1000 w/ Ron Placone
Comedian Ron Placone goes on a quest to interview 1000 different people who have piqued his interest in some way. "Maybe I appreciate their work, maybe I love their music or their writing or their films, maybe they’re an academic, a journalist, maybe they’re a colleague, hell, maybe I disagree with them on a bunch. Interest is a broad concept, but one thing all of these guests will have in common is they have stories I want the world to know."
Episodes
Paul Gilmartin is a comedian, show host and mental health advocate. He hosts the podcast the Mental Illness Happy Hour which is one of my favorites and has helped a ton of people. Myself included. I guested on Paul’s show and talked about my struggles with anger, it’s still one of the only platforms where I’ve opened up about that part of my life. Trigger warning: This episode goes deep. Paul discusses his past trauma and life stru...
Katie Love is an author and comedian. Also, she escaped a cult, at least that’s how she looks at it. For the record, I do as well. This episode concerns the Jehovah Witnesses, and how Katie Love eventually walked away from the Religion, after being indoctrinated into it at age 9. She also suffered abuse, and disclaimer, while we don’t go into as much detail as her book we do talk about it.
Chris Lee is an author and historian. I’ve always been interested in the connection between politics in football aka soccer especially in Italy. It came up some in Episode 27 with Attila the Stockbroker. Well, I decided why not talk to someone who wrote a book on the topic. Chris Lee, among other things, is other of The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism. He dives into that history not just in Italy but other countries ...
Tim Parks is an author, novelist and academic. One niche of his: He writes about moving and living in Italy as somebody from a different country. I’ve read several of his books on that topic as well as a book he wrote about overcoming a very severe illness.
Wanna be a writer? This episode’s for you. Chris Silber is a writer. He’s had movies and television shows produced all over the world. One time, I was chatting with Chris, he had a series launching in the UK, a movie launching in Italy, and he was developing a series in the US. He did all of this from his house in Nashville. His more recent projects include Sam a Saxon on Disney Plus and a children’s book based on how he helped his...
Jerry Rocha is a comedian and a damn good one. I met Jerry in 2015, right before I moved to LA. We became friends and like most LA comics didn’t stay in touch all that great, just how it goes especially out here. Recently, I saw a clip of Jerry’s online and while it was a hilarious joke it contained some not great news: Jerry had stage 4 cancer.
Francesco Il Mercante is an Italian musician and busker who has performed all over the world. He has built a one-man band assemble that allows him to do percussion and play guitar and at times harmonica, simultaneously. The entire thing is mobile, and he can carry it in a backpack. Due to his unique talent, he’s gone viral on YouTube multiple times. His version of Bitter Sweet Symphony' I prefer over the original. Also, I’ve me...
Attila the Stockbroker is a poet, a punk troubadour, a musician, a force. He started in the UK punk scene in the early 80s. Throughout this interview, he recalls being heckled by nazis in the early 80s, seeing Black Flag’s first London show, his role in organizing his local progressive football club...If you like punk rock, left-wing politics, you’re not gonna want to miss a minute of this. When I was in Edinburgh in 2023, sadly At...
If you grew up with Rugrats like me you're gonna love this! Melanie Chartoff is an actor, voice over artist, and author. I first met Melanie when we were on a show together for the Funny Times, a syndicated newspaper we’re both a part of, she writes a column for them and they carry Lucy & Ron, the comic I write. Melanie did a reading, her prose were incredible and she crushed. Among her extensive list of credits, she voiced...
Gigi Sohn is an attorney and public advocate. She’s served on the FCC in the past, and when she was nominated by Joe Biden many of us were thrilled. She’s been a leader, especially when it comes to issues like Net Neutrality, for many years. A right-wing smear campaign followed her nomination, and after three hearings, each more absurd than the last, she had to withdraw. It’s tragic she’s not currently at the FCC, the good news tho...
Afeni is an activist, organizer and abolitionist. I’ve followed her stuff online for awhile and I’ve interviewed her in different capacities over the years. She’s part of a movement of community engagement, dominated by people in their 20s, that I find pretty admirable and dare I say, hopeful. You’re definitely gonna hear some ideas that challenge the norms, that’s part of 1000.
Russ Rankin is the singer of the legendary punk band, Good Riddance. He’s also a hockey scout and a writer. Russ and I have some big pillars in common: Punk rock, hockey, and lefty politics. Russ is a member of the Green Party USA. It’s worth mentioning: This episode was recorded in December of 2023. At the time, I was registered as No Party Preference. I am now registered as a member of the Green Party. This conversation with Russ...
Jill Stein is a doctor, environmentalist, activist and prominent member of the Green Party USA. She’s run for office in the past and she’s running for President this year, 2024. I first met her during my time working on the Jimmy Dore Show and I’ve interviewed her in different capacities over the years. Given the nature of 1000, this may be our last interview together.
Mike Figueredo is the creator of the popular YouTube show and podcast, the Humanist Report. We dwell in a similar indie online media space and we’ve always gotten along because we have some things in common - both big on digital rights, both former academics, and we’re around the same age. As the years went by, personalities would clash and at various times Mike and I were kinda in the middle of various online feuds. We always stay...
Variety D is a comedian and disability rights activist. She’s the first black disabled comedian in Britain. I met her in Edinburgh, I go into more detail in the interview, but basically, her energy was infectious. Have you ever met someone and thought, “I want to be friends with this person.”? It was that kinda energy. We go a little long here. Sometimes comics tend to riff with each other, especially when they have something like ...
John Nichols is a labor journalist, Nation contributor and author. We talk the history of the media reform movement past to present, the state of labor and of course, the 2024 election.
Chris Fafalios is a musician, podcaster, producer and more. Growing up, I followed Chris’ band, Punchline. They’re an excellent pop/punk band still going strong to this day. Chris is the producer of one of my favorite podcasts, "Chris Demakes a Podcast" hosted by Chris Demakes of Less Than Jake. We talk about it and get a pretty cool origin story, we also dive into all of Chris’ other projects and of course, we talk music...
Do you know what Biospheric Restoration is? Basically, we have the ability to develop forests at a very rapid rate, such an effort could help us mitigate climate change. Ronan Taylor is an in-the-field activist who has worked in numerous fields within natural sciences, and organizations including the Smithsonean Institution and TED. He explains Biospheric Restoration and other climate related concepts in an easy-to-understand manne...
Episode 016. Charlie Wiener. Charlie Wiener is a musician, author, and, this is how I met him: Charlie Wiener is a road comic, a badge he wore with pride for many years. Charlie decided to retire from Stand-up, and his reasoning is incredibly interesting and insightful. Lastly, one day many years ago in Rhode Island, Charlie gave me some life advice I’ve always tried to carry with me since. I think that when you hear it it’ll make ...
Anthony Rankin is a musician, songwriter and producer. He's one of the hardest working people I know. Also, he’s one of my closest and oldest friends, we’ve been friends since we were 5-years-old. He helped me through the toughest time I’ve ever had in my life.
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