In this conversation, former political prisoner Eric King shares his experience of incarceration & the profound impact of relationships during his time in prison. He discusses the journey that led him to federal prison, the challenges of maintaining connections with loved ones, & the unique bond he formed with his wife, Rochelle. He highlights the importance of emotional support & understanding in navigating the complexities of love behind bars. Eric emphasizes the need for vulnerability & the significance of being valued as a person, despite the dehumanizing nature of the prison system. The conversation also touches on the societal perceptions of relationships with incarcerated individuals. Eric discusses the fleeting moments of joy that allowed him to escape the harsh realities of incarceration & the transformative power of love that helped him navigate his difficult journey. He reflects on the emotional complexities of his release day, the struggles of adjusting to life outside prison, & the importance of community support. Eric emphasizes the significance of finding joy & maintaining a smile as acts of resistance against the trauma of his past, while also highlighting the impact of art & connection in the healing process...particularly through seeing Myles Bullen perform live.

Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• What led Eric into prison
• Prison relationships often face skepticism from the outside world
• Emotional vulnerability is essential for maintaining connections
• Visits from loved ones can be emotionally taxing & scrutinized
• Women often bear the emotional burden of supporting incarcerated partners
• Exploring how love can transform one's experience in prison
• The complexities and challenges of getting married in prison
• Moments of joy can provide relief from the harsh realities of incarceration
• The emotional turmoil leading up to release day.
• Navigating the challenges of the halfway house experience
• Finding joy & resistance in the aftermath of incarceration
• The power of a smile as an act of defiance against trauma
• Thoughts on Myles Bullen & the importance of community & art in the healing process

Follow Eric King on Instagram

• instagram.com/supportericking/

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you; roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.com
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

• Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
• Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the final installment of our Johnny Hobo Q&A, Brook Pridemore joins Pepe to offer some more perspectives on the questions listeners sent in. They also discuss some of the general happenings of the folk punk scene from the mid to late 2000's. Enjoy! (There will be some additional Pat The Bunny questions answered by Pepe on our Patreon feed)

Support the podcast to get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Brook's first show with Johnny Hobo/Pat The Bunny
• What was the average Johnny hobo show like at the time? Was it a solid consistent line up or mostly pat showing up with a guitar?
• What was the farthest pat toured during that period?
• Some differences between the Pan-It-X crew & the DIY Bandits crew
• The role of "place" & how it influences music & scenes
• How much did the Johnny Hobo songs actually reflect Pat's real life at the time & how much was just him singing in character?
• Were things like hitchhiking & riding freight trains stuff Pat actually did?
• Thoughts on the tinder Box in Brattleboro VT.
• Brook taking people to Harmony Parking Lot
• How do you all feel about being so popular with train hoppers & homeless kids, particularly those who take inspiration from Pat's early nihilistic, self-destructive lyrics to be nihilistic and self-destructive themselves?
• Does an artist have a responsibility to their listeners. Eg glorifying drugs, suicide, violence, crime etc or is the first responsibility to the art itself?
• How do you feel about fans putting people like Pat & Benjamin Tod on pedestals? Seemingly holding them solely responsible for their recoveries?
• "These days folk-punk is suffering because the artists aren't". It seems like the music was better when the people involved were "worse". Can you speak to that idea?
• Can I become rich & pay off my student loans with my old CDs. Asking for a friend :) + What’s that most yall have seen these albums go for?
• Did he ever give a reason for the disbanding of Johnny Hobo? If so what was it?

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you, roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Listen to Johnny Hobo & The Freight Trains music

• open.spotify.com/artist/7Mv8pqnyBgJGpNTRwbi7kl?si=my2hVoEARMiILPtdwUQyjg

Listen to part 1 of this series

• Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/0eLXoYgmbVI3XiBCZcRrvo?si=aac159d382414ccb
• Apple podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/back-on-the-grind/id1681556943?i=1000680412865

Listen to part 2 of this series

• Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/5IzB3AHtsMhsGp75bacHxY?si=b8e3cc3f85ec4f24
• Apple podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/back-on-the-grind/id1681556943?i=1000684064945

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.com
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wondering what the upcoming Friends In Real Life album will be like? Well, here's a sneak peek...

The day after Pat (fka Pat The Bunny) announced he will be releasing music for the first time in 10 years, Pepe decided to chat with friends April Hartman of Apes Of The State & Julio "Ceschi" Ramos of Codefendants about the new album. Expect to hear what Pat's return means to them & the scene overall, April's top 3 picks from the album, Ceschi's break down about how the song (& upcoming video) "Surf Rock Anthem" came to be & much more. This one got emotional...

REMEMBER THERE IS STILL HOPE LEFT IN THIS WORLD

A longer version of this interview is available through our Patreon

Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you, roasted by Pepe

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Listen to Friends In Real life

• open.spotify.com/artist/6k9PWB6N0siXTYtRn6hV6s?si=KTNJHKAOTHSmnPDx49KqRw

Listen to Ceschi & Codefendants

• Codefendants - open.spotify.com/artist/6HBfXt98QpP7QVDPLHjHTe?si=d4BAH4nYQSm0oyALZotM9w
• Ceschi - open.spotify.com/artist/78t5ObID5m0cLVrpZernKV?si=2l6QbrF5SOaTPpC6KBV5qA

Listen to Apes Of the State

• open.spotify.com/artist/4HemfSCDgnPiHQh8Z6iyd6?si=6oweZzS4SWi6OAcfljFk9g

Send us questions, comments or topic suggestions to

• Podcast@BackOnTheGrindRecords.com
• Leave a comment/question on Spotify or Instagram (we read them all)

***Word of mouth really matters to us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

1. Share your favorite episode with a friend who you think will also enjoy it.
2. Leave us a rating or review. It will help us reach & support more folks like you & that's why we do this :)

Stay Free until next time!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.