A Violent Act of Desperation Returns!
This time with Ben Kassoy. Plus! A toxic bop and a couple pics from my show
Helloooo Sternal Journalists!
2 minute read, 1 hour watch (optional!). Come see me at Edinburgh Fringe!
Thank you all who came to my show on Thursday. Here are a couple pictures of me having a blast at it:
Also thanks to all who chatted with me on or about my birthday. It was the first birthday of my life where I felt secure enough to not need to have a big party, which is crazy because I’ve had so many friends for such a long time; I shouldn’t feel that need because I know they love me and are there for me no matter what (also a lot of them don’t even love big parties) (also also I fully reserve the right to have a belated big birthday party any time between now and, say, January of 2024).
Anyway, I’m off the Fringe on Tuesday and very excited, but I am also launching or relaunching the long dormant Julian Stern New Podcast Project, A Violent Act of Desperation. I promise you I’m a good fuckin’ conversationalist and not one of these bandwagon new school gym-dorks who are popping up left and right these days.
What I’m saying is, I’m not just starting a podcast to start a podcast. I’m re-entering the podcast space (Word with Framily, what’s crackin’!) because I’ve felt the call for too long. This first episode is with poet and author, Ben Kassoy, who claims not to be a dancer even though he dances all the time and goes to dance events.
I don’t want to undermine his position on this. He says he’s not a dancer, therefore he isn’t one. But this is what the nature of our conversation winds up being about: when and why we decide to inhabit labels and communities. We also laugh and get silly.
It’s a fun watch, and you can do so here:
If you’re not the type of person who watches experimental hour-long podcasts on YouTube, here are a few notes about my release strategy:
I do hope to make these available in normal audio podcast venues (Spotify, iTunes, etc). This one is not yet available anywhere but YouTube and the audio isn’t perfect, but I already got better equipment.
I also plan to cut up and release shorter, more palatable in one sitting segments of the conversation on YouTube.
For now, I’ll release at least one a month. Second episode is already recorded. This is not a project I will abandon, but it could morph in one way or another. Hopefully for the better. If you have anyone you’d like me to interview, please let me know. The sky’s the limit. I supposedly have a connection to Jürgen from GBBO, but I’m not making any promises.
Recommendations!
Top Boy. Television Show. I finished the two seasons (or serieses, to borrow the British parlance) of the original 2011 version (it was rebooted by Netflix, haven't seen those) and it was great. For a gritty crime drama, it made me think a lot about how challenging it is to be a parent and a child.
cheating. Song. One of the comments on this song’s YouTube video was “this is such a toxic bop,” and I can’t describe it any better.
Central Cee’s Chicken Shop Date. YouTube Video. This rivals Jack Harlow’s episode for me.
The Tyranny of the Tale. Article. This is a very necessary read for anyone who has ever believed in or relied on or deferred to the power of storytelling.
Okay, that’s all!
Much love
Julian
P.S. I spend anywhere between two and twelve hours a week on the Sternal Journal. If you enjoy receiving it (and are RICH) consider becoming a paying subscriber. For just a few bucks a month, you can provide me with a bit more time to come up with fun topics, poems, and interviews; and you with probably fewer typos.
Such a pleasure and a privilege to appear on AVOD -- even more violent and desperate than imagined!