Broken Class

187: with Elena Leona, musician & humorist

Elena Leona Carbajal is the emcee, singer, and bandleader of The Elena Leona Project. I have known for years how much talent and jovial spirit she brings to Eugene's hip-hop scene, but I was especially hype to see her rocket up past 15,000 followers on TikTok recently. There, she brings joy to viewers with silly takes on current trends, and with open verse duets over popular beats. This episode also features a rare appearance from veteran Eugene emcee, Metri¢. 

We discuss vaccinations (0:41), buffalo chicken rollers and other 7-11 "food" (7:15), being a bad Mexican (8:36), her TikTok surge (14:53), performing, improving, being Jack Black (19:32), Metri¢ joins us via phone! (25:19), an EXCLUSIVE upcoming Metri¢ song (33:20), remembering Taylor Hawkins (35:58), her origin story (41:38), the ICP show that I left early (44:04), and violent images from Ukraine (46:45).
SONG: "I'm the Boss" by Elena Leona (50:37). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/y6PCqoUBfTA. 

Please rate/review the podcast, and check out The Elena Leona Project: https://theelp.net 

186: with Benny Cosmic, musician & indigenous activist

Benny Cosmic is a musician, indigenous activist, and radio host with KEPW. Since moving to our area in 2015, Benny has been shining bright as both a dynamic performer and as a real-ass human being. On his new album, "Good Vibes Hood Tribes," he strikes an impressive balance between music that pulls you in and lyrics which confront cruelty, exploitation and inhumanity. 

We discuss Nicolas Cage and Frank Zappa (0:53), musical inspiration and honest feedback (4:53), solo vs. band and album meaning (10:51), local friction and finding support (18:18), song breakdowns (23:57), varied points of entry into hip-hop (33:26), elitist barriers around knowledge (41:35), being indigenous in Eugene, activism issues (51:30), being dedicated fully (1:03:20), OutKast, synthwave, influences (1:12:16), looking inward (1:19:10), and solutions to educational disaffectedness (1:27:35). 
SONG: "Wishful Thinking" by Benny Cosmic (1:41:30). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/ELz7y3nblGg. 

Please rate/review the podcast, and check out Benny Cosmic's album: https://open.spotify.com/album/3KoYbMWnpgAW2QIBdq9G0z?si=BvAAX8tvSr6RARqjFQPWRg. 

 

185: with Plaedo, rapper & activist

Plaedo has been planting literal seeds throughout Eugene's communities of hip-hop, community gardening and direct action activism for years. He just came on my radar after releasing his "Celebrate Tha Liberation" video, and his very collaborative new album releases this Monday, October 18th, called "Empires Die...Live Evolves." This conversation really displays a vibrant new friendship beginning in real time. 

We discuss addiction recovery without abstinence (1:58), positivity, competition and community in Eugene (6:30), potlatch and indigenous culture (11:40), Empires Die...Life Evolves (20:00), flow, style and genre (23:50), death feelings and street machete trauma (29:49), urban desensitization and public outcries of emotion (33:07), Ericka Thessen and passionate health advocacy (38:30), guns, religion and the environment (41:05), perceptions of hippies and nerds (47:46), sports (football and tennis) (51:10), a time Plaedo was bitter toward someone (55:31) is the empire dying or evolving? (1:01:18), and how to fix our broken sense of community (1:06:21). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/_pUR6sPMf0k. 

Plaedo's music video: https://youtu.be/duFrglT6Zes and website: https://plaedo.com

 

184: with Daniel Isaacson, National Alliance on Mental Health Lane County

Daniel Isaacson is the President of NAMI Lane County. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) works toward "the support, education, and advocacy of persons concerned with mental health." Daniel was brought to this issue through tragedy, and he's using his voice to change the conversation and save lives.

We discuss George Lucas (0:46), the need and function of NAMI services (3:23), desensitization from so much unmet need (7:21), government's role and Dan's ballot measure (12:05), Who is dying? Not just one political side (17:31), Britney Spears and Thomas' story (20:39), productivity loss and social change (26:55), funding of county police (30:55), training bank tellers (36:08), NAMI Walks online and Caitlyn Jenner (37:57), connecting with diversity (44:32), Taylor Swift, The Chicks (canceled) and Kanye (50:08), and mental health misconceptions (54:44). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/5uJTNzXQR8Q. 

Learn more at https://namiwalks.org. 

 

183: with Harry Sanger, 4J School Board candidate

Harry Sanger is a father, a public transit project director, and a candidate for the 4J school board. His critiques of the district come from a different place than those of other candidates, and we tell each other flat-out what offends and concerns us about one another's worldviews. I am not time-stamping any topics, as I'd prefer to present this fiery discussion in its full context. 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/5tpVRv2brBc. 

Ballots are due May 18th! 

182: with Rose Wilde, Lane ESD Board

Rose Wilde is a mother and an elected representative of all of Lane County on the Lane ESD Board. She is running for a third term to continue working with all 16 school districts in the county. Rose is particularly interested in career and technical education, thriving post-pandemic, and responding to historical inequities. 

We discuss addressing historical inequities (1:07), Vanport and Oregon history (7:26), Holli Johnson, LCC Board (10:47), earning re-election, satisfying all districts (16:09), national standards and Common Core (21:05), Is American public education failing? (25:10), career/technical ed COMBINED with academics (28:59), food (35:00), pride in history and media soundbytes (36:54), collegiality and de-polarization (42:16), the role of competition, capitalism, and taxes (47:19), music we love (55:22), and hip-hop and women's sexual expression (59:31). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/3THxD12VhOU. 

Learn more at https://friendsofrosewilde.com. Ballots are due May 18th! 

181: with Laural O'Rourke, 4J School Board (incoming)

Laural O'Rourke is a mother, a 4J graduate, and a disaster relief manager with Lane County Human Services. While being the "mama bear" advocate for her kids who navigate special education plans, she has cultivated a fire for justice that she's bringing to the 4J school board, along with some inclusion and representation of the Black community in Eugene. 

We discuss disaster relief and changemaking (1:14), tone-policing of strong voices (7:50), disability and advocating as a mom (11:59), today's civil rights movement (15:34), running for office and working for the whole community (26:40), spending and public funds (33:43), "our kids are behind" and mental health (42:55), music, from Matthews to Simone (56:49), conservative views (1:03:51), and cancel culture or consequence culture (1:12:18). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/p7ovZiq6sXc. 

Learn more at https://www.lauralfor4j.com. Ballots are due May 18th!

180: with Tom Di Liberto, 4J School Board candidate

Tom Di Liberto taught Spanish in the Eugene School District longer than I have been alive. He remains involved in music education and teacher training in our community, and he is making a splash in this cycle's most competitive race for a seat on the 4J school board. 

We discuss fact-finding and deliberation (1:31), stepping up as a first-time candidate (4:05), issues in testing and funding over 30 years (7:02), staying involved no matter what (12:46), music and genre fusion (16:40), pre-pandemic momentum and Covid hurdles (24:30), challenges in home life, meals, and de-professionalization (31:05), hurtful rhetoric about the teachers' union (38:38), burdens foisted on teachers of color (42:50), class size and teacher pay (47:29), and identity and equity (53:30). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/wqek2r_phSo. 

Learn more at https://www.tomdilibertofor4j.com. Ballots are due May 18th!

179: with Maya Rabasa, 4J School Board (incoming)

Maya Rabasa is about to join Eugene's 4J school board, much to the excitement of the community. A "recovering teacher" herself, Maya is a long-time 4J parent and artist who has volunteered several thousand hours of time and love to our schools. 

We discuss Harry Potter disinterest (1:29), communitarian values and voices (6:16), money and campaigning (14:26), board experience and picking a superintendent (20:27), volunteering and hidden needs of schools (30:17), starting young with support for "the whole student" (38:34), how music inspires and connects (46:33), Lhasa de Sela and Kendrick Lamar (50:47), respectability and anti-Black discrimination (54:51), no police in 4J update (57:40), recognizing differing perspectives (1:06:45), Zoom classrooms and learning from Covid-19 (1:12:54) and free lunch and trust within the community (1:18:01). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/V5SNIz-91xY. 

Learn more at https://mayarabasa.com

178: with Rohan Mukherjee, business analyst

Rohan Mukherjee is a brilliant (though he won't like me saying that) business analyst working in healthcare. He is my closest friend from Carleton: the liberal arts college we goofed off at. I think you will love this chat about moving forward and finding unity in a tense time. 

We discuss existence as an illusion (2:08), body positivity and health (8:07), Celebrity and Joe Rogan's success (19:40), toxic masculinity and college cost (25:57), taxes and Trumpism (31:17), Andrew Yang, VAT and Georgia (38:53), Progressives vs. pragmatic liberals (45:04), moving from the coasts (52:46), young leftist identity and the Sunrise Movement (1:00:57), Experimental jazz music (1:14:21), our brokenness (1:19:23), and sports and social divisions (1:22:08). 

The discussion is on video at https://youtu.be/FslvviUfRVA.