Muhf***as I Know

This week on the Crizzlecast, I'll be talking to two journalists who have covered the music scene, but are also accomplished musicians in their own right. First up is Tony Green, a veteran music writer whose work I mostly got acquainted with in the pages of Vibe back in the day. We talk about his history as a music journalist, as well as his brief stint as a radio DJ and his current gig as member of the funk band JeZ Grew. We also ask the Sunshine State-based Green what the hell is up with Florida -- like, seriously. If you wanna know too, take a listen. 

As crazy as this sounds, I have fans. And, sometimes, they get really excited to meet me. For today's Crizzlecast, I talk to one such person. Today's guest is Sheetal Maheshwary, a bubbly lady who's been a fan of mine since my days reviewing movies for the News & Observer. Before you think this is me hollering at this poor woman because I needed some ego-stroking, we talk about things other than her apparent, undying love and devotion for me. We discuss Bollywood movies, her intense love of gaming, her Indian upbringing, whether or not she had "hoe years" in her youth (told you that term would be back), my apparent alcoholism and we get very serious about the shooting in Newtown. We also bring up her Pinterest page. After this conversation, I ended up becoming a fan of hers. You may become one too.  

Yes, friends, a familiar favorite returns to the Crizzlecast. Today's episode has me going back-and-forth once again with former high-school chum Kayla Marie Williams. Some of you may remember the last Crizzlecast she did, which was also one of the more popular convos I've done. We were supposed to start riffing about the highs and lows of 2012, but we started talking about her radio show, Radio Alchemy. From then on, we went into the holidays, documentaries about hookers, the differences between men and women and whether or not Kayla had her "hoe years" (a term you'll also hear in the next podcast). I forgot how much fun I could have talking to Kayla. No wonder so many people love listening to her. 

For today's Crizzlecast, I hang out outside the patio of a bar (you'll find I do that a lot for this podcast) and spend an hour or so discussing music with today's guest, James "DJ Pangean" Leake. A local DJ here in Raleigh, Leake has been spinning house grooves and other music around North Carolina for years. In this episode, we basically geek each other out as we discuss our individual histories with house music. We also hit on why the DJ scene in the Triangle is so on the hush-hush. I believe halfway through, Leake takes a bathroom break and I end up talking to his friend. That's what happens when you record an interview while you're drinking. 

Happy new year, kids! 2013 is officially here, which only means one thing: I gotta talk to some previous Crizzlecast guests about what the hell was up with 2012. This week, I'll be conversing with a couple of my favorite muhf***as about their favorite (and not-so-favorite) things about the past year. Today, I holla at my always-entertaining buddy (and JusFlippin.com editor) Bari Kindle, as we discuss rap music, Katt Williams, Frank Ocean, Django Unchained, Taylor Swift and that Beverly Hills Cop TV show. So, if you have a hangover and need something soothing to listen to, this probably ain't it. We act a damn fool on this one!

The first time I tried to interview New York-based film critic Vadim Rizov for the Crizzlecast, it was the night before Hurricane Sandy hit. Like a dumbass, I thought it wouldn't be a big deal and I could talk to him amidst all the madness that was going on. Ten minutes into the interview, his phone crapped out. So much for that. However, I got him on the line a few weeks later, and we managed to pick up right where we left off. I talked to him about what was it like being in the middle of that mess, along with how he got to be a film critic and his rather peculiar family history. We also spend way too much time discussing Lena Dunham and we SO spoil the ending of Leos Carax's Holy Motors. So, remember, you were warned.

As Gumby once said, Merry Christmas, dammit! I hope you and yours are having a wonderful Christmas. Don't ask me what I'm doing, because it might make you very sad. But I digress. I said I would have a very special treat to give you on this blessed of days, and here it is: A DVD commentary to The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood. That's right, folks! I recorded a full-length commentary to one of the shittiest sex comedies ever made, starring a Bond Girl,  Batman, Sgt. Bilko and Mel Cooley. Why? For one, I've been meaning to something like this with my good friend and fellow film scribe Daniel Johnson. We got together recently and decided to finally record this bitch!  Along with the film, we discuss other things: Daniel's various book projects, the recent movies we've seen, the other shitty sex comedies we've seen in our youths, where the hell our lives are going. Yeah, it's a free-for-all. If you want to partake in the experience of watching the movie along with us, it's currently on Netflix Instant. (That is, if

I once again venture out to La La Land -- that's Los Angeles, to you and me -- to talk to somebody for the Crizzlecast. Today, the guest is West Coast cinephile Dennis Cozzalio. The man behind the beloved Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule blog, Cozzalio knows his movies. We discuss what films he has recently dug, how he goes about reviewing films on his blog and the LA moviegoing scene. We also compare our greatest -- and not-so-greatest -- moments in sneaking into theaters to see movies for free. BTW, coming on Christmas Day, I'll have a special holiday gift for all my fans -- all 12 of you. Stay tuned.

I interview a bona fide rock star on the Crizzlecast today! I make a call to the West Coast to talk to Maria Mckee, the former frontlady for the country rock band Lone Justice. It turns out she's also a big movie nerd. We talk about all of that, along with working with Quentin Tarantino, hooking up with Robbie Robertson and collaborating with her husband on their latest project, the movie After thr Triumph of Your Birth. I gotta say this one went shockingly well. So, for all you fans of her and her music, you're welcome!

A couple of Fridays ago, I interviewed friend and Houston spoken-word poet Marcell Murphy. During this time, he told me about his awesome new bride, Makeda. Well, I was so impressed with the Mrs., I asked if I could interview her for the Crizzlecast too. Well, today's the day! I talk to the fellow spoken-word poet (also known as Sassafrass Cypress Indigo) about her poetry, the spoken-word scene in H-Town, how important it is to read anything, her various websites and what she's learned while raising two kids. We also get into what the hell is up with the sistas these days.  See, I told you this lady was awesome!

There are times when I feel like talking to well-known people I know, and there are times when I feel like talking to people I know that aren't so well-known. Today's Crizzlecast guest falls in the latter category. For the hell of it, I interviewed Simone Erica Noz, a Raleigh resident who's also a server over at local, legendary hangout Sadlack's Heroes. During one noisy, occasionally interrupted dinner over at Piebird, I talked to her about her life, how she deals with drunk, obnoxious folk at her line of work, what she gets out of yoga, her personal goals and why she doesn't consider herself a "Barbie" anymore. We also recounted the not-so-fulfilling evening (at least for me) where we both celebrated our birthdays on the same night. Just sit back and enjoy the clattering of silverware.

On Tuesday, I spoke to Boston film critic Sean Burns. (Thanks tp all of you who listened, by the way.) Today, we'll be talking to an old college buddy of his, Nashville's very own Jason Shawhan. Also a fellow film critic (we both serve as contributing critics over at Nashville Scene), he and I touch on a number of film-related subjects. We discuss how me backing out of reviewing a certain film cemented his status at the Scene. We spend quite a bit of time discussing on-screen nudity (as well as come up with a new term for showing audiences the goods.) We also talk about Shawhan's life as both a critic and a gay man.  And, somewhere down the line, we both agree that Jewel is a badass. Yeah, it was one of those nights.

I've known Boston film critic Sean Burns for years. Along with being a close, dear friend, he's one of my favorite film critics. I'm both a devoted pal and a diehard fan of his -- and this makes me feel weird and a little worried that I might be obsessed with the muhfucka! Sean spends the first half of this two-hour episode (yeah, you heard me!) trying to convince me it's not a big deal, since he's a fan of mine too. (Although the word is never mentioned -- we are men after all -- we both go into man-crush overload during this episode.) Of course, we also talk about movies, specifically, Sean's great, hellraising moments in moviegoing history, along with what got him inspired to do film criticism in the first place. Basically, it's a big, gooey love-in between two men. I'm almost embarrassed to post this damn thing.

Back in the day, I used to be known as quite the, shall we say, eccentric spoken-word performer in my Houston hometown. A fellow H-Town poet who I looked up to is today's guest on the Crizzlecast. Marcell Murphy has seen a lot of things in the H-Town poetry scene, and he shares them in very entertaining detail on this episode. He talks about being integral in launching the city's first poetry slam team as well as what's driving him up the wall (and there's a lot!) about the scene today. He also discusses his family upbringing. We also talk about his lovely wife, who I got so enamored with, I ended up interviewing her for a future episode. I had a great conversation with an old friend, but I feel this might be the shittiest recording I've done thus far. If it is, just bare with it. It's worth the listen.

With her birthday fast approaching on Saturday, I thought it would be a good time to have my friend, Raleigh author, poet and teacher Alice Osborn, on the Crizzlecast. (She better accept this as a present!) We start off things on a surprising note, where she reveals that Star Wars was a major influence on her life. Then, we discuss what got her into writing poetry, her family upbringing, her toned arms and how good she's gotten at being a liar.  We also talk about the "crush" she has on me. Oh yeah, a drunk bum also makes a special appearance.

They call him "Filmbrain." And, after today's Crizzlecast, you'll know why. I venture out to Berlin (via Skype, as always) to talk to today's guest, Andrew Grant. Another well-known, online cinephile, we discuss what brought him to Germany, his brief foray into distributing independent films, his new career as a film producer and how difficult it is to get films he truly wants to see down there. We also get into his rather undying love for Anna Karina. I mean, the man has really got it bad for this chick!

This week, I travel overseas (via Skype, that is) and talk to a couple of American-born mofos I know who decided to live abroad. For today's Crizzlecast, I head over to New Zealand to talk to Doug Dillaman, a filmmaker, editor and well-known cinephile who also did some living time over in my hometown of Houston. We discuss his early days as an aspiring film geek in H-Town, how he ended up living in New Zealand and the egos he had to deal with when editing a project. He also educates me on the Detroit tradition known as "Devil's Night" and encourages me to stop worrying and love Lady Terminator. Yes, I learned a lot during this conversation.

Here we go with the second installment of my two-part Crizzlecast with Houston Press writer (and former employer) John Nova Lomax. I caught him one late, boozy Wednesday evening and we talked about several things: how Apple has screwed up listening to music, Internet trolls, his pride in the city of Houston. We also get into his quite harrowing, childhood experiences growing up in Nashville. We definitely get into some deep, dark shit for this installment. Proceed with caution.

This is going to be an interesting week for the Crizzlecast. Today's (and Friday's) guest is John Nova Lomax, better known to you as a member of the folk music-saving Lomax family and better known to me as my old music editor at the Houston Press. I didn't mean for this to be a two-parter, but certain hiccups happened at the end of this recording that forced us to have another convo much later. Today's episode will be known as "the light side," as we discuss his experiences being the music editor for an alt-weekly, the egos he came into contact with on the Houston music scene and, of course, our working relationship.  On Friday, John and I will certainly be going into some dark territory. Stay tuned.

It's another one of those Crizzlecasts where I talk to someone I've never spoken to before -- and end up having one of the best times of my natural existence! I had a very fascinating time talking to Nick Schager, one of the chief critics over at Slant Magazine and quite the in-demand freelancer. I'm sure a major reason I had a good time is because we mostly kvetched about how hard it is to be a gotdamn freelancer in this day and age. We just talk about how hard it is to get gigs, how difficult it is to champion good, obscure films, how much of a pain it is talking to folk who just want to know if a movie's good or bad or not -- and so on. This is pretty much an hour and some change of two film critics bitching. Enjoy.