Pepe talks with Chan & Emily from Porch Cat to discuss their experiences with disability & accessibility within the folk punk community. They share personal stories about living with chronic illnesses, the assumptions people make about disabilities, & the importance of creating inclusive spaces for all. The discussion also touches on the role of bookers & venues in ensuring accessibility, the impact of capitalism on disability, & the need for open communication within the community. They also share insights on how to make shows more accessible for everyone. In closing, we play the unreleased track "Walking on knives" from Porch Cat's upcoming album.

Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

Expect to learn:

• How disability is often invisible & misunderstood
• Why everyone will experience disability at some point in life
• Why open communication is key to understanding accessibility needs
• What bookers & promoters can do to better work with disabled musicians & fans
• How the DIY scene can do better in terms of inclusivity
• The unique challenges touring poses for disabled musicians

Connect w/ Porch Cat:

• instagram.com/porchcat.music/?hl=en
• porchcat.org/

Back On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch:

• backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe)

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Reach out...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 for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

• Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.
• Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :)

Stay Free,

Pepe Bandit

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

Pepe talks to A day Without Love (Brian Walker) who shares the profound impact of personal history, particularly the Trail Of Tears & its connection to the 50-state tour he completed. Brian explores how witnessing & acknowledging existing community strengths can foster genuine connections. We also discuss the challenges & triumphs of organizing within the music world, the importance of self-care on the road & the need to focus on collaboration over competition within the DIY/folk punk community. Join us for an inspiring conversation about building meaningful communities & the role of music in bridging divides across the country. We close out playing the track "Keyboard Warrior" by A Day Without Love.

Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Brian's family legacy & the Trail Of Tears connection
• Breaking family curses to honor his Grandfather
• Moving from anxiety & fear, to actually touring all 50 states
• Choosing to share vulnerably after his Grandfather died
• Booking logistics, DIY vs. having an agent
• Differences & similarities Brian saw in DIY communities across the U.S.
• Connecting with people from different political/economic backgrounds
• The prevalence of fear in our lives leading to bigotry
• Highlights from visiting all 50 states
• Brian offers Pepe tips on visiting New Orleans & Denver
• "Keyboard Warrior" is played

Listen to & connect with A Day Without Love

• open.spotify.com/artist/09JoYdZo9cekYMqyN1bsGD?si=KQyeEW0XS_-9kITM0dh0pw
• adaywithoutlove.com/
• adaywithoutlove.bandcamp.com/music

Back On The Grind Records - Find DIY, Folk Punk Music & Merch:

• backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe)

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Reach out...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 for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

• Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.
• Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :)

Stay Free,

Pepe Bandit

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

Things get flipped in this conversation & Pepe gets interviewed. He explores the journey of the DIY Bandits, a record label that emerged from personal struggles & a desire to create community through music. The discussion covers Pepe's unique work of blending folk punk & hip hop, & the challenges he faced, including being poor while raising a family, rejection from some of the folk punk community & his eventual incarceration. Pepe reflects on the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions & the role of music & spirituality as an outlet during difficult times. Hear about upcoming music & book releases & the conversation closes on the evolution of the folk punk community, its current state & its potential going forward.

**This interview was conducted by Jarda (Smažená pikantní škeble) for the online Czech magazine Alarm. We play a song of their's at the end. There's links below to the print version if you want to read it or see some pictures of me since I don't post myself online much :)

Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods

• patreon.com/BackontheGrind

HIGHLIGHTS:

• DIY Bandits started as a response to personal struggles
• Bridging genres was a key focus from the beginning
• Community engagement was essential to the label's mission
• The label was rooted in working-class experiences
• Incarceration led to significant personal reflections
• The importance of taking responsibility for one's actions
• Support from family & community was crucial during confinement
• Spirituality deepened through Pepe's solitary experiences
• The journey of writing a book was initially daunting
• The folk punk community is evolving & becoming more inclusive
• The importance of giving back to the community is emphasized
• Pepe feels a sense of responsibility to share his journey
• Song "Going Postal" by Smažená pikantní škeble

Support Jarda (Smažená pikantní škeble) who arranged & conducted this interview:

• smazenapikantniskeble.bandcamp.com/music
• Read the interview (english) medium.com/@michljarda/what-supports-you-when-theres-no-one-left-to-support-you-bab448d386d8
• Read the interview (czech) denikalarm.cz/2025/10/folk-punk-pro-me-vzdycky-znamenal-neco-vic-nez-jen-hudbu-rika-pepe-bandit/

Back On The Grind Records - Find DIY, Folk Punk Music & Merch:

• backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music

Get Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe)

• StayFreeCoffee.com

Follow the podcast on Instagram

• instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engram

Reach out...Send me 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 for us. Here's two simple things you can do to help keep this podcast going strong:

• Share your favorite episode with a friend or two who might enjoy it.
• Leave a rating / review. This helps me get access to the guest you want to hear from & allows the show to reach & support more folks like you :)

Stay Free,

Pepe Bandit

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