Share

cover art for Love As Resistance Behind Bars w/ Eric King #44

Back On The Grind

Love As Resistance Behind Bars w/ Eric King #44

Season 3, Ep. 44
•

In this conversation, former political prisoner Eric King shares his experience of incarceration & the profound impact of relationships during his time in prison. He discusses the journey that led him to federal prison, the challenges of maintaining connections with loved ones, & the unique bond he formed with his wife, Rochelle. He highlights the importance of emotional support & understanding in navigating the complexities of love behind bars. Eric emphasizes the need for vulnerability & the significance of being valued as a person, despite the dehumanizing nature of the prison system. The conversation also touches on the societal perceptions of relationships with incarcerated individuals. Eric discusses the fleeting moments of joy that allowed him to escape the harsh realities of incarceration & the transformative power of love that helped him navigate his difficult journey. He reflects on the emotional complexities of his release day, the struggles of adjusting to life outside prison, & the importance of community support. Eric emphasizes the significance of finding joy & maintaining a smile as acts of resistance against the trauma of his past, while also highlighting the impact of art & connection in the healing process...particularly through seeing Myles Bullen perform live.


Support the podcast/get bonus episodes + goods

  • patreon.com/BackontheGrind


HIGHLIGHTS:

  • What led Eric into prison
  • Prison relationships often face skepticism from the outside world
  • Emotional vulnerability is essential for maintaining connections
  • Visits from loved ones can be emotionally taxing & scrutinized
  • Women often bear the emotional burden of supporting incarcerated partners
  • Exploring how love can transform one's experience in prison
  • The complexities and challenges of getting married in prison
  • Moments of joy can provide relief from the harsh realities of incarceration
  • The emotional turmoil leading up to release day.
  • Navigating the challenges of the halfway house experience
  • Finding joy & resistance in the aftermath of incarceration
  • The power of a smile as an act of defiance against trauma
  • Thoughts on Myles Bullen & the importance of community & art in the healing process



Follow Eric King on Instagram

  • instagram.com/supportericking/




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

  • StayFreeCoffee.com


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

  • backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/music


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

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 79. The Tragedy Of The Commons w/ Ruen #79

    54:17||Season 4, Ep. 79
    In this episode, Pepe Bandit talks with members of the band Ruen. They start with fire — how a century of replacing Portugal's natural forests with pine and eucalyptus monoculture has made wildfire season a recurring catastrophe across southern Europe — then dig into the punk, DIY, & squat subcultures of Portugal & the Netherlands. The rest of the episode is dedicated to their new concept album, The Tragedy of the Commons. You'll hear samples of songs as they explore land rights, enclosure &, resistance — including the present-day fight against lithium mining in Boticas — along with the influence of books like When the Wolves Howl & Re-Enchanting the World.Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods (there's a join for FREE option) • patreon.com/BackontheGrindConnect with Ruen: instagram.com/weare_ruen weareruen.bandcamp.com/music

  • 78. Jimmy of The Looms Reflects on the Pigeon Pit Episode (personal authority, DIY shows, spirituality & much more) #78

    01:10:48||Season 4, Ep. 78
    Jimmy of The Looms joins Pepe to revisit personal authority, DIY shows, and spirituality from the earlier Lomes of Pigeon Pit episode. From there, they open into new territory: including how the things that upset us most in others are often things we haven't dealt with ourselves, the pull toward revenge instead of actually improving things, why anarchism might work at the level of a house show but strains under mass civilization, Jimmy's own path through Buddhism and monastery life, and a back-and-forth on Spinoza's determinism and what's left of a person once every external identity is stripped away.Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods • patreon.com/BackontheGrindconnect with The Looms:instagram.com/theloomsband/thelooms.band/thelooms.bandcamp.com/music

  • 77. Finding Hope w/ Yell At God #77

    01:06:33||Season 4, Ep. 77
    Yell At God — the Philly-based folk punk band sits down with Pepe Bandit for a deep dive into hope. First they start with the dichotomy of touring: the exhaustion of the road paired with the explosive connection of a live show. From there the conversation opens into hope itself — why it's an actionable practice rather than a feeling you either have or don't, how social media can drain it, and why hopelessness and complacency are closer cousins than they seem.The band also works through a question passed along from a previous guest, Lomes of Pigeon Pit, about whether hope can distract from other opportunities/the present. The conversation closes with concrete, low-stakes ways to rebuild a sense of agency: text a friend, plan a show even if five people come, go to the library, buy the next person's coffee. We close out playing Folk Punk Birthday Song.Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods• patreon.com/BackontheGrindConnect with Yell At Godinstagram.com/yell_at_god/linktr.ee/yellatgod

  • 76. Lomes of Pigeon Pit — The Alchemy Of Song Writing, Personal Authority, LSD, Spiritual Anarchism & DIY Shows #76

    58:39||Season 4, Ep. 76
    Lomes of Pigeon Pit, joins Pepe Bandit for an unguarded conversation that starts with songwriting as alchemy — puking out the fucked-up parts of the world and finding gold in the filth — and follows it into personal authority forged through hardship, acid trips, and a philosophy of spiritual anarchism built on empathy. They discuss the work of transmuting hope and gratitude into action, the magic of DIY shows and what gets lost and gained when a band outgrows the basements it started in. The conversation also turns toward the strange weight of being someone strangers cry in front of, and what it means to carry that without claiming credit for someone else's survival. Pepe shares why this one is personal for him — his own kid found Lomes's music during the years he was locked up, long before the two of them ever met. We close out playing the Pigeon Pit song "Thread The Needle."Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods• patreon.com/BackontheGrindConnect with Pigeon Pit:linktr.ee/pigeonpit (for show tickets and more)instagram.com/pigeon.pit/?hl=enpigeonpit.bandcamp.com/music

  • 75. Amy of Evil Robot Us' — Folk Punk, Libraries, & the Liberation of Children #75

    01:05:39||Season 4, Ep. 75
    Amy fronted Evil Robot Us' a DIY folk punk band out of Buffalo that shared its first bill with Against Me! and later toured and recorded with Erik Petersen — but this story follows where that punk ethic took her next: ten years as a children's librarian, a decade as a professional aerialist and storyteller, and now grad school to become a therapist for kids and families. Pepe and Amy trace the thread connecting it all - while swapping stories from the early 2000s scene, talking through parenting during incarceration, raising a neurodivergent kid, recovering from long COVID, and closing by honoring Erik Petersen's lasting influence.Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindFor more Evil Robot Us' or to connect with Amyevilrobotus.bandcamp.com/musicamykgodfrey.com/

  • 74. Queer Rap & The Cancel Culture Blues w/Chris Conde #74

    56:00||Season 4, Ep. 74
    Pepe Bandit & Chris Conde discuss queer identity & expression through music. Chris addresses the discomforts that can arise in early personal life & performances around this subject. They explore censorship & cancel culture & the importance of growth within the community. The dialogue emphasizes the need for open communication & understanding while confronting these issues. They delve into the complexities of accountability, redemption, & the importance of doing the work after past mistakes. The difficulties of understanding allegations in context, the delicate balance of forgiveness & the challenges of navigating truth & consent are also explored. Ultimately, they emphasize the need for truly open dialogue in fostering healing & understanding.Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindConnect w/ Chris Conde:instagram.com/conde_nyc/chrisconde.com/

  • Bonus Episode - Stoop Fest!!! Three Different Views

    53:38||Season 4
    A bonus episode that explores 3 different perspectives (audience member / band / organizer)from this years STOOP FEST! We play Pathétique by Frog Legs at the end. First Interview - Greg Bee (audience member)Second Interview - Frog Legs (band)Third Interview - Willow (organizer)stoopfest.orginstagram.com/froglegspgh/froglegsband.com/Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goods patreon.com/BackontheGrindGet Coffee for the Bandit in you (roasted by Pepe) StayFreeCoffee.comBack On The Grind Records - For DIY, Folk Punk, Rap & Merch: backonthegrindrecords.bandcamp.com/musicFollow the podcast on Instagram instagram.com/backonthegrindpod/?hl=engramReach 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

  • 73. Addiction & Recovery Q&A w/ Early Brunner of Recovery Demystified #73

    01:14:28||Season 4, Ep. 73
    *** If you need to support a friend, loved one, or yourself...You can call, text, or chat with a 988 Lifeline counselor for help during difficult moments anytime, day or night. Just dial 988 it's free & confidential.***If you or someone you care about needs support, SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals & families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.  1-800-662-HELP (4357)In this conversation, Early Brunner of Recovery Demystified joins Pepe Bandit in responding to listener's questions about addiction & recovery. They discuss the importance of creating supportive resources for individuals struggling with substance use & emphasize the need for personalized recovery approaches. Expect to hear about the challenges of maintaining friendships during recovery, & the complexities of family dynamics when addiction is involved. Learn about the challenges of relapse, & the journey towards helping others in recovery. The conversation also delves into the critical issues of mental health, suicide, & the necessity of seeking help. Early & Pepe emphasize the need for open discussions about these topics to reduce stigma & promote healing.The song at the end is titled "Dent" and performed by Mr. Michael Motorcycle.Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindConnect with Recovery Demystified:recoverydemystified.com/instagram.com/recoverydemystified/

  • 72. From Pat The Bunny to Friends In Real Life: Patrick Schneeweis & Pepe Bandit Discuss A Two Decade Musical Journey & Friendship #72

    58:34||Season 4, Ep. 72
    Pat almost refused to do this.Before we even hit record, he told me he had a strong feeling this interview shouldn’t happen. We gave it a shot anyway.What came out isn’t a story that is pretty & clean. It’s what it actually looks like when someone is trying to figure out their life after actively screwing parts of it up.We talk about growing up feeling isolated & out of place.Writing music while dealing with depression & not wanting to be alive.Hitchhiking with no phone, no stability, no real plan.Stealing from people who trusted you & having to sit with that.Getting sober & realizing that doesn’t fix the damage, it just means you have to face it.There’s a moment in here when we’re talking about that betrayal, & you can feel it. Not simply as a story but, as something that actually happened between two people trying to sort out the messiness.Over all it’s a conversation with two friends trying to be honest about who they were & who they’re trying to become now.If you’ve ever looked at your own life and thought, “I’ve made a mess of this”…this conversation is going to feel familiar & hopeful.Support the podcast & get bonus episodes & goodspatreon.com/BackontheGrindConnect with Friends In Real Lifeinstagram.com/friendsinreallifemusic/friendsinreallife.bandcamp.com/music