, how being part of the punk rock subculture helped Tea relate to his book subjects, and how its possible to make ends meet while traveling the country to meet people and research his projects. Get ready for a fascinating look at both the writing process and the funny (and sometimes dangerous) things that happen when you immerse yourself into by Killed by Desk

67 min listen

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02 Chris Gethard - Comedian/Actor/Podcaster (Suburban NJ Punk Scene)

02 Chris Gethard - Comedian/Actor/Podcaster (Suburban NJ Punk Scene)

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