Advertise on podcast: Detoxicity: By Men, About Men, For Everyone

Chris Maestro is the owner and founder of the iconic bar Bierwax. Located in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, this bar marries two of Chris's loves: craft beer and vinyl. In our discussion, Chris discussed what motivated him to open this space and how he's managed to survive in a very competitive landscape (in a very expensive city to own a business) for almost a decade. This chat also covers Chris's upbringing as the child of two immigrants, the culture clashes he endured as a kid, how religion and metal played significant roles in his adolescent years, and how he manages entrepreneurship with being a husband and a dad.

Jesse originally appeared way back in episode 106, almost four years ago. A lot has happened since that time, and Jesse takes us through the changes that have occurred in his life recently. We talk about his pivot away from education and into the mental health space, we talk about why white guys can be so incredibly awkward (he speaks from a place of knowledge!), and we discuss everything from parenting to suburban life, from taking a more active role in discovering and forming community to his future as a musician. Hope you enjoy our conversation!

In this episode, I have a great chat with music industry legend Tom DeSavia. Tom is a longtime A&R executive, a podcaster, an activist and an author. He co-wrote the book Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk with John Doe. Tom and I sit down to talk about coming of age in the music industry, what's changed and what hasn't. We talk about how the last few years have found him continuing to learn more about himself and others, and how understanding and empathy remains important to him. Tons of food for thought here, and I hope you enjoy our conversation!

So, Greg and I have known one another for over two decades. We met as members of the Epinions music writing community and have maintained a steady friendship ever since. Weirdly (or maybe not weirdly?) for knowing one another for such a long time, this podcast recording marks one of the first times we've actually had a voice-to-voice conversation. Is this the future? I dunno. I guess it's a little odd to know someone for 40% of your life but solely through email and text messages. Anyway, there was zero awkwardness during our conversation, and we cover topics ranging from Buddhism to writing as a meditative practice to being Black sheep-ed and being totally okay with it. I hope you enjoy our chat!

Thomas Acox was the last person I interviewed before I decided to take some time off and recalibrate. When I felt comfortable recording episodes again, I listened to our previous conversation and decided to invite Thomas back for a full refresh. The two of us have known one another for well over a decade, so we bring a fair amount of history into our conversation. It covers the rediscovery of Thomas's art skills, his Jersey roots, being a published author (and working for 1-800-GOT-JUNK), navigating the loss of a parent and how therapy changed his life.

Erik Jensen is an actor, director, producer and artist originally from rural Minnesota, now based in Brooklyn. He's acted in a lengthy list of shows, films and plays over the course of his career, and Brooklyn, Minnesota (which he co-wrote and co-directed alongside his wife, Jessica Blank) will receive a theatrical release later this year. Read an amazing article about the creation of this film here. Erik and I talk about the film and some of its themes, including generational trauma and forgiveness. We also discuss the art of the apology, what Erik has learned raising a teenager, making music, and Erik's battle with stage 4 colorectal cancer and how important his community was during his journey. Erik is a solid dude who exudes warmth, I'm grateful to have gotten the chance to record this conversation, and I REALLY hope you enjoy our chat.

A quick explanation for why there's been no new episodes for several months. After taking some time to reflect, I am looking forward to bringing the Detoxicity podcast back.

The first time I interviewed Chris was four years ago! He and his bandmate in Wax Owls, Gerry Hirschfeld, stopped by in Episode 51. Well, some time has passed, hasn't it? Chris and I reconnected earlier this summer for a wide-ranging, lengthy conversation (I feel like it's been a while since the last episode, so this one is a little long to make up for it!) in which we discuss everything from what it takes to be a good attorney to navigating East Coast life vs. West Coast life. In between, we chat about being children of immigrants, the loss of community that's come with the digital age, and more.

I'm excited to bring you the latest episode of Detoxpod-featuring my chat with musician and journalist Shawn Setaro. Shawn is a journalist who currently works for Complex as a court reporter. He authored a book on the Tekashi Six Nine case, and most recently covered the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial. Shawn helps me unpack some of my disillusionment with hip-hop in recent years, but in addition to playing the role of my therapist, we chat about his musician background and quiet retirement from that field, we talk about what drove him into journalism. We also talk about embracing his Jewish background to advocate for peace and equality, run through a list of favorite hip hop artists of all time, and more. Hope you enjoy our chat!

In this episode, Singer-songwriter YawnyBlew joins me for a powerful conversation about music, identity, and resilience. From his roots to his evolution as a queer R&B artist, Yawny opens up about authenticity, mental health, and navigating an industry that hasn’t always embraced him. A heartfelt discussion about love, healing, and making space for the next generation.

I'm super happy to sit down with Sam Gellerstein--sousaphonist, songwriter, and founding member of the Philadelphia-based band Snacktime. What began as a humble food-and-music event has exploded into one of Philly’s most exciting musical collectives, fusing energy, activism, and community. Sam opens up about the band’s origin story, from pandemic-era street performances to sold-out tours with acts like Portugal. The Man. He dives deep into his musical upbringing, the importance of mental health, and why embracing body positivity and authenticity is so essential. We also talk about his love of cooking (yes, there’s a signature crispy roast chicken involved), the intersections of food, music, and activism, and how he navigates complex topics like privilege, politics, and intergenerational conflict. If you’ve ever wondered how joy, resistance, and radical community can come together in one person’s story, this is the episode for you!

I’m so happy to welcome Rodney McCoy AKA Daddy Rod back to the podcast for a second chat.  Our conversation is wide-ranging, intimate, and expands upon several topics that we touching on in our initial conversation, including themes of Black masculinity, sexuality, gentrification and nostalgia, HIV and STI stigma, and aging in the queer community. What does it mean to accept vulnerability and “softness” in a social environment that expects “hardness” out of men (especially Black men)? How did growing up in New York City toughen us up? What does it mean for Rodney to deem himself a “Daddy”? How do desires change over time, or do we come into a better realization of what we want from our relationships over time? Heavy questions, but me and Rod converse with a lot of curiosity, warmth and levity. I hope you enjoy this episode!

My life changed when I went to work for Craig Chapman in March of 1996. Over the last three decades, Craig has not only been my boss, he's been my mentor, my champion and my friend. And I'm just one of many young people he's mentored over the course of his life. I'm grateful to have him on my show to touch on everything from his beginnings in radio to branching out into entrepreneurship (he's been running his own business, Rhythmflow Vacations, for two decades!), to his diagnosis with diabetes and subsequent kidney transplant. Craig drops enough jewels in an hour of conversation to make an entire necklace with a couple of rings and a watch left over. I really hope you enjoy this conversation with someone who was the first Black man I ever encountered in a position of power, and someone I continue to seek out for advice to this day.

Well, folks--we made it to 200 episodes. Holy crap! First off, I'm incredibly grateful to you. Thanks for listening and providing constructive criticism. Feedback is part of what keeps me going, and I don't take the fact that you put DTP in your regular pod rotation lightly. If this is your first listen-welcome! I hope you enjoy and go back and listen to some older episodes! Second, thanks to everyone who submitted questions (a mixture of former guests and regular listeners to the show)! Your queries cover everything from my guest wishlist to my feelings about hip-hop to coming out as a queer person in a heteronormative primary relationship. I appreciate the thought you put into your questions, and I hope my answers aren't too long-winded! Of course, I'm always happy to hear what you think of the episode, so drop me a line or a DM! And see you at Episode 201!

I'm very happy to welcome my friend Ty McKinnie back to the show. Listen to his first appearance here. Originally from Atlanta, Ty works in the music industry as a creative as well as an executive. He released his album Tyrie last year, and I highly recommend it! It's Black Music Month and Pride Month, and Ty stands proudly at the intersection. We talk about how his queerness informs the music he makes, and how he aims to be seen as a representative for a section of the music listening audience he doesn't see well-represented. Ty also fancies himself a "late bloomer" (it's the title of one of his songs), and we go deep into that and how he's come to terms with it. Additionally, we go deep on impostor syndrome, performance anxiety (as a creative, not what you're thinking!) and we talk about joy as a form of resistance. I really hope you enjoy our conversation! Drop a line, find me on socials (detoxpodguy) and let me know what you think!