The Creative Asylum Podcast

In this episode, I spend some time with an old friend and one of my favorite conversationalists, the legendary (and always funny) Pacific Northwest producer and musician Steve Fisk. In a behind-the-scenes candid chat with one of the architects of some of the region’s most adventurous and influential music, we discuss his working with Nirvana, Soundgarden, Beat Happening, Unwound, Screaming Trees and Carseat Headrest. Known for his adventurous ear and willingness to push bands beyond their comfort zones, Fisk has long been a key figure in the creative ecosystem that helped define the sound of the Pacific Northwest.Similar to Jack Endino, Steve’s story isn't limited to the recording studio: He has a very cool resume as a musician, having played in Pell Mell and the genre-bending collaboration, Pigeonhed with Shawn Smith of BRAD. In this conversation, Fisk reflects on his decades of studio wizardry, the evolution of independent music culture and the creep of AI, and what it takes to help artists capture that special something. It’s a fun deep dive with one of the quiet giants of alternative music, and probably my single favorite character to emerge from the movie Hype! * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a special treat with an old friend: A conversation with Chad Channing, the drummer who helped usher Nirvana into the world with their debut record, Bleach. We dive deep into his pivotal role on the band’s bands beginnings, and the creative spark that defined those early Sub Pop years. Channing reflects on his time in those sseminal of the Seattle scene, and what it meant to be part of a band before they became the very poster-child for the seismic cultural impact that "grunge" unleashed.Beyond Nirvana, we talk about Chad’s decades of music since Nirvana — from pcollaborating in projects like the Fireants to evolving as a songwriter and performer in his own rite. It’s an honest, insightful look at legacy, reinvention, and the long arc of a working musician’s life — an essential epsidode for grunge historians and anyone fascinated with the deeper personalities that go well past the headlines. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, a super-fun conversation with the San Francisco–based “Heavy Metal Quilter,” Ben Venom, an artist who stitches together the worlds of metal, punk, skate culture and fine art quite literally. A long-standing fixture in the Bay Area’s punk rock art scene, Venom repurposes band tees and battle jackets into intricate, hand-sewn quilts that blur the line between craft and cultural artifact. We talk about growing up on heavy music, finding community in the underground, and transforming DIY ethos into large-scale textile works that honor the raw spirit of intense music while pushing it into unexpected spaces.Venom’s résumé is as impressive as it is unconventional: from gritty gallery exhibitions to major museum installations, his work has earned recognition accross a broad spectrum of cultural environments. In this conversation, he reflects on bringing subculture into institutional settings, challenging assumptions about what “fine art” can be, and why fabric and ferocity belong together in the same artistic perspective. This is a must-watch for metalheads, art lovers, and anyone who believes rebellion can be beautifully handcrafted. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by Latina feminist punk pioneer Alice Bag for a fierce, fun and deeply insightful conversation about music, identity, and resistance through art. A breakout presence in Penelope Spheeris' debut film, The Decline of Western Civilization, Alice was one of the earliest artists that defined the confrontational energy of early L.A. punk with her band The Bags. We dig into that explosive era, the community behind that scene, and how she carved out space for Chicana and feminist voices in a movement that reshaped underground culture.We also discuss her acclaimed memoir, 'Violence Girl: East L.A. Rage to Hollywood Stage : a Chicana Punk Story,' her subsequent solo music career, and her recent collaboration with Kid Congo Powers as one half of the duo Juanita and Juan. From punk clubs to classrooms, Alice Bag remains a powerful creative force — and this interview captures her legacy, her fire, and her ongoing mission to make music that both challenges and connects. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with an old friend, rock journalist and author Adem Tepedelen to dig into his latest and most anticipated project: Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond, which is the authorized autobiography of Kim Thayil of Soundgarden which Adem worked on with Kim over the period of three years. Adem discusses how the project came to fruition - writinga book with one of heavy music’s most innovative guitarists, unpacking the stories, history, and creative evolution that shaped a cornerstone band of the Seattle sound. We talk how the book captures both the myth and the reality of a key member of an underground scene that changed rock music forever.We also explore Tepedelen’s broader career as a respected rock and roll author, discussing his previous published books, Mud Ride: A Messy Trip Through the Grunge Explosion, with Steve Turner of Mudhoney and A Fabulous Disaster: From the Garage to Madison Square Garden, the Hard Way with Gary Holt of Exodus and more recently, Slayer.  * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prepare to go deep with Michael Hill — the incendiary guitarist, singer, and founder of Tombs, a band that has relentlessly pushed the boundaries of metal, hardcore, and intense and experimental heaviness for close to two decades. In this conversation we trace Michael’s musical evolution from the early days of forging his current sound in the present moment, where his creativity continues to thrive not just through music but through thoughtful focus on being present and being intentional. Beyond brutal dark riffage, Michael hosts two podcasts — the horror-focused Necromaniacs and the genre-spanning Everything Went Black — platforms where extreme music, art, and community collide in mind-expanding ways.This episode also dives into the urgency of free thinking and resistance, as we discuss why it’s essential for artists and citizens alike to push back against the rising tide of authoritarian and fascist impulses in the current Trump regime. We talk about why questioning power isn’t just good politics — it’s vital to protecting creativity, human rights, and the very culture that makes music matter.TOMBS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL1nmsjw_uvq05qHZAu66kQEverything Went Black: https://everythingwentblackmedia.com/everything-went-blackNecromaniacs: https://everythingwentblackmedia.com/necromaniacs * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we sit down with the immensely creative co-founder of The Posies, Ken Stringfellow. A songwriter and guitarist whose harmonies and songs have been a critical element to some of the best power pop to ever come from the Pacific Northwest, Ken and Posies co-founder Jon Auer, were part of the resurrection of Big Star, a band that was hugely influential on both of them. Beyond Big Star and Posies, Ken’s released several solo records, further evidence of his prowess as a songwriter and performer. In this conversation navigate some of the tougher chapters in his story — but don't really get into the public controversy that has surrounded him in recent years. We do talk about his recent cancer diagnosis— not as sensational headlines, but as parts of a complex life lived in the spotlight and in the studio. This conversation is at once a celebration of enduring musicianship, a reflection on resilience and mortality, and an honest look at what it means to keep creating through highs and hardships. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering his work, this episode offers insight, honesty, and some perspectives whose adult life has been committed to creating some of the most timeless music to come out of Washington State. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we sit down with Hiro Yamamoto — co-founder and original bass player of Soundgarden, one of the most important bands from the Seattle Music explosion that changed the course of rock forever. Hiro’s musical journey is rich and expansive. From the thunder of early grunge to the expansive psych-rock of TRULY, and his instrumental surf-punk band, the Bellingham-based Stereo Donkey, he's now back into the spotlight with the re-release of TRULY’s seminal Fast Stories…from Kid Coma (which includes an upcoming tour that’s got fans buzzing). Recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as one of the founders of Soundgarden, Hiro reflects on a lifetime of riffs, risks, and reinvention.This episode however goes well beyond his musical journey. Hiro and I talk about how the experience of being a Japanese-American — and a person of color has shaped some of his attitudes. At a time when our country is wrestling with disturbing echoes of its worst moments, the racially targeted rhetoric to threats against due process and a codified rejections of basic human rights, Hiro identifies why it's important that your voice be heard if you have a platform to speak from. We explore how those challenges intersect with art, identity and community, and why voices like his matter now more than ever. Join us for an episode that’s equal parts musical history, genuine reflection, and the urgency of the challenges that face us as a nation.  * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, a deep and wide-ranging conversation with Victor Krummenacher — songwriter, bassist, and creative heart behind Camper Van Beethoven, co-founder of Monks of Doom, and a singular voice in alternative music with a remarkable catalog of solo records to his credit. Victor’s musical journey has always been adventurous, exploratory and deeply human and with that, we talk about The Third Mind, his most recent collaborative band that he's a part of with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Alvin (The Blasters), drummer Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson, Better Than Ezra, John Cale), guitarist David Immergluck (Counting Crows, John Hiatt), and singer/songwriter Jesse Sykes (from Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter)Well past his influential musical career, we talk about the state of art and music-making in the age of AI. Victor shares candid views on why he believes the current AI push may not be the boon many claim will be the future for the creator economy, and what that means for musicians, storytellers, and the future of creative work. The question in my mind is: HOW do we stake out our claim in the creative world where technology threatens to replace the very humanity of real creative energy and effort? * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Few cartoonists have captured the anxious, abrasive, and darkly hilarious spirit of American life quite like Peter Bagge. Best known as the creator of HATE, the iconic Fantagraphics series that defined a generation of alt-comics readers, Bagge’s work blends elastic cartooning, savage satire, and razor-sharp social observation. Mentored early on by Robert Crumb during his time editing Weirdo, Bagge absorbed the underground tradition and detonated it—filtering punk attitude, suburban dread, and grunge sensibilities into a style that’s unmistakably his own.In this episode, Bagge reflects on a career that moves effortlessly between the margins and the mainstream. Based in the Pacific Northwest, he’s brought his distinctive voice not only to Fantagraphics and independent comics, but also to unlikely institutions like MAD Magazine and even Marvel, where he put his stamp on an issue of Spiderman. The conversation dives into influence, craft, cultural satire, and longevity—offering insight from an artist who has never stopped pushing at the boundaries of what comics can say, or how loudly they can say it. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kira Roessler is a rare artist whose creative impact started in the 1980s as the bassist for Black Flag during one of the band’s most explosive and influential eras. She later co-founded dos with her then-spouse, Mike Watt, writing deeply personal, minimalist music that pushed punk’s emotional and structural boundaries to new areas of exploration.Beyond the world of SoCal punk, Kira has managed an equally remarkable path in the film industry, building a career as a sound editor that culminated in winning an Academy Award as part of the team for Best Sound Editing for Mad Max: Fury Road. In this conversation. Kira reflects on creativity, diligence and focus as templates for a work style that spans different areas of expertise. Always maintaining her DIY ethos, Kira remains passionate about staying true to her values while also being disciplined with how she approaches her work and creativity. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a fun one - a conversation with Jeff “JD” Pinkus, best known for his work with the legendary Butthole Surfers as well as his stint as the bass player with Melvins. Jeff's approach to music is unique - he has his own sense of warped psychedelia, a genuine reflection of his sometimes wildman mind. In this episode, we begin to understand his fearless spirit and boundary-pushing ethos, qualities that have made him a cult icon and a relentlessly creative visionary.Beyond the distortion and zany demeanor, JD brings a singular voice with his trippy solo banjo work, an experience that has to be experienced live to fully appreciate. We talk about his early days first getting onboard with one of the most uncompromising bands in indie rock, the playfulness behind some of his more beloved projects, and the unpredictable journey of making music on his own terms. This is a conversation with a true architect of some weird and wonderful sounds. It was great to catch up with him! * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Lally is one of those bassists whose playing has largely defined ideas of what punk and post-punk can be. Best known as a founding member of Fugazi, Lally’s deeply, sometimes dub-inflected feel and tight rhythm-forward approach have influenced an entire generation as a critical component of Fugazi’s fiercely independent and uncompromising approach to being in a band. In more recent years, he’s continued to push boundaries with The Messthetics, a band that he plays in with Fugazi drummer Brendan Candy and Jazz virtuoso guitarist, Anthong Pirog. While sounding nothing like Fugazi, The Messthetics create a textural, instrumental intensity that is every bit as compelling as their lineage.In this episode, Joe talks about how he approaches creativity in his work—then and now—offering insight into collaboration, restraint, and the power of groove as a form of expression. If you’re a lifelong Fugazi fan or are someone fascinated by the true spirit of independent music, this conversation goes deep into the mind of a musician who has always played with purpose and intent. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this kick-off to the second season of The Creative Asylum, I have a conversation that was an honor and a delight. From growing up inside one of the most unconventional, creative, and publicly scrutinized families in American pop-culture, Moon Zappa has lived a life defined by both extraordinary visibility and deeply personal exploration. In her memoir, Earth to Moon, she offers a vivid, emotionally charged, often funny, equally heartbreaking account of navigating identity, fame, family legacy, and the search for a personal authenticity in her own life.In this episode, Moon opens up about the stories behind the book. She openly discusses her growth, discovering revelations, and the paths she’s travelled both in and beyond the Zappa universe. With her trademark wit, insight, and self-awareness, she reflects on childhood, creativity, survival, and the lifelong process of making sense of where we come from and who we become. If you’re fascinated by memoir, personal transformation, or the complex human realities behind iconic cultural figures, this conversation is one that you don’t want to miss. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode—the final episode of the first season—a conversation with a very old friend, the endlessly creative Roderick Wolgamott — founder and front-facing soul of the Seattle-based psychedelic dream-pop collective Sky Cries Mary. Outside of music, he’s also a visionary designer behind dozens of hand-built treehouses in locations all over the world. Roderick takes us on a journey through his life, both in sound and in structure, revealing how music, nature, and craft have always been intertwined in his artistic DNA.From the early days of Seattle’s experimental music scene to the meditative process of shaping wood and space in the canopy, Roderick shares stories that are spiritual in nature while also being a person with a scientific/analytical mind. We talk about living wholly as an artistic animal, the communal energy of Sky Cries Mary, and what it means to build spaces—musical and physical—that invite people to step outside themselves. It’s an inspired, free-flowing conversation with a creator who has spent decades following his own compass, someone whose work continues to blur the lines between art, environment, and spirit. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just in time for Christmas, in this episode, I sit down with legendary DIY filmmaker David Markey for a broad-ranging conversation about his life behind the camera. Markey, known for his raw, uncompromising and irreverent approach to documenting underground culture, opens up about the creative journey that led to his upcoming film 'The Secret Lives of Bill Bartell,' a project that I think is perhaps the most remarkable film of his career.We discuss his decades-long relationship with Bartell, the eccentric musician and scene-staple whose chaotic brilliance inspired the film, a testament to one of the most individualistic lives in the L.A. punk scene of the 1980s and '90s. Markey talks about those early days, the cultural history that he's been part of preserving. and his unruly spark that keeps him pushing himself into new territory. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sluggo Cawley has been in bands most of his life. From Hullaballoo and Aint to The Grannies and REQ'D, Sluggo has spent over four decades creating guitar-based mayhem. A longtime friend, we have an in-depth conversation that digs into the stories behind the music: the chaos, the creativity, the hard-won wisdom and the pure joy of staying creative and making noise. With an art degree in hand tempered with the perspective of a veteran of punk rock, Sluggo looks back over the years, many of those experiences covered with the release of his first book GUITARGONAUT, an often funny, unfiltered chronicle of a life lived without compromise.  * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, a conversation with Bootsy Holler — the lens-and-light maestro who captured the raw energy, the DIY grit, and the creative perseverance of Seattle's indie, rock and punk music. With her new book MAKiNG iT: An Intimate Documentary of the Seattle Indie, Rock & Punk Scene, 1992‑2008, Bootsy talks about her journey — from a young photographer showing up at clubs with a camera and her passion, to witnessing and framing a cultural moment that has since attained mythic status. We discuss some of the bands that defined the period, but also the artist behind the lens: how she navigated being a woman in that scene, how photography became her tool of memory and connection, and how her book is both a chronicle of an era and a personal blueprint to the unapologetic drive needed to make art. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From her early days as a founding member of the Riot Grrrl band, Bratmobile to an impressive career as a music executive, Molly Neuman has lived a life steeped in creativity, community, and change. As a musician at the forefront of a burgeoning musical subculture, she helped shape a movement that gave voice to a new generation of feminist artists; as President of CD Baby, she continues to champion independent musicians everywhere, helping them build sustainable careers on their own terms.In this conversation, Molly reflects on her journey from the punk underground to the executive suite—sharing perspectives and insights about the evolving music industry, artist empowerment and maintaining a DIY perspective in all aspects of life and work.  * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, an in-depth conversation with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Doug Pray, whose work over the past three decades has captured the raw spirit of several American subcultures.Doug’s films — including Hype!, Scratch, Surfwise, Art & Copy, Levitated Mass, and Love, Lizzo — have explored everything from the explosion of Seattle’s grunge scene to the pioneers of hip-hop DJ culture, the power of advertising, and the artists and outsiders who redefine what’s possible. His documentaries are celebrated for their empathy, energy, and authentic connection to the people and movements they portray.Doug reflects on his filmmaking journey, the stories behind his most iconic works, and how he finds truth and emotion through documentary storytelling. We discuss his process — from gaining trust with subjects to finding meaning in the edit room — and how decades of filmmaking have shaped his perspective on creativity and collaboration.Whether you’re a filmmaker, music fan, or creative of any kind, this episode is an inspiring look into the craft of storytelling from one of the best in the field. * * * * PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Website: https://www.TheCApod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCApod/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeAsylumCA/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.