The Feral House Podcast

Episode 10: Earth A.D: The Poisoning of the American Landscape and the Communities that Fought Back with Michael Lee Nirenberg

Michael Lee Nirenberg and I have been friends for years. He began his career in documentary film. (Check out: Back Issues: The Hustler Magazine Story.) He still works in the film and television industry and brings a filmmaker's eye to his first book, Earth A.D: The Poisoning of the American Landscape and the Communities that Fought Back.

 

The environment and the history of how humans fuck it up is an important one. Earth A.D. is by no means an obituary of planet earth, it's the story of people coming together to figure out how to fix things.  It's our job now to continue that work.  

 

Here's what I wrote about Earth A.D. in our press release:

 

"The environmental gains of the last fifty years are quickly falling away as the federal government repeals the very laws that allowed citizen activists to fight for their communities. We've forgotten that not too long ago, rivers were aflame from toxic waste and the ground saturated with cancer-causing chemicals. Earth A.D. The Poisoning of the American Landscape and the Communities that Fought Back is the sweeping oral history of two American communities poisoned by big business and what happened next.

Of the all too many stories generated by the egregious corruption of the Trump administration, the decimation of the EPA, and any rules regulating the environment is going unnoticed."

 

As always, thanks for listening.

Episode 9, May 26, 2020 / Mary Ann Cherry discusses her biography of Morris Kight

Welcome to another episode of the Feral House podcast. In this conversation, Christina discusses the newest Process title written by Mary Ann Cherry, Morris Kight: Humanist, Liberationist, Fantabulist–A Story of Gay Rights and Gay Wrongs.

Morris is a fascinating character and our conversation takes us in many directions. Have a listen!

 

Here is more about Mary Ann's book: Morris Kight: Humanist, Liberationist, Fantabulist–A Story of Gay Rights and Gay Wrongs.

New York and San Francisco gay liberation activists’ work is well documented but allow us to introduce Los Angeles' preeminent gay rights pioneer―say hello to Morris Kight.

His activist work began in the 1930s as a teenager. As the only male living in his mother’s Texas brothel, he secretly helped women working there get vital healthcare. During the 1950s, he was part of an underground network of gay ‘safe houses’ that provided bail, health care, and legal advice at a time when the United States had laws criminalizing same-sex relationships. He turned his unique charisma and organizing skills to the 1960s anti-war movement and then working the rest of his life in the now public fight for “Gay Liberation.” He fostered vital relationships with fellow activists, politicians, socialites, and gangsters. His style of organizing and activism showed the power of the “influencer” decades before social media brought millions together with a meme.

He founded groups that lead seminal protests that resulted in: The American Psychiatric Association removing homosexuality as a disease from its diagnostic manual, protecting civil rights for gay citizens in California, and reducing police violence against the gay community. And for every good thing Kight did, he took credit for more. He was a man who, with his many flaws, managed to alienate as many people as he brought together. His story brings to life his work as remembered by those who loved and loathed him.

Episode 8, April 14, 2020 / Guest: Harley Flanagan

You think you know Harley Flanagan but I assure you—you don't know Harley Flanagan. 

His September 2016 memoir, Hard-Core: A Life of My Own recounted his bohemian childhood and adolescence that would have been story enough, but Harley also played drums in his Aunt Mercedes' band (The Stimulators) before forming the legendary Cro-Mags.  

He has a new record out soon and was the first to live stream a "quarantine concert" when the Cro-Mags show opening for Ice-T's Body Count on March 15th was canceled by the necessary stay-at-home order in New York City.

In this episode, recorded on April 7, 2020 when Covid-19 deaths were just about to peak in New York City, our conversation turned to difficult topics.  Harley and I are near the same age, and we've both experienced the loss of close friends to suicide.  We talk about the difficulty of overcoming both tragic circumstances outside of your control but more importantly, making the choice to change yourself and your actions.

I think it's important to make this point: fame (or infamy) doesn't equal wealth.  And money, though it gives you more choices, doesn't equal happiness.  The story Harley tells about his life now, nearly five years after the release of his book, is inspiring.  There isn't a magic formula here. It's about thinking about who you want to be as a human and making the choices that help you become that person. The path is long and the work is hard. You gotta show up.

If you've ever felt the numbness of despair; get help. Seriously. There are people who can and will help you. Here's a few phone numbers and websites where you can get immediate assistance:

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): (800) 662-4357. Available 24/7, 365 days a year, the professionals on the phone can provide treatment information and referrals in English and Spanish to people who have questions about mental health or substance abuse disorders.

Veterans Crisis Line: (800) 273-8255 and press “1”. This toll-free hotline is available for veterans and their loved ones. You can also send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential, free support and referrals.

If you're unable to "talk" try the Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. This service is available 24/7 and provides free crisis support and information via text.

Episode 7 / Sheela-na-Gig by Jack Roberts / Irish Celtic Pagan imagery and beliefs

In this episode, Christina speaks with Jack Roberts author of Sheela-na-Gig: Sacred Celtic Images of Feminine Divinity (Process).  They discuss early church history, the significance of the carvings, the uneasy marriage of the Roman and Celtic church in Ireland, and the role of architecture in developing a symbolic language of sculpture.

Please note that when you purchase our books via Bookshop.org, a percentage of the sales is shared between independent publishers and bookstores. Support Bookshop.org!

Sheela-na-gig, the squatting, bald woman with comically large ears holding herself open in the most blatant way has long been a figure of mystery throughout Ireland where the stone statues are most prevalent. A multiplicity of theories have left Sheela-na-gigs the subject of curiosity. Researcher Jack Roberts has spent decades documenting and discovering Sheela-na-gigs in all her incarnations. His work places them as a critical element of Gaelic and Celtic culture at the crossroads of the Christian conversion of Ireland. 

Jack references a few items of note in this episode. Click here for Jack's website.  He also mentions the Sheela at Killinaboy Church, located west of the legendary Lisdoonvarna in County Clare. 

My particular favorite Sheela is located at Dunnaman Castle, about 15 minutes from my great-grandmother's town of Shanagolden, Limerick.

Special Episode / March 14, 2020 / Preparedness NOW! Pandemic Prep w/ Aton Edwards

Hello fiends!

Aton Edwards is the Executive Director of the International Preparation Network, which was founded in the early 1990s. He has devoted his life to teaching people the skills they need to survive a changing world. Aton wrote Preparedness Now! for our Process Self-Reliance imprint. He is currently working on Afroprep NOW! 7 Steps to Surviving Climate Change, Disasters, and Racists in a World that’s Trying to Kill You, which is slated for publication in Fall of 2020.

Aton and I discuss the coronavirus and covid-19 and the reality of what we can to protect ourselves and our families.

If you're part of the Feral Family—and if you're reading/listening to this, then we consider you consider you part of the Family—you are familiar with both Adam's interest in historic back-to-land movements as well as modern preparedness skills. And by now, you've heard that I'm both a Stoic and the Master Food Preserver for my region; this means I'm well-versed in how to both preserve food and prevent pathogenic infestation.  That being said, a few additional items I want to share with you.

Our Self-Reliance Series is rooted in the idea that experts share their practical and useable skills. They are not "prepper-porn" books filled with deluxe bomb shelters and wasted resources. Preparedness Now! by Aton and Preservation—The Art and Science of Canning, Fermentation, and Dehydration by me are about a mindset and skillset that can be used to add value to your life every day as well as build resilience in tough situations. Preparing for the future is something that should be done all the time and not when the "bad thing" happens. 

The second item I want to stress, and I know that Feral folks aren't indulging in the weak-minded panic thinking that has currently taken hold in the United States, is that things like new pathogens and weather-related disasters are increasing. And will continue to grow. This is not the time to isolate yourself mentally. Build your intellectual and psychological strength. Nurture the relationships that are important to you. Build your tribe.  The great myth of preparedness and survival is that it is a singular endeavor; it is not. I'll say it again—build your tribe.

You can purchase Aton's book, Preparedness NOW! here: https://bookshop.org/books/7010890/9781934170090

and my book, Preservation here: https://bookshop.org/books/7010907/9781934170694

Ryan Holiday is a Stoic enthusiast and has written many popular books interpreting Stoic philosophy. Here is a list of excellent (Stoic-influenced) suggestions for thriving during the current crisis.

• Practice social distancing: as much as possible, stay away from people outside of your family. Avoid social events and public gatherings, work from home if possible. If you have employees, do what you can so they can do the same. And implement common-sense measures so that your employees and customers are safe: reduce face-to-face interactions as much as possible, grant generous sick leave, and limit the number of customers at a single time.
• Cancel or postpone events if you have them. Make them remote-access, if possible. Do not prioritize your convenience or entertainment over the potential spread of the virus.
• Practice safety measures: wash your hands as much as possible, especially before you eat. Don’t touch your face, and cough into a tissue or your elbow. Don’t shake hands with people, press buttons with knuckles or elbows, and avoid uncooked food.
• Help others who are in more precarious situations. If you know your neighbor is elderly and planning to make a grocery run, see if you can help them get what they need without leaving their house. 
• Hold off on visiting elderly friends or family members. Yes, you’re worried about them. Yes, you miss them. But you put them and their community at risk by stopping at their old folks home or visiting their house. Even if you feel healthy, even if the person you’re visiting seems to be in good health, the safest option is to wait to see them.
• Don’t hoard: hoarding essential goods hurts other members of the community who lack resources to prepare. Slowly stock up with non-perishable foods and goods so that others can do the same. Long lines at stores only make things worse.
• Along those lines, don’t tie up medical resources that you don’t need. Save masks for doctors, nurses, first responders, and others who need them in the course of their jobs. And don’t forget that for now, our testing supply is sorely limited; do your best not to tie up the critical resource of COVID-19 tests, and avoid being a hypochondriac.
• Self-quarantine and self-isolate: if you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, stay in your home for two weeks to keep others safe.
• Use your time wisely: don’t let the possible weeks or months of isolation be for nothing. You can’t control how long you’ll need to engage in social distancing, but you can control if you spend that time productively. The version of you who steps out of quarantine at some future date can be better than the version that entered it if you try.
• Batch your online orders if you’re stocking up to reduce the need for inefficient shipments and stress on already stressed supply chains.
• Educate: don’t spread misinformation about the virus. Instead, make sure others know how to best handle the spread of the virus. If you’re someone with a platform, your number one obligation right now is not to spread bullshit or breaking information. You’re not helping; you’re hurting.
• If you get sick, isolate yourself at home as long as symptoms remain moderate. If you have trouble breathing, are an older adult (70+), have pre-existing lung conditions, or are immunocompromised, be ready to call your doctor or visit an ER.
• Remember that panic doesn’t help. Rushing to sell your stocks, ignoring the needs of others, freaking out, being cross with, or cruel to others. You know what this does? It takes a bad situation and makes it worse.
• Cherish the people you love and the present moment, as scary as it is. It is all we have for certain.

 

Episode 5, August 2018 / Homer Flynn spokesperson for the Residents discusses their book, The Brickeaters

A rare conversation with the spokesperson for The Residents and employee of the Cryptic Corporation, Homer Flynn.

Homer & Christina discuss The Residents' new novel, The Brickeaters and the power of anonymous art. Rare insights into the creative collective mind of The Residents. 

Episode 4, May 2018 / Danko Jones discusses his career and book I've Got Something to Say: Ten Years of Rock and Roll Ramblings

Episode Four is a lively conversation between Christina and Danko Jones about his book, I've Got Something To Say. In it, they cover favorite and influential bands, nerd-culture, and give some handy tips on deciphering Canadian and Midwestern semantics.

Danko is on tour and you really should see him play; he's fantastic. Check out the schedule at www.dankojones.com.

Danko mention some of the bands he's listening to recently. Here's a list of them with links:

Here Lies Man: hereliesman.bandcamp.com

Lüt: www.lutband.com

Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell: riseaboverecords.com/artists/riseab…desleyshovell/

Giuda: giuda.bandcamp.com/album/lets-do-it-again
The Biters: www.bitersband.com

Episode 3, April 2018/ Guest: Jason Louv discusses his book John Dee and the Empire of Angels

Episode Three of the Feral House Podcast. Guest: Jason Louv

Jason and Christina talk Protestant magick, John Dee, and being part of the Feral family.

Jason's new book: John Dee and the Empire of Angels
jasonlouv.com/

Episode 2, March 2018 / Elana Freeland discusses Under and Ionized Sky, from Chemtrails to Space Fence Lockdown and Chemtrails, HAARP, and the "Full Spectrum Dominance" of Planet Earth

Episode 2 of the Feral House Podcast. Guest: Elana Freeland, author of Under an Ionized Sky, from Chemtrails to Space Fence Lockdown and Chemtrails, HAARP, and the "Full Spectrum Dominance" of Planet Earth.

In this episode from March of 2018, Christina and Elana Freeland discuss her research on chemtrails, Haarp, 5G, and what Elana thinks are the negative effects on humans.  Christina is agnostic on the subject and Elana a true believer which makes for an interesting discussion as Christina tries to suss out where the facts are.

 

Christina Ward & Adam Parfrey and the origins of Feral House

This is the first experimental episode of The Feral House Podcast.  Adam and I recorded this phone conversation in February of 2018, only a few months before he passed on May 11, 2018.  It's obvious from our conversation that Adam was very much looking forward to the future and planning new projects.

Jessica, Adam's sister and now publisher, miss him very much.  Feral House (and Process Media) has and will continue working to keep Adam's legacy of publishing interesting books on rarified cultural topics.  

Our first six episodes, recorded in 2018, are available for your listening.  Look for new episodes from authors, friends, and other folks we like beginning in May of 2020.  We'll also be sharing curated mixes from our authors and inspired by our titles as well as other projects created by us and our Feral Family. You're part of the Family now too!  Have a listen to this bittersweet first episode of the Feral House Podcast.