Today, I speak with an old friend, Claire Dederer, about her seminal book, Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma. We ask the question: Is it possible to appreciate an artist's work if the artist's behavior is monstrous? Is the work of artists like Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Prince, and Alice Munro better understood if we have a greater awareness of the complexities of their lives, or is there a point at which the work is spoiled forever? At what point can we no longer separate the art from the artist? What is your breaking point?

https://www.clairedederer.com/

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzj0CG30y8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreshFacePod_Evison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshfacepod.evison/

Today, I have a conversation with my old friend Jeff Ament. We discussed his incredible rock 'n' roll journey—from the Seattle hardcore scene of the '80s to the rise of '90s Grunge, and eventually becoming the rock star bassist of Pearl Jam. Jeff is like the "Lucy" of Grunge, with stints in three of Seattle's most influential bands: Green River, Mother Love Bone, and Pearl Jam. We talked about his surprising influences and the transformative moments that helped shape what we now know as Pearl Jam. A fun ride for music fans, and to top it off, he loves my books!

Go to Substack to watch the full interview: https://substack.com/@afreshfaceinhell

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzj0CG30y8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreshFacePod_Evison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshfacepod.evison/

Today I speak with journalist and author Rita Omokha about her new book, Resist. We discuss how young Black activists like Ella Baker, Barbara Johns, and Johnetta Elzie have shaped our understanding of the power of organized action—not just in the Civil Rights Movement but in all forms of political protest. As we face the remainder of Trump's presidency (1424 days, 02 hours, and 50 minutes), it's encouraging to hear about the ways we can resist the fascists and racists, both in small and large ways.

https://www.ritaomokha.com

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzj0CG30y8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreshFacePod_Evison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshfacepod.evison/

Renowned NY Times science columnist, Carl Zimmer, talks with me about his new book, Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe. We talk about the air we breathe, the gazillions of microbes, bacteria, fungus and viruses that float effortlessly around us daily. From the oceans depths to our nostrils we take in all manner of life, most of it harmless but some of it nightmarish. No one explains science better than Carl Zimmer folks!!

https://carlzimmer.com/

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzj0CG30y8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreshFacePod_Evison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshfacepod.evison/

I thought we could all use something a little lighthearted this week — a welcome distraction from the constant news cycle. So today, I’m catching up with my old friend Warren Etheredge. Warren is a producer, author, playwright, festival programmer, and public speaker. He's deeply involved in the annual Seattle International Film Festival and teaches film studies at Cornish College of the Arts and the University of Washington. Warren claims to watch somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 short films every year.

Today, we’re diving into comedies — highbrow, lowbrow, and everything in between. We make no distinctions, just films that tickle our funny bones again and again. What are some of your favorite comedies? From the criminally underrated to the comically overrated, we’re covering the best (and the wurst). So, put on your sweats, grab your Dune bucket of popcorn, and let’s head to the movies!

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzj0CG30y8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreshFacePod_Evison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshfacepod.evison/

My friend and NY Times bestselling author, podcast contributor, teacher, and political activist, Steve Almond, joins me to discuss his seminal book Against Football. We dive deep into our toxic love affair with the gridiron, exploring its narrative strengths, subtle complexities, and its unique ability to unite people. At the same time, we weigh these against the darker side of the sport—nationalism, greed, racism, and misogyny—and ask what this says about us as a nation. As we head into Super Bowl Sunday, a game that few outside of KC or Philly seem to care about, we invite you to evaluate whether it’s all worth it. Be sure to check out Steve’s books at: https://stevealmondjoy.org

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzj0CG30y8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreshFacePod_Evison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshfacepod.evison/

This week, we talk about church--specifically Christian church. I’ll be talking with two Evangelical pastors, Andrew Hirschman of Calvary Ballard, and David Rivers of Calvary Sequim, about being a pastor in 2025. We’ll talk about the threat of Christian Nationalism, declining numbers among their congregations, and the challenges of filling their chapels in an increasingly secular culture.

Andrew Hirschman - https://calvaryballard.com/
David Rivers - https://www.calvarychapelsequim.com/

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzj0CG30y8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreshFacePod_Evison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshfacepod.evison/

Josh Fernandez is one of my favorite people. Antifa organizer, anarchist, community activist and college educator. Josh walks the walk. When he’s not punching nazis, he’s taking care of his community in a myriad of ways, volunteering and coordinating. Oh, and when he’s not chasing his two adorable kids around, he’s teaching in prisons. Josh is the author of The Hands that Crafted the Bomb.

https://www.amazon.com/Hands-that-Crafted-Bomb-Antifascist/dp/B0BYVFPHTN

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzj0CG30y8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreshFacePod_Evison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshfacepod.evison/