Podcast

Episode 180 - Kajillionaire and Catching the Big Fish

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This week on the Talking to Ghosts Podcast we talk about the new Miranda July film Kajillionaire and the 2006 book Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity by David Lynch. This is a spoiler-filled discussion of both topics, which we recommend that you read/watch before listening if you are sensitive to spoilers.

Also in this episode: I follow up up with Wes about 2021 Global Game Jam and the latest review on our site for Holy Fawn's Death Spells.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 179 - Roya Amirsoleymani and Kristan Kennedy

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This week on the Talking to Ghosts Podcast we talk with Portland Institute for Contemporary Art curators Roya Amirsoleymani and Kristan Kennedy about challenging the exclusivity of art history to frame the artist’s now in their own words, the concept of the “unstitution,” and how working in any authentic way with Indigenous artists or staff means being open to new ways of working and hearing criticism. This was a great conversation that covered way too many topics to put in the description, but we did want to also highlight two performances mentioned: Javaad Alipoor’s "Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran," which they saw as part of the Under the Radar festival, and Ligia Lewis’“Deader Than Dead” performance for The Hammer Museum.

Roya Amirsoleymani is the Artistic Director and Curator of Public Engagement and Kristan Kennedy is the Artistic Director and Curator of Visual Art at PICA here in Portland, OR. To support or visit upcoming events at PICA, please check out their official website.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 178 - Jaleesa Johnston (At Home)

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This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we talk with mixed media artist and educator Jaleesa Johnston. We saw Jaleesa's work as part of the 2020 Time Based Arts Festival and were very excited to talk to her about "rise x fall (work in progress ii)," how being an arts educator has influenced her art, and the nature of critique. 

Jaleesa's new work, and portfolio, is best found on her official website. Mentioned in this episode: Paper Monuments I Like Your Work (artists, curators, and critics talk about the manners of the art world).

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 177 - Maximiliano (At Home)

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This week on Talking to Ghosts podcast we have performance and conceptual artist Maximiliano to talk about their collaborative work "rise x fall (work in progress ii)", which we saw as part of the TBA:20 festival. We talk about the veil as a fluid object to represent self, Nat Turner Project, and how casual art work can be subversive.

Maxx's latest work, "Androids in the Tower," zine and performance trailer can be found on Maximiliano's website or Instagram.

The “At Home” series of interviews are recorded virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still ongoing.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller. For more episodes, or a direct download of this episode, check out our Archive.

Episode 176 - Rubén García Marrufo (At Home)

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This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we have filmmaker and visual artist Rubén García Marrufo. We saw Rubén's collaborative piece "rise x fall (work in progress ii)" as part of the TBA:20 Festival this summer and were excited to talk to them about art, film, and all kinds of upcoming work.

For all of Rubén's links, check out their Flowpage.

Talking to Ghosts is recorded and produced by Michael Kurt and Wesley Mueller.

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Episode 175 - Liana Kangas (At Home)

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This week on the podcast we have comics illustrator and author Liana Kangas. We talked about her Industry Fridays interviews, the value of mentorship, and she breaks down self publishing a comic vs. working on creator-owned projects.

The best place to find all of Liana’s work is on her official website. Trve Cvlt Comic is funded, but you can still sign up for the mailing list to get updates on retail copies when they become available. You can support Liana’s work and get cool behind the scenes updates on her Patreon.

Talking to Ghosts is recorded and produced by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller. The new cover art was done in house by Wes Mueller! 

At Home episodes are recorded by the ever-present, still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please wear a mask and be safe out there. We’d love to see each other in person some day.

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Episode 174 - Picogram (at home)

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This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we chat with Picogram about their upcoming game Garden Story! Picogram is the solo developer, which was a fascinating look at pixel art, how to tell stories about communities, and what cozy games consider when thinking about the place of violence in a story.

You can find more information about Garden Story on the Official Website or, if you’re looking for more work from Picogram, check out picogram.co

Talking to Ghosts is recorded and produced by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller. The new cover art was done in house by Wes Mueller!

At Home episodes are recorded by the ever-present, still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please wear a mask and be safe out there. We’d love to see each other in person some day.

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Episode 173 - Demian Dinéyazhi' (At Home)

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This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we talked with Demian Dinéyazhi' about their recent performance at PICA’s Time-Based Arts Festival, having to adjust to performing during the pandemic and forest fires over the summer, and how punk energy exists in indigenous, Black, and brown communities.

Demian is the founder and director of R.I.S.E, which creates space for indigenous artists and poets.

Reviews are back! Check out last week’s post from Wes on Oneohtrix Point Never’s new album “Magic OPN”

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

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Episode 172 - Tatiana Ryckman (At Home)

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This week on the podcast we have author and artist Tatiana Ryckman! We talked about her new novel's hotline launch event, the depression after releasing a new work, and starting a band during the pandemic.

"The Ancestry of Objects" is out now on Deep Vellum. You can still grab her novella "I Don't Think Of You (Until I Do)" from Future Tense Books. For more writing and works, please visit Tatiana's website.

Also! Reviews are back! Check out the first written review we've done in a long time on the site: Lauren Bousfield's "Palimpsest"

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

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Episode 171 - Heldáy de la Cruz (At Home)

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This week on the podcast we have Heldáy de la Cruz who is an artist and illustrator working in the undocumented and queer communities in Portland, Oregon. We talked about working during COVID and how filming projects have changed, his participation in a new PICA exhibit by Carlos Motta called "We Got Each Other's Backs." 

The best place to find Heldáy's work is on his Instagram.

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

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Episode 170 - Sprain (At Home)

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This week on the podcast we have Alex Kent from Sprain! We talked about the dramatic dynamics of classical composers, using impressionistic thinking to write, and what it means to be in (and outside of) a genre.

Sprain’s new album, As Lost Through Collision, is out now on The Flenser.

Also on this episode we talked about How you should register to vote now if you live in Oregon or Washington, and PICA’s Time-Based Arts Festival.

Artists mentioned in this episode’s TBA:20 section:

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

Episode 169 - War on Women (At Home)

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This week on the podcast we talk to Shawna Potter of the band War on Women! Shawna is an activists and the author of the new book “Making Spaces Safer” (out now on AK Press). We talked about recording during COVID/protests, not wanting to make a Trump record, and how to reach people with music.

War on Women’s new album, Wonderful Hell, will be out October 30th on Bridge Nine Records.

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

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Episode 168 - I Die:You Die 2020

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That's right! It's time again to check in with our good buddies Alex Kennedy and Bruce Lord from I Die:You Die. It's been a little over a year since we've seen each other and it was definitely time to catch up.

We talked about podcasting and maintaining a website during the pandemic, working on diversity in our coverage, and left a nice chunk at the end to talk about: Wrestling, Blaseball, and Fight Island. 

I Die: You Die produces lots of weekly content on their website, podcast, and Patreon. Check out Alex's Keyforge Podcast Help For Future Self, and the Telekompilation Vol. 3 (proceeds go to NAACP education and law fund).

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

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Episode 167 - Lota Leona (At Home)

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This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we spoke to Jasmine Wood about her new project Lota Leona. We talked about moving to Ireland, releasing a new album during quarantine, and how she had to adapt to playing professionally as part of the Portland Center Stage production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch!

Lota Leona’s new release, Pink Sun, is out now on Bandcamp.

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

Episode 166 - First Cow and Portland Protests for Racial Justice

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This week on the Talking to Ghosts podcast we talk about the 2020 Kelly Reichardt film First Cow (A24, written by previously featured guest Jon Raymond). We were supposed to see this film during the Portland International Film Festival, but it was shut down before we had the chance. Wes went to a rally in Portland to protest racial injustice and police violence and Michael watched some calming Vlogs.

In this episode we recommend: Ganser’s fantastic new album Just Look At That Sky; Voting! (and checking your voter registration); Joop Joop Creative; Buying stamps to support the US Post Office; and Beyond Press.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

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Episode 165 - Mickey Sanchez (At Home)

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This week on Talking to Ghosts we have artist and game designer Mickey Sanchez! We talked about the long cycle of independent video game development, pandemic work/life, and touring as a semi-professional musician.

Mickey Sanchez is part of the New Beings team who recently put out a game called Robot Island! Also mentioned in this episode is the ongoing collaboration project Pidzn Club.

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

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Episode 164 - Josh Boykin (At Home)

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This week on Talking to Ghosts we talk to Intelligame founder and games journalist Josh Boykin about creating a space to post and support the content you want to see, how platform holders win by making money on creators supporting other creators, and the risk of never shutting down from work mode during the pandemic.

Check out Josh's podcast Intelligame Radio. We highly recommend the most recent episodes "Labor (ft. Lana Polansky)" and "Black Lives Matter (ft. Zoe Schneider)"

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

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Episode 163 - Jaye Jayle (At Home)

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This week on Talking to Ghosts we talked to Jaye Jayle about making a collaborative album on the road, working in minimalism to find emotion, and how the COVID lockdown has allowed Evan and his wife, Emma Ruth Rundle, to take time off from touring and get a dog.

Jaye Jayle's new album Prisyn is out August 7th on Sargent House. You can also find the stems for "Don't Blame The Rain" as part of the Isolate/Create project.

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

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Episode 162 - Omari Jazz (At Home)

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This week on Talking to Ghosts we have Portland-based electronic musician Omari Jazz! We talked about the early days of SoundCloud, Lo-fi culture erasure, and participating in an art residency with his dad.

Omari has a new album out now called Dream Child. All funds received from this project get distributed to different Black Lives Matter charities. 

“At Home” is a version of the podcast that is being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please forgive our audio quality and the awkward conversation, I think you understand why it had to be this way.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller.

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Episode 161 - Zandi Dandizette (At Home)

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This week on Talking to Ghosts we talked with Zandi Dandizette! Zandi is a multi-disciplinary artist working out of Vancouver BC. We talked about virtual meeting spaces during shelter in place, finding and making a place in the art community, and the how artists can support each other and their community by demanding and working towards fair wages.

Zandi can be found on their official website. We would also recommend you follow The James Black Gallery for tons of cool art and events.

CONTENT WARNING: Police Violence - We talk about police violence in the outro section of this episode from 1hr 25min to the end of the episode. If this is topic of sensitive for you, please skip the outro section and thank you for listening.

“At Home” episodes are being recorded and released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to Ghosts is produced and recorded by Michael Kurt and Wes Mueller. Our fantastic 5-year cover art was made by Alicia Gaines (of the band Ganser, who have a new album available for pre-order!).  

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